chris cooley wifeThe beginning of the 2008 season must have made Redskins fans feel as though they had slipped into Bizarro world. The team coasted to a 6-2 start and everything seemed to be running smoothly under Jim Zorn. Then everything unraveled as the team went on to lose six of its next eight, which started speculation about Zorn’s job security. And all was right with the world again.

The champions of the offseason then got back to their old ways by throwing most of the Federal Reserve at Albert Haynesworth and giving DeAngelo Hall a six-year, $55 million extension. With Daniel Snyder never being afraid to nuke the team and go in a new direction, this year’s group might need to make its move now if the team is going to keep up with the rest of the NFC East.

Keeping the offense together – for now: It hasn’t reached a Cutler-like level of awkwardness yet, but Jason Campbell’s stay with the Redskins is becoming increasingly uncomfortable. The team seems to be willing to tolerate him for another year, but they considered scrapping the plan either for Cutler or Mark Sanchez in the offseason. Nothing materialized, however, so the team was left with its signal-caller knowing that it wasn’t committed to him long-term. Some fans think a QB controversy is already a-brewin’, but how desperate would the team be to turn to Todd Collins or Colt Brennan?

The team needs Clinton Portis as badly as blogs need his wackiness, so here’s to hoping he can hold up over the season and into the future. A concern, however, is that the only other back to finish in the top 15 in rushing last year who had as many carries as Portis was LaDanian Tomlinson. Both Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El will be 30 by the start of the season, and one of last year’s draft picks (Devin Thomas or Malcolm Kelly) will have to step up as the third receiver.

jason campbell and mercedes lindsayHaynesworth – oh yeah, and I guess the rest of the D, too: If Haynesworth plays anywhere close to the level he did last year, he’ll pay major dividends for a team that finished with just 24 sacks last year. But there’s a fear that now that he’s paid, he’ll come back to earth and coast to the end of this contract. Maybe he’ll put as much work in on the field as he does to fixing his house:

Haynesworth talks in great detail about all the work he has put into the home, such as the 27 trees he had taken out of the backyard to make way for the pool and pool house. Adjoining the pool is a waterfall Haynesworth had redone three times before the contractor got it right.

“I wanted it a certain way, I even gave the guy a picture of what I wanted and he kept coming back with these other designs,” said Haynesworth, a hint of annoyance still evident in his voice.

There are some starters getting up there in age (Philip Daniels, 36, Cornelius Griffin, 32, and London Fletcher-Baker, 34), but there should be help in the coming years with the additions of Brian Orakpo and supplemental draft pick Jeremy Jarmon.  The secondary is young and talented. Chris Horton had a stellar first year and could be the team’s next great defensive back.

Rumor-mongering is the best kind of mongering: As soon as Mike Vick was reinstated, a few teams made it known to everyone that they were not interested. The Redskins were not one of those teams. Washington has been willing to take chances here and there, so the “Vick to the district” talk got started. But then Zorn had to ruin all the speculation by dismissing any possibility of Vick joining the Redskins in the near future. And is LaRon Landry the best player in the NFL with a lip stud? You decide.

Battle for best entertainer: Dan Steinberg of DC Sports Bog probably makes it look easier than it actually is, but covering the Redskins is probably a great beat given all the personalities on this team. Portis is probably still the standard for wackiness off the field for this team, especially given his decision to go a more, uh, platinum look. But James Shelton takes the spot of top twitterer with more than 18,000 followers.

But Chris Cooley might have the best day-to-day antics of anyone on the team. His latest project? Going after division rival and fellow tight end Jason Witten in a series of lighthearted videos.

Prediction: 8-8. The schedule is kind enough for a better finish (early games against Detroit, St. Louis and Tampa Bay should pave the way for a solid start), but the division is too hard to expect much. A playoff spot is within reach, but the team has a brutal finish with games against the Giants, Cowboys and Chargers to close the season.

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