Spare us the endless line of ass-kissing that constitutes ESPN and the NFL Network’s praise for Peyton Manning “selfless” decision to push for a new contract to tie him with the younger, healthier Tom Brady as the highest paid player in the nation.  There’s nothing selfless about it; Manning is a aging QB on the downturn of an incredible run.  He’s made 208 consecutive starts, but he’s also had 2 neck surgeries within 15 months; the Colts won’t even say when they think Manning will participate in preseason.  He got a “lifetime achievement” deal because whether he performs well or not, Manning will pack the stands at Lucas Oil stadium and sell jerseys until the day he hangs it up for good.

Florio is an idiot but he is right about this; $90 million over 5 years is not an act of charity; but it does fit into an acceptable NFL storyline for sports reporters to discuss in little 45-second segments for college kids on weekday afternoons. ISN’T PEYTON TERRIFIC!? WHY HIS BOWEL MOVEMENTS SMELL LIKE SCENTED CANDLES AND SPRING FLOWERS!

Manning is a businessman, part of the reason we have to suffer through a huge DirecTV logo every single time Manning appears on ESPN or NFLN. From the moment Brady got his new deal, Colts owner Jim Irsay crowed about how he intended to make Peyton Manning the highest-paid player in the nation, basically talking himself into giving Manning a record deal; very similar to how Jets Coach Rex Ryan basically talked Darrelle Revis into holding out before the 2010 season.  So, of course, Manning pushed hard for the new deal; he didn’t like being franchised at $23 million; not when he was getting ready to go under the knife.  Again.

Manning is arguably the hardest working player in the NFL; and he’s also basically his own offensive coordinator. The numbers suggest that Manning is going to continue to perform; albeit at a diminishing level, and the Colts have done a pretty good job of putting weapons around Manning to keep the Colts competitive. Still, the Colts need to get younger at RB and (probably) TE. Now we are hearing that Manning’s O-line is short a Charles Johnson; thank goodness the Colts have all that extra fantasy money to use on getting somebody.

They coulda had that game.  The Redskins were at least two dropped interceptions or several errant McNabb throws away from actually pulling out a victory from the jaws of defeat against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.  They could have beaten the Colts and their record could’ve been at 4-2. They could have still been in first place in the NFC East, leading the division against the resurgent Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda I guess.

Evidently, the Redskins’ culture of defeat will always win out in the long run.

These Redskins players are not used to any sort of continuous success and I wonder if the team just doesn’t shoot itself in the foot because of it.  Maybe, and this is just me playing amateur psychologist, deep down inside, the team doesn’t think they are good enough and they subconsciously sabotage themselves when they have a chance at success.

Its become quite obvious that this team just doesn’t know how to react properly to winning, that much is for sure.  This team has been in between “average” and “awful” for so long that losing permeates everything about the organization. They just cannot sustain winning and it is mind bogglingly annoying.

Mike Shanahan is trying  to change the team’s mindset by coaching like he did when he won Super Bowls with Denver. Bruce Allen is trying to change it by reminding everyone that in the 1970s and 1980s the team was pretty awesome. But until they clear house of all the veterans that have been around this team for the last few years, I’m pretty sure the Redskins will not be able achieve any long term success. They will stop themselves every single time.

But, of course, you’ve heard that rallying cry before. No real news or shocking revelation there. Dump the old guys, bring in the new guys is the sad refrain that we’ve heard many times in the past few years and hopefully that will happen an offseason in the near future, but for now, this team cannot afford to throw away opportunities like they had against the Colts.

Yet, somehow, someway, these Redskins players will always do this.  They figure out new and creative ways to keep throwing games and seasons away. Its in their nature and you the fan will have to just deal with it…at least until they bring in enough new players to change the mindset.

The could’ve won this week, they could’ve given themselves a better positioning for the playoffs, they could’ve been in first place, they could’ve banked a win now so that one later in the year doesn’t hurt as bad…they could’ve, but they didn’t.

Getting a moral victory here is of little solace, it means nothing at all, it is just another example of this team of losers losing yet again.