Second Thoughts

Wait a sec: The 'Skins are lousy?

Redskins' fullback Brian Mitchell is swarmed by Giants' Willie Beamon (21), Corey Widmer (90) and Howard Cross (87) during first the quarter at RFK Stadium in Washington Sunday, Nov. 27, 1994. (AP Photo/Ted Mathias)
Redskins' fullback Brian Mitchell is swarmed by Giants' Willie Beamon (21), Corey Widmer (90) and Howard Cross (87) during first the quarter at RFK Stadium in Washington Sunday, Nov. 27, 1994. (AP Photo/Ted Mathias)

At 3-7, the Washington Redskins' season has gone south.

On Sunday, the Redskins lost 22-7 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after coming off a bye week. It was too much for former Redskins kick returner Brian Mitchell, who didn't waste any time airing his views on Comcast SportsNet's postgame show.

Said Mitchell: "Embarrassing. This is atrocious. It's despicable. It's pathetic. I think it's asinine. As we look at this football game and this football team. The defense was atrocious, the offensive line was terrible, dropping balls, throwing balls to people. Everybody had a part in this. There are players that, they can't play themselves into the right position. We sit here every week and we want to blame that one guy. Yes, they gave up a lot for him, but from coaching, to decision-makers, to players, everybody is playing a part.

"This team, you had two weeks to prepare for a 1-8 Buccaneers team that we constantly heard [Coach] Jay Gruden and everybody around the country say, this team is not as bad as their record states. But, they were still 1-8. You're sitting there 3-6 and this Redskins team cannot ever sit there and think that they're any much better than that team was. Now you step into a football game today and nobody played like they were desperate, like they've been embarrassed with the way things were going."

Mitchell even called out the fans, imploring them to start holding the Redskins players and coaches accountable.

"Start demanding greatness," Mitchell said. "You control what happens on that football team. But too many times we sit there and we kiss this team's a**, because we see a burgundy and gold person wearing it. What you've got to start doing is make the team understand you mean business. I'm going to stop sitting up here and just supporting you at all wills, spending money I probably don't even have, to make this team feel so good about itself and sit back and do nothing about it but complain. No, make them understand that you are not going to be playing anymore."

And if the Redskins don't like the criticism, Mitchell said they need to look at themselves.

"This week today, even in the bye week, they still were complaining about who doesn't like this, and the media this and the media that," Mitchell said. "Focus on football. You're paid to be football players, and if I can see a football team and 53 players for one week, I will be the happiest man in this world. But I tell you, I haven't seen a football team with a lot of football players for many years."

The truth hurts.

Headlines

• From Keith Spera of nola.com: "Steal a ball thrown to visiting team's fan at a New Orleans Saints home game? That's a public shaming from local sports media in an article that even names you so other Who Dats know you are."

• From fark.com: "Kevin Harvick wins NASCAR Sprint Cup. Personally, I haven't been this excited over a fake championship win since Daniel Bryan at Wrestlemania 30."

Sports quiz

How many punts and kickoffs did Brian Mitchell return for touchdowns in his career?

Answer

14 (nine punts and four kickoffs)

Sports on 11/18/2014

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