Written by Jerry Brewer at Washington Post.com
Jay Gruden now is the dependable one. In a Washington Redskins franchise with a default setting of disorder and upheaval, the coach has survived three seasons and made good progress, using his relaxed demeanor, creative offensive mind and high tolerance for nutty management to prosper in the NFL’s most capricious environment.
For his solid work, Gruden celebrated his 50th birthday Saturday night by receiving a two-year contract extension, a first in Daniel Snyder’s coach-eating ownership tenure. If Gruden has had a more lucrative birthday, then we all should wish to be adopted by his family. It was a reward he earned, for certain, even though he’s not as appreciated publicly as he should be for inheriting a mess and producing a competitive team that has posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in two decades. It also was a positive public-relations maneuver at the end of a terrible week of controversy and confusion surrounding the future of General Manager Scot McCloughan.
Stability, at last.
But how long will it last?
In Washington’s bizarre state, even the right thing comes with an asterisk. The extension isn’t just about merit. It’s about security, too. It’s about giving Gruden extra money and perhaps time to help the organization endure what might go down with McCloughan and quarterback Kirk Cousins.
The appearance of stability might help Washington get through free agency and make a more persuasive argument for Cousins to agree to a long-term deal. But there are clouds still hovering if you care to look up, and it makes sense to recommit to Gruden before bracing for what’s next.
It would be occupational torture to make Gruden endure lame-duck innuendo after an offseason of dramatic change. Gruden already has lost his offensive coordinator, Sean McVay, who is the new Los Angeles Rams head coach. He fired defensive coordinator Joe Barry and replaced him with Greg Manusky. Now his general manager has an uncertain status after missing the NFL Scouting Combine. And the offense that Gruden spent three years developing into the league’s third-ranked unit could lose its top two wide receivers, Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson, in free agency as well as Cousins, the prolific quarterback who could still be traded despite Washington placing the franchise tag on him.
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