"I was wallowing in the mediocrity of the Jay Gruden years. As fans are sometimes wont to do, I mentioned how stupid my team had been for letting the popular special teams star Lorenzo Alexander depart via free agency a few years earlier. He eventually ended up with the Buffalo Bills, where he became a Pro Bowl linebacker. My friend very politely explained that I didn't know what I was talking about."
"Alexander left for a variety of reasons, including some shady dealings by previous ownership that resulted in a league-imposed penalty. But what my friend pointed out is that he was never going to become a star linebacker in Washington. He didn't fit the team's needs at the time. More importantly, with promising younger players like Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith - the latter of whom is now back on the playing staff - Washington had better options."
Team roster decisions often reflect fit, depth and positional needs rather than simple talent judgments. Lorenzo Alexander left Washington for multiple reasons including prior ownership issues, and he lacked a role that would have made him a star linebacker for that roster. Nick Whiteside's recent emergence with Detroit resulted from injuries and opportunity, illustrating how backups can perform when needed. Cornerback depth is especially fluid, with injuries and situational requirements creating chances for lesser-known players. Evaluating departures through the lens of team context reduces buyer's remorse when former players succeed elsewhere.
Read at Riggo's Rag
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