Scot

McCloughan

PFT’s Mike Florio reports there’s also still wrangling over who’d have final say in Washington, McCloughan or team president Bruce Allen. The deal appears very likely to go through, but nothing is certain when an irrational presence like owner Daniel Snyder is involved.

The annual dysfunction that plagued Washington for decades before McCloughan’s hiring has resurfaced, most publicly when Cooley -- who works for the Redskins and Dan Snyder’s radio station -- suggested McCloughan has resumed drinking after alcoholism led to his ousters in San Francisco and Seattle. Per the Washington Post’s Jerry Brewer, McCloughan’s power in the organization was always less than perceived, and team president Bruce Allen has far more say. “Even during good times,” Brewer wrote, “Allen hasn’t liked that McCloughan is cast as a savior changing the culture of the organization and erasing the many mistakes of the past.” McCloughan was not allowed to hire his own scouting staff and has been prohibited from speaking to the media. And at some point in the near future, it wouldn’t be surprising if McCloughan were pushed out the door.

Publicly, team brass has insisted McCloughan would return to Redskins Park whenever he is finished dealing with “personal matters.” Privately, it appears McCloughan is being forced out or already has been. The NFL Combine is a critical venue for both draft and free agency info gathering, and teams make some of their biggest decisions of the year during this week’s tampering window and Thursday’s official start of free agency. The Washington Post’s Mike Jones believes McCloughan’s ouster will be announced after April’s draft.

Jones essentially stated that Jay Gruden’s two-year extension was a P.R. move amid organizational chaos. “And that’s the sad thing, because Scot is such a good dude,” said Jones. “Loves football. Eats, drinks, sleeps it. You talk to guys who’ve worked with him in the league, and all he does is watch football and unfortunately drink. There’s frictions that are going on there between him and (team president) Bruce Allen ... some type of blowup. This thing is headed to a divorce.” Jones guessed McCloughan’s exit will be made official after April’s draft.

The Redskins have provided little clarity on McCloughan’s absence. Asked at the Combine if McCloughan would return to work next week, team president Bruce Allen replied, “He could be. We’ll see. I’ll talk to him tonight.” Allen later stated McCloughan would return when everything was “OK.” McCloughan’s wife Jessica lashed out on Twitter on Thursday, calling reports Scot was asked to leave Redskins Park on February 20 “incorrect” and “not true.” Allen, personnel exec Doug Williams, coach Jay Gruden, and scouts Alex Santos and Scott Campbell are running the Redskins’ front office in the meantime.

Cruelly, the Redskins have let McCloughan’s issues with alcohol abuse serve as an alibi for his absence from the team, but his agent insists that’s not the case. McCloughan’s rep says his client is “very healthy,” and “in contact with the team.” At least according to the Washington Post, McCloughan was sent away because team president Bruce Allen remains mad with power and resents his subordinate. Allen’s ship has set sail from Liverpool, and is heading for an iceberg.

It is a move that has been brewing for months, but came to a head when McCloughan was conspicuously absent from the Combine. Team president Bruce Allen laughably tried to lie the absence away, but ensuing reports painted a picture of a deeply non-functional organization. The Redskins leaked that McCloughan relapsed into alcoholism, and an “anonymous source” told the Washington Post that relapse is to blame for his firing. It is possible that is true, but the Redskins leaking that information through Chris Cooley in February is at best unprofessional and at worst a sign the alcohol issue is being blown out of proportion to paper over cracks in a crumbling foundation. Whatever the reason, McCloughan is now gone while Allen and coach Jay Gruden have the power they wanted. Let’s see how long they can hold it.

It is the same reason McCloughan gave for his absence. It is certainly possible everyone is telling the truth, but it is highly irregular for a GM to miss the Combine, and there has been too much smoke about McCloughan’s declining role for there to be zero fire. Along with Allen, coach Jay Gruden, scouts Alex Santos and Scott Campbell, and personnel executive Doug Williams have reportedly taken on much bigger roles in the front office.

“As soon as the family matters are cleared up, we’ll be ok,” Allen said, referring to the death of McCloughan’s grandmother. Rumors have been running rampant about McCloughan’s absence, and Allen was asked point blank about McCloughan’s past struggles with alcohol abuse. “You know, Scot’s a great guy,” was Allen’s response. “Anyone who knows him knows he’s a great guy.” It was a non-answer. McCloughan’s future with the team is very much up in the air.

A team spokesman said McCloughan is “taking care of some family matters,” but his absence will only add to speculation McCloughan is being pushed out in Washington. Team employee Chris Cooley recently started a rumor that McCloughan has been drinking, and multiple reports out of D.C. indicate McCloughan’s power in the Redskins’ front office has been reduced and/or stripped. For the past two years, the Redskins had seemingly become a functional organization again on McCloughan’s watch. Since the 2016 season ended, the dysfunction has returned and then some.