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  6. article_body => "<p>NFL football gets played at violent speeds by gifted athletes. The folks on the field must be focused.<\/p>\n<p>For fans, however, things can shift, and for Redskins fans, that shift appears to have happened.<\/p>\n<p>Washington got eliminated from the playoffs last week after losing to the Titans. This week, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/after-critical-comments-coaching-staff-redskins-release-dj-swearinger\">the team released&nbsp;Pro Bowl alternate safety DJ Swearinger<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/redskins-make-major-changes-business-operations-brian-lafemina-out\">fired Chief Operating Officer Brian Lafemina and a host of other business executives<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Fans damn near rioted.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Swearinger was playing at a high level, and Lafemina had been on the job less than a year. Maybe the two things shouldn't be compared, but that is two major news events for one week.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Redskins head coach Jay Gruden explained that the firings in the business office would have no bearing on this week's matchup against the Eagles.<\/p>\n<p>\"I didn't even know about it,\" the coach said. \"It's unfortunate, I've gotten to know some of those guys and I'm sad for them, but I've had nothing to do with any of that.\"<\/p>\n<p>He also explained that getting rid of Swearinger was not popular, but he felt it necessary.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\"I didn't expect everybody to be happy about it. I wish it would have never happened, really to be honest with you, because I like D.J. and I like what he brought to this football team, his energy and his compassion and competitiveness.\"<\/p>\n<p>For fans, however, the front office moves might be more important.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Bigger deal for Redskins fans<\/p>&mdash; JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JPFinlayNBCS\/status\/1078377914276765696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 27, 2018<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n<p>Twitter polls are hardly precise, and context means more than what gets explained. Keep in mind that for folks buying tickets and paying attention to the Redskins, the team will again miss the playoffs this year. That makes the third-straight season.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The big picture, though, shows that in a world of chaos for Redskins fans, little focus seems to be pointed at Sunday's game against the Eagles.<\/p>\n<p>For Philadelphia, it matters.&nbsp;The Eagles need to beat the Redskins and get help from the Bears to again make the playoffs.<\/p>\n<p>There has been chaos in Philly. Quarterback Carson Wentz is again shut down for the year with injury, and backup Nick Foles has rallied the team. Can Foles&nbsp;get the same magic going he did in 2017, that ended with a Super Bowl trophy?&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For many Washington fans, knocking the Eagles out of the playoffs carries plenty of weight, especially after last year's crazy Super Bowl run. For some Burgundy and Gold fans, particularly on social media, there's far less interest&nbsp;in Sunday's result as in the events of the week.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For a broad selection of Redskins fans, things seem to be at a crossroads. Players and coaches must be focused, but after a tumultuous week, and a tumultuous month, and really, a tumultuous season, some fans aren't worried about the Eagles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And that can't be good.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>MORE REDSKINS NEWS:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>A Better Draft Pick: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/2019-nfl-draft-who-root-week-17-if-you-are-washington-redskins-fan\">Which Week 17 results can help the 'Skins<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>3 reasons to watch:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/even-without-playoff-implications-here-are-three-good-reasons-redskins-fans-should-watch\" target=\"_self\">Why fans should tune in to Week 17<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>The Ashburn circus:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/6-weeks-redskins-have-been-circus-so-what-happens-next\" target=\"_self\">What happens next with 'Skins?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Change of Plans:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/dj-swearingers-sudden-release-alters-redskins-offseason-plans\">How Swearinger's release impacts offseason<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Redskins

Redskins

NFL football gets played at violent speeds by gifted athletes. The folks on the field must be focused.

For fans, however, things can shift, and for Redskins fans, that shift appears to have happened.

Washington got eliminated from the playoffs last week after losing to the Titans. This week, the team released Pro Bowl alternate safety DJ Swearinger and fired Chief Operating Officer Brian Lafemina and a host of other business executives. 

Fans damn near rioted. 

Swearinger was playing at a high level, and Lafemina had been on the job less than a year. Maybe the two things shouldn't be compared, but that is two major news events for one week. 

Redskins head coach Jay Gruden explained that the firings in the business office would have no bearing on this week's matchup against the Eagles.

"I didn't even know about it," the coach said. "It's unfortunate, I've gotten to know some of those guys and I'm sad for them, but I've had nothing to do with any of that."

He also explained that getting rid of Swearinger was not popular, but he felt it necessary. 

"I didn't expect everybody to be happy about it. I wish it would have never happened, really to be honest with you, because I like D.J. and I like what he brought to this football team, his energy and his compassion and competitiveness."

 

For fans, however, the front office moves might be more important. 

Twitter polls are hardly precise, and context means more than what gets explained. Keep in mind that for folks buying tickets and paying attention to the Redskins, the team will again miss the playoffs this year. That makes the third-straight season. 

The big picture, though, shows that in a world of chaos for Redskins fans, little focus seems to be pointed at Sunday's game against the Eagles.

For Philadelphia, it matters. The Eagles need to beat the Redskins and get help from the Bears to again make the playoffs.

There has been chaos in Philly. Quarterback Carson Wentz is again shut down for the year with injury, and backup Nick Foles has rallied the team. Can Foles get the same magic going he did in 2017, that ended with a Super Bowl trophy? 

For many Washington fans, knocking the Eagles out of the playoffs carries plenty of weight, especially after last year's crazy Super Bowl run. For some Burgundy and Gold fans, particularly on social media, there's far less interest in Sunday's result as in the events of the week. 

For a broad selection of Redskins fans, things seem to be at a crossroads. Players and coaches must be focused, but after a tumultuous week, and a tumultuous month, and really, a tumultuous season, some fans aren't worried about the Eagles. 

And that can't be good. 

MORE REDSKINS NEWS: