Shutdown Corner - NFL

Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder takes a lot of heat from a lot of people these days, but his harshest critic might be John Riggins, a beloved former Redskins running back. These days, Riggins is a D.C. sports media personality, and he doesn't hold back on the topic of Snyder.

It's like Riggo saw this video of Daniel Snyder being just a tiny bit relatable, sensed that a few people didn't hate Snyder as much as they did before, and immediately wanted to rectify that. Riggins was on Showtime's "Inside the NFL" on Wednesday night and unleashed his coldest words yet. Here are some of Riggo's words, via Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post:

"...This is a bad guy that owns this team. I'll just tell you that upfront. Bad guy. And if the Commissioner is worried about potential new owners and saying some of these guys shouldn't apply, he might want to police his own inside guys..."

Cris Collinsworth tried to maybe easy Riggins in the direction of saying that Snyder is a bad GM instead of a bad person, but Riggins made it clear what he meant.

"Let me put it to you this way, Cris, this person's heart is dark."

His heart is dark. Not a lot of gray area there. It would be hard to say something worse about a person than, "His heart is dark."

To me, that means that this is a person trying to do evil. This is a person who wants to, or doesn't care about, hurting other people.. He's not misguided, he's not trying to do the right thing and failing, it's not his fault because his daddy didn't hug him enough as a child ... he's just a bad person who seeks to spread misery. His heart pumps not with warm, life-giving human blood, but a frigid, black bile that fuels his foul existence.

Is that about what you're saying, Riggo? Because that's how I interpret it, and it's a little messed up, my man.

After the relative peace of a bye week, the Redskins return on Sunday to play the Falcons in Atlanta. 

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  1. Jesus
    1. Posted by Jesus Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:27 pm EST

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    Riggins definitely calls it like he sees it. The question of Dan Snyder's "evil" is still in doubt, after all it is just football. It's not like he's Hitler or Stalin.
  2. Legal Eagle
    2. Posted by Legal Eagle Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:34 pm EST

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    I'm sensing John Riggins took a few to many shots to the head as a player. Now I don't really like Dan Snyder, but I think there are many more outlets for someone with a "black heart" can take their evil. Snyder is just extremely cocky at being GM, he's like a kid that plays Madden and instead of building up non fun positions like the O-Line, he just spends his cash on Skill positions. But is he evil, not in the slightest and John Riggins needs to re-evaluate evil.
  3. Nicholas M
    3. Posted by Nicholas M Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:43 pm EST

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    "Yes, give in to your hate, Riggins. Gooood, gooood."
    --Dan Snyder as the Emperor from Star Wars
  4. sam spade
    4. Posted by sam spade Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:44 pm EST

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    Do you think that Riggins presents himself as an ugly bully? do you think that his comments about Dan Snyder go too far?
  5. Anton
    5. Posted by Anton Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:49 pm EST

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    There are a lot of owners in basketball and football that need to go. Problem is that you'd have to get them to quit. Some owners simply don't care about the team because they know that devoted fans like Cleveland Browns fans will be there every game. Cleveland Browns, two years ago I think, were almost in the playoffs and then fell off from there. Detroit Lions is a prime example of an organization with a losing culture, even when they do have good players. That incompetence trickles down to the players and thus there you have it - the players will try and try until they realize they are only there for a paycheck. I was shocked to see the Lions celebrating....a WIN as if it was the Super bowl or something. That is the sign of losing. In basketball, the L.A. clippers are another team that basically suck. The owner could move them to Anaheim instead of playing in L.A.. How about get a style of play instead of having several different players who are designed for different styles of play. Detroit Pistons are good, but they are biased when it comes to Dumars - won't criticize him for nothing. He should be though. 6 years of Eastern domination and only grabbed one title. Now, that is pathetic.
    Back to football, the Raiders are another crappy team that has lost its edge and what made them special. Grandpa Al Davis needs to retire. And whoever the hell keep hiring Mangini for head coach should be fired automatically.
    Jerry Jones is okay - at least sane and competent. He is the football version of the Yankees or the Lakers. Buy up superstars and expect a title.
    There are a lot of teams that struggle but show signs of potential, yet a few have to blame their owners for the mess they are in. Snyder could be better if he hadn't made a scapegoat out of Zorn and run his stadiums like a totalitarian idiot not allowing specific signs to be displayed. Not everyone can be as good as a young Al Davis or J. Jones.
  6. Patrón
    6. Posted by Patrón Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:01 pm EST

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    #3, Awesome. I hate Snyder but I'm not sure he's evil, just dumb and greedy. Like our ex-president
  7. David
    7. Posted by David Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:06 pm EST

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    #6
    Clinton's not that dumb.
  8. Jason R
    8. Posted by Jason R Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:07 pm EST

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    Does anyone else think that the cat the played the main character on The Wire should answer any future casting calls for a movie about John Riggins? Anyway, Snyder is in his own way as bad as the owners of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
  9. steven h
    9. Posted by steven h Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:15 pm EST

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    im gonna have to agree with riggins on this one...
  10. Max_Powers
    10. Posted by Max_Powers Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:20 pm EST

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    Snyder won't stoop to the level of the Pittsburgh Pirates until he trades away Campbell, Portis, and big Al Haynesworth for practice squad guys at the trade deadline to save money and claims every year is a "rebuilding year"
  11. unknown
    11. Posted by unknown Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:22 pm EST

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    Too bad we can't trade owners. I'd like to swap Al Davis to the REdskins.
  12. Fred M
    12. Posted by Fred M Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:25 pm EST

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    Riggins knows the guy. It's not just about how he mismanaged a football team. It's how he runs his businesses. It's how he treats his employees and customers. It' show he made his money. It's the bad stuff he donates his money to. Sounds like Riggins is right on the money.
  13. Daniel V
    13. Posted by Daniel V Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:25 pm EST

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    Reason #1,244 to love John Riggins!!
  14. bbuck
    14. Posted by bbuck Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:27 pm EST

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    Riggins is my hero.
  15. Patrick O
    15. Posted by Patrick O Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:27 pm EST

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    Doesn't anyone remember all the idiotic things Riggins has said over the years? He is a babbling idiot. I have no idea if Daniel Snyder is in league with the evil lord of darkness or not. But Riggins needs to start taking his lithium again.
  16. Isaac M
    16. Posted by Isaac M Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:40 pm EST

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    If Snyder's heart is dark, it's because it's draining out trying to pump enough blood to his brain to make it function properly...
  17. SwitzerFan1
    17. Posted by SwitzerFan1 Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:44 pm EST

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    "Cris Collinsworth tried to maybe easy Riggins in the direction of saying..."
    MJD, you are incompetent. You barely speak the English language, and you're too lazy to proofread your own blogs. Get off Yahoo. No way this garbage should be featured on Yahoo's main NFL page, or even allowed on the site.
  18. Caroline M.
    18. Posted by Caroline M. Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:45 pm EST

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    LOL at fools trying to defend Snyder. Buttwipes like Snyder shouldn't be allowed to own teams.
  19. VD
    19. Posted by VD Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:17 pm EST

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    Snyder is not evil. Riggo is a sore loser for getting thrown out of redskins radio. If Riggo thinks Snyder is money minder, he should look in the mirror. Riggo charges over $200 for an autograph. Snyder didn't get there because he wasn't money minded. Snyder loves the team and spends money unlike other owners. He just needs to get a good GM. Snyder is very charitable. So is Darrell Green. I do not see a John Riggins foundation anywhere helping kids, not to mention charge $200 for an autograph. Riggo is a washed up loud mouth drunk who became who he was because of Joe Gibbs and having no loyalty, hung him out to dry on his radio show. Riggo thinks he is funny, not!. Instead of helping the redskins, he spewed garbage out of his loud mouth. Good Snyder canned his ass from the radio.
  20. Victor
    20. Posted by Victor Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:21 pm EST

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    And I'm not racist against Jews or anything...but this guy is GREEDY...and fits the stereotype very well.
  21. The Legend
    21. Posted by The Legend Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:24 pm EST

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    Not a Redskins fan, but live in DC and love Riggo. This could have something to do w/ the fact that Riggo was canned by SportsTalk 980 (owned by Snyder) shortly after he was talked into moving to DC from New York, where he had been doing the show from. Could be a case of sour grapes, Riggo never killed Snyder this much when he was doing his show here. Then again, ripping on your boss would have gotten him canned faster than he was....
  22. CZ-2468112
    22. Posted by CZ-2468112 Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:41 pm EST

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    MJD - are you a liberal little wusso? Because that's how I interpret your posts. And that's a sad statement about you, little boy.
  23. Paul
    23. Posted by Paul Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:46 pm EST

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    I'm on Team Riggo. Snyder is the worst type of Boss: a Bully. He's a guy who uses his position for bad behavior under the excuse of "being tough to get results". Bravo for being the only guy (in maybe forever) to call out a bad apple in the business that is the NFL. Skins are doomed with this owner. Mostly because no decent GM/Coach will put up with the moronic behavior. If you're working for Snyder, you ain't living well.
  24. Timothy B
    24. Posted by Timothy B Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:58 pm EST

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    A-Team are you Larry Johnson or Larry the Cable Guy? How is liberal synonymous with "wusso." which is obviously a word that reverberated from between the walls of your gigantic skull? You call yourself A-Team and try and put someone down by calling them "Little Boy." You must be a brain surgeon and a Redskin's fan.
  25. Oliver Klosov
    25. Posted by Oliver Klosov Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:01 pm EST

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    Riggo is trying to make a buck - easiest way - jump on the good side of a winner (see Michael Wilbon and Jordon) or the bad side of a looser (Riggo on Midget Boy) - then you ride until the horse breaks down...
    Truth is - Snyder love the Redskins to a fault - throws money after money after money - this isn't a computer facility, and money won't buy you love... Riggo, needing somewhere to live and someone to buy his next bottle of Jack Daniel's, jumps on the highway to hell and spits on everyone in the parade...
    and who give's a S*@T?? only those in DC... watching the only team they could ever hope to win, go down the drain like the Terps, Hoyas, Capitals, Wizards...etc..etc..etc..etc.... welcome to Cleveland with a White House....

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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