Washington Redskins: Scot McCloughan took the high road
Former Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan spoke publicly for the first time Tuesday since being fired in March, and he took the high road
If you were expecting former Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan to bash his former employer in his first public interview since being fired in early March, well, you would be wrong. McCloughan spoke with Washington’s DC’s 106.7 The Fan on Tuesday and discussed a wide variety of topics, including owner Daniel Snyder and head coach Jay Gruden.
The one person McCloughan didn’t mention, however, was team president Bruce Allen. That’s not exactly a surprise considering the many stories detailing the frosty relationship between the two men due, in large part, to McCloughan’s success and popularity with Washington’s raucous fan base.
In discussing Washington’s draft, McCloughan said he thought the Redskins “did a nice job, a really nice job,” per Scott Allen of The Washington Post’s D.C. Sports Bog.
Given the chance by hosts Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier to refute the notion that the Redskins used his board, McCloughan didn’t exactly deny it, saying the board was 90 percent finished going into the Combine. He did say things change after medical evaluations and underclassmen are figured into the mix, too.
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Surprisingly, McCloughan had kind things to say about Snyder saying the owner treated him very well. McCloughan was effusive in his praise for Gruden and his abilities, though, per CBS DC:
"The thing that’s cool about this organization, because I mean it, like I’ve been with three other ones, the head coach, Jay, is a good evaluator. He can see it and identify it, and I leaned on him, he leaned on me, and knowing I wasn’t there, he can still see it. I was with Holmgren, he didn’t want any part of it. Pete Carroll didn’t want any part of it, Mike Nolan didn’t want any part of it, Mike Singletary didn’t want any part of it. But Jay really, really studies. He watches a lot of tape and he can identify, which helped me out quite a bit."
The former GM also offered his thoughts on franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins. McCloughan clearly liked Cousins, although he didn’t say he liked him at his current price. He cited not getting a deal done with Cousins as an organizational decision.
This interview likely didn’t sit well with Allen. After bungling the McCloughan situation, Allen and the Redskins rallied to have a solid free-agency period and draft. Any type of goodwill he may have received for this offseason was likely erased by McCloughan’s interview. Washington fans love McCloughan. And his ability to take the high road despite all the Redskins’ organization has done and said about him this offseason reinforces those good vibes.
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In the meantime, Washington fans can own a piece of McCloughan by heading over his wife’s eBay store and purchasing his game-worn suit or hats, with proceeds to benefit — get this — the Washington Redskins’ charitable foundation and Northern Virginia Family Services.