The Redskins didn’t have huge expectations around them going into this season, but with two future of Hall of Famers (at least that’s what they appeared to be before the season) in quarterback Donovan McNabb and Coach Mike Shanahan coming in, many expected this team to at least be .500+ even in a tough NFC East (again, that’s what it appeared to be before the season). Their 6-10 record is not as disappointing as some of the events that happened in Shanny’s first year in the nation’s capital.

Shanahan’s tenure in Washington started well, with the team acquiring McNabb from a division rival for a 2^nd rounder, a deal which looked like a steal and better yet a steal from a division rival. However, training camp became all about the Albert Haynesworth saga.

In case you’re not familiar with it, Haynesworth struggled in 2009 and blamed lack of leadership on the defensive side of the ball so the team brought in experienced defensive coordinator Jim Haslett. Haslett moved this team to a 3-4 defense, but that didn’t sit well with Haynesworth because, as a nose tackle, his sack totals would decline and his game would be more about freeing up space for his teammates. Haynesworth, by the way, had recently signed a 9 figure contract with the Redskins.

The Haynesworth saga continued into the season. Haynesworth barely played and accumulated a mere 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks. His player card has a whopping 8 DNPs, including each of their last 5 games. The Redskins started the season 2-2 with Donovan McNabb beating his former team the Eagles in Philly week 4, despite an 8-19 performance, thanks to Michael Vick getting hurt for the Eagles.

However, it was all downhill from there. McNabb was benched in the final 2 minutes of a 37-25 loss to the Lions (yes, those Lions) for Rex Grossman (yes, that Rex Grossman). Shanahan’s reason for doing so changed every time he was asked and ranged from, McNabb was out of shape to McNabb didn’t know the two minute offense to Rex Grossman has incriminating photos of me making out with Jay Cutler. Oh and to make matters worse, that was heading into a bye so all the Redskins heard about for two weeks (with a key game against the Eagles awaiting them after the bye) was how stupid Shanahan was for benching McNabb.

Even weirder than McNabb being benched was what followed. The Redskins gave McNabb a reported 5 years 78 million dollar contract extension with his deal being up after the season. The Redskins then went out and let Michael Vick play Madden against them (20-28, 333 yards, 8 carries, 80 yards, 6 total touchdowns, 4 passing and 2 rushing) in a 59-28 home loss for the Redskins. That wasn’t really McNabb’s fault, but still.

The Redskins sat at 4-5, essentially out of the playoff race heading into 11. McNabb had played decent, but nowhere near what was expected of him thanks to a terrible supporting cast and the lack of Andy Reid as head coach. The man may be fat and terrible at managing timeouts, but he made McNabb look better than he was and turned Vick’s career around. The Redskins went into Tennessee and won in overtime (the Vince Young hissy fit game) week 11, but dropped their next 3 to fall to 5-8.

Shanahan then did the unthinkable. He benched McNabb (massive contract and all) for Rex Grossman before their week 15 game in Dallas. That move was stupid simply because unless Grossman becomes a true franchise quarterback, all you’ve done is pissed off a potential future Hall of Famer in McNabb, who, by the way, is making a ton of money and has a huge ego after being the guy in Philly for over a decade.

Grossman did well against Dallas (25-43, 322 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 picks), but then again so did everyone last year. Grossman then struggled in Jacksonville week 16 (joining Kerry Collins and JaMarcus Russell as the only three quarterbacks to complete less than 50% of their passes in a game against the Jaguars since 2007) and struggled some more against the Giants week 17.

At the end of the season, the Redskins were exactly where they were before they brought in Shanahan. Without a quarterback. McNabb is pissed and (guess what) Grossman still sucks. This season has tarnished both the legacies of Shanahan (can’t do it without Elway) and McNabb (can’t do it without Reid) and may prevent both of them from making the Hall of Fame.

The Redskins will either have to find a suitor for McNabb’s and his contract, release McNabb (and eat some of his salary), or bring him back as a backup and hope he doesn’t destroy their chemistry again (bad idea). The Redskins also face the same options with Albert Haynesworth. They likely have to spend the 10^th pick on a quarterback, unless they want to take a chance with a mid round guy, or bring in a veteran (Kyle Orton, Vince Young). They also need to improve their offensive supporting cast and their defense (28^th vs. pass, 26^th vs. run, 31^st in total yards, 22^nd in points). It’s going to be a long offseason for this team.