The absence of Redskins GM Scot McCloughan at the NFL Scouting Combine has "raised speculation" over his job status with the team, according to Mike Jones of the WASHINGTON POST. But Redskins President Bruce Allen said that McCloughan will "return to work, 'just as soon as things are handled'" with a personal matter. Meanwhile, multiple agents that rep Redskins players have said that they were told McCloughan "wasn't in the office last week, and there's been some confusion with what's going on in the front office." Jones: "It's been a dark cloud hovering over the franchise just a week before the start of the NFL's free agent signing period, and it's during a time when Washington has scheduled meetings with the agents of its pending free agents this week at the combine" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/3). In Richmond, Michael Phillips writes the situation "raises questions about who is in charge of the Redskins' roster as the team enters a crucial period" (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 3/3). USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell writes Allen, who is at the Combine, "showed no signs that he is sweating the absence of his GM." It is "unknown whether or how soon McCloughan would be available to make campus visits" for colleges holding Pro Day workouts (USA TODAY, 3/3).
UNCERTAINTY AT THE TOP: Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio said of McCloughan, "There's a palpable sense that he is on his way out for whatever reason" ("PFT," NBCSN, 3/3). In DC, Jones, Maske & Clarke write while other NFL personnel execs are "focused on evaluating" prospects at the combine, "contradictory versions of McCloughan's whereabouts led to widespread confusion and perpetuated an image that the Redskins have tried desperately to shake -- that of a well-funded but ultimately unstable franchise teetering on dysfunction." But a source said that McCloughan "hadn't missed any work time at all but was busily working Thursday on scouting business in his office at Redskins Park." However, it "strains credulity that McCloughan would voluntarily skip the combine for any reason, including a family matter" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/3). ESPN's Bomani Jones said, "As far as the crazy stories go for that team, somehow this may leap to No. 1.” ESPN’s Dan Le Batard said of McCloughan, “We don't know if it's actually drinking, and we don't want to be reckless about that ... but it seems like he's been pushed out of power" ("Highly Questionable," ESPN, 3/2).
WHO'S TO BLAME? In DC, Thom Loverro writes if the Redskins "wanted to hang McCloughan out to dry -- well, the silence, as they like to say in the cliché factory, speaks volumes." Whatever the "truth is, the damage is done." McCloughan has been "reduced to a joke" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 3/3). ESPN’s Mike Greenberg said of McCloughan not attending the Combine, “I don't know what's going on in Washington" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 3/3). Also in DC, Jerry Brewer writes the problem "isn't that McCloughan is away right now," but that his relationship with the team has "become so awkward that every action seems like drama leading to a doomed conclusion." For that, "don't blame the scrutinizing media." Brewer: "Blame Bruce Allen for leading a front office that has been determined to discredit McCloughan and minimize his popularity over the past two months." McCloughan "deserves better" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/3). ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said the Redskins “once again are a mess” and McCloughan has been “marginalized." ESPN's Tony Kornheiser added, "What we’re pretty certain of right now is this team has not pledged itself to Scot McCloughan or else they would be more forthcoming and they would say, ‘He’s going to be there in X days,’ and that has not happened” (“PTI,” ESPN, 3/2).
