Pierre Garcon could be the unlikeliest of heroes if Paul Richardson pans out with the Washington Redskins.
The veteran receiver voiced what sounds like a winning endorsement for his former employer as Richardson was contemplating whether or not to sign the team's offer at the start of free agency.
"As soon as the (free agency) window opened up, my agent called me and he's like, 'I think this is a good look for you if we're able to make it happen,'" Richardson told the media on Thursday. "I talked to some of my guys--I talked to Pierre (Garcon). We have the same agent, we've developed a friendship and I look up to him a lot.
"I talked to him and he said, 'Man, it doesn't even matter. They need a receiver, I think you'd be a great fit there.'"
There's a lot to unpack there.
First of all, Garcon left in free agency last year after playing under head coach Jay Gruden for three years. That's long enough to know what kind of offense he likes to run and how Richardson fits into it.
It helps that Garcon has never been one to hold back when asked a question, and it's possible that he actually had more to say on the team and its inner workings. Richardson started his reply with, "it doesn't even matter," which begs the question: what doesn't even matter? It's possible--even likely--that Garcon had some less than flattering things to say about the Redskins.
During his tenure in Washington, Garcon reportedly demanded a trade, which was rebuffed by the front office. After his contract expired and he signed in San Francisco, he took some joy in watching his team give Gruden an extension during a time of bad press:
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— Pierre Garçon (@PierreGarcon) March 6, 2017What he told Richardson will likely stay between the two, but whatever it was, "it doesn't even matter." Like an ex partner who still signs off on other people dating you, sometimes that's the best you can ask for: the good outweighs the bad.
It certainly doesn't hurt that the Redskins have a need and made a sizable investment in Richardson--as they once did for Garcon.
Offense-thirsty Redskins fans should also be excited for how Richardson described his playing style.
On getting open, especially deep: "I want (Alex Smith) to know I'm always available. Just throw it. It don't matter where it is. I'm going to go get it. And I'm going to turn him into a believer."
On his confidence going over the middle: "You gotta catch me. I mean, I don't--I can't--I'm not trying to trash talk and all that stuff but you've gotta catch me."
Even after he's gone, Garcon is a gift that keeps on giving.
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