Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports

In 1999, Dan Snyder purchased the Washington Redskins following the death of previous owner Jack Kent Cooke. The $800 million NFL deal, which included Jack Kent Cooke Stadium — now FedEx Field — was the most expensive sports transaction at the time. To say the least, Redskins fans were worried about the future.

With the recent emergence of superstar rookies QB Robert Griffin III and RB Alfred Morris, Redskins fans are now able to place faith in their players. These players, along with TE Fred Davis and OLB Brian Orakpo, are and always have been Redskins. The days of placing faith in washed-up legends like Jason Taylor, Albert Haynesworth and Donovan McNabb are over. The Redskins are now building from the bottom and the future is very bright.

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Many claim that this recent success is solely attributed to the continuing legend of current Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan. However, keep climbing the ladder because Snyder also deserves some praise. After all, Snyder did hire Shanahan in 2010. Rumors have also circulated that it was Snyder who ultimately picked Griffin, with Shanahan content to give current backup QB Kirk Cousins a shot.

Before Shanahan, six previous head coaches were hired and fired by Snyder, with the Redskins losing 55 percent of their games and only reaching the playoffs three times in 12 years. This compiled with Snyder suing newspaper writers for slander, raising ticket prices, banning signs in FedEx Field and taking defaulting season-ticket holders to court had Redskins fans on the verge of rebellion. Now, the defending NFC East Champions with the 2012 Rookie of the Year award winner, Griffin, have a dedicated fan base ready to follow their team to the Super Bowl.

Snyder has also greatly promoted the Redskins Franchise and helped the local community through various charitable foundations. His business savvy has made the Redskins the second most profitable NFL franchise, worth over $1.6 Billion, and with Griffin jerseys breaking record sales, the franchise can only go up.

Thomas is a Sports Writer writer for www.RantSports.com.  Follow him on Twitter @tmford88, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google