All the weekend reading you might need

Maybe you've already been through the Detroit News' three-part "Behind the Scenes" series with Michigan at the Rose Bowl (uno, dos, tres), but are still looking for something to kill a little time before today's NFL wild-card playoff games begin.

Well, I realize I'm not giving you much time here if you're about to turn off your phone and lock yourself away before Jets-Patriots. (By the way, is anyone rooting for New England, just so we don't have to hear the nickname "Mangenius" anymore? I'm going for the Jets here, but I'm just curious.)

But if you needed a reminder how seriously they take their Redskins football in D.C., you might want to sit down with the Washington Post's three-part chronicle of 2006, titled "The Lost Season."

Part 1 covers the team's flawed personnel decisions, such as bringing in wide receivers Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El, and safety Adam Archuleta.

Part 2 concerns the clashes in philosophy between Joe Gibbs and the coach he turned his offense over to, Al Saunders.

Part 3 details the deterioration of the Redskins' defense, considered to possibly be the strength of the team, and asks how much blame should fall on defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

Oh, and each part is about 3,500 to 4,000 words long. Make sure that chair is well cushioned, and that you have a bottle of water with you while reading. Taking occasional breaks for eye exercises might not be a bad idea either, lest you come down with the eyestrain.