Lurie Rips Dysfunction in Washington

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - Jeffrey Lurie could have taken aim at the dysfunction in the Washington Redskins' front office but the Eagles owner set his sights a little higher when penning an op-ed for Time Magazine.

Lurie blasted the polarization of the country and the ineffectiveness of our government.

Although identifying with the democrat side of the aisle, perhaps a surprise to some readers who assume all rich people are republican or conservative, Lurie's real message was pragmatism, something that seems to be some kind of mythical superpower to any politician, whether there is an R or D after his or her name.

Lurie believes the business of football could teach a lesson to those in power.

“What I have learned from football can be applied to society at large,” Lurie wrote. “Just as we intensely game-plan against an opponent in sports, we need to game plan for the reality and consequences of polarization. Extreme polarization is the opponent — not each other. A football team is made up of players from a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences and political viewpoints. What unites them is grit, determination, and the desire to win. They join in a common goal and do what is necessary to transcend their differences for the greater good of their team.”

The problem in politics is there are teams but no differences permitted within those units and a you're-either-with-us-or-against-us mentality exists among both the democrat party and a fractured republican alternative.

That was Lurie's macro take on D.C. His micro one and the reason for him hitting the keyboard was Autism.

“Imagine how we would benefit from understanding aspects of the autistic brain that can include rare mathematical, creative and other cognitive abilities that may well enhance our own brain power and human potential,” Lurie surmised.

Unfortunately for Lurie, he's swimming upstream here against intolerants from both sides.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen