The Facts: The Redskins will trek through NFL free agency without a full-time general manager. Hours after the start of free agency, the Redskins announced the dismissal of general manager Scot McCloughan.

Diehards Line: The move comes after McCloughan was absent from Redskins Park this week. Tony Wyllie, the Redskins' senior vice president of communications, told NFL.com, "we're busy with free agency," when asked Tuesday about McCloughan's whereabouts. McCloughan's absence comes after he didn't attend the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis because of a death in his family, Redskins president Bruce Allen said. There also were multiple reports about dysfunction in the team's front office. Meanwhile, an unnamed team official told the Washington Post that McCloughan was fired because of alcohol relapses after showing up in locker room drunk. McCloughan, 46, helped steer the Redskins back to the playoffs for only the second time in eight seasons in 2015 after he was hired as the team's general manager. The Redskins have gone 17-14-1 under McCloughan's guidance of the roster. Prior to landing in Washington, McCloughan served front-office executive stints with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. He served as the 49ers' general manager during the 2008-09 seasons. The move comes at one of the busiest times of the year for NFL general managers and front offices as they focus on free agency and the draft. Like many teams, the Redskins are expected to be active in free agency and they face the prospects of their franchise-tagged QB, Kirk Cousins, asking owner Daniel Snyder to trade him.