Sports
Rick Snider » Is Zorn’s job in jeopardy?
By: Rick Snider
Examiner Sports Columnist
December 9, 2008
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| Examiner columnist Rick Snider writes that sources say Redskins coach Jim Zorn's job hinges on how the team finishes the season. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) |
Sports talk callers aren’t the only ones wondering whether the Redskins might have Bill Cowher on speed dial for 2009. Redskins Park sources are also pondering if the team’s 1-4 collapse to practically ruin its once sure playoff chances could also claim the coach.
“The honeymoon is definitely over,” said one team insider of Redskins owner Dan Snyder and Zorn.
Zorn was a late choice in February after at least six candidates were considered following Joe Gibbs’ sudden retirement. The Redskins were caught embarrassingly unaware of Gibbs’ intention despite several indications following Sean Taylor’s death six weeks earlier. Zorn was given a modest contract by NFL standards as insiders questioned whether Washington was awaiting Cowher’s possible return in 2009. Indeed, Cowher recently told The Washington Times that Snyder tried to lure him from retirement before hiring Zorn despite the owner’s earlier denial.
Snyder may be readying a season-ending option should the team collapse. Team insiders say losing to Baltimore, 24-10, on Sunday especially rankled the owner, who doesn’t like falling to a regional foe. While Snyder will surely dismiss any report of changing coaches, he did the same in October 2001 over Marty Schottenheimer, who was later fired after finishing 8-8 in his only season.
With an offense that scored 10 points or less during four recent losses, both injured tackles now sidelined and the running back and top receiver clearly limited by injuries, the Redskins (7-6) are clearly reeling when they play at Cincinnati (1-11-1) on Sunday before finishing against Philadelphia (7-5-1) and San Francisco (5-8).
Zorn yesterday conceded he has to rally the roster for a 3-0 finish for the playoffs. That’s exactly what Gibbs did best, but asking a first-year head coach to replicate a Hall of Famer’s specialty is daunting. Zorn may be channeling Napoleon Bonaparte’s “A leader is a dealer in hope,” but players are quietly watching whether Zorn can lead in a crisis.
“I’m not going to try to create some major psychology and trick anybody. ... I don’t look as our football team groping for answers from its head coach,” Zorn said. “We have to hold our team from getting so frustrated they pack it in. I don’t see this as a team in any situation has that sense of pack it in.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at rsnider@dcexaminer.com.
