Redskins Park is on lockdown.
Coach Jim Zorn’s press conference yesterday was cut short for the first time this season after the postgame presser on Sunday also ended quickly. Players were given the day off so few were interviewed. The owner wasn’t accepting media requests as usual while the executive vice president of personnel skipped his Monday radio show.
» Zorn: ‘I’m not doing well’
» In locker room, a house divided
Nobody wants to say anything and that says a lot. The Redskins are in crisis once more. After all, it’s December.
The holidays should come with hazard pay in Ashburn. There’s seldom little joy come season’s end. This time it’s Zorn who’s second-guessing himself. Whether the fall from 6-2 to 7-7 is his fault. If the offense is not only invisible, but transparent to defenses.
But the one message that should be clearly made is Zorn will return for his second season. Just a simple statement by owner Dan Snyder and the focus returns to playing Philadelphia on Sunday. Otherwise, everyone knows the silence means Snyder is test marketing fan response during the final two weeks. If Zorn loses out, will fans accept the seventh head coach in Snyder’s decade of mediocrity because Zorn wasn’t good enough rather than the owner is impatient?
It’s safer for Snyder to wait, see how the next two games go before deciding. One win should protect Zorn, but without visible backing from the owner that the coach is returning, the locker room won’t go all out in the final two games. Say Zorn is back and players can’t mentally bolt early.
Unfortunately, Zorn hasn’t received the endorsement. The coach said he’s not getting the “silent treatment” from Snyder and executive vice president Vinny Cerrato. That’s nice, but Zorn needs some help from the front office.
Zorn needed Snyder’s assistance last week when running back Clinton Portis popped off on the radio. A fine and rebuke would have told the locker room not to take shots at the coach. Instead, Zorn said Snyder told him that’s just Clinton. Wink, wink, shrug, shrug. Way to back your coach.
Left to take the blame during his limited presser, Zorn’s confidence seems impacted. That’s never good.
“I have to look at myself,” he said. “It’s all about me. … It hurts. I feel like the worst coach in America to lose the way we’re losing. …
“There’s something wrong.”
There’s something wrong throughout Redskins Park.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
