Gibbs myth debunked; speculation taxes Zorn
ASHBURN – The day started with a rumor about a former coaching legend possibly returning. That was debunked. Fast.
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Joe Gibbs isn’t returning as some sort of overseer; so say multiple sources close to him. Yet the surreal atmosphere around the Redskins did not end with that scene.
The head coach, possibly entering his last game, talked more about what his best friend said on the radio. The secondary coach, mentioned as an interim candidate for a job not even open yet, discussed his coaching aspirations.
“You have to make sure what guy you’re dealing with,” Gray said. “Albert can go off in an ambulance and two plays later he’s coming back. We understand that right now and it’s not a total panic. If Andre Carter goes off, then all of a sudden it’s like wait a minute, something is seriously wrong. We understand who we’re dealing with.”» Haynesworth (ankle), defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin (elbow) and Clinton Portis (ankles) all sat out practice Thursday. Safeties Chris Horton and Kareem Moore also sat out; both are sick. Haynesworth and Griffin both are expected to play Monday vs. Philadelphia.» Punter Hunter Smith said he will test his right groin in practice Friday. He has missed the past two games.» The Eagles are equally banged up: defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee), receiver Kevin Curtis (knee), linebacker Omar Gaither (foot/quadriceps) and corner Dimitri Patterson (hand) all sat out practice. Gaither will not play Monday and might require surgery on his foot.» The Redskins are still waiting to get final word on left tackle Chris Samuels, who has stenosis and left the Carolina game with a stinger in his neck. The injury could be season, and career, threatening. Samuels did not play vs. the Chiefs and will miss Monday’s game vs. Philadelphia.» Receiver Devin Thomas will make his second straight start ahead of Malcolm Kelly. Thomas did not catch a pass this past week vs. Kansas City and only had two attempts thrown his way.
“I wasn’t getting enough out of Malcolm,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. “Devin kept getting better and better. He was putting the effort in all over the place … . I don’t know if there’s a start-up cost, but I like what he’s doing. The biggest improvement I’ve seen in him is the lack of errors on the field as we had last year with him. He has more confidence. I’m saying it’s a matter of time.”
And the offensive coordinator talked about the need to practice the new play-calling arrangement.
The part of the day that felt even more odd: discussing football.
“It’s the week; you have to make sure it doesn’t drain you mentally,” Redskins receiver Antwaan Randle El said.
It’s certainly taxed Redskins coach Jim Zorn, who once more had to answer questions about comments made by best friend Steve Largent on a Seattle radio station, where he criticized the Redskins and said Zorn considered quitting.
Zorn said he spoke with Largent Wednesday.
“What can I do?” Zorn said. “It just created another thing to talk about. I really want to get to football and not all the stuff going on. That’s what I’m going to try and concentrate on.”
Which is what Jerry Gray would like to do as well. But rumors persist that if the Redskins fire Zorn, Gray would be named the interim coach.
He went through this when he coached in Buffalo, too.
“You have to let it go and do what you have to do,” Gray said. “I know what my job is here and that’s to make sure they don’t score touchdowns. We have to stay focused and not worry about what everyone else is doing. If we start looking over our shoulder, we’ll be in big trouble.”
But he admitted that he’d someday like to coach.
“Of course,” he said. “If you get a chance to do that, you want to do that. You want to make sure that you’re not just an assistant your whole career. If it happens, it happens. I’m old-fashioned and what you put up is what you get. If you put up great numbers, you should get rewarded and if you don’t, who cares?”
Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Sherman Smith said he and Sherman Lewis will practice their new play-calling arrangement in practice Friday. In games, Lewis will call plays from the press box and Smith will relay the call in to quarterback Jason Campbell.
Smith said he was part of a similar setup once in Tennessee.
“There were startup costs to that,” he said. “There were delay of game [penalties], and that’s natural. It can’t be helped.”
Smith said Zorn being stripped of play-calling duties hurt the offensive staff.
“We’re all disappointed,” he said. “It’s also a reflection on us. We all feel some responsibility, it’s just that he’s held accountable.”
