1. Bruce Allen knows you can’t rely on free agency alone to rebuild the Redskins. An uncapped year does not guarantee a team can buy a title. First off, a player would have to be in their sixth year to become a free agent. So that will cut down the field of attractive candidates. And more often than not many of the top players resign with their teams. So the draft will become a big deal. One thing I’ve heard about Mike Shanahan is that he loves to take what others perceive as risks in the draft. Leads to high rates of failure and also some big successes. By the way, Allen said the Redskins don’t have to rebuild. Nobody admits such a thing. It will be hard, though, to return to prominence in one season when you might need as many as four starters along the offensive line, a new quarterback and a new running back.
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2. Chris Cooley was asked about his future. It’s not as funny a question as it sounds considering the way Fred Davis played in his absence. But it’s only pertinent if Mike Shanahan (or whomever replaces Zorn) does not want two pass-catching tight ends. Bruce Allen told Sonny Jurgensen that he preferred having one tight end who could catch and one who could block.
“I would hope that what I’ve done on the field here is enough of an assurance for me,” Cooley said. “I don’t have much of a concern. I’m sure I’ll be here next year.”
3. One thing I’ve heard about Allen from those who have worked with him, including former Redskins quarterback Doug Williams, is that he’s a good listener. Williams said it a few times. So I doubt it was a coincidence that Allen harped on finding a strong leader after having talked with a few of the players. They harped on leadership, and discipline, in their season-ending interviews with us. Granted, Mike Shanahan already was in the Redskins’ sights and anyone would want a strong leader. But that’s also what the players wanted — and will get.
4. Shanahan is considered a control freak; I’m guessing he would call it paying attention to every detail of the organization. But I talked to someone today who is tight with several people in the Denver organization who absolutely loved him. He created a positive atmosphere in the building, the source said. That’s been hard to do under Dan Snyder. Very hard.
5. When the players talked about what they would miss about Jim Zorn, they always talked about what a good guy he was and about his stories. He would say things that appeared rather corny to a group of grown men. But they really didn’t say anything about him getting a raw deal. And they most definitely won’t miss the situation that was created by having an inexperienced head coach. In Washington that means players such as Clinton Portis can take their grievances over the coach’s head. I doubt that will happen under a Shanahan (it didn’t happen under Joe Gibbs). But it was clear the players did not like what had been created. It helps that Vinny Cerrato is gone; he, like Dan Snyder, would allow this to happen.
“I just know some guys have more say than other guys,” Redskins running back Rock Cartwright said. “I’m not getting into no names, but I know it.”
6. I remember hearing from a key source in September that Zorn already had lost the players. At the time many said, no, he had not lost him. But in hearing them today, they’ve been frustrated for a while with his reign. Wasn’t personal, but just the way some players took advantage and the lack of clout by Zorn to prevent those things from happening.
7. Albert Haynesworth does not have a lot of friends in the locker room.
8. Clinton Portis does not have a lot of friends in the locker room.
9. As former Washington Times beat writer Ryan O’Halloran pointed out, it might be tough for special teams coach Danny Smith to stick around with Bobby April now on the market. He’s considered one of the top special teams coaches. Smith is considered a good one, too. But Shanahan will pick his own staff so that means there are no guarantees anyone will stick around. Even Jerry Gray.
10. Carlos Rogers said he wants to return next season. It’ll depend on if he’s a restricted or unrestricted free agent, which depends on the collective bargaining agreement.
“In my heart I’ll be back,” he said. “I want to be here period, dealing with the players and friends and the relationships I have built around here…. I’ve heard a lot of good things about [Allen]. He drafted my best friend in Tampa, Carnell. He loved Carnell. I heard a lot of good things about him.”
11. If Joe Bugel does retire — which would not be a surprise at all — then the Redskins likely will hold a press conference for him. It could be Tuesday; we had heard earlier in the day that Wednesday would be the Shanahan presser. Bugel deserves it for the work he’s done over the years. It has not been a terrific second stint in Washington; Bugel did not develop the young guys the way he had the first time around. That’s not all on him; you have to have the proper talent to work with and I doubt anyone could get more out of a Stephon Heyer than Bugel. Mainly because the kid isn’t all that talented. Then again, he wasn’t that good in the game, but the point is: Bugel may have gotten the most out of him. But this is a good time for him to leave. And he’ll always be a legend in Washington.
12. From defensive end Renaldo Wynn: “I just think that anytime you have a head coach, he needs to be the head coach. Everyone needs to buy into that.” That was not the case with Jim Zorn. Hard to buy into someone you can criticize on the radio without repercussions.
13. From Phillip Daniels, “This is my job. I take it very seriously. They have to do the same thing. You have to come in with the mindset that you will get better and, you know, just listen to the coach. Do what they ask you to do; be on time for meetings. We can’t win if we’re not all together. We have to be a team.”
Who could he be talking about? Hmmm.
