1. Why did Jerry Gray interview?
Because minority coaches are told not to turn down interview opportunities, one NFL source said. It gets his name out there and he gets more experience in this situation. Some, notably Pro Football Talk, said it could hurt his future. Perhaps. Other coaches who don’t know him definitely could view him differently now. Others won’t. If Gregg Williams got a head coaching job — which is far from a guarantee — Gray likely would join him. We’ve heard that Gray is calm about his role in helping the Redskins fulfill the Rooney Rule requirement. Which makes us wonder why he’d be that way and what else he has going on. If he’s not retained by the organization, then by bailing out a franchise, he might have damaged his reputation.
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2. Do they still care?
To a certain degree they do. They want to win to help erase, temporarily, the bitter taste in their mouths from the rest of the season. But there’s also no doubt that many are spending as much time wondering about their futures and about what changes will be made here. It’s also difficult for everyone to keep preparing at this time of the year when the season is lost. They’ll be helped facing San Diego, which has clinched its playoff seeding and won’t play its starters all game. But even if the Redskins do care, it may not be noticeable if the offensive line continues its recent performance.
3. When will Jim Zorn get fired?
It would be surprising if his fate isn’t finalized by Monday evening. At the latest. There’s no reason to let this one linger considering even Zorn knows his fate (though he said on his radio show Tuesday that he wants to remain the coach). And the leader to replace him remains Mike Shanahan. The former Denver coach’s agent has apparently called other teams about possible openings and his options appear to be limited. Few teams want to pay the sort of money it will take to get Shanahan; fewer want to give him the control he’s apparently seeking. One team is willing. Thus, expect him in Washington sometime next week.
