Did the Minnesota Vikings just do the worst thing possible to the Washington Redskins?
The 3-7 Vikings fired coach Brad Childress on Monday. They seemed on the verge of anarchy behind quarterback Brett Favre. Instead, the Vikings will be more focused when they visit Washington on Sunday. Teams often gain a one-game emotional bump under a new coach, though the Dallas Morning News reports interim coaches are 21-51-1 in debut games.
Suddenly, the Redskins face two recharged teams instead of franchises who merely are bagging the final weeks when they play first Minnesota and then Dallas under Jason Garrett on Dec. 19. There goes the Redskins’ edge.
These aren’t traditional interim coaches who are giving owners a grace period to find the next leader. It’s not like 2000 when Terry Robiskie joked of moving his desk wherever Washington owner Dan Snyder wanted it over the final three weeks after Norv Turner’s dismissal.
The Redskins openly quit in finishing 1-2. Quarterback Jeff George and Robiskie argued in the hallway with the quarterback saying he didn’t care what plays the coach called because he wouldn’t be here the following year. Ironically, George himself lasted only three games under the next new coach.
Now, Leslie Frazier has a chance to remain the coach of the Minnesota Vikings in 2011. And Garrett has a similar opportunity with the Cowboys, who have won two straight since Garrett replaced Wade Phillips.
Neither coach is a placeholder, but rather a future head coach getting his chance. Garrett may even restore his reputation as the next great coaching prospect after a lackluster stretch under Phillips.
With the 2011 lockout looming, owners may opt to remain in-house rather than spend big money on Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden. Why pay $6 million annually if there’s a chance of missing an entire season? The alternative is to retain a current staffer for $5 million less.
Players can’t blow off their new bosses and think it won’t haunt them. Vikings and Cowboys players are now vying for 2011 jobs. Dog it on a play and the coach will see it on tape. Both franchises will regroup over the offseason. Cutting one more under-performing player won’t matter.
The Redskins must suddenly play the what-if game against the Vikings. Surely Frazier, the former defensive coordinator, will keep that unit intact. But Frazier may have some thoughts on revamping an underachieving offense that was a play away from the Super Bowl last season. Washington must wonder if running back Adrian Peterson now shoulders Minnesota’s offense.
The last thing Redskins coaches want is an uncertain opponent, but defensive coordinator Jim Haslett suddenly has a long week in front of him. Ironically, Haslett won his debut as the 2008 interim coach in St. Louis by beating Washington at FedEx Field — a loss that ultimately put Jim Zorn on the path toward being fired.
Isn’t karma something?
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
