Jim Zorn tried to “act medium.” The Redskins coach’s return to the city he spent 16 years as a player and coach isn’t a big deal, he said. Just another game.
Sorry, if Zorn’s going to survive in Washington, he needs to lie better than that.
Players said Zorn was “giddy” while high-fiving players in practice yesterday. The school-yard energy was back despite two straight losses. Zorn’s old-school goofiness poked out occasionally afterwards. The grin returned. He couldn’t play it cool for long.
Yes, it’s going to be special for the first-year coach to face his old team.
“When I saw the schedule, even before the season, I laughed,” Zorn said. “I thought [NFL commissioner] Roger Goodell put it together and said, ‘Take that.’ I think it’s pretty cool.”
The homecoming is well timed for Zorn. The Redskins went from 6-2 darlings to 6-4 playoff possibles. Internet message boards talk of hiring Bill Cowher shortly after hailing the second coming of Joe Gibbs. The escape to the “Emerald City” must give Zorn the brains, courage and heart needed to survive an owner on his sixth coach since 1999.
Zorn is beloved in Seattle. One of eight players in the Seahawks Ring of Honor, the quarterback was 1976 NFC Rookie of the Year. He spent nine seasons in Seattle before returning as an assistant coach in 2001. After seven seasons, Zorn joined Washington in January as offensive coordinator before unexpectedly becoming head coach.
Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said Zorn “had a million ideas” as quarterbacks coach. Some seemed strange, but Holmgren didn’t like losing Zorn from his staff any more than assistants Andy Reid and Jon Gruden.
“[Zorn’s] one of my favorite guys of all time,” Holmgren said. “He’s fun quirky. He kept us light.”
The student wants to prove himself to the master, but not at the expense of the victory. There will be no funny stuff just to show Zorn’s creativity.
“I’m not going to try to show what I can do. I really hope the players show what they can do,” he said. “It could be awkward, but Mike Holmgren has always faced [former assistants] with a lot of respect and I’ll certainly try to take his lead and treat the situation with respect as well.
“We know them, they know me. Even though we know each other, Mike can’t play and I can’t play.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected]
