“I just feel like the worst coach in America to have to lose the way we’re losing.” Thus spake Redskins Head Coach Jim Zorn, finally turning that harsh spotlight on himself. After weeks of complaining about “execution” [a fancy word for "the players are screwing up my beautiful plays"], Zorn allowed that he deserved some blame for the team’s swoon — now 5 losses in 6 games.
Is Zorn the worst coach in America? Of course not. He’s not even the worst coach in the NFL. That title belongs to Rod Marinelli, Head Coach of the 0-14 Detroit Lions and don’t you forget it. Nevertheless, it is a welcome development that Zorn has now discovered the virtues of public self-criticism after weeks of luxuriating in public criticism of others.
“To me, it’s all about me,” Zorn said. “And I need to check my plan of attack — and all of our staff. And then we need to reevaluate what we’re doing to see if we’re going in the right direction. I really believe we’re building a great foundation, but certainly, when these things get strung across the board, I certainly take — have to take, and do take — the responsibility for some of these games that just are not turning out like we have planned.”
Redskins owner Daniel Snyder [The Li'l General] and his main man Vinny Cerrato [together they form the crime-fighting duo Snyderrato!] have refused to give Zorn a public stamp of approval, something I regard as somewhat ominous for Coach Zorn. When the Redskins front office goes silent on a coach’s future, it usually means that coach’s future with the team is nasty, brutish and short.
The stomach ailment that knocked CB Carlos Rogers out of the starting lineup last Sunday is still around and he may not get the start against the Eagles this Sunday either. In other injury news, WLB Rocky McIntosh‘s injured knee isn’t much better and he could also lose his starting spot. McIntosh was benched at halftime against the Bengals and backup Alfred Fincher played decently in his place. Defensive Coordinator Greg Blache is concerned that McIntosh isn’t playing well while playing hurt. SS Chris Horton, who missed the Bengals game, is expected back on Sunday. WR Santana Moss and QB Jason Campbell, nursing minor injuries, should be back today. DT Anthony Montgomery and MLB London Fletcher are banged up and will miss practice time but should play on Sunday. SLB Marcus Washington has a chance to play on Sunday and the same goes for DT Cornelius Griffin and RT Jon Jansen.
Michael Wilbon thinks the Redskins would be crazy to fire Jim Zorn. This is the Redskins, Wilbon. What’s your point?
Remember the free agent class of 2006? I’m talking about WR Antwaan Randle El, WR Brandon Lloyd, TE Christian Fauria, DE Andre Carter and QB Todd Collins. The last, Collins, is the only one among that group that has earned his money and he has started only 4 games. The rest have been expensive disappointments. Just another nail in the coffin of the reputation of Washington’s front office.
The Redskins have 45 players signed through at least next season and are currently about $2 million over next year’s $123 million salary cap. [2010, you will recall, is an uncapped year.] Here is a list of players who could be on the way out and their cap value next season:
CB Shawn Springs — $6 million in cap savings
LB Marcus Washington — $4.5 million in cap savings
DT Cornelius Griffin — $2.1 million in cap savings
DE Andre Carter — cost $300,000 more to cut him than to keep him
RT Jon Jansen — cost $1.5 million more to cut him than to keep him
DE Jason Taylor — $8.5 million in cap savings
There is also the case of DE Phillip Daniels, who was supposed to be the starting DLE this season before season-ending injury paved the way for the awful Jason Taylor trade. Daniels is 35 years old and owed $4 million on his current deal. It’s hard to see him coming back unless at a greatly reduced rate.
This is a list of Washington’s unrestricted free agents:
DE Demetric Evans
CB DeAngelo Hall
LG Pete Kendall
OL Jason Fabini
LB Khary Campbell
LB Alfred Fincher,
Mike Green
DT Ryan Boschetti
LS Ethan Albright
DeAngelo Hall will get a lot of interest from other teams, but if Washington is going to cut Shawn Springs, re-signing Hall would be a priority. Campbell is a special teams leader and Ethan Albright is a very steady long snapper. Both are also cheap. Keeping Demetric Evans would be a good idea since the rest of the defensive ends are disappointing. Pete Kendall and his arthritic knees should probably retire.
Here are Washington’s restricted free agents:
DT Kedric Golston
DT Anthony Montgomery
S Reed Doughty
K Shaun Suisham
C Justin Geisinger
I’d like to see them all get a tender and return, apart from Suisham, who is terrible and has to go.
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