Five days ago, I questioned whether the Washington Redskins would keep head coach Jim Zorn through the end of this 2009 season. After all, the Skins are in the basement of the NFC East at 2-4 and they just stripped coach Zorn of his offensive play calling duties, replacing him with incoming Sherman Lewis. The handwriting was on the wall for coach Zorn’s departure.
Well, apparently not because on his own radio show (Inside the Red Zone) today, Redskins executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato made it public knowledge that coach Zorn will, in fact, remain as the head …read more

When the Washington Redskins hired an offensive consultant (Sherman Lewis) a couple weeks ago without letting head coach Jim Zorn know about it, it clearly marked the beginning of the end for coach Zorn’s days in D.C. After today’s embarrassing 14-6 loss to the previously winless Kansas City Chiefs, coach Zorn was “relieved” of his offensive play calling duties. I guess 265 total yards and seven first downs will do that to you.
The Redskins are 2-4 this season, but each game they’ve played has been against a team with no wins. With a bye week following next week’s Monday Night …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The Washington Redskins have been watching and waiting, hoping that running back Clinton Portis would be recovered enough from a two-week-old sprained knee to play in Sunday night’s important NFC East battle with the Dallas Cowboys. But it isn’t looking good. Clinton’s been listed as questionable all week and head coach Jim Zorn is no longer optimistic. Ladell Betts would take Clinton’s place in the starting lineup, but he’s coming off his own sprained knee and after a three week layoff, it’s hard to say how effective he’ll be. That opens the door for Shaun …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
When I heard that Washington Redskins defensive end Jason Taylor had a skin infection, I was ready to jump to conclusions. As it turns out, Jason had a minor procedure done on his injured left calf today, but Redskins head coach Jim Zorn was quick to point out that Jason has a skin infection — not a staph infection — that is being treated with antibiotics.
Notice how coach Zorn emphasized that this is not a staph infection. Staph infections are all the rage among NFL players who seem to be coming down with them …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Former National Football League MVP and three-time Pro Bowler Shaun Alexander signed a one-year contract with the Washington Redskins today. Shaun will backup starter Clinton Portis, a role that had been filled by RB Ladell Betts until he sprained his knee this past weekend in a loss to the St. Louis Rams. Redskins head coach Jim Zorn used to work with Shaun in Seattle, so he knows firsthand what type of player he’s getting:
“As soon as (Shaun) got to Redskins Park, we got him in shorts and took him out and worked him out. He …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
I don’t usually post crap like this, but this was too funny to pass up. Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley has his own blog. Good for him. In a recent post, he inadvisably captured a couple photos of the Redskins playbook and head coach Jim Zorn understandably wasn’t happy about it. Nevermind that Chris was apparently naked when he took the pictures because a certain part of his anatomy was visible (Hint: he had the playbook in his lap when he took the pics). What a weirdo. Or he’s just really stupid. Actually, it …read more

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
It’s preseason with a tinge of the playoffs. That will be one of the highlights of a 13-game national television preseason schedule that was announced today by the NFL, along with the complete list of 2008 preseason matchups. All 12 of the 2007 NFL playoff teams will be featured in the national TV games.
It all starts in Canton, OH — site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On Sunday night, August 3 on NBC (8:00 PM ET), the Indianapolis Colts will take on the Washington Redskins in the annual Pro Football Hall …read more

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL
From their Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, FL, the NFL announced today its 2008 Kickoff Weekend national primetime television schedule, including a Monday night doubleheader. It’s always exciting to watch the schedule piece itself together and this is where it begins.
In a tradition that began in 2004, the Super Bowl champion annually hosts the NFL Thursday night season kickoff the following year. This September 4 at 7:00 PM ET on NBC, the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants will host their NFC East-rival Washington Redskins and their new head coach Jim Zorn. …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
The winter storm that has an icy grip on Indianapolis has slowed things down outside. But as promised, today was a whirlwind of activity around the Media Work Room here at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine. The players being shuttled in and out were mostly wide receivers, running backs and quarterbacks.
My day was really one big press conference with a few of my own interviews thrown in for good measure. I took part in every head coach presser — Tom Coughlin (Giants), Brad Childress (Vikings), Gary Kubiak (Texans), Tony Dungy (Colts), Herm …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
In a somewhat bizarre turn of events, the Washington Redskins announced Jim Zorn as their new head coach today. What makes this so unusual is that Coach Zorn was appointed as the team’s offensive coordinator just two weeks ago.
There was certainly not a lack of interest in this job. Jim Mora, Jim Fassel, Steve Mariucci, Ron Meeks, Pete Carroll, Jim Schwartz, and Gregg Williams (several times) all went through the interview process. I was expecting Jim Fassel to get this job, but after a month of searching, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder obviously …read more