Peter King on Zorn Hire

[SC Skins Fan]

I think King sums up my feelings pretty accurately, even though I know some (most?) here don't agree. I think the Fassell hire would have been redemptive in my eyes, would have proven Snyder could forgo the flashy hire, and could ignore public opinion. The way the thing happened was strange, they kept Williams hanging before making the big push to get Fassell, Zorn, and Ryan. When that trio pick-up went south and people got angry about Fassell they backed off, interviewed Spagnuolo, then gave Zorn the head job. All the while they dangled the head job in front of Fassell before turning around and telling him he was out. No matter how it turns out, Snyderatto just does not operate on the up-and-up. Maybe that is just how it is reported, maybe they get a bad rap from guys like La Confora, but its seems like a real pattern to me. I just don't like it but of course there isn't much for me to do.

As King says, Zorn is a good guy and a good coach, but he should be spending all his time with Jason and the offense, not worrying about the delegation, media, etc. that goes with being the head man.

SI.com - Writers - MMQB (cont.) - Monday February 11, 2008 9:26AM
1. I think once Dan Snyder saw the virulent anti-Fassel sentiment all over his fandom, he went looking for anyone to hire as the next Redskins coach but Jim Fassel. A shame. I like Jim Zorn. I think he's bright, I think he was overqualified to be a quarterbacks coach, and I think he will be a thoughtful coach his players will grow to like in Washington. This is not a criticism of Jim Zorn, the coach. It's more of a criticism of the decision, the process and the reaction to the candidacy of Fassel.
Fassel was fired from the Giants after seven years, with a head-coaching record of 60-56-1. That includes a 41-0 whitewashing of the Vikings in the 2000 NFC Championship Game, and a 34-7 loss to Baltimore in Super Bowl XXXV. He's never gotten another chance to be a head coach. He worked for friend Brian Billick as the Ravens' offensive coordinator before being fired with the Ravens 4-2 in 2006.
In my opinion, if Norv Turner got three chances as a head coach, and Lindy Infante, Bruce Coslet and Dave Wannstedt two, Fassel -- the only one of the five to have taken his team to a Super Bowl -- certainly deserved a second shot. The Redskins had a chance to have a winning NFC East coach (Fassel is 6-5 against Andy Reid, 8-6 against Dallas, 7-6-1 against Washington) paired with a bright and up-and-coming quarterback guru in Zorn.
Now they'll have Zorn, who has never called the plays, never coordinated an offense and never been a head coach, running the show in a media-hungry market with an owner far more involved than any Zorn's ever worked with. And they'll have a quarterback, Jason Campbell, who should have had Zorn working with him for hours a day; but a head coach can't spend hours a day with a young quarterback.
A better team would have been Fassel, experienced in the daily calamities of life in the NFC East and Zorn. That would have been better than a rookie coach and whomever Zorn installs as his quarterback and offensive mentors.

[MTK]

I certainly would not have hated the hiring of Fassel, and I do wonder how much of an impact the fan's insanely negative reaction towards him had to do with this decision to pass him over.

But at the same time I liked the decision to gamble on Zorn. Sounds like a lot of the candidates that were interviewed were very high on him, Fassel included, and I guess they finally realized that they had a solid HC candidate right under their noses. Time will tell if this is too much too soon for Zorn, but on the plus side he's got an experienced staff around him that should help ease him into things.

[Joe Ribbs BBQ]

Peter King hit the nail on the head in my opinion

[Drago]

I appreciate the fact that D.S. took his time with this hire and didn't rush into it. Obviously he wasn't comfortable with any of the other more qualified candidates or he would have hired them right away and not waited to talk to Spagnoulo. I liked Zorn's press conference, it reeked with knowledge and confidence. I'm looking forward to a fresh start.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Drago

I appreciate the fact that D.S. took his time with this hire and didn't rush into it. Obviously he wasn't comfortable with any of the other more qualified candidates or he would have hired them right away and not waited to talk to Spagnoulo. I liked Zorn's press conference, it reeked with knowledge and confidence. I'm looking forward to a fresh start.

Which part? The 87 "ums" he said, or when he referred to our colors as "maroon and black?" To me he seemed nervous, out of place, and he said in his own words that it's a "miracle" to be standing there as our head coach. Knowledge and confidence aren't quite the adjectives I'd use.

For possibly the first time ever I fully agree with Peter King.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Which part? The 87 "ums" he said, or when he referred to our colors as "maroon and black?" To me he seemed nervous, out of place, and he said in his own words that it's a "miracle" to be standing there as our head coach. Knowledge and confidence aren't quite the adjectives I'd use.

For possibly the first time ever I fully agree with Peter King.

Have you ever seen a Gibb's press conference? I love the guy but if you remember his re-introduction Gibbs was Giddy as hell. His voice cracked, he has that crazy laugh, made jokes about himself (one of the most endearing characteristics that is Gibbs). And this is a guy thats won three Super Bowls and led the Redskins through what is known as the Decade of Dominance.

Plus when Zorn was asked football questions he seemed right at home, just like Gibbs who was always prepared and calm when faced with questions about X's and O's.

My point is don't judge this guy by his introductory press conference. The whole media flavor of the week is Synder fucked up (which he kind of did), so to add to that writing about Zorn being nervous and out of place only helps to build on that momentum. Wait till we get on the field, I think a lot of us are going to be pleasantly surprised.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Have you ever seen a Gibb's press conference? I love the guy but if you remember his re-introduction Gibbs was Giddy as hell. His voice cracked, he has that crazy laugh, made jokes about himself (one of the most endearing characteristics that is Gibbs). And this is a guy thats won three Super Bowls and led the Redskins through what is known as the Decade of Dominance.

Plus when Zorn was asked football questions he seemed right at home, just like Gibbs who was always prepared and calm when faced with questions about X's and O's.

My point is don't judge this guy by his introductory press conference. The whole media flavor of the week is Synder fucked up (which he kind of did), so to add to that writing about Zorn being nervous and out of place only helps to build on that momentum. Wait till we get on the field, I think a lot of us are going to be pleasantly surprised.

I'm not judging him by his introductory press conference. I just don't think knowledge and confidence are the two words I'd use to describe said press conference. I know he's a good man and a good coach. I'm just nervous about him as OUR head coach right now.

[Giantone]

Originally Posted by Joe Ribbs BBQ

Peter King hit the nail on the head in my opinion

.....................word!After the way Snyder treated Fassel.......if you were a coach would you come to DC,not now.

[talk show host]

Originally Posted by Giantone

.....................word!After the way Snyder treated Fassel.......if you were a coach would you come to DC,not now.

First off, Fassel ISN'T a coach, and hasn't been for a long time. Any other coach out there recognizes that Fassel should be honored to have even been considered. Just being interviewed by ANYONE, let alone the WASHINGTON REDSKINS, for a headcoaching job is the best thing thats happened to Fassels career in two years.

Secondly, Fassel didn't get treated bad by Snyder - he just didn't get the job. so what? if you go out and try to apply for an job, you usually don't get regular updates on your status - heck, it took me 2 months to get the job i currently have and i didn't know what was going on - they were interviewing other candidates and being thorough. Why should Fassel or NFL head coaching candidates deserve minute-by-minute updates on their status?

Should snyder have to call EVERY coaching candidate after EVERY interview to tell them where they rank in his mind at that point in time. "Yeah Jim, this morning you were the top candidate, but i just had a really good interview. You're my second favorite now, but i need to sleep on it. You could be back up to #1 tomorrow - i'll let you know."

The truth is, its BETTER for Snyder to have not talked to Fassel or anyone else to give them updates. Snyder seems to like Fassel as a person alot, and the more contact they had together, the more likely Snyders judgement would have been skewed by the contact. Snyder treated Fassel like all the other candidates - Everyone else just knew better than to be a cry-baby to the media and try to garner sympathy when there is no reason such sympathy should be given.

Any coach who would have a negative opinion of this organization based on how the team treated fassel is another cry-baby we wouldn't want as a coach anyways.

[Giantone]

Originally Posted by talk show host

First off, Fassel ISN'T a coach, and hasn't been for a long time. Any other coach out there recognizes that Fassel should be honored to have even been considered. Just being interviewed by ANYONE, let alone the WASHINGTON REDSKINS, for a headcoaching job is the best thing thats happened to Fassels career in two years.

Secondly, Fassel didn't get treated bad by Snyder - he just didn't get the job. so what? if you go out and try to apply for an job, you usually don't get regular updates on your status - heck, it took me 2 months to get the job i currently have and i didn't know what was going on - they were interviewing other candidates and being thorough. Why should Fassel or NFL head coaching candidates deserve minute-by-minute updates on their status?

Should snyder have to call EVERY coaching candidate after EVERY interview to tell them where they rank in his mind at that point in time. "Yeah Jim, this morning you were the top candidate, but i just had a really good interview. You're my second favorite now, but i need to sleep on it. You could be back up to #1 tomorrow - i'll let you know."

The truth is, its BETTER for Snyder to have not talked to Fassel or anyone else to give them updates. Snyder seems to like Fassel as a person alot, and the more contact they had together, the more likely Snyders judgement would have been skewed by the contact. Snyder treated Fassel like all the other candidates - Everyone else just knew better than to be a cry-baby to the media and try to garner sympathy when there is no reason such sympathy should be given.

Any coach who would have a negative opinion of this organization based on how the team treated fassel is another cry-baby we wouldn't want as a coach anyways.

I respect your opinion but your dead wrong on every count,it just is'nt the way he treated Fassel it's the way he conducted the interveiw process and the way he treated GW and Joe Gibbs.Your hatered for Fassel is clear.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Giantone

I respect your opinion but your dead wrong on every count,it just is'nt the way he treated Fassel it's the way he conducted the interveiw process and the way he treated GW and Joe Gibbs.Your hatered for Fassel is clear.

As is your "hatered" for Dan Snyder. You don't know how GW and Gibbs were treated, but I guess it's cool to go ahead and assume.

(yup...I definitely hate the Giants once again)

[talk show host]

Originally Posted by Giantone

I respect your opinion but your dead wrong on every count,it just is'nt the way he treated Fassel it's the way he conducted the interveiw process and the way he treated GW and Joe Gibbs.Your hatered for Fassel is clear.

"The way he treated GW and Joe Gibbs?" what are you referring to? You mean how Gibbs screwed Snyder over and failed to live up to the contract he signed where he agreed to coach the skins for 5 years? And how Snyder did everything he could to try and convince Gibbs to stay... man, Snyder sure screwed Gibbs over there...

And GW... man, poor GW. He was entitled to the HC job. Sure, it wasnt in his contract or anything, but the fans and players wanted him to be HC - he earned it! What was snyder thinking, giving GW four interviews to try and prove he was worthy of the job. If only snyder could trust a guy who showed no respect to HOF coach Joe Gibbs by atleast letting him know about that 10-men on defense play. I mean, sure, GW is going to deceive a HOF coach who won 3 superbowls, but he would NEVER deceive Snyder. And think of all the goodwill GW earned by running lavar arrington - the face of the franchise - out of town because his ego was so big. And insisting on getting Archuletta against vinnys advice - GREAT personnel decision by GW. Letting Ryan Clark go - GREAT personnel decision by GW. Having safeties and corners participate in separate meetings - GREAT coaching move by GW. Yeah, GW really got screwed. After everything he did here and his miserable past HC coaching record, he sure deserved the HC job handed to him on a silver platter.

I don't hate fassel. I have nothing against the man personnally, or as a coach. If he had been named HC, i would have supported him., just as i do zorn. But instead, he has shown exactly why he doesnt deserve to be a HC by his comments to the media. He is a cry-baby with no class. There is a reason he hasnt had a HC job in 3 years and was fired from his last job by his best friend - he's not up to the task.

[FRPLG]

I am basically convinced that most media and a lot of fans will never ever look at something Snyder does and think it was done right when it comes to footbal. I am just so tired of all the complaining and bashing. I don't even care what PK says because I just wont read it. I am just done with the negativism. I am not defending DS but in the end he is obviously damned is does and damned if he doesn't on just about everything.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

I am basically convinced that most media and a lot of fans will never ever look at something Snyder does and think it was done right when it comes to footbal. I am just so tired of all the complaining and bashing. I don't even care what PK says because I just wont read it. I am just done with the negativism. I am not defending DS but in the end he is obviously damned is does and damned if he doesn't on just about everything.

Very true.

But if Zorn works out and we win consistently, the media won't have much of a leg to stand on... until he has to make another coaching decision that is.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Very true.

But if Zorn works out and we win consistently, the media won't have much of a leg to stand on... until he has to make another coaching decision that is.

BS. I don't think he is ever going to get a fair shake. We'll really need to start running off SBs like NE to quiet them down. Every single thing PK said I can understand what he is saying and I don't necessarily disagree but it all strikes me as so damn speculative. And all the specualtion about the Skins under DS is simply negative.