11/05/24
October 22, 2009
Zorn Told to Give Up Offense or Get Fired: Washington head coach Jim Zorn was given an ultimatum to either relinquish play-calling duties or get fired, his former teammate Steve Largent told a Seattle radio station. "They went to the point of pulling out his contract and said, 'You have to do whatever the owner tells you to do,'" Largent said. "His choice was either to resign or to continue on under the current scenario." Sherm Lewis, hired two weeks ago as a consultant after being out of football since 2004, takes over play-calling.
It seems as this is a way for Dan Snyder to force Zorn out.
He has two choices in the matter it seems:
1. He can remain on staff while Sherm Lewis keeps calling the plays for Zorn who in turn relays the plays to the QB
or...
2. He can resign with his head held high knowing full well that he won't be given another opportunity as a head coach in a different organization but Snyder doesn't have to pay the remainder of his contract.
posted by BornIcon at 09:16 AM on October 22, 2009
I think it sucks for Zorn because I don't think playcalling is the problem. I guess it is easier to deal with Zorn than with Cerrato. I think BI is right that Snyder is trying to force Zorn to quit. Then Snyder gets to save that money and throw it at another coach -- if anyone wants this job.
posted by bperk at 10:19 AM on October 22, 2009
Zorn should stay until fired and keep every cent of Snyder's money for his family.
Steve Largent is a good man to have his former QB and still good friend's back.
Vive l' ZorntoLargent! (OK, I have no idea how I was supposed to type that last bit. Apologies to the French speaking folks.)
posted by THX-1138 at 11:34 AM on October 22, 2009
How Zorn should have handled this: "Thank you, thank you, sir, for relieving me of this monstrosity," then cleaned his office and sped away from the stadium as fast as he could.
posted by jjzucal at 12:05 PM on October 22, 2009
As bperk says, Snyder has now guaranteed that no top caliber coach is going to want the Washington job. Snyder has given wide authority to previous coaches, and they couldn't get it done because the overall environment is bad. No smart coaching prospect is going to want to get involved with this franchise.
Snyder has condemned himself to interviewing leftovers and castoffs for his next hire.
Tom Cable might be available on a league supervised work-release deal next year. He wouldn't be able to work any night games though. Daytime only.
For Zorn's sake, I hope he gets a chance to land as an OC somewhere in a better environment and work his way back up to a head job from there.
posted by beaverboard at 12:59 PM on October 22, 2009
Zorn should stay until fired and keep every cent of Snyder's money for his family.
Agreed. However incompetent Zorn might be, if Snyder's treatment gets any worse, Zorn should start showing up to games with a cooler full of beer and just kicking back in a lawn chair.
posted by yerfatma at 01:03 PM on October 22, 2009
Mike Shanahan was approached about the Head Coaching job but turned it down. For now, anyway.
posted by wdminott at 01:13 PM on October 22, 2009
Would you really want a coach who is willing to take a job mid-season? You're not going to attract anyone under those circumstances who isn't desperate.
posted by rcade at 01:15 PM on October 22, 2009
Zorn should start showing up to games with a cooler full of beer and just kicking back in a lawn chair.
I'll probably start watching Washington games if that were to happen just for the show on the sidelines.
Very sneaky funny
posted by BornIcon at 02:02 PM on October 22, 2009
Zorn should give up the offense as soon as the Washington NFL franchise gives up being offensive.
But, hey, when you suck, you suck.
posted by Howard_T at 05:01 PM on October 22, 2009
Vive l' ZorntoLargent!
How about just "Vive L'Argent" (which, very loosely translated, means "Long Live the Money").
Or, if you want to be technical about it: "Vive L'Argent de Zorn."
Snyder has now guaranteed that no top caliber coach is going to want the Washington job.
There are only 32 head coaching jobs in the NFL, so, as odious as Snyder is, it's likely that he finds someone of quality especially if he throws enough money at him.
posted by cjets at 05:53 PM on October 22, 2009
Maybe he can find a Guus Hiddink-type situation, say a college coach who can pull double duty, maybe the guy at Va Tech whose in the area already. (*wink wink*)
posted by billsaysthis at 06:05 PM on October 22, 2009
You've gotta think that this is just delaying the inevitable; not necessarily that he's relinquished play-calling duties (that's not all that uncommon) but the way that it was handled seems to say that Snyder's regretting his hire.