Enemies within at Redskins Park
By Sally Jenkins, Washington Post

There are games within games being played at Redskins Park. Forget their NFL rivals, the Redskins apparently have enough opponents inside their own building, where it seems everyone is choosing up sides.

The team and its own management have become adversaries. That was the clear implication this week when Vinny Cerrato, the executive vice president of football operations, asserted that he built a playoff-quality roster. Given that the Redskins are 2-5, we're left with only one possible conclusion: Coach Jim Zorn must have screwed things up. It couldn't possibly be the fault of Cerrato, or the man for whom he serves as a lead suit, owner Daniel Snyder.

On the other side are Zorn and the assistants and players loyal to him, who are fighting to retain some control of the team, and to preserve their reputations against the insinuation they are incompetent. When Zorn stepped up to the podium after the latest loss to the Philadelphia Eagles he went out of his way to say "I stuck my nose" into the play-calling, and he pointedly took credit for the call resulting in their final touchdown.

That statement was borderline insubordinate, because Cerrato personally stripped Zorn of play-calling duties and gave them to his handpicked man, Sherman Lewis. The implication of Zorn's statement was clear, too: Play-calling isn't the problem; the problem is a roster Snyder and Cerrato left so thin and uncompetitive, especially on the offensive line, that coaches are struggling to hold it together with spit and twine.

Click here for the rest of the column.

Ride Sally Ride!!!!!!!

The once criticized lone dissenting voice in the local media is now an orchestra conductor.  This too is called Karma my friends.

Any minute now I expect either Cerrato or Donovan to go on the air and personally bash Jenkins.

newshog wrote:

Enemies within at Redskins Park
By Sally Jenkins, Washington Post

There are games within games being played at Redskins Park. Forget their NFL rivals, the Redskins apparently have enough opponents inside their own building, where it seems everyone is choosing up sides.

The team and its own management have become adversaries. That was the clear implication this week when Vinny Cerrato, the executive vice president of football operations, asserted that he built a playoff-quality roster. Given that the Redskins are 2-5, we're left with only one possible conclusion: Coach Jim Zorn must have screwed things up. It couldn't possibly be the fault of Cerrato, or the man for whom he serves as a lead suit, owner Daniel Snyder.

On the other side are Zorn and the assistants and players loyal to him, who are fighting to retain some control of the team, and to preserve their reputations against the insinuation they are incompetent. When Zorn stepped up to the podium after the latest loss to the Philadelphia Eagles he went out of his way to say "I stuck my nose" into the play-calling, and he pointedly took credit for the call resulting in their final touchdown.

That statement was borderline insubordinate, because Cerrato personally stripped Zorn of play-calling duties and gave them to his handpicked man, Sherman Lewis. The implication of Zorn's statement was clear, too: Play-calling isn't the problem; the problem is a roster Snyder and Cerrato left so thin and uncompetitive, especially on the offensive line, that coaches are struggling to hold it together with spit and twine.

Click here for the rest of the column.

The Redskins have problems, I know everyone knows that and it's a safe bet that life is not good there.

It should be noted though, the Washington Post is pretty crappy to the team. They have been for years. They can churn out a smear piece faster than MSNBC/GE can kiss the presidents butt.

I actually haven't subscribed to them since the late 80's.

Now the problem that I am feeling is that this would seem to bolster that creep David Donovan's claim.... I don't wantto do that. It should be noted that while the Post is operating on the normal smear mode, there are many other more reputible publications that are saying same. Where there's smoke, there's fire.

And I still remember that slime bag Baldacci... 

----------------------------------

By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office. Ownership-management can no longer deny its primary role in ruining cohesion and exacerbating the team's problems, despite its best efforts to blame others, and to spin and censor.

"We've got to look at everybody, we've got to look at everything," Cerrato said. "I've got to look at myself, we've got to look at everybody."

It was the only heartening thing he said. If nothing else good comes from this dissension-riven season, at least maybe such embarrassing exposure will finally force management to look at itself, too.

----------------------------------

Maybe, but I seriously doubt it.  In a world governed by honesty, logic and clear thinking this would be the case, but that does not seem to be the world that the Redskins management lives in.

Actually, I think Zorn is most responsible for the public mess this has become.

He is the head coach, and public leader of the team, regardless of what tricks Cerrato plays.  Had he taken the high road, and stood up in front of the press and said, "This was my decision, my call, and no one elses", this would have been over and done with.  Then he could have privately spat with Cerrato all he wanted.

But he didn't do that.  He whined and talked about how it was uncomfortable and not an ideal situation.  That absolutely killed his team.

He is not a good leader, and it showed here.

Skins2004 wrote:

 

It should be noted though, the Washington Post is pretty crappy to the team. They have been for years. They can churn out a smear piece faster than MSNBC/GE can kiss the presidents butt.

 

I actually haven't subscribed to them since the late 80's.

 

 

I think the point now is that all of the current crap, and previous crap, is proving to be totally legitimate. The general tone of the attacks that the WP has launched on this organization since the organization has been, well, crappy, has not been unfounded.

It's certainly better than the WT.

2nd dumbest post I've ever read.

"On the other side are Zorn and the assistants and players loyal to him, who are fighting to retain some control of the team, and to preserve their reputations against the insinuation they are incompetent. When Zorn stepped up to the podium after the latest loss to the Philadelphia Eagles he went out of his way to say "I stuck my nose" into the play-calling, and he pointedly took credit for the call resulting in their final touchdown"

I need to take you out to the Park sometime if you're ever in town the same time I am. You'd be shocked at what's be said at ground zero.

amudgarden wrote:

Actually, I think Zorn is most responsible for the public mess this has become.

 

He is the head coach, and public leader of the team, regardless of what tricks Cerrato plays.  Had he taken the high road, and stood up in front of the press and said, "This was my decision, my call, and no one elses", this would have been over and done with.  Then he could have privately spat with Cerrato all he wanted.

 

But he didn't do that.  He whined and talked about how it was uncomfortable and not an ideal situation.  That absolutely killed his team.

 

He is not a good leader, and it showed here.

Is the "dumbest post you have ever read" the one you just wrote, and mine is second only to it?

Karl, the HC has the ability to publicly diffuse these issues.  Zorn didn't even bother to try, did he?  In fact, it's pretty obvious he's gone out of his way a few times to make the situation even worse.  That's terrible leadership.

But, it seems you have some sort of affinity for him, so I don't expect you to agree.

Diffuse what exactly? Vinny has his own radio show where he runs his mouth, there is absolutly nothing a HC here can diffuse anything with this kind of situation.

tycoonheart wrote:

Diffuse what exactly? Vinny has his own radio show where he runs his mouth, there is absolutly nothing a HC here can diffuse anything with this kind of situation.

OK, I'll rephrase:  What have you seen from Zorn that makes you believe he is trying to diffuse the situation and provide a modicum of stability for his team?  Furthermore, would you agree that many of his comments have actually made the situation even worse?

I'm obviously not defending Cerrato.  He's a horses arse, pure and simple.  But Zorn is also quite culpable here...even though he is really trying to milk that "woe is me" compassion angle...

amudgarden wrote:

 

tycoonheart wrote:

Diffuse what exactly? Vinny has his own radio show where he runs his mouth, there is absolutly nothing a HC here can diffuse anything with this kind of situation.

 

OK, I'll rephrase:  What have you seen from Zorn that makes you believe he is trying to diffuse the situation and provide a modicum of stability for his team?  Furthermore, would you agree that many of his comments have actually made the situation even worse?

 

I'm obviously not defending Cerrato.  He's a horses arse, pure and simple.  But Zorn is also quite culpable here...even though he is really trying to milk that "woe is me" compassion angle...

He's gone on TV and essentially defended Vinny by saying taking Orakpo was the right decision in the draft. He hasn't done anything to call out the front office. He has said he was eventually okay with giving playcalling to Lewis because he is willing to do anything to provide a spark.

The guy has been put in a horrible position and hasn't said anything negative about the organization. I don't expect any more from someone who is going through this BS.

Ppfffffttt!  No need to even read this type of article, nothing new.

In the battle between Snyder and the media its the usual, some facts, speculation, comments and plenty of equivocating.

Here is the Posts balancing act, they can't be too realistic or negative on 'possibly liked' players and coaches because that would be over the edge negative.  The articles juggle facts and comments of the players & coaches versus Snyder (Cerrato is just a front).

Now, if Vinny would just show Jenkins his stuff .....

... SB rings acquired as minordomo...

I would agree that while Zorn did make the situation worse I am still glad he did it because it exposed the franchise.

Truth be told Coaches switch play callers all the time and the Redskins did not have to send out a press release saying that this is what they were doing.  There was no reason for the public to know any of this and if the front office had not issued the statement then it would have been left on Zorn to say "they took the play calling away from me"  which would have been bad for him and the organization.  It could have come off as whining and finger pointing. 

Cerrato decided to make this public issue thus losing all control over it.  I therefore applaud Zorn for being truthful, honest and in my opinion looking out for the best interests of the franchise which in this case was also his best interest.   While Zorn has made the situation worse at least he is moving it towards a conclusion. 

PBfromDC wrote:

I would agree that while Zorn did make the situation worse I am still glad he did it because it exposed the franchise.

That's a great point.

Yes it absolutely is, ok well aisde for the cowfreak comapring Gomo to Aikman which you have to admit is legendary stupid.

Mud, you just don't air it out in public man.... it's wrong on every level.

You have this obsession to point out every detail with Zorn as a "obvious conclusion" that he's a clown. You know what? 2-5 and says that. Also a 2-6 slide last year says that.

But regardless of your thinking, there is so much more that goes into that. Injuries, bad calls, subpar players, play calling... the list is long.

Jim Zorn is done. But he hasn't resorted to taking it down to hillbilly levels by slinging cow pies. You know, Shotty did same. Perhaps you should divert some attention to what he did at the end as well.

Here's the bottom line, Jim Zorn is done. Everyone is this room, in DC and in the Nation for that matter knows it. It really doesn't need the misquote from you.. when he did say he called the TD which sort of says in a neat way "In your face Vinny"

I'm just dead set against a Hatfield/McCoy deal adding yet another distraction to an already horrid situation my friend. The focus should be on ownership, or you'll be buring your little fingers up on the keyboards again next year saying the same things about a new coach.

Come on man... move forward.. I'm counting on you. You always post better than this.

amudgarden wrote:

Is the "dumbest post you have ever read" the one you just wrote, and mine is second only to it?

 

Karl, the HC has the ability to publicly diffuse these issues.  Zorn didn't even bother to try, did he?  In fact, it's pretty obvious he's gone out of his way a few times to make the situation even worse.  That's terrible leadership.

 

But, it seems you have some sort of affinity for him, so I don't expect you to agree.

I'm not particularly anti-Zorn.   I don't think he made the mess, but I don't think he can coach his way out of it, either.

Personally, I have trouble discerning who's good at their job and who's not at Redskin Park.    Would Zorn be a better HC if he had the right tools on the field?   I'm guessing he would.

If we'd have addressed offensive line (as about 93% of the fan base wanted), maybe Jason Campbell would look better...maybe Portis would be more productive...maybe even Devin and Malcolm would look better.

Do the positional coaches and unit coaches wear teflon in this situation?   Does Joe Bugel own responsiblity for not speaking up about the line?   Or did he even see there was a problem?

Skins2004 wrote:

 

You have this obsession to point out every detail with Zorn as a "obvious conclusion" that he's a clown. You know what? 2-5 and says that. Also a 2-6 slide last year says that.

 

But regardless of your thinking, there is so much more that goes into that. Injuries, bad calls, subpar players, play calling... the list is long.

You called him a clown, not me.  I was discussing his culpability (and lack of leaderhsip) for not trying to diffuse the situation.

And no one is arguing that there aren't myrid other issues causing problems here...or that, but for the presence of Zorn, eveything would be fine.  I'm not really sure what your point is.  Yeah, Zorn got dealt a really crappy hand.  But, he isn't exactly playing the game well by his own accord.  He actually reminds me a lot of Norv in that he is subtly playing up the "oh gosh, this is so hard on me" routine.

The FO put a press releases about Lewis's hiring and then his signal calling .  Not much choice left for Zorn, was there?

Zorn's honest, yet determined.  Last, best course for him.

amudgarden wrote:

Actually, I think Zorn is most responsible for the public mess this has become.

 

He is the head coach, and public leader of the team, regardless of what tricks Cerrato plays.  Had he taken the high road, and stood up in front of the press and said, "This was my decision, my call, and no one elses", this would have been over and done with.  Then he could have privately spat with Cerrato all he wanted.

 

But he didn't do that.  He whined and talked about how it was uncomfortable and not an ideal situation.  That absolutely killed his team.

 

He is not a good leader, and it showed here.

amudgarden wrote:

 

Skins2004 wrote:

 

You have this obsession to point out every detail with Zorn as a "obvious conclusion" that he's a clown. You know what? 2-5 and says that. Also a 2-6 slide last year says that.

 

But regardless of your thinking, there is so much more that goes into that. Injuries, bad calls, subpar players, play calling... the list is long.

 

You called him a clown, not me.  I was discussing his culpability (and lack of leaderhsip) for not trying to diffuse the situation.

 

And no one is arguing that there aren't myrid other issues causing problems here...or that, but for the presence of Zorn, eveything would be fine.  I'm not really sure what your point is.  Yeah, Zorn got dealt a really crappy hand.  But, he isn't exactly playing the game well by his own accord.  He actually reminds me a lot of Norv in that he is subtly playing up the "oh gosh, this is so hard on me" routine.

Re: Clown: Don't play the wordsmith game with me, we both know better.

My point is exactly this: Vinny came right out and said he hired Zorn. Do you want him to hire Zorn II? My god, we've had Spurrier in here that could happen again.

I actually like the Zorn/Turner analogy, I've thought about writing that several times. It is very true and very similar situations. But I think your arrow is once again misguided. I don't see them as "Oh gosh, this is so hard on me" but rather more as themselves beleiving in themselves too much. They are not that good.

I had hopes for either to succeed, I was at ground zero for Norv. In this league, being a nice guy doesn't work.

I fault Jim mostly for not pulling the door closed in the warrom and saying, "I don't need a $100 million dollar man on my top 5 defense stupid. I need a line"

Who knows, with a solid o-line we actually might know what we have on this roster.   

Jurgyfan wrote:

The FO put a press releases about Lewis's hiring and then his signal calling .  Not much choice left for Zorn, was there?

 

If Zorn had said, "No, this was my decision, and mine alone", you don't think Vinny the Weasel would have gone along with that?  It's perfect for Vinny because it absolves him of responsibility...and it makes Zorn continue to look like the man in charge.

I need to get this wacky picture in my mind here......

You're proposing that Vinny, Dan and Jim sit around are the round table and Vinny says "Jim, I want you to take full responsibility for this move"

Jim says: "Yes Vinny, I'll do that for you."

Wow........

Or another twist

Jim: "Okay, you demoted me but let me take ownership of this hire"

I'm not so sure the Redskins front office is capable of such nefarious planning. Maybe I've been wrong all along.. these guys are the Mossad.

Do you really think they would think to script this out? Really?

amudgarden wrote:

 

Jurgyfan wrote:

The FO put a press releases about Lewis's hiring and then his signal calling .  Not much choice left for Zorn, was there?

 

 

If Zorn had said, "No, this was my decision, and mine alone", you don't think Vinny the Weasel would have gone along with that?  It's perfect for Vinny because it absolves him of responsibility...and it makes Zorn continue to look like the man in charge.

Mud,

I think Danny may be getting the message. Why send amateurs like Cerrato and Donovan out there as the team's mouthpiece when he could have this guy (if he's still around)? See below.

****

Saddam's spokesman staying on message

By Maria Puente, USA TODAY

It's as if a bad Saturday Night Live skit is playing in Baghdad.

		Mohammad Saeed al-Sahhaf, Iraq's information minister, on Iraqi TV last week.
		AP/Iraqi TV via APTN

The Iraqi information minister stands in front of the cameras, a grim smile on his face, a military beret on his head, and declares forcefully, "There are no American troops in Baghdad!" Meanwhile, black smoke rises in the distance behind him, weapons fire can be heard all around, and American tanks rumble down streets only yards away.

Pay no attention to those tanks, Mohammad Saeed al-Sahhaf may as well be saying. There are no invaders, no troops — only "liars."

"The infidels are committing suicide by the hundreds on the gates of Baghdad," he said at one news conference. "We slaughtered them."

Who is this guy, and does he think he is fooling anybody?

amudgarden wrote:

Any minute now I expect either Cerrato or Donovan to go on the air and personally bash Jenkins.

amudgarden wrote:

Actually, I think Zorn is most responsible for the public mess this has become.

 

He is the head coach, and public leader of the team, regardless of what tricks Cerrato plays.  Had he taken the high road, and stood up in front of the press and said, "This was my decision, my call, and no one elses", this would have been over and done with.  Then he could have privately spat with Cerrato all he wanted.

 

But he didn't do that.  He whined and talked about how it was uncomfortable and not an ideal situation.  That absolutely killed his team.

 

He is not a good leader, and it showed here.

That's easy for you to say.  But exactly what has Snyder , Cerrato , and this Front office done for Zorn for him to throw himself on a sword like that?   Zorn maybe a bad head coach but he didn't deserve the humiliation that is working for Snyder.

TennesseeCarl wrote:

 

Do the positional coaches and unit coaches wear teflon in this situation?   Does Joe Bugel own responsiblity for not speaking up about the line?   Or did he even see there was a problem?

Great point. I have come to believe that Bugel is a huge problem. I believe he has been living on past reputation from what he did with the hogs. Bugel thinks he can take any lineman off the street and plug him in and they will be the next hogs. He should have been screaming at the FO  to get him some talent for years,but he is so confident in his own coaching ability that he believes it isn't talent that makes a good line its his coaching.

David Elfin's recent article in Warpath brought this home more clearly. Elfin said,"And Bugel hasn't forgotten that 20 years ago in the final season of his first tenure as Boss Hog,injuries to several of his beloved linemen forced him to plug the totally unproven plan B free agent Ray Brown and 10th-round draft choice Mark Schlereth in against the mighty Philadelphia Eagles defensive line of Reggie White,Clyde Simmons,Jerome Brown and Mike Pitts."

He quotes Bugel. "It's my job to develop the guys. I don't care if you get 'em out of the trash barrel."

Thats the problem Buges. Yeah sometimes you find a diamond in the rough like with Brown and Schlereth. But you need talent. When you bring in guys out of the trash barrel you get what you pay for. Even the great coaches understand that they need talent. Its time for Buges to go. Hopefully we'll get a clean house next  year.

No, even though Zorn reacted as he did, there was no need to trumpet the moves in the media.

My take would be that Cerrato wants to assure the players, fans, and probably Dan that he's in charge.  He has that chemistry set and that erector set laid out and he's gonna fix it.  He has to be seen making the statement that he did his job and gave Zorn the right tools.  Completely in character for this FO.

So, after most of us have moaned furiously about the dishonesty of this FO for a decade, it doesn't make sense to suggest that Zorn should purposely mislead his players and the fans.  Why would we think any of us would buy it, anyway?

amudgarden wrote:

 

Jurgyfan wrote:

The FO put a press releases about Lewis's hiring and then his signal calling .  Not much choice left for Zorn, was there?

 

 

If Zorn had said, "No, this was my decision, and mine alone", you don't think Vinny the Weasel would have gone along with that?  It's perfect for Vinny because it absolves him of responsibility...and it makes Zorn continue to look like the man in charge.

Skins2004 wrote:

 

It should be noted though, the Washington Post is pretty crappy to the team. They have been for years. They can churn out a smear piece faster than MSNBC/GE can kiss the presidents butt.

 

I actually haven't subscribed to them since the late 80's.

 

So, Skins, you haven't subscribed, yet are an expert on them 20 years later?

I dunno, I'm no expert either, but I've enjoyed reading about the Redskins in the Post for a long time.

I don't remember ever reading a negative column where there was just no basis for it. And, when things are good, I've read plenty of positive things.

No wonder everyone thinks the Post is negative - the negative has far outweighed the positive over the last 10 years. Heck, 16 years!!

Oh, and they have no writers named Larry Michael either.