I Am Happy (or is it just relief?)
Do we owe Dan Snyder a great big fat sloppy apology?
Maybe.
After all you ripped him. Crushed him. Called him names I can't write in this blog. You really, really didn't want New York Giants retread Jim Fassel as the Redskins new coach--so much so that it got very personal.
Personally, I couldn't see any way out of this mess. As of Friday it looked like Fassel was Da Man, and Colts defensive guru Ron Meeks was apparently off the board according to any reports I could find. And Steve Mariuchi? Puh-lease!!
Then late yesterday I sat down at my computer and Great Googlelymoogely...Its Jim Zorn! But wait a second. Didn't Snyder already hire him as Offensive Coordinator? That's a little fast for a promotion, but I'm okay with it.
Because I am old enough to remember Jim Zorn. This guy was a pretty good NFL quarterback who seeemed to rely more on his smarts and daring than his physical gifts. I seem to recall him giving the 'Skins fits from time to time. Of course that doesn't mean he can coach. Just ask Green Bay fans about Bart Starr.Still, everything I read about this guy is positive....those who know him say he's patient, crafty and scrupulously honest.
Now all this certainly does not change the fact of how horrendously screwed up the search process was. Nor does it erase the unnecessarily harsh treatment of Greg Williams, whom everyone except Snyder thought should have gotten the job.
But, as I like to say, lets be real. Snyder's vote was the only one that mattered. I talked with WUSA sports meister Bret Haber the other day about whether Dan Snyder might be listening to the immense roar of disapproval from fans over the possible hiring of Fassel. He asked me, "do you think Snyder cares what we think?" At the time, I thought probably not.
Now, though I'm speculating that it would be hard to believe that even Snyder could be completely immune to thoughts of the wave of rejection Fassel would have faced. Heck, I'll go berserk and suggest that maybe a guy whose been as successful in business as Snyder has been, who lured Joe Gibbs back to coaching, and who handled the murder of Sean Taylor with more grace and class than many thought possible, is neither foolish nor out of touch. Maybe he was listening.
Don't be shy. What do you think? Mailbag@wusa9.com
posted by Derek McGinty @ 8:36 AM
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7 Comments:
I just did a quick wiki on Dan after reading this post. I'm not that impressed. I think he had a good start supported by his father, and some good ideas, and "luck".
The resume I saw did not translate to what I feel is necessary for a sports team. but all that is moot, it doesn't matter as he is the owner and we are "stuck with him".
When it came to coach selection, he hired who he felt was the best and who would accept. He got two...
I still feel he really wanted Williams to stay on as defencive coordinator, but that Steve had larger aspirations. Also most likely supported by Gibbs who was tired of being stuck between a rock and a hard place (owner and press). That Dan, (once he convinced Joe to leave (because Joe most likely would have stayed, all he needed was a gentle push from Dan)) had planned all along to keep Williams on, get rid of the offensive coordinator and hire a new "younger" head coach.
Just this simple, the offense was stuttering and the defence was solid.
Dan's resume did not show much when it came to managing people in high profile positions. Nor the patience and wisdom required to wait for results. His reputation as an owner is now "mud" in the league and the fact that his choices boiled down to the two that had already signed up, is evidence enough.
Why?
He wanted Spagnuolo, and as the scent of Dan wafted through the leagues grape vine... Spagnuolo probably decided he wanted no part of that stench. He saw trouble...
So Dan really had very few options left... he couldn't afford or wasn't willing to pay or concede to demands these other prospects demanded (in order to feel secure they could do what was asked of them and make the pay commensurate with the stress), so he had two choices, and now a third job yet to be filled. (an easier postition maybe).
No Dan is not "crazy like a fox", he's as dumb as a pigeon.
Just follow the bread crumbs...
Oh and just a quick append to my post if you decide to display it...
About my previous post:
I logged on, and without looking at "anything" headed straight to the blog section here. So I had no help from Drudge or Google news.
Afterwards:
What I got from Google did not detail, yet did sentiment my post accurately enough. Dan's "below the radar pick" was more out of desperation that insight.
It may work out, one never knows... but I feel his options were less than he would want us to believe.
Oh yeah just saw the coverage...
If you believe Zorn was the only man offered the job, then what were all those other people interviewed for? What the heck was that?
It played, and I think my script described it to a tee.
Only Dan strikes out at Tee ball!
I do wish Zorn luck, and the Skins... Too bad we can't fire Dan.
WELL..WELL..
This is from the heart of your resident NY GIANT fan..
I really cant say much about Dan..I was ready to give you Coughlin 6 weeks ago..
Dan does have some bizzar methods tho..
I do hope they give JASON a fair shake..
Good luck with Dan & Jim & we will see what you have to say about this decision next DECEMBER?
I find the whole thing dissapointing. I was a life long redskins fan and Daniel Snyder has completely ruined it for me. Thank God Art Monk made in the Hall of Fame finally as that brought back memories of when we (the fans) had a team we were proud of!
In Jim Zorn's first news conference he mentioned " maroon, yellow and black"...Did Dan change our colors as well and didn't tell us???? Someone should have clued him in that our colors are burgandy and gold!! Can we trade Snyder please?
last bit on "Dan"
In my posts I was probably harsh on him "bordering on libelous". Its all speculation on my part, and vented frustration.
I'm not thrilled with the turn of events and feel he would have been better off at least giving Williams a year (or two) as the head.
Here's my sentiment... and hopefully Dan or one of his people read this so they can understand where I'm coming from. Maybe take it for future reference...
The company I work for used to grow their higher ups from within the organization, earning not only valuable and experienced associates, but loyal and familiar with the franchise itself. It may have been a longer cycle in my business, but within Dan's organization I feel this scheme is also viable.
Turnover at any level is unproductive, with players, managers, and coaches. Efficiency in any business is desired, but training and coaxing "new hires" means the rhythm of the "machine" is disturbed, and teamwork suffers.
Had Dan (20/20 here) been able to keep Greg online, maybe he'd have easier negotiations with the salary cap issue and player contracts. He'd have had a better chance at "give and take". Now... well I wouldn't count on it. Just my "armchair general or Monday morning quarterback" perspective here.
Anyways... Dan... What the heck was that?
Somehow, I think that Snyder's looking for a "meat puppet". That's why he hired a coach with no head coach experience. Well, I just hope Zorn can work with Campbell a little so he can make better decisions under pressure.
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