Tom RobinsonWashington Redskins coach Jim Zorn probably figured he had nothing to lose by letting that bizarre trick play be run against the New York Giants at the end of the first half Monday night. What are they going to do, you know, fire him?
But even if it was some kind of a gleeful shot at embarrassing the Skins' organization on his way out - as a Washington columnist theorized - the remains of Zorn's credibility as a decision maker were trampled like poor Hunter Smith, the "quarterback" on that amateurish play.
He'll certainly never be a head coach again once he's pink-slipped by Dan Snyder, via new general manager Bruce Allen. But Zorn's stunt ensured he'll never be an offensive coordinator, not that he was even one of those before Snyder plucked him from coaching obscurity.
No, Zorn seems fated to coach out his days tutoring quarterbacks back in anonymity, which is fine and fitting work. And which he's long proved he never should have abandoned in the first place.
And so we see again the blessing and curse of Brett Favre, around whom the world actually does not spin, though you'll never get him to believe it. Saddle up with Favre, you're bound to go places, but you'll get a pain in the rear along the way.
Favre's ego clash with Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress over whether the quarterback should have come out of Sunday's loss at Carolina - he refused and Childress relented - shined the latest light on this truth. It also punctuated the swoon of the once-imposing Vikings. Though they should be fueling up for the postseason, the 11-3 Vikings are careening the other way, and the Favre-Childress authority spat only adds terribly negative energy.
Minnesota has not only lost 2 of 3, it also has looked lousy doing it. Suddenly, the Vikings can't run (3.5 yards per carry over three games), can't convert third downs (36 percent), can't protect (nine sacks) and their pending Hall of Fame quarterback's efficiency has dipped dramatically. Favre threw 24 touchdowns and three interceptions in his first 11 games; he's three and four, respectively, in the past three with a collective sub-80s passer rating.
The lack of offensive success naturally has kept Minnesota's faltering defense on the field longer, nearly 32 minutes a game, its highest three-game average this season.
The team leader conspicuously challenging the head coach for the cameras, in the midst of a slump, is no way to ready for January. It's why Minnesota might yet squander the first-round bye it was supposed to have locked up weeks ago.
Good luck with the AFC playoff race. It's impossible to make sense of postseason chances among that muddle of six 7-7 teams, though perhaps some panic in Denver is appropriate - and the Broncos are 8-6.
Even if Denver wins this weekend in Philadelphia - a long shot with the Eagles still playing for the NFC East crown and a possible first-round bye - four other contingencies have to happen for the Broncos to clinch a wildcard spot: Jacksonville, Miami, the New York Jets and the Steelers all have to lose.
Ah, but the other 8-6 team, the Baltimore Ravens, who play in Pittsburgh, are better set up to clinch this weekend. They're in if they win, the Jets lose at Indianapolis and the Jacksonville Jaguars lose to the New England Patriots. All three are decent possibilities.
Meanwhile, a loss in Philly - and Denver is 1-3
in the east this season - would throw the Broncos into a wild mix of 8-7 teams heading into the final week of a season they began 6-0.
How wild? This wild. Six 7-7 teams are confusing enough, but if all falls a certain way this week, seven AFC teams - 44 percent of the conference! - could be 8-7 with a game to play.
Tom Robinson, (757) 446-2518, tom.robinson@pilotonline.com
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Zorn and Favre
Jim Zorn MIGHT have developed into a good head coach over time. As it is, he was plucked by Snyder way too early for the position. He should have turned it down, but like many people when offered a higher position, they jump at it, even when they're not ready. I hope he does get another chance at being head coach after he's had more time to grow into it.
Brett Favre was way out of line for jumping on Brad Childress that way. NO ONE overrules the head coach. For that reason alone Favre should have been benched. I don't care how good a player someone is, the coach is in charge, not any of the players. Favre is just too full of himself and needs to be put in his proper place.
Play caller
And here I thought all along that the bingo man called all the plays, not Zorn.
Redskins need to be taught how to play the game
The writing of this story forgot to add that the team did a great job of embarrassing not only the team but also the Redskins organization,their fans,and to anyone watching the game on t.v.
I thought Mr. Lewis called all the plays and Zorn just passed on the plays to the team, you mean Lewis allowed this play to be executed?
This whole team is over paid and need to be replace by real football players. They got rid of a kicker who's kicking % was better than Campbell's record as a QB. I guess was to be blame for the over paid Haynesworth's fight. After watching the game, we can only blame Zorn for so much.