Free Agency: Todd Collins

NFL Free Agency isn't even 24 hours old yet and the hits keep on coming. The Washington Redskins re-signing QB Todd Collins is a hit to Jason Campbell's job security.

The Redskins signed Collins to a three year deal. It's somewhat surprising that Collins didn't test the waters a little longer. After a Jason Campbell knee injury, Collins took the helm with 4 games remaining in the season. He led the team well enough to beat out the Minnesota Vikings for the final Wild-Card spot. His performance against Seattle in the first round of the playoffs didn't help him but it wasn't bad enough to have really hurt him either.

Maybe he didn't leave because he has his eye on the quarterback spot in Washington. New head coach Jim Zorn doesn't have any more ties to, Campbell, than he does Collins. Campbell will likely get the benefit of the doubt for the first few tough games. If Campbell struggles consistently it will be hard for a new coach, already facing accusations that he is not cut out for the job, to stick with him. Especially with a back up that has shown already that he can lead the team to wins.

Pre Free Agency projection for Washington's offseason

Jim Zorn: Totally Prepared to Coach the Redskins

I have already posted about the Washington Redskins Hire of Jim Zorn. I know no one likes a guy who says I told you so. But every body likes being the guy who says it. I TOLD YOU SO.

Zorn held his first press conference yesterday. He echoed the surprise most felt upon hearing that he got the job saying "I was a bit taken back, if you will," Zorn then said. "I wasn't speechless, because my first words were: 'Certainly, I'd like to do that.' It was a bit shocking. After that I got my game face on and tried to get after it."

Yeah Jim, that screams competent. If you are surprised that you got a job how qualified can you be. Then Jim told us just how competent and prepared he is. He referred to the Redskins' colors as "maroon and black" instead of burgundy and gold. Look I can forgive you on Maroon instead of Burgundy. My girl is responsible for any color distinction beyond Red in my house. But how did you confuse Gold with Black. I mean it obviously isn't a matter of confusion. He literally is such a giddy 12-year old girl that he just blurted out the wrong word. That is even more concerning.

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Washington Redskins Hire New Coach

The Washington Redskins have finally named a head coach. Steve Mariucci you say, nope. Pete Carroll has decided to leave USC, not likely. Jim Fassel is coming to town to lead all those cantidates he signed off on, not going to happen. Nope the Redskins have decided to go with Jim Zorn.

Some where AL Davis is laughing from the otherside. What!? Al Davis isn't dead, my bad. Well he is about the only person who is going to be heppy with this hire, since it just bumped him from the most hated owner in professional sports.

I don't mean to go all third grade dodgeball here, but it isn't even like Zorn was the last kid picked when you chose up teams. He was the kid you didn't even want but everybody else decided to play a different game without you. Don't be to disappointed though, I mean at least he has experience. He has been a coordinator since way back two weeks ago when Snyder hired him.

I love the quote that Daniel Snyder submitted into the NFL judgement machine.

"We knew of Jim's stellar offensive reputation, so we hired him as coordinator, but we also suspected he would be a strong candidate for head coach," Snyder said. "After our first six-hour interview with him, I told Joe [Gibbs], 'This guy would make a terrific head coach.' But we stayed true to our commitment to interview every candidate."

Could you make a weaker attempt at trying to pacify the Redskins fans with some form of tying Joe Gibbs into this decision. If Gibbs had made the decision, Greg Williams would be the coach and the world wouldn't be mocking you right now.


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Washington Redskins Offseason

The 2008 Offseason for the Washington Redskins has already been action filled. Maybe it has been inaction filled. The 'Skins are the only team holding more interviews than the Falcons were, and at least in Washington's case you get the impression that they aren't really good fits for either side. Unlike Atlanta where you got the impression no one wanted that job.

So far we have heard the names Pete Carroll, Steve Mariuchi, Greg Williams, Al Saunders, Steve Spagnolo, Jim Mora jr., and Jim Fassel. Of all those options the only one that is really still out there is Fassel. I think the time has come for owner, Daniel Snyder, to realize that Joe Gibbs isn't coming back through that door. While I think Snyder needs a guy like Gibbs who's opinion comes with enough experience that he has to listen to it. A coach of that caliber isn't out there and if they are they don't have the emotional ties to the Redskins that Gibbs had, so they aren't about to deal with Snyder's lunacy. I don't really like Fassell but Snyder wont go with the Mike Tomlin, Mike McCarthy type guy, he needs a name in order to stroke his ego. So there you are Jim Fassell next coach of the mediocre 'Skins(trust me they will be mediocre under Fassell)

The most unfortunate thing about Snyder not opting to hand things over to Greg Williams or even the dark horse transition candidate Al Saunders. Is that they will lose a lot if not all of the emotional momentum that they had coming out of last season. It is hard to rally around as a team when the majority of your leadership was not around for the events that brought you together.

An area that needs to be addressed less for it's on the field importance and more to solidify the salary cap questions that the Redskins are facing will be quarterback. Jason Campbell is the man under center in the future. As nice a story as Todd Collins was at the end of the season, no one really believes he is going to supplant Campbell. He is however a free agent and is either going to demand a higher price than the 'Skins can really pay with their cap troubles or he may just say "I've shown what I can do" and leave to get a starting gig or at least a shot at one somewhere else. The third string QB in name and mentor in reality was Mark Brunell. He is a drain on the cap and is also old. That age was a prerequisite for a backup in Joe Gibbs mind but is likely going to be seen as huge negative by the next guy running the ship.

While the 'Skins defense was pretty reliable across the board, they were playing as an inspired unit. They were also being led by Greg Williams, both of those factors are gone next year. I will be interested to see how they do. They are in need at Defensive End but it isn't a must go first round type need.

On the otherside of the ball though, the questions start. They have spent big on some names and are solid in the #1wr spot with Santana Moss, but once you get past him and possibly Antwan Randle-el as a #2 the drop in ability is huge. Not only are Reche Caldwell and Keenan Mccardell probably not the best #3's they are likely gone anyway.

If they are looking for wideout they could be looking at Mario Manningham(WR-MICH) if he makes it that far or they could go with Malcom Kelly(WR-OKL) who is a little more likely to still be on the board at this point. While Manningham has the higher overall ranking amongst the experts, I like Kelly better. I really think Manningham might be a bust, he cerrtainly has playmaker ability but he is to small of frame. Kelly has him by 4 inches and 40 pounds at 6'4'' 219.

The biggest reason they might not end up going with a WR is that those two are going to get lots of attention from Philadelphia and Tampa Bay who are 19 and 20 to Washingtons #21(wierd coincidence that they end up with Sean Taylor's number in the draft) If those two WR are gone the 'Skins should look at the guy Tampa was debating over, Kentwan Balmer(DT-UNC). Balmer may get passed by the Bucs because Gruden isn't likely to pick up a guy who has had questions about putting in the work to live up to his potential. Daniel Snyder on the other hand is always willing to take a risk.

Daniel "East Coast Al Davis" Snyder

It's time for this weeks edition of who is crazier than Al Davis. This week we will look at Daniel Snyder.

Snyder is the owner of the Wasington Redskins.Snyder has been hunting for a new coach since Joe Gibbs retirement just days after the teams season ended with a loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the playoffs. The initial hot favorite was Greg Williams who was the Redskins defensive coordinator under Gibbs.

Snyder has had Williams in for four seperate interviews. Also interviewing Jim Fassel, and Jim Mora.

Now out of nowhere they have hired an offensive coordinator in Jim Zorn, they have also promoted Gregg Blache tolead the defense. This conicided with the firing of Al Saunders and Gregg Williams.

Hey it's his team right, he can hire and fire whoever he want. But he made these two guys the highest paid assistants over the last few years, now he isn't even willing to keep either of them on the staff. Another thing I love is how he keeps selling the continuity from the Gibbs era. So what, he is going to ram a bunch of underling staff members on a new coach and not let him hire his own coordinators. Sounds like a plan.

Since he bought that team I have felt that he made some of the worst decisions an owner has ever made. Cough::Steve Spurrier::Cough. Gibbs had turned things around and even had helpes you make better player decisions. As much as I have blasted him I have always thought hey at least he is spending money, he is trying. Now this move just screams of saving money.

Can't wait to see what you do with that top 5 pick next year Dan, cause that's where you are headed

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