FanHouse Jim Zorn

In Mike Wise's Washington Post column from this morning, you'll find a story about Jim Zorn and Joe Gibbs hanging out and shooting the proverbial, uh, well, you know. In it, you'll find discussions ranging from charity work to Zorn's admiration about the legacy Gibbs left as a great coach for the Washington Redskins.

Invariably, the subject of the Redskins' polarizing quarterback came up. Gibbs was specifically asked about how Jason Campbell handled the situation this offseason where the Redskins tried to replace him, not once, but twice. Alas, Jay Cutler is in Chicago and Mark Sanchez is in New York. The Redskins are "stuck" with Campbell and his big arm.

The following excerpt, including Gibbs' quote after he was asked if Campbell was mistreated, grabbed my eye.

A year ago, Tony Romo joined Justin Timberlake and Matt Lauer in a round of celebrity golf at Torrey Pines the week before the U.S. Open. He fired an 84, which, to hear him tell it, was disappointing.

In general, a 2-handicap isn't all that jazzed about a 14-over round, but I'm guessing Romo doesn't regularly play on courses that feature 4-inch rough, 20-yard-wide fairways, and greens rolling 14 on the stimpmeter. But, hey, the guy sets high standards for himself.

Last month, between organized team activities at his day job, Romo tried and failed to qualify for the Byron Nelson Championship. And next week he will play with Tiger Woods in the AT&T National pro-am.

Late last season, as the Redskins were slipping in the standings, frustrations began to mount. After a 6-2 start, Washington lost five of six, and first-year head coach Jim Zorn was not only the target of criticism, there was speculation that his job might be in trouble.

The latter proved to be just a rumor, but running back Clinton Portis was partly responsible for the former. During a Dec. 2008 appearance on the John Thompson show, he told the former Georgetown coach that, "We got a genius for a head coach, I don't know, I'm sure he on top of things. He's got everything figured out. Hey, that's up to him. All I can do is when he calls a play is go out and try to execute to the best of my ability."

ASHBURN, Va. -- Just a week ago, Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn expressed his disappointment over LaRon Landry's absence from OTAs (organized team activities). Zorn admitted he had been trying to get in touch with Landry, but the third-year safety had not returned any of his calls or texts.

On Thursday, after Washington's last team workout before training camp, we found out why.

Landry gave Zorn the ol' fake-number sliparoo.

"Several texts came back to me, and I thought, 'You know, I don't really have the right number,' " Zorn said.

Update (June 12): The Redskins decided not to wait any longer to determine Thrash's future -- the team announced today that it has released the veteran wide receiver after he failed to pass a physical. Both owner Dan Snyder and coach Jim Zorn expressed hope that Thrash would retain some sort of non-playing positive within the Washington organization.

ASHBURN, Va. -- There has been speculation throughout the Redskins' offseason workouts that wide receiver James Thrash may retire due to a lingering neck injury. If he opts to continue attempting to rehab instead, with designs on eventually returning to the field, Washington may be forced to place Thrash on the Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP).

It's a move that could come sooner rather than later. Thrash has, thus far, missed all of Washington's offseason workouts, and head coach Jim Zorn does not anticipate him returning for training camp in July. If that's the case, Zorn said, the Redskins will have to take action.

Thank God. LaRon Landry has returned to the Redskins' loving bosom. Search and rescue teams have been called off because Landry, who missed voluntary workouts last week and didn't return calls or texts from head coach Jim Zorn, showed up for work today. Disaster averted.

Last Thursday, Zorn told reporters that Landry's absence was "disappointing to his teammates as well" although "I fully expect him to be ready in training camp and go hard and have a great year."

Totally agree with that last bit, but I'm pretty sure Landry's teammates aren't losing sleep over him skipping organized team activities. You know, because unlike most of us who write about this stuff, the guys who actually play football for a living seem to understand that veteran starters familiar with the scheme aren't really missing much during the shorts and t-shirts portion of the summer schedule.

So, why did a team who ranked fourth in the NFL in total defense draft a defensive player in the first round?

Because Brian Orakpo fell to the 13th pick, was one of the most versatile defensive players in the draft, and improves an area where the Redskins were lacking. Defensive coordinator Greg Blache doesn't blitz, but that doesn't mean the Redskins couldn't use some pressure on the quarterback. That's (presumably, though we can't really be sure with Vinny Cerrato and Dan Snyder at the helm) why they coughed up a second-round draft pick for Jason Taylor. With injuries hampering Taylor, the Redskins managed only a paltry 24 sacks.

Enter Orakpo.

After 10 seasons and 123 NFL starts, right tackle Jon Jansen has been shown the door by the Washington Redskins. Jansen, a 6-foot-6 305-pound 33-year-old, was drafted in the second round of the 1999 draft by the Redskins out of Michigan. He became an immediate starter and put together a solid career in Washington.

Via press release from owner Dan Snyder Friday, the Redskins notified the media that they will move on. The full press release follows:

ASHBURN, Va. -- He is the man, the myth, the legend around these parts, the quarterback who will finally lead a hungry franchise back to the promised land. He is a fan favorite, a cult hero, a promise of a bright future.

And he has never taken a regular-season snap.

Colt Brennan finds himself in an intriguing situation as he enters his second season with the Washington Redskins. On the one hand, he'll once again be his team's third-string quarterback -- stuck behind oft-criticized Jason Campbell and 15-year veteran Todd Collins. On the other hand, a growing number of Redskins fans think he is the missing piece to their championship puzzle.

They want him in the lineup. Right now.

As the Redskins go through mini-camps this spring, the most important development will be how things progress with their starting quarterback, Jason Campbell. It's no secret the Redskins pursued other options during the offseason, only to come up short and end up "stuck" with the 27-year-old Auburn product.

After three seasons, and finally one full one, under his belt, it's time for Campbell to take the next step and become a franchise quarterback. Finally getting a second season in the same offensive system -- 2009 will be the first time -- is a great start for the 6-foot-5 signal-caller. He's also getting more comfortable in his leadership role.