Is Jim Fassell really set to become the new head coach of the Washington Redskins? Latest word out of Washington has Fassell as the front-runner, but has yet to be offered the job as successor to the second-coming of the Gibbs era.
And the Washingtonians ask — Really? What happened to the players and coaches all lobbying for continuity and stability? What happened to keeping it within the family, with Gregg Williams?
If Washington owner Daniel Snyder has taught us anything through his 9 years of team ownership, it’s that he is a man who likes to make plenty of noise in the offseason. So if any sign would indicate he has settled down and abandoned his old ways, it is us who are mistaken. Not Danny Boy.
Let’s all step back and reassess the situation in a different mindset: What Would Danny Do?
After the Redskins team withstood tragedy this season with the murder of their best defensive player, safety Sean Taylor, signs indicated Joe Gibbs eyeing re-retirement, ready to hang up his coaching cap and head back to his easy livin’ as full-time NASCAR owner. When this became a reality, it seemed a foregone conclusion Snyder would hand over the reigns to his highly paid defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams. Not so much.
WWDD?
Danny decided to interview Williams — four times — to give him a fair shake at the head coaching job. Apparently Snyder was less-than enamored with the thought of Williams leading his team. After neglecting to offer Williams the job, Snyder began openly flirting with other potential big name coaches (albeit some of them just to go through the motions) — Bill Cowher, Pete Carroll, Ron Meeks, Jim Mora, Jim Caldwell.
As of today, none of the coaches have been signed. That may be Williams’ best hope in the entire process.
But if Fassell is really the front-runner, I remain skeptical of the Redskins’ approach to holding together a very fragile, reeling team after such an exhaustive year. The Redskins players fought through the final stretch of the season and made the playoffs despite all odds against them. It would be a pity to see the unity forged around the team’s recent pain and suffering be lost by way of a complete and total coaching “clean house.”
Inserting an entirely new coaching staff would place an immediate disconnect between the current players and management. New coaches would have a hard time relating to what the team went through last season, how they were able to join together and keep showing up to play every Sunday. The Redskins played tough and, most importantly, together this past season; the least Snyder can do is provide them with some kind of continuity.
Consider it a small reward for the team providing Snyder with one extra game to rake in more dollar$$ for his bottom line.
*This article is also posted on www.mindritesports.com.
