Sherm Lewis is the new Redskins play caller
Posted by Mike Florio on October 19, 2009 7:09 AM ET
The wake of the Washington Redskins' embarrassing home loss to the previously 0-5 Chiefs became even more bizarre than anyone could have imagined.

Conventional wisdom was that, if the 'Skins got scalped by the Chiefs, coach Jim Zorn would load his personal effects into a box and make the slow, final walk to the parking lot.

But instead Zorn has agreed to a second public emasculation this month, giving up one of his main functions -- calling the plays on offense -- in order to keep his job.

With that news came the bizarre word that Zorn and executive V.P. of football operations Vinny Cerrato would be putting their heads together to decide on the new play-caller on Monday morning.

The development created a sense of drama where there should have been none. I mean, who was it going to be? Coach Janky Spanky?

Sherm Lewis was the obvious selection, primarily because there was no other alternative.

We're told that it is Lewis, and Rick Maese has reported the same thing.

And so a guy who made his name in Green Bay as an offensive coordinator who deferred the play-calling function to Mike Holmgren will now be charged with the task of saving the asses of Zorn and, as we're hearing it, Cerrato, too.

Good luck with all that.

The only remaining question is whether the new arrangement gets one week or longer to save Zorn's job.

And, given the current disarray, whether the Redskins will be able to win any more games this year.

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Sherm Lewis was named the "interim" HC within the next week or two. I had a feeling that was going to happen when they recently hired him. And I agree with M2K that this is all Dan Snyder's fault.

Cerrato: Zorn will coach rest of the season
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 23, 2009 9:16 AM ET
The Redskins players asked for an endorsement of their coach Jim Zorn last week.

After another loss, Zorn's playcalling duties being stripped, more reports that Mike Shanahan was approached about Zorn's job, and a near resignation, the players have what they wanted.

Speaking on his radio show, executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato said that Zorn would be staying for the rest of the season.

"Let me start by making a few things very perfectly clear," Cerrato said. "Jim Zorn is the head coach of the Washington Redskins and will for the rest of this season, and hopefully into the future."

Wow?

Cerrato's statements supports the notion written about by Mr. Florio last week that Zorn and Cerrato's fates are tied together. Cerrato also disputed the notion of internal turmoil within the organization.

"The relationships internally within the organization quite frankly remain the same," Cerrato said. (Well, except that Zorn is no longer calling plays for the offense that he installed.)

The news is rather surprising and may quiet the daily speculation surrounding Zorn's job security, but it probably won't end it. Cerrato's statement reminds us the quotes from teams that completely denied any interest in Michael Vick over the summer.

If Zorn and possibly Cerrato are fired during the season, the story won't be what Cerrato said on October 23.

So adding to the debacle that is the Redskins is the fact that they are now tossing fans who have signs displaying negativity towards the franchise or owner. Also, just reported that signs of any sort will no longer be allowed at the games.

Way to go Snyder...a little bit longer and you won't have a fan base for your team. This douche actually bumped WCF a rung further up from the bottom as far as NFL owners go.