Gibbs Resigns

First. And sorry.

Say it ain't so Joe.

Great, now, again we're like a child who wanders into a movie theatre. We have no frame of reference.

Get Scott Peoli dannyboi.

And now we know why JC just left out without talking.

Exit interviews were Sunday werent they?

I can understand. He has been through a lot.

Holding grown men together after the murder of the best player of your beloved team can be soo emotionally draining. With his age (67), health problems, etc. I can respect him for that. Can you imagine how much energy he exerted to get us to the playoffs despite all of this?

If this tragedy had not happened, I would have expected Gibbs to fulfill his contract.

I bet he thinks more of his own family's well being after all that has happened. In certain situations you have to put yourself and family 1st.

Thanks for being the barringer of bad news Cindy. You'll have to make up for it by fearlessly leading another post death march.

Russ Grimm.

Mike & Mike along with Chris Mortensen are already speculating ridiculously that Snyder likes to make a big splash and that Pete Carrol could be a likely candidate... Come on... seriously?

Posted by: EinVB | January 8, 2008 09:28 AM

But of course with DS you never know... NEVER

Every player that believed in this coach and believed in this team that would have taken a pay cut will now be gone. Awesome.

Cooleys on right now. Never knew, just found out. DC101

tis sad, but we need to learn to live in a skins era without joe gibbs.

heath shuler for president!

Pete Carroll = Nick Saban.

I think Snyder has learned a lot from Gibbs 2.0 and after all he has done for the Taylor family I am willing to give him a chance to do the right thing for the Redskins. Bright skies and sunny days are before us.

Someone call a timeout...maybe two.

As Joe might say, in his chaste, understated way, doggone it.

You guys are forgetting the Rooney Rule. The Redskins are going to have to interview candidates seriously for this position, they can't just give the job to Williams, regardless of whether they'd like to or not.

Posted by: Redcoat | January 8, 2008 09:20 AM

Redcoat

Greg Blache, the former D-Cordinator for the Bears, is currently the d-line coach. My speculation, (which is all everybody has), is that he will be interviewed for the head coaching position in Washington then the job will be given to Williams.

Posted by: roweq | January 8, 2008 09:29 AM

I agree with Nate:

Doggone it!

Sums it up perfectly.

"Every player that believed in this coach and believed in this team that would have taken a pay cut will now be gone. Awesome."

Posted by: sams3 | January 8, 2008 09:30 AM

They didn't exactly take a "pay cut". They did restructure their contract to stay under the cap, but were essentially made whole with cash bonuses. Don't worry, they were definitely care of. Besides, the Redskins paid them WAY more money than any other team would have paid them in the first place.

Every player that believed in this coach and believed in this team that would have taken a pay cut will now be gone. Awesome.

Posted by: sams3 | January 8, 2008 09:30 AM

Agree with this statement if they hire an outsider like Cowher or Carrol. However, if they promote Gregg Williams, I don't think this is necessarily true.

Adam

Wow, if you weren't depressed enough already remove all sharp objects from reach and read this:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080108/SPORTS06/134647632/1005/SPORTS

Cooley is in shock, sad, will miss him.

Calls it the 'Redskins Organization' not our organization. Does Snyder really promote that much family feeling that your employers are seen as the corporate head!!??

Do you remember who coached the Redskins the last time Gibbs resigned? Richie Petitbon, the D coordinator. The 'Skins went 4-12, and after a year he was replaced by Norv Turner. God help us.

For got to add that incenctive for Blache to go along with that dog and pony show would be a promotion to D-Cordinator.

wait. re-sign, like still on board, or resign, like over board?

overboard, Sween.

If we go with another college coach I will cry.

I'd love to know what the heck has been going on at Redskin Park the last 2 days. JC leaves in a tiff, Gibbs' ultra-confusing presser yesterday, and now Cooley says no one had a clue he was leaving.

Another reason why promoting Gregg Williams may be a shrewd move is that if you hire from the outside, he and a majority (if not all) of his staff is gone, Crazy Al (and who knows which other offensive coaches) are gone, and players will be starting over with a ton of new schemes/systems/etc.

While JG's departure as coach may result in some offensive coaches leaving, at least you won't get a mass exodus out the door.

Adam

To give Mr. Gibbs a salary of $7M like Coach Holmgren's would mean, assuming a current $5M salary, a 40% raise.

I don't see how any CEO (Mr. Snyder) gives a 40% raise to an underperforming executive. The markets usually punish such CEOs by hitting the stock (equity holders get punished) and then the directors get into the act and finally there's a negotiated severance. No such luck for Mr. Gibbs.

So Mr. Gibbs is out now. Good. Hopefully Mr. Snyder will conduct a thorough search for a GM, talent evaluator, and head coach to create a truly complete and competent personnel team to complement our atheletes.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY AT 3 PM
Joe Gibbs To Retire As Head Coach; Remains in Redskins' Family As Special Advisor To Owner Daniel M. Snyder

Ashburn, VA - The Washington Redskins will hold a press conference today at 3 PM to announce that Joe Gibbs will be retiring as Head Coach and President of the organization.

Gibbs will remain part of the Redskins family and serve as a special advisor to owner Daniel M. Snyder.

Gibbs and Snyder will both be in attendance at the press conference which will be held in the main auditorium of Redskins Park

NO RUSS GRIMM. I am TIRED of "OLD SKOOL" Skins returning back to try and restore greatness. The past is the past. Time for fresh blood and a new perspective...new championships, new memories.

Gibbs is a good man. Thanks so much for the memories.

I think this is the best.

Personally this season took a lot out of Gibbs not to mention most everyone saying the game had passed him and he should retire. I am happy for Joe and hope he can enjoy the rest of his life. He may not have won a Superbowl but he brought some order and respect to a team that was spiraling out of control.

Redskins football under Gibbs was about offense and the running game; this Redskins team has been about Defense and I think Greg Williams should be the new head coach.

Saunders is gone!

Things are getting interesting...

personal advisor... gulp

This is a sad day. It brought tears to my eyes 4 years ago (almost to the day) when i found out that Coach was returning. It brings tears to my eyes again to hear he's stepping down. I expected him to honor his contract for 5 years. I guess i held coach to a higher standard than everyone else.

Joe brought stability to a organization that was in chaos. I'm honestly afraid they our man Dan Snyder will blow up the team again, and bring in another idiot failure coach.

Hopefully we will get Real GM. If we don't go with Williams we need to Give Grimm a call.

"Things are getting interesting..."

Posted by: isnadd | January 8, 2008 09:41 AM

Interesting sucks. I want boring. The Skins' recent (many) offseasons, other than this past offseason, were interesting. This past offseason was boring. I want boring.

So is the reason that St. Joe was non-committal about JC because that a statement of commitment is something that a head coach should say? i.e., saving it for his replacement to "name" his starter, rather than have the starter set before he arrives?

Do you remember who coached the Redskins the last time Gibbs resigned? Richie Petitbon, the D coordinator. The 'Skins went 4-12, and after a year he was replaced by Norv Turner. God help us.

Posted by: talent_evaluator | January 8, 2008 09:35 AM

TE - I agree the next step is scarry, however, that 1993 team that Pettibone was left with was totally devoid of talent. I check our roster..

QB's - Gannon, Conklin, Rypien all threw more than 87 passes that year.
RB's - Leading rusher Reggie Brooks

We are in much better shape talent wsie this time around....

STILL NERVOUS!

If we pull someone from the college ranks, let it be Frank Beamer!

Ricky Bobby

It is not confusing. The one thing that people have been saying that there is a lack of communication at Redskins Park. Hopefully, now everybody can get on the same page.

"personal advisor... gulp"

Posted by: RickyBobby | January 8, 2008 09:43 AM

It does sound ominously like "personal punt protector" doesn't it. On this point, however, I do hope that both St. Joe and The Owner follow through ... that Joe talks to The Owner and that The Owner listens to him. The past two years seem like the closest this team has had of anything resembling a "trend" toward continuity.

I'm sad about Coach Gibbs. I think the reason is he realized that he will not be able to lead this redskins team to the promisedland. Clearly, they aren't good enough, yet, to be superbowl contenders. Keep in mind, I don't think you'll hear him say this, but why would he put himself through another season with no chance of attaining his goal? Maybe he came to the realization that he didn't have it anymore. The 2 timeout thing really had an effect on good ol Coach Gibbs.
Hail Joe!

Sure sounds that way, Sween.

I was kinda ready for St. Joe to move on, but I hope for as much continuity as possible. I agree that last year's offseason, for the most part, was boring, and it was a nice change.

Absolutely devastating news, though not totally unexpected.

I have a message for all you people who called talk radio and demanded his resignation or firing this season, all the people who stood outside comcast sportsnet's broadcast after the buffalo game who chanted "Joe Must Go!", and all the people on here posting disgusting comments about this man-- ALL OF YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES TODAY.

You are the ones that drove this man out of town. Redskins fans...you are not.

To the rest of Redskins Nation, sing it from the top one last time...

Wake me up before you go, Joe
Don't leave us hanging like '92, yo
Wake me up before you go-Joe
I don't wanna miss it when you say good bye

Wake me up before you go, Joe
'Cause I don't wanna cry again for you, bro
Wake me up before you go, Joe
Take the Skins dancing toniiiight

I really hope that we hire a GM, i'm not holding out hope but I hope the first hire is a GM. Well 4 years of stability was 4 more than we had under Danny prior. It was fun while it lasted.

Would the hot coach of the moment please step up, the carousel is about to start turning.

Well, I am disappointed. We had a coach capable of pulling us out of the dregs and we lost him, again. The only coach to take us to the playoffs twice in three years was the same guy who did it the last time. Stability is what this teams needs and you'll get either Williams or Saunders. If we go with the latter, guess who starts at QB next year? If we go with Williams, we can select not only defensive players to "make examples of," by not playing them. Ready for a high draft pick next season, if we have any picks.

I wish the greedy situation could happen - hire Cowher and keep Williams as a (highly paid) D Coordinator. But I think the choices will be the current guys (Williams head and many assistants in place) or a radical change with someone like Cowher or Grimm.

GM?????

Ouch.

Actually, maybe St. Joe can educate The Owner in football conservatism ... a real GM is supposed to be conservative, reasonably risk averse, and have a longer time horizon. If St. Joe can nudge The Owner in the direction of less rashness, that could be a good thing. Now we need a real aggressive, go-for-broke, win-right-now coaching staff (where the head coach does NOT have final say over new personnel).

Be on the lookout for several of Al Saunders' former offensive position coaches from KC to head east to Ashburn, most likely Mike Solari, the former offensive line coach.

My guess is that Bugel, Burns and Breaux are going to ride off into the sunset, too.

Barno, you are the man.

The 'Skins can promote Williams without interviewing a minority candidate, I believe, since he is internal. If they go outside the organization, they have to interview a minority candidate unless they go after one guy and sign that guy.

I think Willams should be given serious consideration. If Williams isn;t the guy, I would hope they would at least look at Grimm, and consider other up and coming young coaches.

By the way, if Snyder goes after Pete Carroll after what happened with Spurier, we all might as well just quit. I think you have to measure Carroll's ability against what he did with New England and NYJ, not necessarily what he has done at USC.

My god, if they hire Cowher I'll be sick.

I just saw that Dan snyder wants to interview jason garrett.

OK just kidding but seriously, Dan may actually do something like that.

If we pull someone from the college ranks, let it be Frank Beamer!

Posted by: zap123 | January 8, 2008 09:46 AM

We already know how to lose playoff games.

I'm sad this morning.

I love Joe, but I'm happy about this decision. I'd like to see Williams get a second shot at being a head coach and getting some young blood on the coaching staff wouldn't be a bad thing. He leaves as well respected and dignified as when he came back and deserves a done of credit for keeping the team together this season. But with Gibbs, you would always have to fear that JC would be thrown under the bus in favor of a saavy, less talented veteran (TC). This is for the best.

I guess this is really it for Joe now. No more second acts.

Great coach, good man. Pretty good life resume. I'd take half of it; either part.

The question for the football team is whether to make a gradual transition or a complete one. I assume it'll be gradual; although I also assume some of the older coaches will move on too.

But eventually they'll have to break completely from the Gibbs era. The organization is in a real tough situation.

That's all secondary to Gibbs' leaving.

We were lucky to have him.

Gibbs' motivation? John Kaim in the Examiner this morning focussed more on personal/family reasons, including his grandson, Taylor. Makes sense that the murder of Sean Taylor had a deep impact on Coach Gibbs. Also, the guy's 67 years old. Would he really want to spend his remaining days being a father figure to a bunch of 20-something footballers?

We heard for a few years how JC has had something like 6 off corrdinators in 6 years and now hea has stability.

IF , something happens and Crazy Al leaves, will "we" have to teach JC another system?? Will that mean another year or two of development??

Gibbs retired.
Joe Bugel will retire.
Al Saunders will be let go.
Gregg Williams new coach.
A new GM, finally.

and hopefully Bubba Tyer is gone so our guys will stay healthy all year.

I think the lesson Snyder learned from Gibbs is consistency. You kill your team with too much learning and re-learning new coaches playbooks.

So that says Williams or Saunders. If you hire Williams, you have a decent chance to retain Saunders. If you hire Saunders, Williams probably goes (and Saunders hasn't proven himself here just exactly yet). But both men are qualified to get hired as a head coach.

Otherwise, it's Cowher or Grimmm, if you're looking for an outside hire.

Cowher wouldn't be a good fit, but Grimm is going to be a good coach, methinks. And if he was the guy, I'd be cool with that.

It's really hard to believe that Gibbs did not tell his players. Shocking.

During his interview with George Michael yesterday, he said they definitely want Williams to remain. Which means they MUST make Williams the head coach or he will resign.

Here comes 2006 ALL OVER AGAIN :(

cej,

We can only hope if a new offense ultimately gets installed that it will resemble something JC has seen before. Yikes.

all the people on here posting disgusting comments about this man-- ALL OF YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES TODAY. You are the ones that drove this man out of town.

Posted by: Barno | January 8, 2008 09:47 AM

Do you really believe Coach Joe cares what a bunch of random sods post on this blog? That we're "the ones that drove this man out of town?"

You've got a loose screw again, man.

It took Cowher over ten years to win a superbowl, why does anyone want him?

"... Would he really want to spend his remaining days being a father figure to a bunch of 20-something footballers?"

Posted by: talent_evaluator | January 8, 2008 09:51 AM

Why not? Joe Paterno spends his days as a great-grandfather figure to a bunch of 18-something footballers.

This one doesn't seem as abrupt as the end of the season. It IS a relief that he pulled off the bandage quickly, ASAP after the season ended, so the next staff can get things up and moving ASAP for free agency and the draft.

Of all the teams in the NFL, the Skins did not seem like a team in "need" of a head coach. Its better to leave on your own terms than to be invited to leave.

Zebraskins, I'm not sure. Everyone loves Cowher because the media told them so. They love him because he makes the playoffs all the time, but as we have come to learn just making the playoff sucks. People think he is a master drafter or something. He is a master tool.

Cowher would want to switch the D over to 3-4, so I would assume that they would need a new defensive staff and a new front 7.

Zebraskins, it took him 10 years and the most luck one man could ever hope to get in a life time.

Exactly. No F'n Cowher.

Grilliams and Saunders are not at the same level as for as cachet and chops to be head coach. The only viable former head coaches on the team is Grilliams. Saunders was an involuntary in-season interim head coach. He is a straight up coordinator. Greg Blache also was a former D coordinator. Wasn't Bugel also a head coach somewhere once? Of the Gibbs' coaches, Bugel seems like the one who might be interested enough (and involved enough) to stay. I recall the Bugel has a loftier sounding title than Saunders.

If Gregg becomes head coach I would expect Blatche to be the new defensive coordinator (in practice, already has the title). But what about getting one of the Ryan boys (Rob or Rex)? Both are currently out of jobs and Gregg learned defense from papa Buddy Ryan...

Thoughts?

I honestly think that consistancy is what the organization needs and wants. I think they keep both Williams and Saunders. Joe Bugel is the big loss in all this. There is no better O-line coach out there.

Barno-You cant blame those who wanted Joe to go. You especially cant complain about it while inventing lyrics to a WHAM song.

Better look up, as a Milwakees Best can might be about to fall on your head.

Lisa,

I agree. I'm shocked that Gibbs didn't tell his players, like yesterday or this morning before the news broke. I mean, Elliot from DC101 broke the news to Cooley on the radio this morning. That is not the way things should go down. This happened way too frequently during Gibbs 2.0.

I am horribly afraid of what could happen if Williams/Saunders leave. If Snyder goes in a different direction, with Gibbs as his personal advisor, I have no idea what I'll think.

I can deal with the loss of Joe, but I'm not sure I can stomach the loss of any more coaches. I just wasn't ready to become a "rebuilding team" yet.

I have a very sour taste in my stomach. Something just tells me that this is only the first of many more dominoes to fall.

That said, Gibbs is doing this for the benefit of the team and the organization. This is a year where there are very few head coaching vacancies (3 maybe???_not sure??) and given our current financial situation this will permit us to have first dibs and a pretty decent opportunity to snatch up what is the best available fit for our team. The problem is...I have no earthly idea who that would be.

A Saunder's departure will likely mean a new system for JC to learn. What a blow that will be to him and our offense. Miami has shown and interest in Williams and I am rather certain that if we don't hear about him taking that job soon then we will all be rather sure that he is our next head coach.

When will there ever be stability in this organization. This just stinks of a "rebuilding process" and five more very long years.

Lets hope I am wrong!!!

Bugel was a head coach of the Cardinals and I believe the Raiders

Sween, Buges was head coach in Arizona and, I think, also Oakland. Hasn't everyone been a head coach in Oakland for 15 minutes?

The pressure Paterno works under at Penn State is hardly similar to what Gibbs works under in the NFL. Not even close.

I agree that the negative "fan" response is unlikely to have had any effect whatsoever on his decision. That said, of course it was BS.

I would think more highly of Barno's artistry up there if it wasn't to the tune of a Wham! song.

While this makes all of us nervous, let us remember the record and how we felt in mid-November.

Joe went 31-36 (1-2 plyoffs). Let's all remember a previous post

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/01/rich_tandler_guest_blog_1.html

We were Cinderella under Coach Joe. It is time for us to be the Prince. I'm tired of sneaking into the play-offs because of a magical run. I want a magical run to start in September and not be forced to win our last 4 or 5 games to grab the 6th seed. I want that play-off game at FedEx Field not in that madhouse Qwest Field. I want to be the hunted..the badazz on the block that people are nervous about playing. I want to be the team that people say..." if we can hang on early and keep it close, we'll see where we are at in the 4th "

Do we honestly...HONESTLY ... fell that we were headed for a 12-4 record? Would we have ever gotten there under Coach Joe?

I love him to, and he will always be special to my memories of the Redksins, but, I'm just saying......

Gibbs retired.
Joe Bugel will retire.
Al Saunders will be let go.
Gregg Williams new coach.
A new GM, finally.
Hopefully Bubba Tyer is gone

Campbell will be a backup.
McNabb will be our new QB

Snyder's yes-men are currently re-writing his ticket increase letter that was to go out in early March. Poor Dan. Now he'll just have to settle for a 300 gagillion profit next year.

the way Saunders and Williams are paid, why not retain the same position and not have to deal with the pressures of being the head coach? Bring in Russ Grimm and leave everything else in place.

On a random note, I'm reading a book by Zbigniew Brzezinski at the moment. It uses the word 'Manichaean' on just about every other page.

You guys might like to think of that word as the Redskins go through the next few weeks.

Hope you guys make it through without too much turmoil, but somehow that doesn't seem likely. anyone have insight on the Williams/saunders dynamic? Would Weird Al stay if GG gets the nod? BTW Hudson Houck, the Miami o-line co-ordinator may be looking for work now. It may be heresy on here, but I think he's as good a coach as Buges.

The coach with the brightest future on the staff may be Olivadotti.

Paterno, isn't even coherent anymore. I would never want coach Gibbs to be on a sideline looking like that ahole. The dudes pants are so baggy becuase of his depends.

Bring in Russ Grimm and leave everything else in place.

Posted by: markhorn | January 8, 2008 10:09 AM

Do you really believe that either Saunders or Williams would take orders from Russ Grimm?

Campbell will be a backup.
McNabb will be our new QB

Posted by: isnadd | January 8, 2008 10:08 AM

Why would you want to stunt the progress of JC by bringing in McNabb?

Rumor: Schottenheimer is having dinner with Snyder tonight.

OK, I made it up.

Best Case Scenario:

Williams becomes Head Coach, Al Saunders stays as the offensive coordinator and hires his own staff on offense. The only major hire is Charley Casserly as GM.

Worst Case Scenario: we hire a whole new staff.

BTW Hudson Houck, the Miami o-line co-ordinator may be looking for work now.

Posted by: Redcoat | January 8, 2008 10:10 AM

Didn't Burce Willis play him in a movie?

cej75024 -- I agree that the loss of Joe is bearable and can be remedied (although still difficult to accept final farewells are here). The problem I have is that this almost certainly means a restructuring of the coaching staff and the departure of some very good coaches. I adamantly believe that HC and only HC was the problem this year. Angry Al proved himself once he had a chance to put in a QB that knew his system. JC proved to us that he needs one more off season to study Al's system. G Williams put forth another great defensive coaching season, but lets face it--he was a failure as a head coach and I don't think he has any chance of taking this team to the promiseland as a HC either.

We hace to find some way to maintain some of the continuity that we benefited from this season.

George Michael on Elliott right now - talked to Gibbs today - said decision started in Tampa Bay loss.

Be prepared for the onslaught of the "burp, burp slurp" idiot. He will be here once he gets of the school bus and finishes his howework.

Best case scenario: Gregg Williams head coach; Mike Martz offensive coordinator. You heard it here first.

A Saunder's departure will likely mean a new system for JC to learn. What a blow that will be to him and our offense. Posted by: PostGibbs09 | January 8, 2008 10:04 AM
-------------------------------------------

Bingo. I think that has to be the most important thing when looking for a new coach. You can't have Campbell learn a whole new offense again.

Lets face it, Gibbs had some tough decisions coming up this year.. he can see the writing on the wall that this team just doesn't have it, and will need some major work and a few more years, if it works at all, even then.. he's super smart and see's Gibbs II just isn't going to work.. and he'd rather walk than deal with all of it and have to let go of guys like jansen, portis, etc.. that's what he did before, left rather than cut the vets he won SB's with.. i'm also not so sure he's sold on JC.. and doesn't want to bear a QB controversy either..

I'm not going to shed any tears for Coach Gibbs. I appreciate what he's done for the franchise and it was a tough year, but there's no doubt that he cost the Skins several wins this year by plain old bad coaching. It won't tarnish his legacy in my mind and he'll still be the greatest Redskins coach to me, but it was time to hang em up.

That being said, I hope we go after one of the young guys out there. A guy like Singletary seems like a good step. However, one thing I believe is important is continuity on the offense. JC is the guy (and any talk of having Collins start next year should be immediate disqualification for the head coach position) but he needs to grow within the system that has been established. At this point, he's started, I think, 20 games. He's shown good progress. His continuation as the starting QB should be a requirement for the next coach.

If Al is gone then Campbell will have to learn a new system. I haven't heard of too many OC that have similar systems to Al's. A very complicated system.

The loss of continuity of systems is probably the biggest loss from St. Joe leaving.

Why would you want to stunt the progress of JC by bringing in McNabb?

Posted by: cej75024 | January 8, 2008 10:10 AM

I don't feel Campbell is making any progress. He was an average QB at a college that ran the ball like nobody's business. I also don't think he is very smart.

Say you want about Collins (and he will always be a backup) but it was evident that Al Saunders had a decent playbook when Campbell was not the QB.

How many years did we wait for Patrick Ramsey to come around. Let's find a starting QB, make a real run at the playoffs, draft a hot shot in the draft next season and give him a couple of years to develop...kind of like Green Bay.

George Michael also saying that the family stuff is huge too - missing out on it, issues with the grandson's illness, etc.

I am sad. For all of the missteps, I love Joe Gibbs, and always will.

I love Joe Gibbs but this hurts the soul. Things were looking up and the organization appeared to be turning the corner and now what? Very frustrating!

Sad day, but in the long run I think this is best for the Skins! How much longer was his run really going last. Williams should be hired, I think he has stuck around waiting for this opportunity and he deserves it! Hiring Carroll would be a disaster and I am boycotting the Mike an Mike show for a week because they mentioned that non sense! I hope they hire Williams, if they don't he will resign. That means new D system which spells TROUBLE for our beloved SKINS!

HAIL!

George just said definitively that Dan Snyder will not be calling Bill Cowher to be head coach of the Redskins.

Just thinking aloud...

I don't see bringing in Grimm and keeping GW and Big Al... I don't think either coordinator would pony up to that deal. If Grimm comes in, it's rebuilding time more than likely. Not that it's a bad thing really... However, the culture of underachieving has not been completely fostered by coaching, though you could make that argument under Turner and Spurrier. I think some of that responsibility has to lie in the front office as well.

If GW becomes the head coach (most likely, imho), it affords the most continuity. Big Al stays and they try to make a run with a healthy and minimally tweaked roster next year.

If Danny courts Cowher, it's a big splash and you can probably count on several losing seasons... Cowher wants his own players... "His guys"... This is positive only if Cowher is in it for the long haul.

You can't have Campbell learn a whole new offense again.

Posted by: curtmcgurt | January 8, 2008 10:13 AM

Hey, Campbell's learned about eight systems in the last ten years. He won't have a problem.

But how will the starter, Todd Collins, adjust? He's worked in the same system since the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk.

Didn't Burce Willis play him in a movie?

Posted by: Original_etrod | January 8, 2008 10:11 AM

Great ref. etrod! Didn't they keep singing "side by side" throughout that movie? I didn't think it was all that bad even though it bombed.

Why would we want Casserly back? He has done little well in the past 15 years. We talk about the cupboard being bare for Pettibone, but Casserly was responsible for that. He was responsible for the "players" we had through the Norv era also (Westbrook, Shuler, Stubblefield, Ferrotte, etc.) He did really well in Houston, too.

offseasons are never dull in DC.....if its not williams then be prepared for total house cleaning and rebuilding......we are now back to clinging to a hope that the danny has learned from Joe and will make a smart decision....not to confident, don't know about you guys.....

Best Case Scenario:

Williams becomes Head Coach, Al Saunders stays as the offensive coordinator and hires his own staff on offense. The only major hire is Charley Casserly as GM.

Worst Case Scenario: we hire a whole new staff.

Posted by: cgshelto | January 8, 2008 10:11 AM

I couldn't agree more!

First off Good Luck to Coach Gibbs. Redskins fans will never forget his commitment to this Team. As far as where do the Skins go from here I don't think Gregg Williams is a Automatic Slamdunk as the replacement and they should definitely stay away from Bill Cowher. My personal favorite would be Russ Grimm, I would hate the Coaching staff turnover again, but we need a younger staff in it for the long haul. I also think Russ Grimm would get an Offensive system that would better utilize Jason Campbell's talents much like Big Ben in Pittsburgh.

Ouch. This is a kick in the crotch.

Lisa,

I agree.

Posted by: RickyBobby | January 8, 2008 10:04 AM

So dinner must have gone well

Adam

I don't feel Campbell is making any progress. He was an average QB at a college that ran the ball like nobody's business. I also don't think he is very smart.

Posted by: isnadd | January 8, 2008 10:16 AM

Agreed, the offense looked better under Collins, however, he also was throwing to a healthy Moss, ARE, and handing off to a healthy Portis.

JC had a nicked up CP, and was throwing to James Thrash and Keenan McCardell.

I agree that Jason was not setting the world on fire, but that isn't exactly fair to JC.

Kind of feel like history repeating itself.

The first time Gibbs left, they had a tough loss to SF in the playoffs. Gibbs left to have the team taken over by Richie. Gibbs also left and aging team in Salary cap crisis that's not prepared to tackle the upcoming free agency.

Now Gibbs leave behind another aging team (especially the O-Line) that's way over the salary cap that's probably going to be taken over by Williams. Not to mention Taylor is gone forever...and Rogers/McIntosh status for next season is up in the air...even if Gibbs though Mac will be back by start of season he won't be 100% for some time.

Greg Williams should probably think twice about taking that head coaching job if the roster is going to be a mess next year. He will be the perfect scapegoat for Snyder to fire him and hire Cowher for 2009....which Cowher seems like he wants to take 2008 off anyway.

This is bad news. In the words of the late, great Anakin Skywalker,

"Noooooooooooooooo!"

beep beep

Someone please get garret in from Dallas. there is no more talent there than there is in DC and he somehow found a way to make Romo look like Montana. Romo doesn't even make reads he just tosses it to the primary reciever. Bring that magic to DC.

The whole "Gibbs to stay as special advisor" sounds a lot like what happened with Shula in Miami. I hope this goes better for you guys than that did for us.

RE: Charlie Casserly - he did a HORRIBLE job down here with the Texans...

Agree strongly that GW becomes head coach and keeps some continuity with a young defense that has a lot of promise.

Knowing Snyder, though, he'll come with some brillant "co-head coach" idea with GW and Al...

But how will the starter, Todd Collins, adjust? He's worked in the same system since the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk.
Posted by: talent_evaluator | January 8, 2008 10:18 AM
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That's a really good point t-e. Resigning Collins doesn't seem like such a slam duck anymore does it. What's the point if Saunders is gone?

in the words of Florida Evans, "DAMN, DAMN, DAMN!"

I imagine Joe's decision was driven by his interest in not staying beyond next year. That, together with a view that the team would be best served with some continuity and that Williams is ready.

I'll be shocked if Dan hires from outside the deepest coaching staff in the NFL. If he does, it shows he really hasn't learned anything since buying the team.

Sorry to see Coach Gibbs leave. I really thought he would honor his five year committment. I guess this season and its tragedy caused more havoc than we all imagined. I assume he has more family concerns than we know, as well.

Good luck Coach and I'll always love and respect you. Your a great human being.

If Snyder does not hire within the team (Williams) he should do us all a favor and sell the team!

Williams as head coach, Saunders stays, and JC doesn't have to learn a new system! Then you can keep Collins for a back up. We shouldn't give up on JC just yet. He will come around in Saunders system and is better for our future than Collins is. JC has a much better arm, and has mobility!

two things need to come out of this for the team to be successful:

1. Williams and Saunders need to be retained one way or another. Probably Williams as HC and Saunders as OC. That's the only way this team retains its main question mark players.

2. Campbell needs to be the starter next year, especially in Saunders' system. Say what you want about TC, but during his win streak, he had perfection from his supporting cast. It seemed like TC showed Saunders' offense much better, but remember, when JC had his supporting cast performing at their peak, he was doing just as well. And at the first sign of pressure and underperforming by his supporting cast (poor protection, dropped passes), TC fell apart. Collins has too many limitations, Campbell is the real deal.