Stepping on a Land Mine

Above coach's paygrade

After the Redskins barely won their game last week against the Rams, a game in which the Redskins were booed all the way into the tunnel... as winners, head coach Jim Zorn and Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgenson got into a little tiff over coach Zorn's decision to run a halfback option to Clinton Portis on third and goal.

Coach Zorn said the play was the play, Sonny said he would have been pissed as Redskins quarterback if the coach was putting the game in someone else's hands, and indicated he would have changed the play at the line or called a time out.

To which coach Zorn replied, then I would take you out of the game.

Then as if it were not awkward enough of an exchange, coach Zorn repeated after a silence, sorry Sonny, I would take you out.

Coach Zorn had better think hard about calling out Sonny Jurgenson. Now Sonny may be verging on a doddering old man at age 75, he is still the spiritual compass of the Redskins. He is a Hall of Famer who had a great deal of influence on his own playcalls, a fact that is internalized by Redskins fans and is thus part of the concern about coach Zorn restricting quarterback Jason Campbell's options.

Coach, some free advice from a guy that wants to see you succeed, tread very lightly around Sonny Jurgenson. Tangling with him will get you nowhere.



Sonny Jurgenson and Redskins coach Vince Lombardi on the cover of Sports Illustrated, 28 July 11969 from here.