Redskins a reflection of owner

John Riggins recently said that Washington Redskins owner, Daniel Snyder, isn't a good guy. Monday night's beat down by the New York Giants is proof of what Riggo was talking about. You see, the Redskins had some momentum late in the season. They were improving. Then last week, after a rare victory in Oakland, and with three games left for players and coaches to make a case for themselves and their jobs for 2010, Snyder brought in a new general manager. And with that odd timing, the end of the coach Jim Zorn-era was all but signed and sealed. Therefore, the team had less motivation to play for Zorn on Monday night. The team lost its incentive, its edge. The distractions created by the front office became too heavy to overcome. And Zorn, a genuinely nice guy, got caught in the Snyder web.

Don't get me wrong -- the previous GM, Vinny Cerrato, needed to be replaced -- but the timing of it appears suspiciously manipulative. It seems feasible that Snyder didn't want Zorn to succeed in these final weeks. A few late wins could drum up public support for keeping Zorn, which Snyder doesn't want to do. So he more than likely had his boy Vinny resign to create a new layer of uncertainty for the head coach and players. It's textbook corporate-like nonsense by another rich guy who thinks messing with people's lives and professions is a birthright. Why didn't Snyder just fire Zorn? Read on.

It's been apparent that Snyder wants Zorn out so he can bring in yet another big-name coach, even though few top-rated coaches would work for Snyder, which should be further evidence of all not being right in the owner's box. But Zorn is a smart cookie and isn't going to leave money owed to him on the table by resigning. Snyder should do the right thing and put Zorn out of his misery. And he should pay Zorn for his remaining contract year.

So when Riggins, the Hall of Fame running back, said disparaging things about Snyder, he was indicating that this is the way some people in power go about their business. They try to embarrass subordinates into quitting so they don't have to pay out contracts. They hide behind lies and deceit. They create an unfair playing field for those who fall out of favor and have an uncanny ability to create a climate of fear and mistrust. And ultimately, the product suffers from all these smoke-and-mirror tactics that have become all too common in businesses of all kinds. In a larger sense, this is why big business in America is failing. Too many top dogs have forgotten how to be human beings first and CEOs second.

The egos of some owners are large enough to believe they can repair the damage they create (see Jerry Jones of the Cowboys). Well, it hasn't happened for this team under this owner as coaches come and go like the seasons. Thousands of fans sat in FedEx Field in freezing temperatures Monday night to watch a team that has been directly or indirectly undermined by its own owner for years. It's not that Snyder wants to have losing seasons or drive away support for the team, it's just that he is pretty much what Riggins said he is. The Redskins are a toy for Snyder who doesn't seem to have that intuitive touch needed to be successful in sports. Being smug doesn't work in sports. It might work on Wall Street or in corporate board rooms for a while, but sports rely more on honesty, hard work and sincerity to motivate employees to physically perform. You have to know that the boss (owner, GM or coach) has your back in order to put your body at risk. Money generally doesn't buy championships in sports that require bravery and heart. "The Dan" confuses desire with heart. He might be a fan of the team, but he's not a good leader of men. His team is a reflection of himself -- profitable and well marketed, but without substance. It doesn't matter who the coach or general manager are as the years under Snyder have proven.

There was no fight in the 'Skins Monday night. They embarrassed themselves on a national stage. A large part of that is on the players. This was not a professional effort. If at least half these players aren't replaced next year, expect a similar record under new GM, Bruce Allen.

By the way, it seems rather obvious that the hiring of Allen was yet another public relations stunt. Allen's father, George, was a beloved Redskins coach, and his brother is a popular Virginia politician. I don't believe Allen's NFL track record is as stellar as Snyder claims. But Snyder knew few would question the hiring. Like many folks in power, Snyder appears to have some sort of need to be liked more than respected. Some folks might even applaud Snyder because of the ties Allen has to the Redskins and Ashburn, Va., where the Redskins train. But is Allen really the answer?

Hopefully, Zorn will soon get back to his native West Coast, either California or Seattle. Two years in D.C. has aged him. The lines on his face have become more obvious. Some bosses and jobs aren't worth that sort of stress, especially as one begins to get older. Zorn is still a hero in Seattle where he is remembered as the best quarterback in Seahawk history. He's still a straight shooter despite two years in Washington -- a place where spin and backstabbing are epidemic. Zorn might not be head-coaching material, but under Snyder, who is? The main reason the inexperienced Zorn got the job two years ago was because no one else wanted it. For the elite, seasoned coaches, there isn't enough money in the world to work for a dysfunctional organization under an owner who has failed to deliver a serious run at a championship or even a decent game-day experience for fans.