Quote:Gruden's probably the best they could do. I still find it hard to believe that the Redskins or Cowboys will have any real success until their owner's wise up and stop being egomaniacs. Hire the absolute best football people and let them do their jobs without your meddling. (if possible). 

It took Al Davis' death to get Oakland (mostly) out of this pattern. Agreed completely on the Redskins, though. Bruce Allen says that he has final say over personnel, but just wait until he tries to cut or trade one of "Snyder's boys". He'll be blocked and told that the player in question will remain on the team, or Allen will be off of it. Paying Shanahan $7M to spend the year watching from home is as strong of evidence as any that any coach or GM who messes with a Snyder favorite is in for an ugly divorce.

 

Quote:I feel this is another case of Dan Snyder blindly seeking one candidate he likes.  The news media here mentioned Gruden as a top candidate, and lo and behold.  He was hired.  It was like when they hired Shanahan.  When they hired Jim Zorn, I got the feeling he wouldn't last long, because as soon as a candidate Chainsaw Dan liked became available and willing, Zorn would be out the door.

I see it differently. The Gruden hire feels like a Zorn hire to me. Look at recent history in Washington. Gibbs to Zorn to Shanahan to Gruden. Strong coach who demands respect and control to weaker hire that can be manipulated by Snyder more easily. Gruden's resume isn't even close to Shanahan's, and I believe that was a requirement of Snyder's. When Mike Shanahan tells a player that he's benched, the player is benched. I doubt that Gruden, a first-time head coach, has it in him to stick to his guns when Snyder asks why RG3 isn't playing. He'll cave in the interest of job security, just like Snyder wants.

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