Spurrier Calls it an NFL Career
Gary Cope, SkinsGridiron.com, December 30, 2003

ASHBURN - He couldn't hack it. So he quit. But he says he didn't quit. Oh, wait, his agent told him he actually did quit. Well, alright then, he quits. And with that said, the Fun N' Gun is spent. And if you ask me, I say good riddance.

Steve Spurrier finally realized that Jerry Glanville was on to something when he said that the NFL really stands for "Not For Long," especially when you aren't willing to make adjustments to your Fun-N-Gun offense. Run the friggin' ball Steve! Oh, what's the use? You traded your only running back.

Unfortunately for the Redskins, more pertinently their fans, the Old Ball Coach leaves this team in worse shape than he got it. Gone is all pro back Stephen Davis. Already, the Skins' front office has said that running back will be a priority come the April 2004 draft. The defense better be a close second on that wish list if the next head coach, have mercy on his soul, is to succeed with this team.

What lessons have we, the Redskin nation, learned? Oh, but where do we begin? We learned that hiring the best college football coach in the land guarantees you nothing. And from the very beginning, we had to know something was awry.

Can you name the last "aw shucks" NFL coach to be successful? And don't give me Dick Vermeil either because that man has fire, passion and emotion. Steve Spurrier, conversely, is an emotionless robot. When the referee makes a terrible call, a coach has to get on the field and fight for his team, i.e. Bill Parcells, John Gruden and Brian Billick, each of whom have won a Super Bowl title.

The OBC let too much go. Cell phones in the locker room and meetings? Players going behind his back, unpunished, to complain to the owner? Not holding his players accountable? "This was the coaches' fault…" CRAP! Coaches don't drop passes. Coaches don't jump offsides, hold, deliver late hits, commit personal fouls, interfere with a receiver or anything else on the field. Coaches coach. Players play. And when players don't play (i.e. the Redskins), coaches usually get the blame.

So, when players don't play, it's the coaches' job to shove a stick in the bee hive and stir things up a bit. Call them out, not necessarily in public, but for Lombardi's sake, show some emotion and quit thinking about your golf game and that next paycheck.

I have no doubt that Spurrier (I'm going with Tennessee) will return to the college game and prove to everyone that he can still coach at that level. But the NFL experiment is over, thankfully. Now the Redskins can move forward and hire an NFL coach with NFL assistants and draft NFL-caliber talent whose address doesn't necessarily end with Gainesville, FL 32610.

The next question, obviously, is who will be the next Skins' coach? Jim Fassell is available, but appears to be headed elsewhere. That was prior to Spurrier's resignation, however, so you have to think that the Skins would be an attractive stop for Fassell. It's close to home, it's a big television market and he could bring in whomever he wants because it's no secret the Skins' owner Dan Snyder has no allegiance to Spurrier's assistants, all whom will likely be unemployed soon.

Let's do a quick recap of who's in and who's out.

Gone with the wind:

Spurrier is gone and most likely his entire staff. Bruce Smith has finally and mercifully called it career after 19 seasons and 200 sacks, an NFL record. The Skins will most likely stamp Champ (Bailey) with the "Franchise Player" tag, but chances are they'll probably still trade him. Darrell Russell is gone, but won't be missed. And you have to think that one or more of the wide receivers will be gone at some point too.

In like Flynn:

LaVar Arrington re-upped for eight more seasons, but unfortunately for him, he'll most likely be playing for his fifth defensive coordinator in five years next season. Five different systems in five years? It's amazing they were able to do anything on defense. And let's be honest, LaVar didn't have a Pro Bowl-type season, despite what the voters thought. Patrick Ramsey will be back and possibly his back up Tim Hasselbeck, whose performance in his first two games stirred whispers, then shouts of a quarterback controversy. But, his star fell back into orbit as he looked less than impressive down the stretch. The JetSkins (Coles, Morton, Hall and Thomas) will be back and should shake their monikers and become regular Skins by training camp.

If Washington holds true to its early word and draft a running back, Kevin Jones from Virginia Tech perhaps, then there will most likely be some casualties from Washington's current backfield. I'm still trying to figure out why they cut Kenny Watson.

Welcome to the NFL's version of purgatory, everyone. Enjoy your stay and if things get too boring, give it a 'sec, chaos and discord are sure to follow.