ASHBURN, Va. -- Dan Snyder didn't have much time nor many
options.
The Washington Redskins owner knew he wanted coach Norv Turner
out. The problem was replacing him with three games left in the
regular season.
After watching the most expensive team in NFL history fail to
live up to his Super Bowl expectations, Snyder fired Turner on
Monday and promoted passing game coordinator Terry Robiskie to try
to salvage the season.
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Monday, Dec. 4
Daniel Snyder should not have fired Norv Turner because the Redskins are still in the playoff hunt. It doesn't make sense to fire your coach when you still have a shot at the playoffs. I don't see what is accomplished by firing your head coach at this point -- it isn't in the best interests of the team.
The Redskins have been plagued all year because they have not had a reliable placekicker. Last year, Oakland went 8-8 and lost lots of close games. Why? A questionable kicking game. This year it's been the same scenario in Washington. Plus, Brad Johnson has not thrown the ball well. What they should do is go with Jeff George from here on out and then evaluate at the end of the season.
Joe Theismann, an ESPN analyst and commentator since 1988, won a Super Bowl and an NFL MVP award as quarterback of the Washington Redskins.
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"It's all about winning," Snyder said. "We assembled the best
team we could put together. At this point we just really needed to
make a change, driven with what I call some serious leadership."
The owner pulled an all-nighter in making his decision, hours
after the Redskins lost to the New York Giants at home Sunday and
severely hurt their chances of making the playoffs.
Snyder and his brain trust examined the available names from the
pro and college ranks. At about 12:30 a.m., they realized the
obvious: With three games to go in the season, they would have to
hire in-house.
By 2:30 a.m., Snyder had chosen Robiskie. At 11 a.m., Snyder
fired Turner, who managed to produce only a 7-6 record this season
with a $100 million roster.
"I've obviously been put in a good position to have an
opportunity to win," said Turner, at times fighting back tears.
"This team has a chance to be 10-6. That's a disappointment to me.
There's part of me that would like to be a part of it. There's part
of me that understands why it's necessary to make a change right
now."
Turner, in his seventh season with the team, left with a 49-59-1
regular-season record and one trip to the playoffs.
Robiskie, 46, is a former offensive coordinator with the Oakland
Raiders and was one of Turner's first hires in Washington. He is
known for a tough-love coaching style from his dealings with
temperamental Redskins receivers Michael Westbrook and Albert
Connell.
In his first meeting with the team, Robiskie made an impassioned
speech and received a standing ovation.
"Terry is blunt and to the point," defensive end Kenard Lang
said. "He's like a stick of dynamite. He's going to make something
happen."
It was stark contrast to Turner, an Xs and Os strategist who
never came across as an effective communicator or motivator.
"Norv did not threaten players," guard Keith Sims said. "Some
guys took advantage of him. Terry -- you're not going to take
advantage of him."
|  | | Terry Robiskie seems to have the kind of fire Redskins players want to see. |
Snyder said defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes, the former head
coach at Philadelphia and Green Bay, was not interested in the job.
To make the playoffs, the Redskins probably need to win their
last three games -- in Dallas and Pittsburgh, and home for Arizona.
"I believe to get anyone to believe in you, trust you, you've
got to motivate, and that's my coaching style," Robiskie said.
Robiskie's first move was to fire special teams coach LeCharls
McDaniel, whose coverage and kicking units struggled much of the
season. Tight ends coach Pat Flaherty will coach special teams as
well as tight ends.
The search for a coach for the 2001 season will be headed by
former college coach Pepper Rodgers, who was hired Monday to the
newly created position of vice president of football operations.
Turner, hired as a first-time head coach by late owner Jack Kent
Cooke in 1994, was third in seniority with one team behind
Pittsburgh's Bill Cowher and Minnesota's Dennis Green.
But Turner needed six years to get the Redskins to the playoffs.
That came last season, when Washington won the NFC East with a 10-6
record and defeated Detroit in the first round of the postseason
before losing 14-13 at Tampa Bay.
The 48-year-old coach earned a reputation as a master strategist
with the Dallas Cowboys, where he was the offensive coordinator for
two Super Bowl teams in the early 1990s. Some of his game plans in
Washington were truly masterful, but his inability to keep players
focused and motivated led to his downfall.
"We saw where the traction was being lost," co-owner Fred
Drasner said. "We were like a 4-wheel drive in the mud. Either you
keep spinning the wheels, or you go get the winch. I think we chose
to get the winch, and the winch was Terry."
The stakes became higher this season when Snyder spent millions
on players, including Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith, Jeff George, Mark
Carrier, and draft picks LaVar Arrington and Chris Samuels. Snyder,
who bought the team in 1999, also brought in Rhodes to handle the
defense.
But injuries, unforced errors and an erratic kicking game took
their toll. In three games this season, missed field goals
contributed to losses, and Turner used four placekickers. On
Sunday, 44-year-old Eddie Murray was short on a 49-yard field goal
attempt in the final minute.
Snyder acknowledged the injury problem -- three offensive
starters have been lost for the season -- but he said it was no
excuse.
"We've had some injuries this year," Snyder said. "But
championship teams overcome the injuries."
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ALSO SEE
Mort Report: Last laugh could be on Snyder
Garber: Turner-Snyder divorce was inevitable
Robiskie will hold Redskin players accountable
Jones says Cowboys not interested in pursuing Turner
Redskins on brink of missing playoffs after loss to Giants
VIDEO
  An emotional Norv Turner addresses the media following his firing by the Washington Redskins. RealVideo: 28.8 Terry Robiskie is named the new head coach in Washington. RealVideo: 28.8  Norv Turner feels the Redskins still have a chance to be 10-6 this season. wav: 298 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Terry Robiskie hopes the Redskins can win three in a row and make the playoffs. wav: 114 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Daniel Snyder says his team is not out of the playoff race. wav: 167 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Deion Sanders says players lose games, not coaches. wav: 67 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Champ Bailey thinks a new head coach could not help the Redskins in the playoff race. wav: 153 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Dana Stubblefield says the Redskins are making the same mistakes on the field since training camp. wav: 43 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Albert Connell says as a team the Redskins cost Norv Turner his job. wav: 109 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Michael Westbrook blames the coaching staff for why the Redskins aren't playing at their peak performace. wav: 117 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Tre' Johnson talks about the contrasting coaching styles between Norv Turner and Terry Robiskie. wav: 176 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 ESPN's NFL analyst Merril Hoge gives his insight on the firing of Washington Redskins head coach Norv Turner. wav: 1482 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Mort analyzes the Redskins' coaching situation. wav: 1519 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Michael Wilbon of the Washington Post on the firing of Norv Turner. wav: 1356 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 ESPN's Chris Mortensen looks at where the Redskins go from here. wav: 327 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 ESPN's Tom Jackson looks into the Redskins' coaching situation. wav: 277 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 ESPN's Chris Mortensen thinks Norv Turner's coaching career will continue. wav: 365 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 |
