REDSKINS PLAYERS COOLING TO ZORN

As if the recent outburst from running back Clinton Portis wasn’t enough to suggest that something is amiss with the Redskins, we’ve been told that multiple players are developing a sour taste in their mouths regarding the team’s first-year head coach, Jim Zorn. Per a league source, the players perceive an attitude from Zorn that, when the team wins a game, it’s because of Zorn. And that when they lose a game, it’s because of the players. The sense is that Zorn views himself as an elite coach after less than a year on the job -- and despite a dramatic dip in the team’s performance after an unexpectedly strong start that had owner Dan Snyder whooping it up after back-to-back road wins against the Cowboys and the Eagles. Where this leads, we’re not yet sure. When Zorn was hired, there was a sense that he possibly would be a one-year stop-gap until Snyder could lure Bill Cowher to town. (Indeed, Cowher has since confirmed that he was contacted by the Redskins in January.) After the ‘Skins began to soar under Zorn, however, the notion that he’d be a short-timer dissipated significantly. But now that the team is at 7-6 and in last place in the NFC East, anything short of running the table and qualifying for the postseason could result in a major shake-up in D.C. It wouldn’t be the first time that Snyder pulled the plug after only one year. He did it to Marty Schottenheimer following the 2001 season, which given Schottenheimer’s strong relationship with Cowher could make Cowher reluctant to do business with the organization.