Thom Loverro: A gift for Redskins fans

The first day of NFL training camp is Christmas in July for football fans. You get to unwrap all your new presents, when they seem so fresh and full of fascination and promise - and before they get damaged.

Sunday, when the Washington Redskins open training camp, fans will have a special present to unwrap: new coach Jim Zorn.

Let’s face it: Zorn probably wasn’t on your Christmas list. But sometimes it is the gift you didn’t expect that you enjoy the most.

I think Redskins fans will enjoy the gift of Jim Zorn - at least until the games start. After that, who knows?

Folks didn’t queue up for this gift. No one was competing for the services of Jim Zorn as a head coach - not even the Redskins. Not, that is, until Zorn became the best, and only, option available to owner Dan Snyder after other candidates dropped or fell out of the running.

But this unknown is at least something new Snyder is offering Redskins fans. His previous three coaching hires were known quantities, even if they didn’t always turn out as expected. At least there were expectations.

There certainly were expectations when Marty Schottenheimer opened training camp in July 2001. He had a record as a no-nonsense, fundamental kind of coach.

On the eve of training camp, in fact, the new coach declared, “The focus needs to shift to fundamentals, details.” He certainly delivered that. His tenure was a functional present for fans, but it sure wasn’t much fun.

Redskins fans thought they knew what to expect when Steve Spurrier opened training camp in July 2002: fun-and-gun, baby, based on the coach’s success at the University of Florida and his colorful personality.

“[Schottenheimer] took a lot of fun out of the football. It’s sad that took place,” defensive end Bruce Smith said. “There’s a new life here. A new spirit with Coach Spurrier.”

Yes, sir, baby, remember Osaka? That was fun. But it turns out Spurrier wasn’t the gift that kept on giving. He didn’t deliver as expected, but again, there were reasons for expectations.

Then Snyder gave Redskins fans the gift that dwarfed all others, one they wouldn’t have dared to put on their Christmas list because it seemed too much to ask: the return of Joe Gibbs.

Redskins fans - the players, too - thought they had found another Super Bowl under the tree.

“The city’s on fire. The team’s on fire,” cornerback Fred Smoot said before the first day of training camp. “Everybody’s real excited about Joe Gibbs being back. You judge a team by the leader. We’ve probably got that leader that we’ve been looking for.”

Gibbs tried to deflect the expectations.

Story Continues →