Gray avoids talk about interview

Washington Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray denied Wednesday that he has interviewed for Jim Zorn’s job - just before he declined to comment when asked for clarification.

Asked whether published reports about him pursuing his boss’ job were true, Gray said: “No. Jim and I have had a discussion. The thing we discussed is, ‘Don’t let this distract us [from] what we’re doing.’ We’re together; trust me. We got two more weeks to be together, and whatever happens, happens.”

Gray went on to cite reports last month that had him becoming the coach at Memphis. Those turned out to be false; the Tigers chose Larry Porter.

“Sometimes you can jump the gun like Memphis where there was a bunch of stories running rampant, but they never asked Jerry,” Gray said. “Go to the source, and if the source says yes or no, then you go on.”

Asked to clarify through a spokesman whether his “no” meant no he didn’t interview or no comment, Gray said: “No comment. Any conversations that I had is between me and Jim. We’re on the same page.”

Gray answers Haynesworth

After Monday’s 45-12 loss to the New York Giants, Albert Haynesworth criticized the ways he has been used since leaving Tennessee for a seven-year, $100 million contract in the first hours of free agency.

“It’s very frustrating coming from Tennessee… [where] I kinda had the freedom to rush and get upfield and to pressure the quarterback,” the defensive tackle said. “It’s totally different than what I thought here. If they’d let us loose, it’d be a whole lot better.”

Gray fired back at that criticism Wednesday.

“Albert got his own opinion, [and] I think we got some guys in our locker room that’s addressed it,” Gray said. “Our leaders stepped up, and we’ll see what happens on Sunday night [against Dallas]. Albert plays 3-technique for the Washington Redskins. He played 3-technique for Tennessee. He played 3-technique for the Tennessee Vols. What else does he want to do?”

Haynesworth, who had 14.5 sacks and 91 tackles in 27 games for the Titans in 2007 and 2008, has four sacks and 35 tackles in 11 games this year.

Gray noted that the Titans and Redskins run similar defenses; Gregg Williams, Tennessee’s coordinator from 1997 to 2000 and Washington’s assistant head coach from 2004 to 2007, established systems that are still being used by both teams.

“It’s frustrating when you’re losing,” Gray said. “When you’re going 13-3, there’s gonna be no frustrations. I’m pretty sure Albert would’ve had a better comment if he had been on the Raider trip [the previous week when Haynesworth was sidelined with a sprained ankle] when we got on a sack-fest.”

Campbell backtracks

During an interview with Comcast SportsNet on Tuesday, a frustrated and beaten-up Jason Campbell said just about the worst thing a player can say about his teammates.

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