Snyder called Cowher

Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher just told me that Dan Snyder did call him about coaching the Redskins after Joe Gibbs surprised Washington's owner by suddenly retiring on Jan. 8.

"We talked," Cowher said. "It was a good talk. I was very flattered, but I expressed that it wasn't the right time."

Cowher left the Steelers following the 2006 season with a sterling 161-99 record that included the 2005 Super Bowl title and 10 playoff berths in 14 years. He's in his second year as a studio analyst for CBS and said he has no plans to return to the sideline although he's just 51, four years younger than the coach whom Snyder hired, Jim Zorn.

-- David Elfin