For The Redskins, Seasons End Means Big Changes Are Coming

The end of the Redskins season was, yet again, another disappointment.  Under any other circumstance I would not be complaining about a Skins loss, especially to the talented San Diego Chargers who I believe is one of the strongest contenders for the Super Bowl.  However, the fact that, except for the first two drives by Rivers, San Diego was playing their second string.  The Redskins finished their season with a 4-12 record.

If it wasn't already set in stone yet, this loss caps a complete overhaul of the Washington Redskins staff and team.  Earlier this season General Manager Vinny Cerrato was replaced by Bruce Allen, a huge move that made change an official part of the coming off season.  I expect the firing of head coach Jim Zorn, who is likely to be replaced by Mike Shanahan, to happen no later than tomorrow.  The next coach would be the 7th coach in Daniel Snyder's 11 years as franchise owner.  It will then be up to Allen and Shanahan to build a successful football team that seems to be currently stuck in a decade of mediocrity.

The biggest question among the roster is what will become of Jason Campbell and the starting quarterback position.  Campbell's rookie contract ended at the end of season. He will become an unrestricted free agent if the NHL team owners and the players' union reach a new collective bargaining agreement.  If they do not, Campbell will become a restricted free agent meaning the Redskins could match any team's offer.

What is most likely to happen?  If Campbell becomes a restricted free agent, look for the Redskins to attempt to keep Campbell only one more year.  Matching any offer of more than one year is highly unlikely.  But this would only be to keep Campbell as a backup.  The Redskins have been scouting college quarterbacks heavily this year and with a very high first round draft pick, look for them to begin anew in the search for a franchise quarterback and pick up one of the top prospects in the draft.

Expect big changes to begin starting this week.  Maybe for once the phrase, which seems to have turned into the Redskins motto, "It's a rebuilding year," will actually be true.