Snyder jets his way to Cali to talk to Fassel.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Thu Jan 01, 2004 11:50 pm

Ex-Giants Coach Fassel Meets With Redskins

By Mark Maske and Leonard Shapiro
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, January 2, 2004; Page D01

Washington Redskins officials met yesterday with former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel to discuss their vacant head-coaching job.

The Redskins got the jump on the other teams chasing Fassel, who won two NFC East titles, made three playoff appearances and reached one Super Bowl in his seven seasons with the Giants but was fired last month. Sources said Redskins officials, including owner Daniel Snyder and vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato, began meeting with Fassel late yesterday afternoon and were scheduled to have dinner with him last night. The parties were scheduled to reconvene over breakfast this morning.

Fassel quickly has emerged as a hotly pursued candidate among the seven NFL clubs with head-coaching vacancies. He is scheduled to interview with the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday and with the Chicago Bears on Monday or Tuesday.

Redskins officials declined to reveal the location of yesterday's meeting with Fassel. But it perhaps was near San Francisco, where Fassel had been in recent days. Snyder and Cerrato traveled to the West Coast late Wednesday on Snyder's private jet. Snyder had begun his pursuit of Fassel with a telephone conversation.

The Redskins plan to interview former Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green this weekend and hope to interview Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes on Monday or Tuesday. Club officials placed Fassel, Green and Rhodes at or near the top of their list of candidates soon after Steve Spurrier resigned Tuesday. Snyder spoke to Green by phone this week.

Fassel, 54, had a record of 58-53-1 with the Giants and led them to the Super Bowl in the 2000 season before losing to the Baltimore Ravens. He had a 24-17-1 mark against the current NFC East clubs (and was 32-19-1 in division play counting games against the Cardinals before they were moved out of the NFC East). He seemed to do his best coaching when the circumstances looked the worst, as when he guaranteed a playoff appearance when the Giants were stumbling midway through the 2000 season.

But he had only three winning seasons in seven years in New York, and the Giants unraveled and went 4-12 this season. Fassel is familiar with the Redskins players but has spent little time with Snyder and Cerrato and would have to work out a system with them for making player-related decisions. He worked with a general manager, Ernie Accorsi, in New York and probably will not seek the final say on player moves, as Green has said he will.

Green, who already has interviewed with the Cardinals, has a home in San Diego and will huddle with Snyder and Cerrato this weekend.

Also, the Redskins have received permission from Seattle to interview Rhodes. But Rhodes, who served as the Redskins' defensive coordinator in 2000, has indicated that he does not want to interview until after the Seahawks' season is over. They will play at Green Bay on Sunday in an NFC first-round playoff game.

An NFL source said yesterday that Rhodes, whom Snyder has always liked, has remained reluctant to become a head coach in the league again after difficult experiences in Philadelphia and Green Bay. He was fired by the Packers after only one season.

Redskins officials said yesterday they plan to give little or no consideration to hiring a college coach after watching Spurrier go 12-20 in his two NFL seasons.

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 12:00 am

I really hope the Redskins don't sign Fassel right out of the gate! Hopefully, they'll interview several candidates and then determine which one is the best for them!

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 12:05 am

I hope they hire Green as long as he agrees to allow a GM to come in. I know that won't happen (the GM part) but in a perfect world, it would happen. :-)

Star City Skins Fan · Fri Jan 02, 2004 12:17 am

Quick-Strike Danny Boy:

Jim Fassel interviews with Redskins|
By Ralph Vacchiano
New York Daily News

NEW YORK — Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder’s quick-strike approach to wooing Jim Fassel began with a four-hour interview on Thursday night, followed by dinner in San Francisco. The two will meet again for a few hours on Friday.
Snyder and Redskins vice president Vinny Cerrato flew to San Francisco, where Fassel attended the San Francisco Bowl on Wednesday night, so they could get the jump on the Arizona Cardinals, who will interview Fassel in Tempe on Saturday and Sunday. Fassel is believed to be the Cards’ top choice and there’s speculation they’re preparing to offer him their job.
Fassel’s agent, Steve Rosner, said his client still plans to interview with all the teams that want him, including the Chicago Bears, who have set up an interview for Monday.
‘‘By next Wednesday or Thursday, if he does have an offer and an opportunity that fits his criteria, the process will be done,’’ Rosner said.

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 8:24 am

The more I see and read about fassel the more I like the guy. He did a interview with Strahan of all people on the NFL network...he is a stand up guy. I'd rather have him as OC with a defensive HC but...I know he will get and deserves a HC job. If I were him I'd go to the Cards, he'll get a few years to turn them around, new stadium (hope there less seats to make it look like there's more people) a top draft pick and he won't be expected to win the SB next year like he would be here.

hailskins666 · Post by **hailskins666** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 10:30 am

I really hope the Redskins don't sign Fassel right out of the gate! Hopefully, they'll interview several candidates and then determine which one is the best for them!

thanks to jesse jackson we can't. :lowblow:

we gotta interview at least one minority candidate. fassel would be a good choice, he worked with elway, turned collins in to a passing monster, and hopfully would be able to do the same with ramsey. i still think green would be the best man for the job though.

jrforbes · Post by **jrforbes** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 8:39 pm

I hope they don't bring Fassel. I think someone like Dennis Green would add instant value to our SKINS. If we can't get a BIG NAME coach in here...it's time to look at the NFL coordinators (both DCs and OCs) and find the best candidate amongst them. The PATS OC and DC are great choices as well as the RAMS DC.

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 10:36 pm

Romeo Romeo where for art thou Romeo...

Let's bring in Romeo Crennel as HC he is a big ole greasy defensive guy. Keep Hue as OC. Stock as ST get Mcginnis or Williams or Juron as DC, keep Edwards as LB coach. It would keep some familiarity with a franchise that desperately needs it!!

jrforbes · Post by **jrforbes** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 11:50 pm

DEHog, that sounds like a perfect line up. It allows change with familiarity...which is something we lack.

hailskins666 · Post by **hailskins666** » Sat Jan 03, 2004 10:32 am

DEHog, that sounds like a perfect line up. It allows change with familiarity...which is something we lack.

i think hue deserves a second year. i like the guy. stock has special teams right where they need to be. i'm not sure hue will remain as OC though

i really think this is gonna be another "house cleaning" :cry:

Texas Hog · Post by **Texas Hog** » Sat Jan 03, 2004 3:16 pm

I'd count on a house-cleaning.

jrforbes · Post by **jrforbes** » Sat Jan 03, 2004 4:36 pm

Another house cleaning is going to destroy this franchise. We've been rebuilding since the mid nineties.

redskincity · Post by **redskincity** » Sat Jan 03, 2004 4:44 pm

There are so many good coaches that I am going crazy.

My favorite are Fassel he is a motivator and goes to the playoffs yearly. My other is D Green. The man is great look what he did with Jeff George. He is also a motivator.

Who would we get as oue D Coordinator?? That will work with Dennis :?:

or Fassell :idea:

Star City Skins Fan · Sat Jan 03, 2004 10:41 pm

From Hartford Courant:

Fassel, who led the Giants to three playoff appearances and one Super Bowl in his seven seasons, may be the hottest candidate among available former coaches. His record, his comportment under pressure, his relationship with veteran players and his reputation for being able to work with management make him an attractive candidate for any of the six available jobs (Bills, Bears, Redskins, Falcons, Raiders and Cardinals).
Fassel is so appealing that Redskins Owner Dan Snyder jumped on his private plane New Year’s Eve to fly to San Francisco to find out if there was mutual interest. Over three days, Snyder and Fassel met for about 12 hours.
‘‘If Jim was adamant about not working with Daniel Snyder, I don’t think he would go forward with the interview,’’ said Steve Rosner, one of Fassel’s agents. ‘‘Jim was very impressed with Dan Snyder and how businesslike and prepared he was. Dan definitely has Jim’s attention right now.’’
Snyder’s compulsive nature was stoked by information that Fassel was to meet with the Cardinals Saturday. Snyder wanted to beat Arizona to the punch and give himself a possible advantage before Fassel’s tour continued with the Bears (Monday and Tuesday) and likely the Bills.
It’s expected Fassel might have an offer by midweek and it wouldn’t be a great surprise if the first came from the Redskins.

HitDoctor · Post by **HitDoctor** » Sat Jan 03, 2004 11:16 pm

This team will never win as long as Dan Snyder owns it. No if's, and's, or but's. You all know it but are in flat out denial. personally, I hope these "top" candidates turn us down so danny has to put his "coaching selection qualities" to untested work. finding a needle in the haystack.

hailskins666 · Post by **hailskins666** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 12:04 am

This team will never win as long as Dan Snyder owns it. No if's, and's, or but's. You all know it but are in flat out denial. personally, I hope these "top" candidates turn us down so danny has to put his "coaching selection qualities" to untested work. finding a needle in the haystack.

i too think snyder is a waste of sperm at this point, he's got a lot to prove. but, come on, don't talk like that, we could use a little luck here.... i want him to prove me wrong.

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 9:12 am

I try not to use the words never and always...you being in Medicine know that all to well. I know it seems that way but the team will win. What is it going to take??? Whole lot of losing...we've done that.Don't forget Synder has 1 division titled under his belt and was a lucky bounce of the football away from going to the NFC champ.

hailskins666 · Post by **hailskins666** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 11:38 am

i won't keep making negative comments on snyder but,

Don't forget Synder has 1 division titled under his belt and was a lucky bounce of the football away from going to the NFC champ.

this wasn't good enough. he completely dismantled that whole team to do what he thought would make us better.....( :roll:

smith, george, sanders, carrier :roll:

)

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 11:59 am

hailskins666 wrote: this wasn't good enough. he completely dismantled that whole team to do what he thought would make us better.....( smith, george, sanders, carrier )

Change is not only good but in today's NFL it is mandatory You have to strive to get better as a team every year, manage the cap better every year, seek good player in the draft every year, look at the FA market every year. I think DS does a great job at this… the problem is he and Vinny are the ones doing it!! Again I ask how many games do we win in 01 if a guy like Hall had been here?? And yes that’s DS fault…he!! If you and I can see it, why can’t DS and VC see it???

hailskins666 · Post by **hailskins666** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 12:13 pm

If you and I can see it, why can’t DS and VC see it???

vinny really bothers me. some reporters, and fans of other teams refer to that snake as our "GM" :evil:

i'd rather snyder handle everything himself than to have that A$$ around. i get tierd of seeing and hearing his name anytime somthing comes up about the team. he's a yes man. he gets paid so snyder dosen't have to talk to himself about personnel decisions.

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 12:17 pm

You know I never thought of it that way??? So what your saying it VC is there no only to be a yes man but... also a guy DS can deflect some of the criticism to when the heat gets turn up a little i.e...firing Vinny a couple of years ago for his role in the (league joke) 100 mil team!!

hailskins666 · Post by **hailskins666** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 12:29 pm

dan needs to pay close attention to what art blank is doing in atl. he sat back and watched. decided things were gonna change, booted reeves. BUT, he hired rich mckay to rebuild the staff and tweak the team instead of trying to do it himself. blank is more than willing to spend money on players(they too, will battle some VERY large cap numbers in the very near future, i'd hate to see what mike vick's contract extension numbers are like.....if daunte culpepper got 120 mil, vick should get 150 mil). mckay will get a good coach in there, and establish a good system there. they will be able to lure FAs, and will more than likely have some solid drafts. danny could learn so much from his elders. dump vinny, hire a guy like allen(raiders), and sit back and watch the team prosper.