Rick Snider » Dusting off the Haslett file

By Rick Snider
Examiner Sports Columnist 10/12/08

JIM DANDY » New Rams head coach Jim Haslett, left, was almost the Redskins coach back in 1999 had owner Dan Snyder gotten his way. Now Jim Zorn, right, is at the helm and has the team off to a 4-1 start, while Haslett has inherited arguably the worst team in the NFL. Getty Images Jim Zorn is Washington’s latest sensation, but St. Louis coach Jim Haslett almost beat him to the Redskins sidelines.

Team owner Dan Snyder wanted Haslett when buying the team in 1999. The problem was, Snyder didn’t gain control until after June 1 when any coaching hire, even head coaching ones, needed permission from the other team’s owner.

Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher didn’t want to lose his defensive coordinator. Indeed, Cowher was incensed over Snyder’s attempt to poach from his staff in June when a proper replacement would have been difficult to find. Steelers owner Dan Rooney honored Cowher’s wishes and blocked Snyder from talking to Haslett.

Snyder might have thought he’d just get Haslett in January, but incumbent Norv Turner won his only division title to merit another year. Haslett became New Orleans coach for six seasons while Turner was fired with three games remaining in 2000.

Snyder never hired Haslett, who won a division title and Coach of the Year in 2000 at New Orleans. Known for his competitiveness, sources say Haslett once confronted Redskins coach Steve Spurrier at NFL meetings over the latter joking Haslett’s 4:30 a.m. arrival time wasn’t working too well.

Haslett became another victim of Hurricane Katrina when the displaced Saints finished 3-13 in 2005. He spent the last two seasons as St. Louis defensive coordinator before replacing Scott Linehan as head coach on Sept. 29. Ironically, Haslett now faces the Redskins on Sunday at FedEx Field in the first game of his second chance.

Would Haslett have been a good fit with Snyder? Probably not. Haslett is known as a “fiery” coach much more than Marty Schottenheimer, who lasted only one year with the Redskins. It wasn’t the 8-8 mark that cost Schottenheimer, but his poor relationship with the owner. It’s hard to guess whether Haslett would have fared better with Snyder, who likes time with his coaches.

Snyder’s ill-fated attempt to get Haslett may have later cost the Redskins two more coaches. Cowher couldn’t be tempted from retirement before the Redskins hired Zorn. Maybe he was still sore from the earlier encounter. Maybe it had nothing to do it with it. Then again, Cowher denied offensive coordinator Russ Grimm permission to rejoin Washington when Joe Gibbs wanted to hire his former player in 2005. Technically, it wasn’t a promotion needed under NFL hiring rules, but some coaches would have let their assistants go under similar circumstances.

Haslett’s name never came up during Snyder’s month-long search before hiring Zorn in February. Snyder said his list was 50 names long. Hard to believe Haslett wasn’t on it. Maybe nine years later, the timing wasn’t right anymore.

Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at rsnider@dcexaminer.com.

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