Former NFLer Chris Cooley "during an impassioned segment" on his radio show Friday addressed comments he made last month about recently fired Redskins GM Scot McCloughan, when he speculated that McCloughan's absence from the team was related to his alcohol use, according to Dan Steinberg of the WASHINGTON POST. Cooley made his initial remarks on ESPN Radio 980 DC, which is controlled by Redskins Owner Dan Snyder. Appearing on the station Friday, Cooley said, "No one told us to do the (original) segment, told me to do the segment. Can I be more clear on that? We threw out a lot of possible reasons that he could have been silenced. That was one of them. ... I used Scot McCloughan’s name and alcohol in the same sentence, and I was wrong. I regret that. I have regretted that. This blew up to be way bigger than I expected it to be. ... I’ve apologized to Scot; I feel very sorry that my name’s associated with this." He added, "I shouldn’t have mentioned his name and alcohol in any context, especially not me, because of the perception that I have some special access to this team, which by the way, is entirely overrated. ... But accusing me of being told to float something is like telling me I’m a stupid idiot. ... I wouldn’t create a sinister plan. I was not part of any of this." More Cooley: "I am not a team employee, okay? ... After I was cut in camp in 2013, and not brought back, I have not been a team employee since. ESPN 980, this radio station, pays me. ... When it comes to the idea that I was the mouthpiece, I’ll swear on anything you want to swear on that no one put me up to this" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 3/10).
BIG FAN OF YOUR WORK: In DC, Jones, Clarke & Tesfatsion cited sources as saying that the Redskins are "considering hiring" NFL Network's Mike Mayock as their next GM. Sources added that Snyder is an "admirer of Mayock’s work on NFL Network." However, it "wasn’t clear when or whether Mayock would actually interview." Mayock released a statement saying in part there had been “no official contact between myself and the team and no interviews about the job.” Former Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik "also is reportedly a person of interest." Some NFL insiders view Redskins Senior Personnel Exec Doug Williams as the team's top internal candidate, and Dir of College Scouting Scott Campbell and Dir of Pro Personnel Alex Santos also "could receive consideration" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/11). In DC, Mark Maske reported it is "not clear when the Redskins plan to hire McCloughan’s replacement." It "might not happen until after the NFL draft, scheduled for April 27-29" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/11). ESPN.com's Schefter & Yates reported Mayock has been "considered for other front-office NFL jobs at various points." Late Raiders Owner Al Davis once "hired and helped teach" Redskins President Bruce Allen. Davis "thought highly of Mayock." Mayock also has a "good relationship with Redskins head coach Jay Gruden" (ESPN.com, 3/10). In DC, Nora Princiotti writes from a PR perspective, Mayock "would be a slam-dunk signing." Mayock has "great name recognition and a reputation as a smart football mind" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 3/13).
HAVING MIXED SIGNALS: The WASHINGTON POST's Clarke & Tesfatsion reported there are "mixed signals" about how the firing of McCloughan is "affecting perceptions of the team among prospective signees and potential hires." ESPN's Joe Banner, who has spent time in the front office of several teams, said that the Redskins "lost a talent evaluator of rare ability." Banner: "Scot is in the small group of the best talent evaluators in the entire league." NFL Network's Charley Casserly said that he believed McCloughan's firing "would have no effect" in terms of "damage to the Redskins’ reputation in the eyes of potential signees or job candidates." However, a few NFL agents "acknowledged privately that they had tried to steer their clients away from the Redskins because of the team’s instability." Still, acquisitions "proceeded apace in the first 48 hours of the NFL’s free-agency signing window." With Allen and Redskins VP/Football Administration & General Counsel Eric Schaffer "handling the details," the team added WR Terrelle Pryor, S D.J. Swearinger, DT Terrell McClain and DT Stacy McGee (WASHINGTON POST, 3/12).
AVOIDING THE REAL ISSUE? In DC, Sally Jenkins wrote Snyder "doesn’t really want to win." He would "rather be the controlling figure in a poisonous, culture-of-fear organization than a marginal figure in a successful and happy one." All of Snyder’s hires and fires are "really just human shields for the owner’s behavior, they are there to absorb the public blame for his childish impulsivity and unpleasant little manipulations." The most "telling number in Snyder’s tenure isn’t the won-loss record." Jenkins: "It’s the hired-fired record" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/12). In DC, Thomas Boswell writes it "may finally be time" for Redskins fans to "start dating other teams." Boswell: "See what it’s like to go out with somebody who doesn’t embarrass you in public or make you sad. See what it’s like to go out with someone who shares your values, makes you proud." Boswell: "It’s a big world out there. Walk out the door. Don’t look back" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/13). ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said this is the "low point" that he has "ever seen" with the Redskins. ESPN's Michael Wilbon said the Redskins are a "low-rent organization," and the NFL should "be concerned" about the franchise. Kornheiser: "Who's going to take that job now?" ("PTI," ESPN, 3/10).
STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE: THE MMQB's Peter King writes it is "damaging and flat wrong" that the Redskins are "so leaky that someone tells the Washington Post" that McCloughan was drunk in the locker room. The McCloughan story "tarnishes what has been a contending, bright-future team for the past two years" (MMQB.SI.com, 3/13). ESPN's Kornheiser said of the locker room report, "That is the most cowardly, small act imaginable by a franchise" ("PTI," ESPN, 3/10). ESPN's Sarah Spain said of the report, "You have to wonder if there's probably only about Dan Snyder and two of his closest confidantes that would be in a position to give that information. This isn't the first time we've seen Snyder want to scare someone out of a job" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 3/10). THE MMQB's Albert Breer wrote power struggles are "nothing new" for the Redskins, nor is the "concept of disagreement metastasizing into disaster" (MMQB.SI.com, 3/10).
