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Capital punishment SI's Banks: Redskins owner Snyder created 'mess'
Updated: Tuesday December 05, 2000 3:45 PM
Norv Turner is out as the head coach of the Washington Redskins and Terry Robiskie is in. That coaching move highlights the news of Week 14 in the NFL. CNNSI.com's Larry Smith talked with Sports Illustrated's Don Banks about the Turner firing and other developments from around the league. Larry Smith: Don, what do we make of [Redskins owner] Daniel Snyder? He makes the Cowboys' omnipotent owner Jerry Jones look "hands off". If Robiskie isn't permanent, will it be tough to get a big name to take over the coaching reigns with a guy like Snyder constantly peeking over his shoulder? Don Banks: Larry, I really believe it will be. Don't forget this is a mess of Snyder's making. He's going to have a very difficult time talking somebody in to the type of sideshow circus act that Turner put up with for most of the past two years; the dressing downs, all the humiliation. If he wants Butch Davis or Steve Spurrier it's going to take a lot of that long green that Snyder became known for this offseason. I will say this: I really believe that the easiest thing would be Robiskie, and I think if he finishes strong, and that means three wins even if Washington doesn't make the playoffs. I talked to a few people [Monday] who think he has a great shot of sticking. The players love him, they think they'll respond to him. If they do, Robiskie may be the man in 2001. Smith: He has a lot of respect on the team. What other changes can we expect within the organization? Banks: I've talked to a number of people who think that Vinny Cerrato, the director of player personnel, may be the next guy to pay with his job for the 7-6 underachieving season. Basically [Monday] what happened to Cerrato was Pepper Rodgers got two-thirds of his job -- the draft and also a strong hand in personnel decisions as well as the coaching search. That turns Cerrato into basically a glorified scout, and I believe that those two will part ways no matter who makes the first move at the end of this season.
Smith: What a day in New Orleans on Sunday. Broncos running back Mike Anderson's rookie record of 251 yards on the ground and Aaron Brooks' 441 passing yards that shatters Archie Manning's 20-year-old Saints record. Two of the season's brightest surprises. Banks: I think what those two performances did really is give the Broncos and the Saints one of those nice problems. I'm going to make a prediction in a season that none of us should be making predictions about -- I think that those performances will cement the Saints and the Broncos making quarterback Jeff Blake and running back Terrell Davis expendable in 2001 and I'll tell you why. Both of them, obviously, are nursing injuries, and I think the Saints and the Broncos will elect to go with the healthier, younger players. And I think [Sunday's] showing just cemented that. Smith: Yeah, especially the Broncos with three consecutive 1,000-yard rushers with three different guys. That offensive line is unbelievable. Now moving on, let's call this the I-70 mystery. The Rams and the Colts at the skill positions -- nobody is better, yet both are on the verge of missing the playoffs. What has happened in St. Louis and Indianapolis? Banks: I agree. With the possible exception of the Vikings, there's nobody in the NFL who would look at the skill players of the Colts and the Rams and say they are not the cream of the crop in the NFL. But this year, it is going to take more than that and both have had letdowns on defense. It's really a lesson to all of us because at 6-0, we were deifying the Rams. And right now, if you look at the Rams' final three weeks, they've got Minnesota, Tampa Bay and New Orleans -- teams that are 27-12 down the stretch. Two teams that were 14-2 [Jacksonville] and 13-3 [St. Louis] and owned the home-field advantage in the playoffs last year are on the outside looking in. And Denver and the New York Giants are the only winning teams that the Rams have beaten so far this year. That is remarkable. Smith: In Philadelphia, they fall out of first place in the NFC East this week, but they are still smiling. Eagles second-year head coach Andy Reid says he's happy that his team took a Super Bowl club like the Titans to the edge. What's the secret in Philly this year? Banks: Well, after watching Donovan McNabb twice in the past four weeks, I'm convinced. No, he's not the MVP of the league, but there is no player who is more important to his team and gives his team a better chance at winning each week than McNabb does with the Eagles. They have no go-to receiver, they have no running game outside of his own legs and still McNabb has found a way to get this team to 9-5 and the cusp of the playoffs. It's a cliché to say it, but it's true in McNabb's case, the Eagles will go as far as he takes them.
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