Too Close For Comfort

Bless Al Saunders's heart. Gibbs said he called an excellent game yesterday. But Gregg Williams should just grab the title of assistant head coach defense and offense. Because when the Redskins' defense is on the field lately, it seems to be Washington's best opportunity to score. The cut-and-paste offensive line helped pile up 160 yards of total offense, and all five of the Redskins' second-half first downs came on one drive in the third quarter.

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There are games NFL teams can't lose, and this was one of them. The ramifications of giving the Cardinals this gift would have reverberated beyond this week.

Bottom line, I don't think Gibbs returns as coach if the Redskins do not return to the playoffs and win at least a game. This is just a hunch, but I don't think he would want to come back if he couldn't right the ship any better than that after four years.

The reservoir of goodwill built up after three Super Bowls is running dry among some season ticket holders, who feel the franchise is trapped in the past. Gibbs will rightfully always be revered as St. Joe around here, but even the most loyal congregations eventually find someone else to deliver the sermon when they feel the man behind the pulpit is overworked and has done all he can.

The feeling here is owner Daniel Snyder would trumpet the stability Gibbs has brought to the organization and the legendary coach would either move upstairs or aside.

That all might be in the offing at some point, but any speculation relating to such developments will have to wait for another day.

At 4-2 and taking a feared defense to New England, this was a good afternoon for the Redskins to, like Kendall said, march down the fairway as if this is how they planned it.