Zorn Says Redskins Aren't Pursuing Cutler

DANA POINT, Calif., March 25 -- Washington Redskins Coach Jim Zorn said here Wednesday that the team is not actively pursuing a trade for Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler.

The Redskins have been among the teams speculated to have interest in Cutler if the Broncos opt to trade him because of his dispute with first-year coach Josh McDaniels and the club. Zorn said at the NFC coaches' breakfast at the annual league meeting that the Redskins are not among the teams that have expressed interest in Cutler to the Broncos.

"I think every coach in the National Football League would go, 'Man, what is this all about? What if Denver approached us?' " Zorn said. "But that conversation hasn't gone anywhere except 'Monday Morning Quarterback' talk."

Zorn said he has not felt the need to reassure his own quarterback, Jason Campbell, that the Redskins are committed to him. Asked if he has spoken to Campbell about the reports of the Redskins' interest in Cutler, Zorn said, "Not specifically."

But Zorn said he has made it clear to Campbell the club is committed to him as its starter.

"I've had him in my office when all that stuff started," Zorn said. "But I was talking to him about the upcoming season, not about the potential stuff, the created situation."

Zorn said he is not concerned about the Cutler speculation leaving him having to deal, like McDaniels, with a quarterback feeling snubbed by his own franchise.

"I really believe that each quarterback should be concerned about their own improvement, their own and for their teams," Zorn said. "I would hope that in our situation that Jason would be getting people rallied in our offseason program, talking to our receivers, talking to our tight ends, talking to our running backs, getting together with these guys and start talking about what we're going to do here in the minicamps and [offseason practices]. That's really what I want."

Zorn said the Redskins remain interested in re-signing defensive end Phillip Daniels and linebacker Marcus Washington, but the two veteran free agents continue to explore their opportunities elsewhere.

Guard Randy Thomas is making good progress in his recovery from neck surgery earlier in the offseason, according to Zorn, and should be ready to participate in offseason practices and full-contact practices in training camp.

Zorn said he'll take a slightly different approach in his second training camp as an NFL head coach than he did in his first camp last summer, being more careful to space out the team's toughest practices in an attempt to keep his players healthy and fresh.

"I'm going to try to regulate that," Zorn said. But "that doesn't mean this is going to be a country club atmosphere. We have to work hard."

Redskins Note: The team announced that defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery, a restricted free agent, has signed his one-year contract tender.