Quotes From Schottenheimer's Press Conference

Compiled by Gene Wang
Washingtonpost.com Correspondent
Web Posted: Monday, Jan. 14, 2002; 1:21 p.m. EST

Opening Statement
As I’ve said before, our players are a great group of people. They deserve tremendous credit for their singleness of purpose, preparing each and every week and going out to play with one single objective, and that is to win. In my opinion, as we leave the Washington Redskins are a good football team, a team that I think is poised to take a step, and the opportunity in my view is there for them challenge next season for a division title.

Dan Snyder and I have agreed on many things. The issue we could not resolve, however, involved the process of selecting the players that would make up the Washington Redskins’ roster. I have great respect for the privilege of ownership. However, the opportunity to determine the composition of the Washington Redskins’ roster was the single most important element in my decision to accept his position as head coach of the Washington Redskins.

Make no mistake about it. Dan Snyder and I shared exactly the same purpose: To return the Washington Redskins to their position as a pre-eminent franchise in the National Football League. Our only difference was our means by which we would achieve it.

Q: Do you think your way works better --or Snyder’s?
A: It was my belief that our way would have been the most successful way to do that. And it was as I said the cornerstone of my decision to come there, that I would in fact have the ability to determine exactly who would make up or comprise our roster of our football team.

Q: Did you have any thoughts of giving up some of that control over the last week?
A: No, I did not. I did give some consideration to the matters that Dan and I had discussed in a meeting about a week ago relative to candidates for general manager, but no, I never gave any consideration to that.

Q: Do you want to coach again?
A: I certainly want to coach again, and hopeful that I’ll be able to do so. We’re disappointed. We had hoped to do better. But as I said, the privilege of ownership is indeed in my mind a very significant one. So I can’t take issue with the decision.

Q: Do you feel it was an unfair situation?
A: No, I can’t make that judgment. This is Dan Snyder’s football team. When I arrived here, I made it very, very clear that it was his football team. When you go out, and you acquire a professional sports franchise, that means you’re the boss.

Q: Having worked for Snyder, do you regret it?
A: Not at all. I had a great ride this year. As difficult as the 0-5 start was, maybe the fact that I could never have imagined it would happen tended to buffer it for me. But no, 20/20 hindsight, knowing exactly how it unfolded, I’d have been standing right on that doorstep on Jan. 6.

Q: What were some of the things you felt you had to do when you first came here?
A: Obviously there were some issues relative to the roster, there were issues relative to salary cap. I think we attacked them all. I feel like we did a pretty good job in that respect. But those were the things at the outset we had to address. We acquired some players who I think through the course of this season showed their value. But what we have here as I said before, Dan and I have different perspectives with regard to how you should managed the personnel side and the acquisition of players, and Dan is the owner, and that’s why we’re in the situation we’re in right now.

Q: What did Dan Snyder tell you in the last year that changed his mind about how the team should be run?
A: I would rather Dan have the opportunity to speak to anything he might feel in that regard. I think in all fairness to him we should do that.

Q: When you look for another job, will you require control of personnel decisions again?
A: Not necessarily, no. I don’t have to have absolute control.

Q: Was this a case where you felt you were backed into a corner?
A: No, I’m viewed by many as stubborn, but I don’t think I’m stupid. If there had been a means by which we could have reached an understanding on this thing, I would have welcomed the opportunity to continue as head coach of the Washington Redskins because I have a great affection for players on this team. And as I said, I think the football team with a change here and there has got the opportunity to compete and fulfill the goals and objectives we had as we began this year.

Q: Did you ever feel humiliated about all the talk of Steve Spurrier going into the last game?
A: Never. I watched some of the things relative to Tony Dungy. In this business, there’s two roads. And the only one I know is the high road.

Q: Were you surprised now at the end this happened?
A: Disappointed.

Q: Is the Carolina Panthers’ job appealing to you?
A: As I said, I’m interested in continuing to coach. You know, you’re away from anything for a couple of years, and you think that you’re still capable, but having been away for a couple of years, you’re not sure. Having been back for a year, I can do it.

Q: What were the key personnel moves that you think got you to this point?
A: I don’t know that you could say that there were any that were key. And I don’t regret anything about what has taken place this entire season other than the fact that we didn’t win the championship.

Q: Did you get any indication this might happen near the end of the season?
A: People that know me, those of you here know that when I’m involved in what I do, there’s a singleness of purpose for me. And I do not get distracted by things that are outside of what we’re trying to or things I have no control over. That’s misspent energy.

Q: Do you feel you involved Dan Snyder enough in decisions as the season went on?
A: Dan and I had discussions about all the moves that were made from the time I got here until the other day. So even as recently as a couple of the players that we were adding as free agent futures. I made every attempt to try to continue to maintain the dialogue, develop that dialogue. I was very comfortable with that relationship.

Q: Would you consider coaching in college?
A: No, I really don’t have any background in college.

Q: Can Dan Snyder’s style of ownership win in this league?
A: Dan Snyder can win in this league, yes. I believe he can.

Q: Any word on your assistants?
A: No judgments have been made to relative to them at this time.

Q: Do you think you would have kept your job if you made some compromises?
A: It depends on other circumstances. I think the important thing to consider is this: Dan Snyder owns the Washington Redskins. He made a significant commitment to this football team, this organization and to this community, and he is really entitled to make whatever decisions he chooses.

Q: What would your advice be to someone else thinking about coaching or being a GM for the Redskins?
A: I would say they should sit down and talk with Dan Snyder.

Q: Any advice on keeping a working relationship with the owner?
A: I enjoyed the time I was here.

Q: What do you consider your greastest accomplishment here, either as coach or GM?
A: I happen to think we did pretty well in both regards. With respect to the football team, I think our ability as a staff and the players to continue to focus when it appeared things were dark and dismal. I was particularly proud of the fact that we able to come back and win five after losing five in a row, and maybe even more significant than that was the fact that in two meaningless games in terms of playoff implications at the end of the season rather, our football team showed commitment to our program and to our purpose. And that is your work hard, you prepare, and ultimately you’ll find a way to win football games. That’s what our football team learned over the course of training camp, the early part of the season. They ultimately learned how to win.

Q: Did you feel if you had stayed that this team was head to the Super Bowl down the road?
A: I have no doubt that it would have.

Q: When you first talked to Snyder, did he understand the degree to which NFL head coaches long have wanted to control the entire operation?
A: I don’t know. I know that he was comfortable with our agreement.

Q: Have you been in contact with any other teams?
A: No.

Q: What was this last week like for you, and have you ever been around anything like this before?
A: Only the fact that this was prolonged a bit because of our inability to resolve the issues. Quite honestly I was concerned somebody was going to get hurt out there. Backing up, falling over a curb, we almost lost one. We almost lost one coming in here, but I think I manage situations like this pretty well. That’s kind of my nature.

Q: If this were your last job, can you talk about your career in general?
A: I don’t have any way to look that far down the road. I wouldn’t want to speculate on the fact that I may or may not get a job. I feel those comments are best made once you are in that position, so I really wouldn’t know what to tell you.

Q: What about your thoughts on your career to this point?
A: Again, I’m still hopeful we have a ways to go, and then ultimately when it’s clearly established that I won’t coach anymore, then I think it would be something I could address.

Q: What does it mean that the Redskins will have their fourth head coach in three seasons?
A: I think stability enhances your opportunity to be successful. Out of the six teams that had new coaches this year, I think Herman [Edwards of the Jets] was able to win at 10-6, and we were at 8-8. The aggregate numbers are pretty interesting when you look at it, but it’s hard to turn a program around in one year. I appreciate the opportunity that Dan gave me, and I recognize that he feels differently now than he did a year ago.

Q: What is your philosophy about how a coach and an owner should carry a relationship?
A: My sense is based on the fact that I believe the head coach, the coaching staff, the personnel staff, everybody needs to work together, to be on the same page. I think what that enables you to do is in the exchange of information and in the process of decision-making, which is what it’s all about, if you have everybody on the same page, you have a better chance of being successful. Now that doesn’t mean rubber stamp. That means you sit down, you agree, you disagree, you argue, you debate, you come up with the direction you want to go. There are certain aspects and elements that every football coach would like to have in the players that are part of team. And I think therein lies the most important factor from a coach’s perspective. They’re looking for a certain type of individual.

Q: Could you tell us when it was evident to you that it would end with you leaving?
A: Last evening. I’ll say it once again. I have for many years understood that the owner is the owner, and this can occur at any point in time in this business. Again, I’m disappointed we didn’t get the opportunity to finish. But I understand exactly where Dan is coming from, and I respect that.

Q: Do you feel disappointed John Schneider didn’t get a chance to prove what he could do?
A: I think John did a very good job in the brief opportunity he had. He was instrumental in the decision to add Ki-Jana Carter to the roster. I frankly debated it with him. He was insistent. He had information about him regarding a workout that had taken place in Miami, and in that workout KJ had produced some pretty good numbers. And he steadfastly pursued me all over the place, and ultimately he prevailed. I don’t have all the answers, never have purported to have all the answers. That’s why you have to have an element in place that incorporates everybody’s input, and then somebody’s got to make a decision.

Q: In the last week has there been more a concern for your staff than yourself?
A: It’s obviously very difficult. We’ve got a number of people that have been brought in here, hopeful that we would have an opportunity to go on, but everybody in our business recognizes the one constant is change. They’re all very capable people. I have no doubt they’ll have the opportunity quite possibly even to stay with the Redskins if they chose.

Q: Has Steve Spurrier tried to contact you?
A: Steve Spurrier is a friend of mine. He gave Brian [Schottenheimer] a great opportunity at the University of Florida. I would imagine he’ll come in here, with the quality of the players I think are right here right now, I think he has got a chance to step up and be very successful next year.

Q: Have you spoken to him about the job?
A: I have not. That would not be in my view very appropriate. I’m sure if he had any interest in my thoughts about it, he would contact me.

Q: What’s your advice to Spurrier about the direction of this football team?
A: I don’t want to be presumptuous and make any suggestions to Steve in that regard. He’s a very good football coach. I’ve seen his team perform live, and he really doesn’t need my advice, in my opinion.

Q: Do you think your brand of football had anything to do with your dismissal?
A: I don’t think that was a factor at all. In fact, I think had we been able to resolve the matter relative to the personnel things, that we probably would still be coaching today.

Q: Were you asked to make any changes on your staff?
A: We never really got to that that point to be honest with you.

Q: Do you think you’d still be coach of the Redskins if you had made the playoffs?
A: You’d have to ask Dan. I don’t know.

Closing Statement
Let me say once again, I haven’t always agreed with everybody’s point of view, but that’s not what you’re charged with. I’ve kind of enjoyed the banter, as it were. And as I’ve said before, I have great respect for people that work hard and go about their business in a professional way, and I believe that you’ve done that. So I want to thank all of you for that, and the page has turned. Thanks.