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The Redskins are a critical part of NFL labor strife lore. Under Joe Gibbs, they survived the strikes of 1982 and 1987 better than any team in the league, winning the Super Bowl at the end of each of those disrupted seasons. The New York Times did a big story on this a couple of months back, examining the reasons Washington was able to go 8-1 in '82 and 3-0 with replacement players in '87 and weather those labor storms to become champions. Not coincidence, say those who were involved, as much as it was about Gibbs and the way the veteran cores of those teams held things together.

Knowledge of this history has led some to suggest (facetiously, of course) that 2011 could be the Redskins' year. Hey, they always win the Super Bowl when there's a work stoppage, so this is just what they need, right? If there'd been a lockout two years ago, Jim Zorn would be wearing a ring right now and Mike Shanahan would be coaching the Cowboys. Or something like that.

Well, unfortunately for the Redskins, while history may well be on their side, reality is not. Not this time. Given their current circumstances, the Redskins are surely more likely than any other NFC East team to suffer damage as a result of the lockout. Given where they are right now in the development of their franchise, the Redskins might be hurt worse by this lockout than any team in the whole league.

This is a critical season for Mike Shanahan as Washington's coach. Sure, it's only the second year of his five-year deal, and for that reason job security is the last thing he's worried about. But this year is critical for other reasons -- reasons that pertain to Shanahan's goal of building the Redskins back into contenders.

Shanahan's first season was a bumpy one, and his midseason handling of Donovan McNabb and the quarterback situation in general raised eyebrows among people who'd expected a man with his résumé to deal with such things more artfully. But on balance, the 2010-11 season served a key purpose for Shanahan. It established him as the unquestioned leader, face and voice of the franchise. The skirmishes with McNabb and Albert Haynesworth were merely the most public manifestations of Shanahan's assertion of himself. Zorn had been weak and overmatched in the head coach role, and it was important for Shanahan to establish right away that he would be neither.

Critical to that effort was the subversion by team owner Daniel Snyder of his own out-front persona. As a condition of taking the job, Shanahan insisted that he be given control over football matters and that Snyder not meddle in personnel decisions to the extent that he had in the past. Against all expectations, Snyder actually pulled this off. The 2010-11 season was his quietest as Redskins owner, and his disappearance into the background helped Shanahan do the things he needed to do in order to deliver his new-sheriff-in-town message.

The lockout could wipe out some of that momentum. Shanahan's assertion of leadership and Snyder's step into the background are vital to the Redskins' near-future success, but one year wasn't enough to lock those things in. With Shanahan unable to coach, the risk rises that he ends up starting from or near scratch once his players return to Ashburn. With Shanahan and GM Bruce Allen unable to make personnel moves, the risk rises that Snyder gets itchy and impatient and backslides into his old ways. He could decide to go nuts once free agency opens against the advice of the football minds he hired and promised to leave alone. Not saying this is what will happen, mind you, just that the "pause" button the league has pressed on its offseason increases the risk.

It's also preventing the Redskins from doing a number of vital housekeeping things. They need to move on from McNabb and figure out what their 2011 quarterback situation really is. If it really is John Beck, then he'll need to know he's not just a Shanahan smokescreen and get in to practice huddles so his teammates know it, too. If it's to be Carson Palmer or someone not currently on the roster, then they need to get on with that as well.

They need to resolve the Haynesworth situation, of course. He needs to go, certainly, and dispatching him will be as cathartic a move as Shanahan's ever made. But the lockout will end with Haynesworth still on the team, along with all the distractions he brings, and his mere presence will be a story for as long as it takes them, post-lockout, to get rid of him.

They need to keep working on Jim Haslett's 3-4 defense, because as we discussed here Monday the second year is a crucial one for the install of a 3-4. They need a nose tackle, and they need to know how realistic it is to get someone like Aubrayo Franklin in free agency -- a move that probably would help them more than a splashier play for someone like Nnamdi Asomugha, though they need to know about him, too. And as they've seemed to since the Art Monk days ... sheesh, they still need help at receiver.

The Redskins have a lot they need to do -- more than most teams, really, given where they are in this particular chapter of their history. Because of that, when I'm asked which team in this division I think will be hurt most by the lockout, my answer's easy. This won't be 1982 or 1987 for the Redskins. This year's work stoppage is a huge problem for them.

Dallas Cowboys

Jason Garrett was not among the head coaches on hand Tuesday at Auburn quarterback Cam Newton's pro day.

NFL.com's Pat Kirwan is a fan of Rob Ryan coming over from Cleveland to run the Dallas defense.

New York Giants

The New York Daily News' Gary Myers on Tuesday's announcement that Tiki Barber is coming out of retirement: "There was a better chance of Tom Coughlin calling up Frank Gifford -- who happens to be 80 -- to coax him out of retirement than the Giants coach letting Tiki Barber walk back into the Big Blue locker room and poison it again."

Brandon Jacobs said he considered the idea of getting in a few boxing matches if there happens to be a work stoppage.

Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg says quarterback Michael Vick "could end up being one of the greatest of all time."

Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald says he never made a push for the Cardinals to acquire Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb.

Washington Redskins

Former Redskins general manager Vinny Cerrato says ex-coach Jim Zorn was done in by his ego.

Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan weighs in on the state of the Redskins' offense and where things stand heading into the draft.

I thought former Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn would be a good fit as the quarterbacks coach for the Baltimore Ravens. And by all accounts, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco had a tremendous relationship with Zorn.

But that didn't keep Zorn from getting fired Thursday after just one season. Apparently Ravens head coach John Harbaugh decided that offensive coordinatoor Cam Cameron needed to work directly with Flacco. And there's talk that Zorn was insubordinate to Cameron.

"We've talked about this since the end of the season, and we believe this will help improve our offense," Harbaugh said.

It seemed like Zorn was safe after surviving a seven-hour meeting with Harbaugh and Cameron last week. But obviously the Ravens changed their minds. Zorn was great to deal with when he was with the Redskins and hopefully he'll land a job quickly. But for now, he'll continue to get by on those paychecks from Dan Snyder.

Washington Redskins special-teams coach Danny Smith will remain with the club rather than accept an offer from Denver Broncos coach John Fox, according to CSNWashington.com. Smith was one of the few holdovers from Jim Zorn's staff in Washington. He helped develop rookie Brandon Banks into one of the most exciting returners in the league and apparently he worked well with coach Mike Shanahan.

The Redskins were second in the league in punt coverage but 29th at covering kickoffs. The Redskins eventually released punter Hunter Smith this season after he botched a hold late in a game. Smith has a reputation for coming up with some entertaining fake field goals, some of which were on display during the Zorn era.

It's hard to tell if the Washington Redskins are any better off right now as an organization than when the Jim Zorn era ended. I realize that Mike Shanahan has more skins (and rings) on the wall than the "Z Man," but things feel just as dysfunctional as ever.

My colleague Jeff Chadiha weighs in today regarding the way Shanahan has handled the Donovan McNabb situation. He's shocked that a man known for being a quarterback whisperer could've botched things in such epic fashion:

"As one league executive told me earlier this season, Shanahan's biggest mistake was not accepting McNabb for what he is," writes Chadiha. "Andy Reid molded his offense in Philadelphia around the fact that McNabb is more skilled as a deep passer and improviser. McNabb was never the quintessential, super-accurate quarterback who thrives in the West Coast system, and that appears to be what Shanahan covets.

"Mike should've just let Donovan be who he is," the executive said. "That's what worked in Philadelphia."

After watching the way Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg have worked with Michael Vick following their successful run with McNabb, maybe we've given Shanahan too much credit for his work with quarterbacks over the years. It's not like John Elway had been a bust before Shanahan took over in Denver.

It appears that McNabb resisted the idea of changing some of the things that had made him a successful quarterback. And that seems like a reasonable response to 30-year-old Kyle Shanahan asking you to change your mechanics.

I understand that McNabb has played poorly this season by his standards, but I'd still place more of the blame on Father & Son Shanahan.

Let's take a quick look at how the Washington Redskins lost to the Detroit Lions for the second consecutive season, this time 37-25.

What it means: The Washington Redskins blew a huge opportunity to get to 5-3 heading into the bye. And for whatever reason, the Detroit Lions own this team. Quarterback Donovan McNabb played poorly again, but surely he didn't deserve to get benched with the game still hanging in the balance. McNabb must've looked to see if his old buddy Andy Reid had wandered onto the sideline.

More on the benching: I was sitting in a press box in Arlington, Texas, when word started to spread of McNabb's benching. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan apparently played a hunch, and it backfired immediately. I'm not saying McNabb would've led the Skins to a late touchdown, but putting Rex Grossman into a game cold to run a two-minute offense is just ridiculous. "I thought (Grossman) gave us the best chance to win," Shanahan told reporters after the game.

If that's really the case, Shanahan should've given him a better chance to succeed. Saying that Grossman has a better grasp of the Skins' two-minute offense is an indictment of McNabb. (Yes, I know Grossman played for Kyle Shanahan in Houston). Shanahan said McNabb's still the starter, but he's unnecessarily sparked a controversy. On one hand, he placed Grossman in an impossible situation. On the other, he undermined a proud veteran. Now, McNabb will constantly be looking over his shoulder when he struggles. Sometimes it looks like Shanahan goes out of his way to show who's boss. Hey, we get it. The move smacked of desperation. And if Jim Zorn were still in office, he'd be getting destroyed right now. Those Super Bowl rings give Shanahan a little more latitude, but it's still a curious move.

A silver lining: The Redskins might have the most electrifying return man in the league (who's under 5-7). Brandon Banks single-handedly set this team up for 17 points against the Lions. I'd line the guy up and throw him a pass or two at some point.

No rushing game: The Skins only took two running backs to the game, and it backfired when Ryan Torain had to leave with a hamstring injury and missed the second half. McNabb was the leading rusher with 45 yards, and most of that came on one carry in the first half. By the way, it's not like Torain was that effective in this game when he was healthy with nine carries for 10 yards.

What's next: Shanahan will have a lot of questions to answer Monday. He and Bruce Allen convinced a fan base that they'd committed highway robbery by acquiring McNabb for a second-round pick. But at the first sign of trouble, Shanahan completely undermines the player. Maybe there are Skins fans who were calling for McNabb to be benched during Sunday's game after he threw into triple coverage for an interception, but I wouldn't have done it with under two minutes left. After the bye, the Skins will host the Eagles on "Monday Night Football." Will McNabb make it to halftime in that game? We'll find out soon enough.

Washington Post columnist Sally Jenkins has read the opinions that Clinton Portis (groin) won't be missed that much in the Redskins' offense, and she thinks that's ridiculous. Jenkins came up with some interesting numbers regarding the punishment Portis has absorbed for the Skins. She thinks we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss the 29-year-old running back.

"Portis has earned some criticism for divalike behavior, like his occasional ingratitude to his linemen and quarterbacks, and for playing overweight," writes Jenkins. "But lack of toughness isn't one of his failings. Overall, he's probably given as much to the Redskins physically as he has taken financially. If you're inclined to resent his salary of almost $7.2 million this year, try to remember that. Even former coach Jim Zorn, who was often frustrated by him, said that when Portis is on the field, 'Your head better be on a swivel. Somebody is gonna get knocked down.'

"Remember that in four seasons, he has had at least 320 carries. Remember that he ran for a club-record 1,516 yards in 2005, alternately avoiding tacklers with suave cuts and knocking them down like bowling pins. Remember how he dislocated his shoulder in a preseason game with the Cincinnati Bengals, when launched into a tackle, trying to stop an interception return. Remember how just two weeks ago against the Houston Texans he raced half the length of the field to explode on a block and open a pathway for Fred Davis, resulting in a 62-yard play."

The only thing in Jenkins' column I disagree with is the part where she says Portis was "smart" to miss a lot of practice. I don't think players take a lot of punishment in practice these days, and all those absences sort of caused Portis to lose standing in the locker room. And it also doesn't help when you call out teammates.

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 20

ASHBURN, Va. -- It’s 7:15 on a Friday evening at Redskins Park and coach Mike Shanahan has taken a short break from watching film of the morning's practice. The man who always appears to be five minutes removed from a tanning session is discussing a philosophy that’s served him well over the years, but came into question when he was fired in Denver after 14 seasons and two Super Bowl titles.

Now Shanahan and his hand-picked quarterback, Donovan McNabb, want to prove that both of their previous employers made a mistake. We’re talking about two of the most prideful men in the league, and in two separate conversations with the NFC East blog last Friday, they essentially said the same thing.

“Yeah, both of us are here to win a Super Bowl,” Shanahan said. “If you’re not in it to win a Super Bowl, then you need to find something else to do. I’m not ever going to comment on how things were done here before, but we had a philosophy that worked in Denver, and that’s what we’re going to follow.”

It’s worth noting that two years ago, players were hailing the unorthodox approach of Jim Zorn. He played music during practice and delivered lectures on designer jeans. He was sort of the lovable hippie -- right up until the team started losing. In ’09, the Redskins became the most dysfunctional organization in professional sports. Zorn couldn’t be shamed into resigning, so the Redskins simply stripped him of his dignity (and play-calling duties).

Dan Snyder hired Bruce Allen and Shanahan because he has lost so much credibility with Skins fans. Allen and Shanahan immediately began changing the culture at Redskins Park. This was a team crying out for some form of discipline, and Shanahan has delivered in spades. If a player doesn’t hustle between drills in practice, Shanahan will call their names after practice and tell them to run extra sprints. He also makes sure that every player keeps his shirttail in during those sessions. Shanahan can get away with this because of those two rings.

With one hire, the Redskins are once again relevant in the NFC East. Now, let’s take a closer look at their chances of making the playoffs:

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can Donovan McNabb elevate this pedestrian group of receivers to new heights? There’s a reason that Santana Moss seems to have a perpetual smile on his face these days. He didn’t even have time to complete routes last season because of the Redskins’ woeful offensive line. Now, coaches are showing him film of the Texans’ Andre Johnson and saying he could do similar things. McNabb invited Moss and the rest of the receivers to work out with him in Phoenix early last month, and you can already see the benefits on the playing field.

“I told them to bring their wives and girlfriends because I wanted it to be a family affair,” McNabb told me. “When you’re around the facility, you always feel like you’re being watched. I thought it was a great opportunity for us to bond away from everyone else and start developing some chemistry.”

But Moss is the only thing close to a sure thing. We're still waiting for former second-round draft picks Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly to show some consistency. For now, they're listed on Shanahan's depth chart as third-stringers. McNabb may have to rely on the 38-year-old Joey Galloway to play a significant role in the offense. The good news for Skins fans is that McNabb once took receivers such as Freddie Mitchell and Todd Pinkston to NFC title games on a regular basis.

2. When will Albert Haynesworth crack the starting lineup? Shanahan bristled when I asked him if Haynesworth was causing a "circus," but the coach must realize that the defensive lineman has dominated the headlines. I think the players were watching closely to see how Shanahan dealt with the brooding star. Now that he's finally passed the infamous conditioning test, Haynesworth will work as a backup defensive tackle. He'll eventually start at right defensive end, but it's not going to happen overnight.

Haynesworth could be a huge part of Jim Haslett's defense if he buys into what the coach is doing. I am eager to see whether this knee issue goes away in the preseason. Haynesworth needs more game repetitions than usual because of all the time he missed. If the knee prevents him from getting on the field, it will become another distraction.

3. Have the Redskins solved their issues on the offensive line? I think a lot of this season hinges on whether three new additions to the line play well. Jammal Brown was a Pro Bowl player for the Saints at one point, but he hasn't played since '08. He'll have to knock off some rust while learning how to play right tackle. Rookie Trent Williams has a ton of ability, but he's working with a much thicker playbook now. There were questions about his work ethic at the University of Oklahoma. So far, he's said and done all the right things in Washington.

And we'll see how Artis Hicks performs at right guard. I always thought he was a better option than Mike Williams (out for the year), but this unit needs a lot of work in the preseason. McNabb will bring a lot to this team, but he can't win a lot of games if he's constantly on his back. Ask Jason Campbell about that.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

I was thoroughly impressed with free safety Kareem Moore. He was a sixth-round pick in '08 who didn't make much of an impact in his first two seasons. Now, it looks like he'll lock down a starting spot. He's had an excellent camp. He plays with a lot of confidence and he'll allow LaRon Landry to play closer to the line of scrimmage.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

You knew that one of the veteran running backs would probably be out of the mix, but I didn't expect it to happen so early in the proceedings. Willie Parker is officially listed at the Skins' fourth-string running back. Hard to imagine him making the final roster unless there are injuries.

OBSERVATION DECK

• I talked to one longtime Redskins observer who actually thinks Larry Johnson will have more carries than Clinton Portis this season. I don't see that happening unless Portis suffers an injury, but it's obvious that Johnson's in excellent shape. He's finishing off every run and he actually has shown a burst at times.
• Lorenzo Alexander and Andre Carter have a nice little battle going on at left outside linebacker. Alexander has been running a lot with the first team, but Carter, 31, will get plenty of playing time. You knew Carter would have a little trouble in coverage, but he's actually been step for step with running backs on a couple of occasions.
• Haslett is the best thing that could've happened to Carlos Rogers' career. The cornerback thought his career in Washington was over, but now Haslett believes he can turn him into an Antoine Winfield-type player. Haslett will take advantage of Rogers' size and he'll let him blitz more than in the past. (Adam Schefter has more on Haslett.)
• Brian Orakpo told me after practice Friday that Haslett's playbook has at least 20 more blitzes than Greg Blache's old version. He said it was a little overwhelming at first, but now he's not thinking as much. Orakpo had a nice rookie season, but he's about to become a breakout star. It's pretty amazing to have this many elite pass-rushers in the same division.
• Kedric Golston and Adam Carriker were running with the first-team defense Friday. It looked like the Redskins were working on their dime package, which features two down linemen. I think Haslett will be very creative with his fronts. He'll have some of the same concepts that we've seen from Dick LeBeau and the Steelers.
• Cornerback Justin Tryon made a nice recovery on a fly pattern to Roydell Williams on Friday. But Tryon hasn't done a lot in this camp to move up the depth chart. I think he's behind Kevin Barnes and maybe even Ramzee Robinson at this point.
• If you need a "Rudy" type of player to root for, let me point you in the direction of former Kansas State receiver Brandon Banks. At 5-foot-7, Banks isn't exactly a red zone target, but he's quick and appears to have good hands.
• John Beck rolled right and fired a bullet to tight end Lee Vickers in team drills. Former TCU linebacker Robert Henson reacted with some loud expletives because he came close to breaking up the pass. Beck had too many balls batted down when he was with the Dolphins. His arm angle's been too low in the pros, so we'll see if Kyle Shanahan can fix that problem.

All signs pointed to another Redskins spending spree. For years, we'd become accustomed to Washington winning the month of March by signing big-name, if aging, free agents to lucrative contracts. To owner Dan Snyder and his top lieutenant Vinny Cerrato, the NFL draft was for weaklings.

While teams such as the Baltimore Ravens loaded up on offensive and defensive linemen, the Redskins turned to established stars in the league. Unfortunately, though, the Skins' version of March Madness couldn't overshadow what happened each fall.

Snyder built a foundation on smoke and mirrors, and the results had become downright depressing. At least the '09 season provided comic relief when Cerrato interrupted Sherm Lewis' bing0 calling to name him the team's playcaller. In retrospect, coach Jim Zorn was in over his head from the start. He was a panic hire by Snyder after his candidate pool evaporated in '08.

He has fired plenty of coaches in more than a decade as owner, but following last season's 4-12 campaign, Snyder knew his organization was at a crisis point. The losing was bad enough, but the Redskins had managed to alienate their fan base through a stunning series of blunders, the most humorous being a ban against homemade signs at games. In addition to being treated to a poor on-field product, fans were asked to express their dissatisfaction in healthier ways, such as politely clapping for first downs and pretending to recognize Marcus Mason's name.

If Snyder didn't get the next hire right, he might have encountered fan revolt. Fortunately for him, a Super Bowl-winning coach happened to have the '09 season off. Mike Shanahan might as well have had an office at Redskins Park because you knew he would replace Zorn from about Week 4 on. Snyder's only serious competition for Shanahan would've been the Cowboys, but most folks don't have an appreciation for Jerry Jones' devotion to Wade Phillips, a man who's happy to let the owner wear the whistle, and at times, the Russell coaching shorts.

The Redskins hired general manager Bruce Allen, son of George, late in the '09 season to start assessing the damage. Once he sacked Zorn, the stage was finally set for Team Shanahan to take over the building. The former Broncos coach hasn't done anything that dramatic (Artis Hicks, anyone?), but his presence alone has changed the club's perception around the league. As I walked the streets of Indianapolis during the combine in search of scouts and refreshments, people told me stories about Shanahan's iron-fisted ways. Members of the Cowboys' delegation weren't shy about admitting that the landscape of the NFC East would quickly change with Shanahan on the scene.

In fact, I'm not sure there's a coach in the league that Jones admires more than Shanahan. In the past, Shanahan had been a ghost at the combine, slipping into town to look at a certain player and then leaving before anyone saw him. But this year, Shanahan was popping up all over the place. He spent more than an hour with reporters and then I later saw him sharing trail mix with Wade Phillips at a Marriott property. For now, Shanahan's the face of the franchise and I think he realizes how important it is for fans to see him at work.

On the eve of free agency last Thursday, Redskins fans gathered at their laptops (hopefully) and read about Shanahan and Allen releasing 10 players. It sort of felt like the final cuts in the preseason. Allen was rather diplomatic in his description of Black Thursday at Redskins Park. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall was a little more blunt, telling ESPN that the Skins were able to shed some "dead weight." Nice touch, DeAngelo.

Some of us interpreted these moves as a prelude to a big-ticket item in free agency, but unless Hicks and Maake Kemoeatu were at the top of your wish list, the Skins basically sat on their hands. You keep waiting for that other shoe to drop, but it looks like this is all we're going to get. It makes you wonder if someone's kidnapped the free-spending Snyder, an owner who has been known to covet another man's roster. Surely he'll put a stop to all this inactivity at some point. But Allen recently told SI.com's Peter King that Snyder seems to be taking the (non) news in stride.

"He didn't throw anything at me," said Allen of Snyder. "And he didn't throw a tantrum. He's fine with it."

So we've apparently entered a new era of Washington Redskins football. To be clear, though, Shanahan won't be given license to have a couple more 4-12 seasons. He isn't expected to win the NFC East title in 2010, but the Redskins will need to show marked improvement.

Fortunately for Shanahan, the bar's been set pretty low over the past decade. His critics will point toward his playoff record in the post-John Elway era in Denver. But his total body of work is impressive.

The best news for Redskins fans is that Shanahan and Allen don't appear to be looking for shortcuts. As we've seen in the past, shortcuts look a lot better in March than they do in December. Artie Hicks and Kemo might not get your heart pumping, but regaining the respect of your division foes should.

And that has already happened.

Try as he might, there's no way Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell can tune out the talk radio or even the random folks who recognize him at the movies. He's once again involved in a familiar storyline in which his team's fanbase (and perhaps the front office) yearn for the next franchise quarterback.

Never mind the fact that Campbell somehow put up respectable numbers during a season in which he lined up behind arguably the worst offensive line in the league. Campbell was set up to fail by an administration that neglected the offensive line for the better part of a decade.

No quarterback in the league took more of a beating than Campbell, but even when given the opportunity to tap out, he kept showing up in the huddle. And given the way owner Dan Snyder and his former henchman Vinny Cerrato treated him, I'm sure Campbell thought taking a play or two off might lead to a full-time demotion. For the record, Campbell actually enjoyed his time with interim play-caller Sherman Lewis, who was plucked from a bingo-calling assignment by Cerrato.

The Redskins played themselves into the No. 4 overall pick in this April's draft, so all the speculation is that new head coach Mike Shanahan will select either Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford or Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen. But until further notice, Campbell remains the starting quarterback of this team. He'll be an unrestricted free agent, which means he'll likely receive the highest contract tender of roughly $3.1 million. And if the Redskins are shopping Campbell, they're doing a pretty nice job of keeping it a secret this offseason.

I caught up with Campbell via phone Thursday and asked him about his initial impressions of Shanahan. The two sat down in Shanahan's office and talked about the organization's future. But what about Campbell's future?

"The plan is that I'm going to be here," said Campbell. "[Shanahan] told me that he liked how I'd handled everything over the past couple of years and the whole conversation was real positive. But we really didn't talk much about the past. When a team goes 4-12, most of the bad publicity goes to the quarterback. But I was still able to put up one of my best seasons despite all the turmoil."

Campbell showed a lot of loyalty to former coach Jim Zorn, but he knew early on that the organization was asking Zorn to wear too many hats. Campbell, who has lost count of how many offensive coordinators he's played for dating back to his Auburn days, said that Shanahan has brought instant credibility to the Redskins.

"With Coach Shanahan and Bruce Allen, there's already a new feeling to the team," said Campbell. "Guys are going to follow [Shanahan] because he has a proven résumé. The main thing we need is discipline, and you can already see that guys are carrying themselves in a different manner."

Campbell spent part of Super Bowl week in South Florida doing some research on the Redskins' new regime. Skins wide receiver Santana Moss is close friends with Texans receiver Andre Johnson, who had great things to say about new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. And Campbell had a long conversation with Texans running back Ryan Moats about what it was like playing for Shanahan in Houston.

"The main thing Ryan told me is that I'll have a lot of fun playing for Kyle," said Campbell. "And he told me that Kyle was incredibly knowledgeable for such a young guy."

Campbell has handled the situation in Washington with a lot of grace, but he bristles when he hears critics talk about how he didn't throw the ball downfield enough in '09. In fact, I happened to catch him on the phone last month after he'd heard SI.com's Peter King criticizing him on a local radio station in Washington.

"I don't know how anyone can say something like that," said Campbell on Thursday. "Don't you think I wanted to throw the ball downfield? By the time I looked up, I was getting hit. I'm certainly hoping we have an opportunity to make some big plays next season."

For now, Campbell is attempting to avoid the mock draft industry. I helpfully informed him that ESPN's Mel Kiper now has the Skins selecting Clausen at No. 4 overall. In fact, here's how Kiper explained that pick on a conference call Wednesday:

"In the case of a player like Clausen or Bradford, I would take the quarterback first. I have Clausen and Bradford rated higher than [Anthony] Davis and [Russell] Okung. So I would go the quarterback first, then try to get the offensive tackle in the second round and hope that a Bruce Campbell or a [Bryan] Bulaga or somebody like that fell down to me."

Campbell didn't feel like it was his place to inquire about Shanahan's approach to the draft. He said he trusts the coach's experience in that department and will be prepared for whatever happens.

"I have to do whatever it takes to help us win," said Campbell. "All that other stuff will take care of itself. I'm certainly not going to be out campaigning for them to take other positions. They know how to do this stuff."

Redskins wide receiver Malcolm Kelly may have fallen out of favor with the Jim Zorn regime, but he's apparently back in the mix with the Mike Shanahan group. Kelly stopped by Redskins Park to visit with Shanahan recently and then he spoke with Jason Reid of the Washington Post.

Apparently Shanahan wants to set up some isolation routes for Kelly and take advantage of his size. And it makes sense that the Skins would finally try to use the 6-4, 227-pound Kelly in the red zone. Here's what the former Oklahoma wide receiver said about his visit with the Skins' head coach:

"We're talking, and Coach Shanahan asked me if I had seen any film on how his son ran that offense down there," Kelly said. "I told him that as it just so happens, I have all of Andre Johnson's cut-ups from this past season. I just watched Andre Johnson to watch how he would work during the season.

"He told me he wants to put me on those types of situations where I can take advantage of my size. And then he just started talking about my hands. He said, 'We're going to find ways to get you the ball.' He told me he's going to find ways to show specifically what I can do.

"That was something I haven't even heard before in my two years here. And it was coming from a guy who I know has gone out and won championships, and a guy who has had playmakers at every position. That's one thing that he knows how to do -- he finds ways to get his playmakers the ball. Looking at our talent level, he said he's going to be able to use all the young guys. It was real encouraging."

Kelly also knows that Shanahan could end up selecting former Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford in April's draft. It wouldn't surprise me if the coach picked Kelly's brain about Bradford. But that's a delicate situation. First, you don't want to tip off other teams of your plans. And there's also the fact that Kelly looks up to current starter Jason Campbell. He doesn't want to come off as he's rooting for the Bradford pick.

I'll have an opportunity to visit with Bradford at the combine in Indianapolis next week. If you have any questions for Bradford or Shanahan, let me hear from you in the comments section.

After a disastrous 2009 campaign as head coach of the Redskins, no one would have blamed Jim Zorn for taking a season off and enjoying the $2.4 million that he's reportedly owed by Dan Snyder in 2010. But on Saturday, Zorn instead agreed to become the quarterbacks coach for the Baltimore Ravens.

It's about as good of a situation as Zorn could've hoped for from both a professional and personal standpoint. For starters, he won't have to uproot his family again after two years in the Washington D.C. area. And he'll be back on firm ground as a quarterbacks coach.

Zorn was overwhelmed by the responsibilities that now come with being a head coach in this league. The Redskins asked him to coach the quarterbacks, call plays and preside over the team. Despite the team's quick start in '08, this was a poor fit from the beginning. Zorn was so cerebral and thorough that he could often turn a 30-minute meeting into two hours.

Zorn had the respect of quarterback Jason Campbell in the beginning but that started to erode once Snyder and Vinny Cerrato spent last offseason trying to find Campbell's replacement. I don't think multitasking was a particular strength of Zorn's and that's a problem when you're running a team.

As the quarterbacks coach in Baltimore, Zorn will be able to return to a position of strength. Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck swears by Zorn and gives him much of the credit for his success. I think the biggest problem for Zorn is that he skipped a step in becoming a head coach. It would've been interesting to see how Zorn could've performed as an offensive coordinator in Washington.

Unfortunately, he never got that chance because the Skins ran out of legitimate head-coaching candidates. Now Zorn has the opportunity to hit the reset button (sound familiar?) on his coaching career. And I think he has a much better chance of succeeding with the Ravens than he had with the Redskins.

Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray is telling the Washington Post that he's still pondering an offer from the Seattle Seahawks. Gray interviewed to become the Redskins' head coach before Jim Zorn was fired and then he talked to Mike Shanahan about staying on as the defensive coordinator.

"I do have an offer from Seattle to be their secondary coach, and it's a one-of-a-kind offer, but I have not signed yet," Gray told the Post on Monday. "I'm not waiting for any particular reason, but with the holiday it hasn't happened yet. I'm not saying it won't happen. We'll see what happens [Tuesday]."

Gray also told the Post that he's not waiting around to hear from the Skins. And I think that's a good idea. Shanahan quickly hired Jim Haslett to be his defensive coordinator and there's not really a spot for Gray with the Redskins. Owner Dan Snyder was a huge fan of Gray's, but he's taking a hands-off approach with Shanahan and general manager Bruce Allen. We'll have more on the Redskins situation throughout the week.

Stump Mitchell has served the past two seasons as the running backs coach for the Washington Redskins. He was one of the few coaches Jim Zorn was allowed to bring with him from Seattle Seahawks. Now that he's taking over as the head coach at Southern, he's willing to say some things about his star pupil, Clinton Portis.

Washington Post reporter Jason Reid caught up with Mitchell via phone Monday and asked if Portis would benefit from better conditioning.

"That's a slam dunk, Clinton could've worked harder." Mitchell told Reid. "He's got to do that, and Dan [Snyder] has to understand that that's what has to be done. In order for the Redskins to be successful, that's what Clinton has to do. He has to change the way he's done things in the past, in order for them to be successful as a team."

Portis took to the local radio airwaves recently to take some unprovoked shots at quarterback Jason Campbell, so now he's getting some of his own medicine. I think Mike Shanahan would be better served to move on without Portis. He's someone who has had a direct line to the owner, which has alienated him from some of his teammates. He wasn't around much late in the season because he was on injured reserve with a concussion, but his mind was clear enough to allow him to throw a teammate under the bus after the season.

Former Washington Redskins head coach Jim Zorn and New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride are candidates to join the Chicago Bears' staff, according to CSNChicago.com. Gilbride's been the playcaller in a successful offense, so I can understand why he'd be considered. But I'd be shocked if Zorn landed as an offensive coordinator after having his play-calling duties stripped by the Redskins this season.

It seems more likely Zorn would surface as a quarterbacks coach. He's told people close to him that there are two jobs he is pursuing and that he doesn't plan to take a year off. The Redskins are on the hook to pay Zorn $2.4 million in 2010, so he's in a pretty good situation. Whatever he makes as an assistant in the league would offset what Dan Snyder owes him.

In other Redskins news, the current assistants will return to work Wednesday and probably start finding out about their futures.