Traveling into Redskins country is nothing new to Ravens quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn, who still lives in Northern Virginia.
His trip down the parkway will be different Saturday because the Ravens continue their preseason schedule at Washington's FedEx Field, Zorn's personal house of horrors last year. This marks the first time Zorn will face the Redskins since he was coldly fired seven months ago.
Zorn, 57, still gets paid by the Redskins (he's owed $2.4 million this season), but payback couldn't be further from his mind. In speaking with Baltimore reporters Tuesday, Zorn delivered a healthy perspective on his troublesome period in Washington.
He stood calmly until every question was asked (19 total), giving a blunt and lighthearted take on a time that would have turned others bitter. He acknowledged that he has reflected on what went wrong with the Redskins and even joked that there's no anger toward owner Daniel Snyder for the lack of a farewell party.
"I got close to some of those players that are on that team, so I kind of wish them well. But we all move on," Zorn said. "My concentration is now to help this football team win. I'm really excited about being a part of the Ravens. I don't spend a lot of time, saying, 'Gosh, oh, gee whiz, I'm not this or that.'"
Zorn's two-year record with the Redskins was 12-20. A 4-12 mark last season was the worst in 15 years for Washington.
His tumultuous run will be remembered for numerous injuries, harsh scrutiny by the fan base and the inability of his West Coast offense to score touchdowns.
It appeared that the Redskins were forcing Zorn to resign when they stripped him of his play-calling duties after Week 6 and handed them to Sherman Lewis, who had been calling bingo games at a senior center.
The Redskins fired Zorn immediately after the season-ending trip from San Diego. Arriving at Redskins Park at 2:30 a.m., Zorn was escorted out of the facility around 4:45a.m.
"I've never had any animosity," Zorn said on the way his dismissal was handled. "What is the right way? Should we have had a party, or should [Snyder] have canceled something for a week because now I'm gone? You just get fired and you just move on. It's how we have to handle it or we could go sit in our rooms for a few weeks and mope and feel sorry for ourselves. That's just the way life is."
Zorn took the brunt of the blame, but the Redskins have long been stuck in a dismal decade. Since 2000, Washington has had seven head coaches and two playoff appearances.
The Redskins replaced Zorn with a more accomplished coach in Mike Shanahan, who led the Denver Broncos to two Super Bowl titles. They brought in quarterback Donovan McNabb to replace the slow-developing Jason Campbell.
Although the Redskins' roster has been overhauled, the Ravens understand that this is not just a preseason game for Zorn.
"It's going to be very meaningful for him," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "I hope the Redskins fans are very respectful. This is a good man. He's a great coach. He's brought a lot to us as a Raven. I know he gave his heart and soul to the Redskins for two years."
Zorn said the last time he spoke with Snyder was "the night he fired me." He doesn't know if he'll talk with the Redskins owner Saturday.
In a recent interview with Hogshaven.com, Snyder acknowledged that hiring Zorn was the "wrong decision."
The party line among the Redskins players is that the team is more organized under Shanahan.
"Last year was a mess," said Redskins center Casey Rabach, a former Raven. "He's not loosey-goosey like Zorn. He definitely has his script, where he has a plan laid out. There's no deviating from this plan."
Zorn has never taken any jabs at the Redskins, preferring to embrace the experience as a learning one.
"I've written a lot of things down. I've thought about a lot of things. I've had conversations with a lot of different people trying to get a feel for different issues," he said. "Some I wouldn't change and some I wish I could've changed, but I believe we have to deal with circumstances as they come. Here I am."
Harbaugh said he "became good friends" with Zorn in 2008 and 2009, when the first-time NFL head coaches were hired about the same time. Their wives and families spent time together.
Their relationship would change this year when Ravens quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson left to become the offensive coordinator with the Oakland Raiders. After just 26 days without a team, Zorn joined the Ravens.
"We were just very fortunate that he chose to come here," Harbaugh said. "We're proud to have him here. He's meant so much to our quarterbacks and to our team. He's made us a better football team."
The Ravens were overwhelmed by his experience: 11 seasons as an NFL quarterback, 11 seasons as a respected NFL quarterbacks coach and a familiarity with their offense.
Zorn seemed to be the perfect fit to tutor third-year quarterback Joe Flacco.
"I think Joe is tremendous," Zorn said. "He has some natural talent that I don't want to screw up. As we grow together, I think he's going to continue to do great things and maybe even better things as we move along here."
If he succeeds with the Ravens, Zorn hopes he gets another chance at being a head coach.
"That circumstance is either going to be there or it's not," Zorn said. "I'm not in any hurry. But if the opportunity arises, I'd like to have it. I really enjoyed it. Yet if I have the opportunity to be here for 10 years in the capacity I'm in right now, I'm willing."
jamison.hensley@baltsun.com
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An earlier version of this article listed an incorrect number of playoff appearances for the Redskins. The Baltimore Sun regrets the error.
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