Consistent Eagles, turmoil-plagued Redskins meet tonight

LANDOVER, Md. -- Over the past decade, the Washington Redskins have employed six coaches.

The Philadelphia Eagles have had one.

Since 1999, the Redskins have burned through more than a half-dozen so-called No. 1 quarterbacks. None has started more than 42 games.

The Eagles have had Donovan McNabb. He's started 131.

Since Jeffrey Lurie bought the Eagles in 1994, the franchise has been one of the most successful in the NFL. Nine playoff appearances. An NFC title. Only five teams have won more games since his first full year of ownership. He's hired talented people to do the work and let them be.

Since Dan Snyder bought the Redskins in July 1999 -- well, let running back Clinton Portis finish the thought.

"I've been here for six years. I've been enduring change since I've been here," Portis said. "We've done had a new this, a new that, a change in quarterback. . . . That's what it is around here. Change."

They may be only 120 miles apart, but there's much more that separates the two teams that play tonight. The Eagles (3-2) have something the Redskins (2-4) don't. Call it consistency, stability, familiarity -- or just a comfort in knowing that everyone can focus on football because the front office isn't going to throw a curveball.

"Not a lot of turnover every single year has given all the players a little bit of continuity," running back Brian Westbrook said, "as well as a familiarity with the coaches as well as their style. It's very hard to come into a year or season and have different coaches coaching you every single year or every two years."

For the Redskins, that must sound like football heaven. In fact, it felt like a landmark moment Friday when the team announced that something wasn't going to change -- that coach Jim Zorn would keep his job through the end of the season.

"That should relieve a lot of tension and a lot of stress," quarterback Jason Campbell said. "Guys don't have to worry about thinking about it or talking about it."

Snyder's do-something-now reputation is such that Zorn hadn't even finished his rookie season last year before questions arose about his job status -- yet he finished 8-8. The owner spent the offseason trying to find yet another franchise quarterback, trying to acquire first Jay Cutler and then Mark Sanchez, irritating Campbell to no end.

An emphasis on free agents gave the Redskins the oldest roster in the league on opening day, and only nine of their 22 starters were either drafted by the team or signed as rookie free agents.

The Eagles would have twice that number if linebacker Omar Gaither hadn't suffered a season-ending foot injury last week.

"It's been a lot of changes and different things," Campbell said, "and sometimes that can mess up the continuity of things."

Campbell was speaking on the day he learned of the latest major change. Sherm Lewis, who joined the team less than three weeks ago as a consultant, is the new play caller for the offense. The front office told Zorn he should give up play-calling after last week's 14-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Don't be surprised to see Zorn looking a little lost or fidgety on the sideline against the Eagles.

"I'm just going to go out and do what my responsibilities are and try to be as attentive as I can be," Zorn said, "so when I'm called upon to do my job, I can come through."