Zorn safe, but moves in store

ASHBURN Jim Zorn addresses the media each Monday in an area about the size of a living room. He is given a podium and a Redskins background to create the appearance of a massive auditorium, though his left arm could grab a soda from the Coke machine right next to him.

In happier times, the area was cozy. After a midseason slide, it was cramped, and yesterday it was downright claustrophobic as Zorn was asked what changes will be made after an 8-8 season.

He wouldn't commit to any specifics, but quarterback Jason Campbell said he was preparing for "shocking moves" during the seven months before training camp.

One of the players rumored to be on the chopping block is cornerback Carlos Rogers, who could go to make room for former Virginia Tech star DeAngelo Hall. While cleaning out his locker yesterday, Rogers sounded more like a former Redskin than the player who intercepted a pass Sunday in a 27-24 loss to San Francisco.

"I'll just try to get better wherever that is or wherever I go," he said. "I always say I'm not a backup. I'm a starter in this league. Everybody knows that. There are a lot of teams that would give their right arm to have me."

Rogers said he remained irritated at the coaching staff for benching him in favor of Hall in Cincinnati without informing him before the game. He said he didn't want to spend the prime of his career as a third corner.

One person who is safe is Zorn, who arrived for the press conference in a burgundy-and-gold tie given to him by owner Dan Snyder. He talked like a coach who would return next year, giving the players personalized sheets of paper with an inspirational quote from John Wooden ("Don't mistake activity for achievement") and a list of offseason activities to help the players improve.

First he urged the players to get away from football for a little while, advice running back Clinton Portis is taking to heart.

He said he's going to his Miami home, where he'll sit on the beach and watch TV for the next week. "I won't do anything associated with exercising until at least March," he said.

Portis added he forgot about going to the Pro Bowl, which he'll still do, but won't be watching the NFL playoffs, saying that "I've seen those teams play before."

He had 29 carries for 80 yards Sunday, an unusually high number for an otherwise insignificant game. That's because Portis was trying to get to 1,500 yards for the season, something he communicated to Zorn before the game.

"They fed it to me. I can't complain," Portis said. "I think it would have put me in the air of some elite backs. Unfortunately, I fell 13 yards short. It happens like that sometimes."

Portis will stay for next season, unless, of course, he walks into Snyder's office and demands otherwise. His offensive line likely will take a different look. Guard Randy Thomas will have surgery next month on a vertebrate in his neck that has been bothering him for the past six weeks. Guard Pete Kendall's contract is up, and Jon Jansen also could go from a line whose youngest starter is 31-year-old center Casey Rabach.

"That's the beast of the business. A season like this, and someone has to pay," he said.

Zorn also revealed yesterday three other injuries: Defensive tackle Kedric Golston will have surgery for the bone spurs in his ankles, Anthony Montgomery will get his knee scoped, and third-string quarterback Colt Brennan has a meniscus tear in his knee that he will get fixed.

The coaching staff will wrap up its meetings tomorrow, then take off until mid-January.

Zorn doesn't want that time off in the future though, echoing Campbell's statement that 8-8 is "unacceptable" for a franchise like the Redskins.

"I want to coach a team that's a playoff team," Zorn said. "I don't want it to be a question of if we'll make it, but where we'll be seeded."

Gray to Detroit? Secondary coach Jerry Gray has reportedly been given permission to interview for the head coaching job in Detroit. Gray and Lions GM Martin Mayhew were teammates during their playing days. The Lions plan on bringing in multiple candidates over the next few weeks.