For the third time in two weeks, the hot story at Redskin Park had nothing to do with what was happening on the field.
On Oct. 27, front office boss Vinny Cerrato declared on his radio show that embattled coach Jim Zorn was safe for the rest of the season.
Earlier this week, owner Dan Snyder apologized to the fans, terming the team's 2-5 start "embarrassing."
On Thursday, defensive coordinator Greg Blache, who had been Silent Sam for the past four weeks, fired back at running back John Riggins for the Hall of Fame running back's criticisms of Snyder on Showtime the previous night. Riggins said that Snyder was "a bad guy" who "knows nothing about football" and has a "dark" heart.
"It really bothered me ... to see that and get the feeling that that's what everyone on the outside is hearing about this person, I decided it was time to come and set the record straight," Blache said. "It's enough. It really is. The problem is the fans don't get to know Mr. Snyder like we do. He's one of the most generous, kind individuals you'll ever meet. ... (I've) gone to him for things that I needed in my family. There's times that he's come to me when he's heard about issues in my family and offered his assistance. ... My wife and I are involved in hospice and there's been countless times he's come and helped us with issues."
--With Antwaan Randle El adding mistakes to his continuing struggles in his fourth season as the punt returner -- a muff against Philadelphia, a fumble that went out of bounds against Kansas City and a botched fair catch at Carolina that hit teammate Byron Westbrook and became a turnover -- the Redskins will also use DeAngelo Hall and Santana Moss in that role on Sunday at Atlanta as they did last game at Philadelphia.
"There's nothing different," Zorn said Wednesday, refuting some published reports that Randle El had been replaced. "All three guys punt returned two weeks ago. Nothing has changed. Antwaan is our punt returner. You're going to see Santana and DeAngelo. If he's involved more, it will be one or two reps."
Hall scored on five of his 56 punt returns at Virginia Tech. He had a 9.5-yard average in 2005 and 2007 for the Falcons without a touchdown. Randle El's 5.3-yard average is ranked 25th and he's tied for second in the league with 11 fair catches.
Neither Hall nor Moss wants to be the fulltime punt returner.
"I still have a knack for doing it," said Moss, who has an 11.7-yard average on 105 career returns. "I love the position because it got me to this level, but when it comes to being out there fulltime, I don't really care for that. I've had my share of fulltime duties in New York. I did enough of that. Now my focus is bigger and different. But when it's asked upon, I'll go out there because I know it's for the team."
--Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was voted the NFL's dirtiest defensive player in a Sports Illustrated poll of 296 players. Pittsburgh receiver Hines Ward "won" the balloting with 11.6 percent of the vote. Haynesworth was next with six percent, tied with Miami linebacker Joey Porter. Cincinnati safety Roy Williams and Tennessee center Kevin Mawae rounded out the top five.
"I'm not dirty," Haynesworth said.
And neither apparently is Ward.
"He ain't dirty," Haynesworth said. "He plays hard, too."
Asked who was dirty, Haynesworth said, "O-Line."
--H.B. Blades, who leads Washington's excellent kick coverage teams with 18 tackles, was on the field on Wednesday just eight days after having the partial tear of the meniscus in his right knee surgically repaired. But Blades worked on the side. He didn't practice.
"There's always a chance," Blades said with a laugh when he could actually play on Sunday, just 12 days after surgery. "When it got hurt, my leg felt strong. It really didn't hurt. I finished the game. We took an MRI to be safe and that's when they found the partial tear and decided to take care of it."
Blades, who missed 2 1/2 weeks after having his left knee scoped last summer, was hurt on the same play as Byron Westbrook, who won't be back until the Nov. 15 game with Denver.
BY THE NUMBERS
8 -- Teams with winning records among Washington's remaining nine opponents.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Everyone heals differently. I really haven't had a major injury (during his six NFL seasons) so I guess I'll find out. I'm being positive about it and just hope for the best." -- Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley, who's on crutches after having his fractured right ankle operated on a week ago and is supposed to miss a month.
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