Earlier today we mentioned reports that retired linebacker/steroid enthusiast Bill Romanowski would interview for the job of strength and conditioning coach with the Washington Redskins. It seemed crazy to me then and it still seems crazy to me hours later. The jokes about hiring a 'roid abuser like Romanowski to be the strength coach of an NFL pretty much write themselves. And the Redskins have spent enough time being a joke for the past decade, dontchyathink?

Jason Reid of The Washington Post writes that

it'd shock many if he received serious consideration for the one in Washington. The league would likely have to sign off on any team hiring a strength and conditioning coach who has admitted to using steroids and HGH in the past.

Well, that was a point I made in my original post: How would the NFL react to the public relations nightmare of having an admitted steroid and HGH user running the conditioning program of an NFL team? I don't think they'd be too comfortable watching Romanowski mixing up all those "protein shakes" for the players to down two or three times a day. And the accusations of cheating from opposing teams would be immediate and constant. The entire thing would be a nightmare. If there is any way the Redskins could make themselves more of a running national joke, this would be the way to go.

Romanowski does have a history with Redskins Head Coach Mike Shanahan, having played for him from 1996-2001. Let's hope that isn't enough to get him past the interviewing stage. It would be very disappointing if the NFL had to intervene and explain the obvious to Mike Shanahan.

Frankly, I'm disappointed that a cheater like Romanowski is even getting an interview.

Steroid enthusiast Bill Romanowski wants to be the strength and conditioning coach of the Washington Redskins, according to Pro Football Talk. No, that's not a joke. The man who has admitted using steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs wants to run the conditioning program for our beloved Burgundy & Gold.

The NFL has largely avoided the steroids issue that has plagued baseball, but this hiring could put it front in center.  We don't doubt Romanowski knows conditioning -- he owns his own nutrition company -- but this like if the Cardinals hired Mark McGwire to run the team's weight room.

It's fair to wonder if a player that believed in the power of pharmaceuticals as a player, often illegally, would do the same as a coach.

Indeed. I find it hard to believe that the NFL would not take a position about any team hiring Romanowski for this position, for the public relations angle if nothing else. I don't know if this is just Romanowski spreading rumors to help himself or if there is truth to it. There better not be. The NFL should avoid Romanowski like the plague.

And, really -- haven't there been enough jokes at the expense of our poor Redskins?

Discuss this in our Redskins forum!

With many of their special teams units languishing near the bottom of league rankings, the Redskins hired an assistant coach to work the Special Teams Coach Danny Smith. Richard Hightower coached wide receivers for the University of Minnesota last year, but he will assist Smith on the Redskins staff in 2010.

"We knew we would need someone with a lot of energy to keep up with Danny Smith, and Richard is that coach," executive vice president/head coach Mike Shanahan said. "He has both youth and experience, and he will be a great asset to our special teams and our organization."

If you're wondering where the connection to Shanahan might be, look no further than the Houston Texans, where Redskins Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan coached the past few years. Hightower was a coaching administrator [whatever that is] in 2005 and 2006 and a special teams assistant coach in 2007-08 before moving on to his most recent job with the University of Minnesota.

Hightower was a walk-on player at the University of Texas, where he played as a defensive back, wide receiver, and, of course, on special teams.

Hightower has no connection to Danny Smith that I can find, meaning he's a Shanahan guy, not a Danny Smith guy. In other words, it might be a good idea for Smith to improve the efficiency of his special teams; a replacement for his job is already on the payroll.

New Redskins Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett was drafted as a linebacker by Buffalo Bills in the 2nd round of the 1979 NFL Draft and went on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors later that year. He played for the Bills until 1985 and caught on with the Jets in his final pro season in 1987. Haslett has admitted to using steroids during his playing career and insists that "everyone tried it" during his time in the NFL.

Haslett began his coaching career at the University of Buffalo and moved on to the NFL, coaching linebackers for the Oakland Raiders in 1993. In 1995 Haslett coached linebackers for the New Orleans Saints and became the defensive coordinator in 1996. In 1997 Haslett became defensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers and through the 1999 season he coached some of the finest defenses in the NFL. His performance in Pittsburgh led to the head coaching job in New Orleans in 2000. In his first season as a head coach Haslett led the Saints to a 10-6 record, a division title and the first playoff win in franchise history [over defending champs St. Louis Rams].

However, Haslett's Saints began to decline soon after that and he never won more than 9 games again with New Orleans. The 2005 season began disastrously, with Hurricane Katrina devastating New Orleans and knocking the Superdome out of commission. Haslett and the Saints went on the road to play their "home" games and had to find new practice facilities. The season was a nightmare, the Saints slumped to 3-13 and Haslett was fired. He ended his time with the Saints with a 45-51 [.469] record as a head coach.

In 2006 Haslett became defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams and he took over the head coaching job on an interim basis in September 2008 when Scott Linehan was fired. He coached the final 12 games of the season for the Rams in 2008, winning 2 and losing 10. In 2009, Haslett was out of the NFL, coaching the Florida Tuskers of the fledgling UFL to the league's first championship game, which he lost. Nevertheless, the Tuskers went 6-0 during the regular season and Haslett began looking for work in the NFL.

He found work as the new defensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins, hired soon after the arrival of new head coach Mike Shanahan. Haslett has coached both 4-3 and 3-4 defenses, but the suspicion is that Shanny wanted Haslett, in part, at least, because of his familiarity with the 3-4 and the excellent 3-4 defenses he coached in Pittsburgh.

[Read the live-twittering of the Bruce Allen press conference at the DC Pro Sports Report Twitter page.]

Bruce Allen opened the press conference at Redskins Park at 12:30 this afternoon with a quick statement about the firing of Jim Zorn and then opened it up to questions. Just as an aside, Allen appeared alone during the entire press conference -- Dan Snyder never made an appearance. That would seem to be a message the team is sending to the media and fans that Allen and the next head coach are running the show and Dan Snyder is taking a few steps into the background. That's a welcome development, if true.]

Allen said he met with the Redskins assistant coaches and told them that their fates will be determined by the next head coach of the team. Clearly, Allen has decided to allow the next head coach, almost certainly Mike Shanahan, to fire the coaches and assemble his new staff. It's another way for Allen to demonstrate that the head coach will be a person of power within the organization, a marked change from the last two years.

Allen said the head coaching job in the NFL  is the most demanding position in professional sports, but he refused to discuss candidates for the head coaching job, promising only to be "aggressive" in finding someone who will lead the players to new heights. He declined to set a timetable for hiring a new head coach. When prompted repeatedly to admit that Mike Shanahan is the next head coach of the Redskins, Allen refused to be drawn in. Asked what he wanted in a new head coach, Allen said: "I want someone who embraces the Redskins history" as the next head coach of the Redskins.

On the subject of the previous head coach of the Redskins: "He was professional when we talked," Allen said of the conversation he had with Jim Zorn when Zorn was fired as head coach of the Redskins.

Summing up his view of the current state of the franchise, Allen said, "Last place two years in a row is not Redskins football."

"The organization is unsatisfied with the results and we do live in a results-based business."

"We have to build the foundation. We have to get the disciplines in place" to succeed. "The status quo has to end. We have to change the way we've been doing some business."

Allen: "Were gonna make sure status quo is gone. We are going to change the way we do business."

When asked about reports that there were severe and persistent discipline problems with certain players under Zorn's leadership, Allen said he couldt talk about what might have happened with Jim Zorn and his players, saying he's only been here for 3 weeks. Allen says he wants to focus on the future, but "the record speaks for itself."

Allen said Redskins fans don't need to brace themselves for a 2-3 year rebuilding plan, saying the team will do everything it can to be successful immediately.

Allen indicated he believes there will be no CBA next year and therefore the season will be uncapped and the free agency experience will be different than ever before

When asked about whether or not he will add more personnel experts to help him in the front office, Allen said, "I think maybe some new people will be added to the [front office] staff, but right now the focus is on finding" a new head coach for the team.

Speaking of Snyder, Allen said, "Our owner has got a lot of energy and drive and has entrusted us to make the right decisions" for the Redskins. He spoke of turning the Redskins into a winner again as "building a beautiful home." When asked to assess the talent on the roster, Allen deflected the question, insisting that it will be up to the next head coach to make those evaluations. Obviously, this is a way for Allen to avoid criticizing the man who has been making personnel decisions on this team for years, his employer Dan Snyder.

"We're 4-12 as an organization. Everybody is 4-12" is as close as Allen would come to including Snyder in the circle of blame.

[Read the live-twittering of the Bruce Allen press conference at the DC Pro Sports Report Twitter page.]

Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder accepts responsibility for the state of the Redskins, in a press release issued by Redskins Park.  In accepting the responsibility, we must assume by the release that Snyder is referring to the hiring of Jim Zorn.

“No one in the organization is satisfied with our record over the last two years, and I am sure that Jim would concur with that statement. It has been painful for him too. I certainly accept responsibility for mistakes that I have made. I am hopeful that our fans will accept my commitment and pledge to deliver a franchise that can compete in the NFC East every season.

“Finally, I am mindful that this is a tough day for Jim and his family, and I do want to wish him success in his next endeavor.”