End of an error

Well, the Jim Zorn Error -- I mean Era -- is officially over.

And the least-guarded secret in Washington is that former Denver coach Mike Shanahan will be the next head coach of the Redskins.

The only thing I can say right here is that Shanahan's tenure in D.C. will undoubtedly be more effective than Zorn's.

Zorn's 6-2 start was a blatent mirage. He had six wins in his first eight games and then six wins over his last 24 games.

Above all, though, the Zorn era will be remembered, I think, a lot like the Spurrier era was in D.C. A supposedly offensive coach comes to D.C. and the Redskins start well -- remember Osaka? -- but ultimately, there was fighting in the locker room and there systemic lack of discipline.

I admit I didn't pay a lot of attention to Shanahan's Denver teams, but the guy has won a Super Bowl before, and his teams were almost always competitive. Both of Zorn's teams ...well, weren't.

Truthfully, I am fairly sure that Shanahan's time in D.C. could not possibly be any worse than Zorn's.