Sorry Jim Fassel, the ‘Skins went in a different directions.

From the Washington Post:

“I’ve always dreamed of being a head coach with a franchise rich in tradition like the Redskins,” Zorn said in a statement. “As a player who had to fight Redskins teams at RFK as well as at our home field, I know about the history of this franchise as well as the passion of its fans. I won’t let you down.”

Former players under Zorn consider him to be a patient teacher who handles high-pressure situations well. They say he shares some similarities with Joe Gibbs, who stepped down as Redskins coach and team president on Jan. 8, including being devoutly religious.

“He reminds me of a young Joe Gibbs,” Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “When you say Joe Gibbs, people immediately respect him and treat him as a great guy. Jim is like that. People respect him.”

Redskins players reached last night expressed relief that the search, which dragged on for 32 days and had been shrouded in secrecy, finally ended. The team seriously considered about half a dozen candidates, most notably former assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams, the favorite of Redskins players; former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel; and Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who directed the stunning upset of the previously undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Me? I feel bad for Fassel, who deserves another chach to coach in the NFL, but he’s probably better off staying away from Dan Snyder anyway.