Black Monday in the NFL: Zorn is first coaching casualty

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Jim Zorn was fired by the Washington Redskins early Monday, the first step in yet another team overhaul under owner Dan Snyder.

Zorn was informed of his dismissal shortly after the team returned to Redskins Park following Sunday's season-ending 23-20 loss at San Diego.

"No one in the organization is satisfied with our record over the last two years," Snyder said in a statement released by the team, "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."

Zorn went 12-20 over two seasons, but he lost 18 of his last 24 games after a 6-2 start in 2008. The Redskins struggled early despite a weak schedule this season and finished 4-12, their worst record since 1994.

"The status quo is not acceptable," general manager Bruce Allen said in a separate statement. "I felt it was necessary to not waste a moment of time to begin building this team into a winner."

In Cleveland, new Browns team president Mike Holmgren is scheduled to take over on today, and the former Green Bay and Seattle coach said last week that he intends to meet with head coach Eric Mangini soon after his arrival. Holmgren said he would only need a "little while" to decide whether to bring back Mangini, whose Belichikian personality irritated some Cleveland fans and whose discipline - long practices, pop quizzes, fines - had some of the Browns in an uproar.