His hiring came after former quarterback coach Hue Jackson left to join the Oakland Raiders as their new offensive coordinator.

Zorn is coming off an embarrassing two-year tenure as the head coach for Washington where he led the ‘Skins to their worst record in fifteen years at 12-20. His team came close to victory time and again, but was never able to overcome the mistakes of an inane owner and a rookie head coach.

Owner Daniel Snyder promoted Zorn from offensive coordinator to head coach before the season ever began; the team’s first mistake.

The organization then expected success from a team built around an aging, overpaid defense, an offensive line whose experience stemmed from Arena football, and a quarterback who has been asked to learn a different offensive scheme nearly every year.

This was Jim Zorn’s bed and he slept in it week after week with a face of humility and a cool sense of propriety.

Before he entered the Redskins’ organization, Zorn was considered a successful quarterback coach. His influence in Seattle during their brighter years was evident behind Matt Hasselbeck’s arm.

Now, Zorn joins a team on the brink of championship-caliber potential. Normally noted for its veteran leadership on defense and a do-everything running back in Ray Rice, Zorn now has the opportunity to coach one of the NFL‘s hopeful youths, Joe Flacco.

Flacco has spurred his team to the playoffs twice in his two years as a pro and he’s done it with pure athletic ability and class. As his new coach, Zorn will only further Flacco’s potential and open up the Ravens’ playbook to new standards.

This old guy is fired up. You could swear it was 1996 up in this joint. And by “joint,” I mean 2009, the Mall of America Stadium, and this awesome Minnesota Vikings offense.

And by 1996, I mean this team looks better than Favre’s only Super Bowl winner. Oh, and as if it hasn’t been beaten to death already, the dude is old.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Brett Favre is awesome.

He drops back, passes, the crowd goes wild. It’s a big, long completion to set-up a touchdown, or it’s a beautiful connection that is a touchdown.

Well, forgive me if I’m finding it difficult to stay in my seat these days when Favre is leading the Vikings down the field, but this guy (and this offense) look downright unstoppable. And dare I say, unbeatable ?

I know, I know, it’s not just Favre. Believe me, I wasn’t truly meaning to insinuate that it was.

Adrian Peterson is a huge part of the offense, and while he was in a sour stretch there of mediocrity, he’s been catching fire of late.

And the defense, save for the near-second half collapse, has been nothing more than outstanding while supporting Favre and the offense in it’s attempt to reach 6-0.

But something more powerful than this team simply being “good” is going on. It just has to be, otherwise a lot of this young 2009 season just doesn’t make any sense.

The game-winning touchdown pass to beat the 49ers.

The absolutely flawless effort by Favre as he beat his former Green Bay Packers.

And then that field goal the Ravens missed?

I know I’ve said it before, but with each nail-biter, with every added Brett Favre heave, touchdown, and thrown block to spring AD, it gets more (wait for it) magical.

We truly are blessed. We are receiving play after play from one of the greats, hand-delivering us gift-wrapped wins on already jam-packed Sundays.

Of course, it has to end sometime, right? Sooner or later, these Vikings will shoot themselves in the foot in a game, and they’ll “earn” their first loss.

Perhaps next week against a very worthy opponent in Pittsburgh. Maybe against Green Bay at Lambeau, where the Packers surely will com to play, and will intend to play for keeps.

But if not, we could see these Vikings enter their bye week at 8-0.

And if that does happen, regardless of your opinion on Favre, Minnesota, or the NFC North, you’ll have to admit that something rather special is going on.

Heck, even if they lose next week, something tells me we’ve already all been changed for the better.

It’s gut-check time for Buffalo, Miami, and New England. Sort of.

After Monday night is over, two of those teams will be walking into next week’s slate of games at 0-1, and staring at the Jets and their seemingly unshakable rookie quarterback with a 1-0 record.

“Broadway” Joe ain’t got nothin’ on this kid Sanchez.

Except a Super Bowl ring, years of experience, and an alcohol addiction that could kill a Rhino.

But still, all the Sanchez haters out there can give it up. The dude was flawless in a 277-yard, one touchdown effort.

Oh, and Rex Ryan has it all figured out. Think about it.

Andre Johnson had 35 yards receiving, Matt Schaub is currently screaming in his bed with a nightmare of the Jets chasing him down, and Steve Slaton is still trying to figure out how he only had 17 yards rushing.

The answer to all of Houston’s issues on Sunday? The Jets are the 2008 Baltimore Ravens, the 2.0 version.

And this is without Calvin Pace. And they’re running their offense through a rookie quarterback.

But that’s just it. This kid isn’t anymore a rookie than Brett Favre isn’t eligible for the senior citizen deal at your local Taco Bell.

Give that man, and hell, Sanchez too, a free soda. Throw in a damn taco.

While Sanchez may have been solely responsible for Houston’s only points (a pick six), he made very few mistakes, completed 18-of-31 passes, and looked in complete control.

But why is this still a shock?

Rex Ryan, who many argue was “basically” Baltimore’a head coach in 2008 (sorry, John Harbaugh), has been here before.

He had solid holdovers on defense from last season.

All he had to do was lure some solid prospects and veterans (Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard) from Baltimore, and Bam!, he has a stud-driven defense.

Oh, and a solid draft on both ends didn’t hurt, either.

Still, so many doubters, not nearly enough time to list them off. And I know it’s only one week. I know it’s just the first of 16 tests the rookie quarterback will endure. But he passed it.

He passed it big time.

Sorry, Clark Judge. This kid’s got it.

And as long as Thomas Jones and company can keep up this whole “supportive offense” thing, we could see some progress on last year’s 9-7 finish.

There won’t be a Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco this year.

Mark Sanchez could see his team get the playoffs, but it will undoubtedly not be because he throws for 3,000 yards and 20+ touchdowns.

There’s not going to be an Adrian Peterson, or a slew of Chris Johnson’s, Steve Slaton’s, and Matt Forte’s.

Realistically, there are only two rookie running backs worth drafting in the top five rounds.

That might even be a reach.

Wide Receivers are no different.

There are a few with a solid chance at starting, and a few more with duties in the slot almost guaranteed.

But superstars? Not even Michael Crabtree.

If you must take a chance, or are investing for a dynasty or keeper league, here’s the top five guys that could pan out, just as you’d hoped.

Honorable Mentions: Donald Brown, Shonne Green, LeSean McCoy, Kenny Britt, Percy Harvin

5.Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers

Regardless of what some biased scouts said about him, the guy can flat-out play.

He has the hands, smarts, and body control of a dominant NFL wide receiver, and that’s exactly what he’ll be-some day.

Crabtree is still behind Isaac Bruce, Josh Morgan, and probably even Jason Hill.

Due to missed practices and the depth ahead of him, Crabtree is in danger of starting his rookie year as the fourth option.

He’s still been going high (eighth) round, so you may have to fight for him.

But I suggest you let someone else take that chance.

4. Brian Robiskie, WR, Cleveland Browns

If there’s any receiver who is a shoe-in to start, it’s Robiskie.

He has exceptional hands and body control, and reportedly runs routes and handles coverage like a veteran.

He may not have blazing speed, but Robiskie is vastly underrated, and projects to snag the number two spot before the season starts.

Robiskie would make for a nice steal in rounds 8 to 10.

3. Knownshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos

He could very well end up being the best player on this list (this year, and beyond), but his offensive system and depth at his position really don’t suggest so.

Head Coach Josh McDaniels runs 3-4 backs at all times, and prefers the pass over the run. If Kyle Orton does well, they’ll stick to that plan, which could have Moreno falling short of 1,000 yards, despite being “the starter.”

2. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

There’s simply too much talent ahead of him for him to start right away.

Kevin Curtis has paid his dues and is still effective, while it’s unrealistic to think the electric DeSean Jackson will take a back seat to the rookie.

Maclin’s talent is off the charts, though, with excellent size, speed, and hands.

He won’t start the season as Philly’s go-to receiver, but he’s likely to send Curtis to slot duties, eventually.

1. Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals

Don’t buy the hype.

Tim Hightower is a failed experiment, and Arizona spent a first rounder on Wells for a good reason: to start him.

He may be eased into the role, but there’s no reason to have him sit behind the ineffective Hightower.

Hightower has a slight advantage in the passing game, but expecting that to keep Wells off the field is simply laughable.

The Cardinals aim to have a more balanced attack, and if Wells can help make that successful, he could post the best numbers of all the rookies.

Derrick Mason announced recently that he is retiring from the NFL, citing a long career of achievements, with little else to prove or accomplish.

“After 12 years, I have seen it all and done it all,” Mason told jocklife.com. “Right now, I am content with the decision I am making. All good things come to an end, and I am ready to see what else life has to offer.”

This is especially interesting for two reasons.

First, the most logical explanation-the one many cheap-shot artists will acknowledge before all others: the contract issue.

Mason had been trying to get his contract re-worked all off-season, and until just recently, had never given any signs that he was finished with football.

In fact, Mason spent much of 2008 playing through pain after a shoulder injury, and wore a special harness all the way up until the Ravens’ AFC title game loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In regards to the supposed money issue, Mason said, “I have made enough money, more than enough money”.

Indeed, he has.

Which brings this writer to another thought, and quite possibly, his ultimate reason for not returning.

In an interview with ESPN on Monday, Mason admitted that he was not completely sure about his retirement announcement, saying that he was only “99% sure”, and that his family would have “97%” to do with his final decision.

The interview report also stated that any swaying from Baltimore would not change Mason’s mind.

So, if the family doesn’t have the complete say, and his team has no say, then what could explain this sudden change of heart from a guy who is only 35, and could still have another three solid years in the league?

Aside from the simple wear-and-tear of the NFL, it could be something as mundane as losing his long-time quarterback and friend, Steve McNair.

Perhaps the death of his friend reminded him of life’s treasures, the presence of time as being a luxury few of us have, and that spending that time with his family and friends is now more important to him that going after that elusive Super Bowl ring.

That’s not too outlandish, is it?

Mason was, like many, completely broken over McNair’s passing, and was visibly distraught at the former Titan’s funeral.

Regardless of his reason for leaving the game, it’s very arguable that he is leaving too early.

And if it’s impacted by a heavy heart, Baltimore-and the rest of us-could yet again see this remarkable man hit an NFL field.

But even if he doesn’t, we can still look back on all the games in which (much like McNair) Mason gave it everything he had.