Baltimore Ravens hire Jim Zorn to coach quarterbacks

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens named Jim Zorn as their quarterbacks coach Saturday, the most intriguing and high-profile hire by coach John Harbaugh.

Zorn, 56, was fired by the Washington Redskins on Jan. 4 after a disastrous second season as their head coach. The Ravens, though, were overwhelmed by his experience: 11 seasons as an NFL quarterback — nine with the Seahawks — 11 seasons as a respected NFL quarterbacks coach and a familiarity with their offense.

"That's a great résumé for us," Harbaugh said.

Zorn's primary goal is to continue the development of Joe Flacco into an elite franchise quarterback. Zorn becomes only the second quarterbacks coach for Flacco, replacing Hue Jackson (who joined the Oakland Raiders as their offensive coordinator Tuesday).

Although Zorn took heavy criticism as the Redskins' coach, he is a highly regarded mentor for young quarterbacks.

As the Detroit Lions' quarterbacks coach in 1998, he was instrumental in helping rookie Charlie Batch adjust to the NFL. Batch's 88.3 passer rating that season ranks as the fourth-highest rookie mark in NFL history.

Three years later, Zorn was pivotal in the growth of Matt Hasselbeck as the Seahawks' quarterbacks coach from 2001 to 2007. With Zorn, Hasselbeck went to three Pro Bowls and set 12 franchise records.

Zorn's handling of quarterbacks comes from personal experience. An undrafted rookie, he became the charismatic leader of the expansion Seahawks.

Throwing to his favorite target, Steve Largent, Zorn was named the NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1976 and became the second player inducted into the team's Ring of Honor.

"Jim played successfully in the league for a long time," Harbaugh said, "and certainly understands what an NFL quarterback goes through."

Notes

• The Pro Bowl's experimental one-year move to Miami has resulted in better ticket sales, more media coverage and some grousing by players.

Minnesota offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie was kicked off the NFC Pro Bowl squad for missing his second consecutive practice without an excuse.

With a new venue and new slot on the league calendar, the Pro Bowl will be played Sunday as a preliminary to next week's Super Bowl on the same field.

It definitely feels like a warmup act.

"There's a bittersweet taste," said quarterback Tony Romo, a late addition to the NFC roster after his Dallas Cowboys came up two wins shy of a Super Bowl berth. "You're always hoping to play in the big game."

The NFL is trying to transform the Pro Bowl into a bigger game by playing it before the Super Bowl for the first time. The league also moved the game from Honolulu, its home since 1980.

One result: the best attendance in 51 years, with a sellout crowd of more than 70,000 expected. But some players said they preferred Honolulu for the game.

"Hawaii is considered kind of a vacation," San Diego tight end Antonio Gates said. "A lot of these guys are from Florida, and a lot of people come to Florida on a regular basis."

• Tom Brookshier, an All-Pro defensive back who played on the Philadelphia Eagles' 1960 championship team, has died. He was 78.

The Eagles said that Brookshier had cancer and died Friday night.

Brookshier had 20 interceptions in seven seasons with the team, earning All-Pro honors in 1959 and 1960. Eagles Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik called him a leader on the field and in the locker room, and said Brookshier "might have been the toughest defensive back of our era."