Hawks' Zorn interviews with Washington

The Washington Redskins can't seem to get enough of Seahawks assistant coaches.

On Wednesday they flew Seattle quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn from Mobile, Ala., to Washington owner Daniel Snyder's D.C.-area home to interview Zorn for the position of offensive coordinator, according to The Washington Post and The Associated Press.

Zorn then was to return to Alabama, where he and other Seahawks coaches, scouts and personnel executives are evaluating college talent for the April draft in practices leading up to this weekend's Senior Bowl.

Zorn, the first starting quarterback in Seahawks history, appears to be the top candidate to replace current Washington offensive coordinator Al Saunders. Washington is also in the process of hiring a head coach, and Snyder spoke with Jim Mora, Seahawks assistant head coach and defensive-backs coach, about that position last week.

Mora withdrew his name from consideration, but Zorn might be hired if all went well in his interview with Snyder, the Post reported.

Zorn, 54, is credited within the Seahawks organization as the man behind the development of Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, with whom Zorn has worked since the two arrived in Seattle in 2001. Under Zorn's tutelage, Hasselbeck has twice set the franchise record for season passing yards and owns the team mark for most completions in a season. Hasselbeck passed Zorn for second place on the all-time passing-yardage list in November.

Zorn played nine seasons with Seattle (1976 to '84) and was inducted into the Seahawks' Ring of Honor in 1991. He was the Detroit Lions' quarterbacks coach from 1998 to 2000 and an offensive assistant in Seattle in 1997.

If Zorn departs, the Seahawks will have three offensive coaching vacancies. Offensive-line coach Bill Laveroni will be replaced, as will quality-control coach Gary Reynolds.

Campsites

The Seahawks are looking at having to split next season's training camp between their current facility in Kirkland and the new, much larger complex being built in Renton.

Unless construction moves ahead of schedule, that will be the case. The timeline for completion of the Virginia Mason Athletic Center is summer 2008, and August appears to be the month it will be finished.

Construction is not behind schedule, according to the team, as the building that will house offices is nearing completion. The indoor practice facility will take longer to finish.

The Seahawks are going forward with the idea that camp will be at their Kirkland headquarters — team offseason workouts in the spring will take place there — and hope that they can hold at least part of training camp at the VMAC.

Jones to miss

Pro Bowl

Seahawks left tackle Walter Jones will not play in next month's Pro Bowl because of shoulder surgery that was scheduled for this week, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Jones, who just finished his 11th NFL season, was named to his eighth Pro Bowl this past season, tied for most in Seahawks history. He played hurt for at least part of the second half of this past season.

A first-team All-Pro selection in 2007, Jones turned 34 four days ago. He will be replaced on the NFC squad by Green Bay Packers tackle Chad Clifton.

Jones is the second Seahawks Pro Bowl selection to opt out of the NFL's all-star game in Hawaii on Feb. 10, along with defensive end Patrick Kerney. Kerney was also scheduled for shoulder surgery this week.

That leaves Hasselbeck, cornerback Marcus Trufant and linebackers Julian Peterson and Lofa Tatupu as the four Seahawks expected to play in the game.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com