Gibbs Returning to Coach Redskins (washingtonpost.com): "

The prodigal son returns. Absolutely unbelievable. I was stunned when I first saw the ticker on ESPN this morning.

I still find it difficult to comprehend. Then I don't know whether to be upset or overjoyed. On one hand, I feel like it's a desperate shot to try to re-capture old magic and has somewhat of a circus feel to it. On the other hand, Gibbs can help the team in many ways. Overall, it will benefit the team but for starters, here are negative scenarios that could play out:

1) Gibbs isn't ready for today's NFL with more blitzing schemes, free agency and ridiculous antics. He doesn't match his former glory and tarnishes his god-like legacy.
2) Gibbs burns out after a year or two and remembers why he left in the first place, leaving the Skins in worse shape than it is now.
3) He succeeds but when he steps down, the Skins find it even tougher to find a worthy successor. They haven't been able to find anyone close since Gibbs left in '93. Schottenheimer was the only one that gave the Skins some promise and was canned by Danny Boy.
4) Gibbs wants more player input and GM duties (which was the case at the end of his first tour of duty) and eventually comes to a clash with Snyder over it (who doesn't want to be relegated to the back seat). It leads to an acrimonious parting and a grief-stricken fan base of the bitter loss of their "golden son".

On the plus side:

1) Gibbs brings back immediate credibility to the organization. He will command the respect of players and restore needed discipline.
2) He will maximize talent and hide weaknesses. He will bring back rollouts to buy more time for Ramsey to throw.
3) Rather than his on-field contributions, Gibbs' most important role should be to teach Snyder how to be a good owner. Gibbs not only worked with a cantankerous owner in Cooke but was a supremely successful owner himself with Joe Gibbs racing.
4) Gibbs could set up the right succession if all plays out correctly. He hires Bugel and Russ Grimm as assistants and grooms the two of them to take over. That could get messy, as it did with Richie Petitbone.

I find it hard to see how Snyder can maintain the proper front office balance. He wants to replicate the coach/GM/owner structure that Gibbs/Beatherd/Cooke shared. However, that's not possible. Gibbs is far superior in footbally knowledge to Snyder and Cerrato. What happens when Cerrato butts heads with Gibbs about player movement? It's hard to see Snyder ever deciding against Joe Gibbs, out of respect and fear of alienation.

Snyder definitely keeps things interesting, that's for sure.