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Two and out

Former Gators coach Steve Spurrier resigns as coach of the Redskins after two seasons and a 12-20 record.

There no longer was any fun in the Fun "n' Gun offense for Steve Spurrier.

Tired of losing, Spurrier resigned Tuesday as coach of the Redskins after only two seasons.

Spurrier, 58, quit three days after the Redskins finished 5-11 by losing 10 of their last 12. He went 12-20, and his beaten look in recent weeks was a sharp contrast to his confident "ball coach" persona during 12 successful seasons at Florida.

"All of the losing can wear you down," Spurrier said in a statement issued by the team.

"I thank (owner) Dan Snyder for the opportunity to coach this team for the past two years, and I apologize to Redskins fans that we did not achieve a level of success that we had all hoped. I'll always be pulling for the Redskins."

Spurrier leaves behind the final three years of a five-year, $25-million contract, the richest ever in the NFL. He will be paid some money to cover personal expenses during the next few months. But it will not be "an amount anywhere near approaching his contract," said Karl Swanson, Snyder's spokesman.

His replacement will be the fifth coach since Snyder bought the team in 1999.

"I have accepted Steve's resignation with much regret but respect his decision," Snyder said in a statement.

Spurrier said Sunday he "planned to" return next season while being evasive about issues he had to resolve with Snyder.

The Redskins owner had suggested Spurrier needed to upgrade his coaching staff, including many assistants he brought with him from Florida. But under the terms of his contract, Spurrier had the right to hire and fire assistants.

"The whole thing wasn't working," Spurrier told the Washington Post in a telephone interview Tuesday from Florida. "If we need a lot of new assistants, you might as well have a new head coach. This is the best thing for everyone concerned. They can start fresh with a new coaching staff, and I can start fresh with something else in my life.

"It's best for everyone. It's best for the Redskins and best for me."

Spurrier told the Post he likely is done coaching in the NFL and plans to take a year off before deciding whether to accept a college coaching job.

Spurrier reportedly met with Snyder on Sunday and for the first time expressed doubts that his offense was suited for the NFL.

The offense, ranked 23rd this season, struggled with penalties and protection, particularly with bliztes. Because Spurrier likes to involve three, four and, sometimes, five eligible receivers on one play, often emptying the backfield, it leaves his quarterback vulnerable to the pass rush.

Quarterback Patrick Ramsey frequently was forced to make snap reads and took a pounding, eventually finishing the season on injured reserve.

Against the Bucs, for example, Spurrier attempted to block defensive end Simeon Rice with a tight end on one play and a running back on another. Rice easily overmatched both and sacked Ramsey.

Why does Spurrier believe his offense didn't work in the NFL?

"I don't want to get into all that," Spurrier told the Post. "If I get into all that, it'll sound like excuses. I'll leave that for other people to say."

Spurrier's tenure was marred by mixed messages about his coaching style, abrupt changes in offensive philosophy, disorienting audibles that had home fans booing and a lack of discipline among the players.

Perhaps it was fitting, then, that his resignation took several hours to resolve - with Spurrier, at one point, saying he hadn't quit even though the team said he had.

Spurrier called Snyder on Tuesday morning to resign and told the owner to work out the final details with agent Jimmy Sexton. With Sexton in Memphis, Snyder in Washington, and Spurrier on a golf course in Florida, the coach didn't know all of the issues had been resolved when he told the Post, "I have not resigned."

Minutes later, after hearing from his agent, Spurrier acknowledged he was quitting.

"We had a little miscommunication," Spurrier told the Associated Press.

Spurrier clashed with Snyder over personnel moves this season, particularly the owner's decision to cut quarterback Danny Wuerffel at the end of training camp.

The coach also was hurt by an inability to enforce discipline, especially after defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis left to become the Bengals' coach.

The Redskins set a franchise record for penalties this season, and players described a lax atmosphere in which tardiness was tolerated, cell phones rang during meetings and on-field errors weren't corrected at practice.

The search is on for a new coach, and Snyder might find it difficult. The Redskins have been on a downward slide since Snyder bought the team in 1999.

The Post repored Snyder's list of candidates includes three former NFL coaches: Dennis Green, Jim Fassel and Ray Rhodes.

Spurrier was one of the most successful coaches in college history, going 122-27-1 at Florida with a high-powered, pass-oriented attack that often produced lopsided scores. His Gators won the 1996 national championship.

He quit in January 2002 because he wanted to try his offense in the NFL. He brought several ex-Florida players to the Redskins in his first season, which he later admitted was a mistake. He went 7-9 while making five changes at starting quarterback.

Snyder provided Spurrier with plenty of offensive talent last offseason, signing receiver Laveranues Coles and upgrading the offensive line. But the season turned ugly, first in a series of close losses then later in blowouts.

The Redskins lost their last two home games by a combined 58-7.

If Spurrier pursues another NFL job, that team would have to work out a deal (that doesn't include draft picks) with the Redskins, who hold Spurrier's rights for the next three years.

- Staff writer Rick Stroud contributed to this report, which includes material from the Associated Press, Washington Post and Baltimore Sun.