WASHINGTON — Well, that should quiet things down for a while.

The Jim Zorn unemployment watch is over. Jerry Gray, as it turns out, isn't a coach-in-waiting about to get promoted any day now. Another week of Washington Redskins craziness ended with an actual message of stability yesterday: The front office said Zorn will be the coach for the rest of the season.

"We were the soap opera for the NFL the last two weeks," quarterback Jason Campbell said, "so hopefully it'll calm down a little bit."

The unexpectedly strong vote of confidence was delivered in the morning by executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato. After letting anxiety build for several days following last week's loss to Kansas City, Cerrato opened his ESPN980 radio show by saying: "Jim Zorn is the head coach of the Washington Redskins and will be for the rest of this season, and hopefully into the future."

The news dampens the rampant speculation that began when Zorn was asked to give up his play-calling duties following the 14-6 loss to the previously winless Chiefs. Zorn called the move "uncomfortable" and players expressed general concern over the state of the franchise, yet the powers-that-be remained silent until yesterday.

"The frustration is very high, everywhere around here," Cerrato said. "But the relationships internally within this organization, quite frankly, remain the same."

Cerrato did not deliver a similar message to Zorn in person, but Zorn didn't feel the need for it. The coach appeared to take the news in stride.

"I don't necessarily have a reaction to that because I am the head coach," Zorn said. "I want to be here for the next 10 years. That's my story."

NFL FINES

WRONG COLOR CHIN STRAP COSTS BENGAL

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco was fined $10,000 by the NFL yesterday for a uniform violation.

The colorful Cincinnati wideout was fined for wearing the wrong colored chin strap (black) during the Bengals' loss to Houston last Sunday.

Also fined $10,000 was Tennessee Titans safety Chris Hope for roughing-the-passer in a 59-0 loss to New England, and Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

San Diego rookie linebacker Larry English was fined $7,500 for a horse collar tackle in the Chargers' loss to Denver on Monday night.

Earlier in the week, the league suspended Carolina safety Dante Wesley one game for launching himself into defenseless Tampa Bay returner Clifton Smith. Wesley will lose $36,000 in salary for the game.

ELSEWHERE

Bills: Buffalo starting quarterback Trent Edwards won't play in tomorrow's game at Carolina because of a concussion. Ryan Fitzpatrick will get the start for Edwards, who will miss his first game of the season after being knocked out early in the second quarter of the Bills' win over the New York Jets last Sunday.

Browns: Nine of the 10 Cleveland players who missed practice the past two days with the flu are back with the team. Backup defensive end Corey Williams was the only player still at home, and coach Eric Mangini said he didn't anticipate needing the NFL roster exemption put in place for a team besieged by swine flu.

Jets: New York wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery will not play against the Oakland Raiders tomorrow, missing his second straight game with an injured left hamstring. Coach Rex Ryan said that wide receiver Brad Smith and cornerback Lito Sheppard, both nursing quadriceps injuries, also will not play.

Steelers: Pittsburgh's five-time Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu returned to practice after sitting out two days to rest his still-healing left knee and plans to play tomorrow against the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings. After practicing with a knee brace, Polamalu plans to try to wear it tomorrow.