Cooke’s Son Set To Lead Redskins

Another Cooke is taking charge, but things will never be quite the same at Redskin Park.

As players, coaches and management mourned the death of Jack Kent Cooke, the cantankerous 84-year-old owner who made the Redskins the sports centerpiece of the nation’s capital, the Redskins insisted the franchise will carry on without major disruption.

“I don’t think anyone is going to notice a difference in how the organization is run,” general manager Charley Casserly said. “We’re certainly well prepared, and once we get through this period of grief here, we’re going to be rolling, and we’re going to keep going.”

Cooke died Sunday following a heart attack at his Washington home, where he spent most of his final months because of failing health. A private memorial service was planned for Thursday at Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville, Va., near Cooke’s ranch home in the hunt country of northern Virginia.

The family made no statements Monday, leaving Casserly and others to allay concerns that anyone other than Cooke’s only living son, 55-year-old John Kent Cooke, would take over the team.

But there will be one noticable difference. Cooke led with ebullient flair, speaking his mind and twisting arms. His son is quiet and keeps a low profile.