Did Mike Shanahan just regain the lead to becoming the Washington Redskins next coach?
Jon Gruden signed a long-term deal on Monday to remain a “Monday Night Football” analyst that includes a no-exit clause for becoming a coach in 2010. Gruden was considered Redskins owner Dan Snyder’s frontrunner among coaches with Super Bowl rings.
The pool of Lombardi Trophy-winning coaches is becoming more shallow than a Hollywood agent. Mike Holmgren’s recent comments on the Redskins’ treatment of current coach Jim Zorn surely crosses him off Snyder’s list. Bill Cowher keeps saying he’s not interested in coaching. Tony Dungy might be more interested in general manager. Brian Billick’s name never comes up.
Shanahan has turned Snyder down twice in recent months, according to NFL sources, but that means nothing. People change their minds all the time. Circumstances alter, other jobs close and suddenly the Redskins might not look quite so bad to Shanahan.
Marty Schottenheimer swore he wasn’t taking the job two weeks before signing on for 2001. Joe Gibbs said no several times before returning in 2004. Shanahan would simply be the latest to succumb to Snyder’s money.
Snyder desperately needs a big-name coach. Those 10,000-plus no-shows at FedEx Field will be non-renewals for season tickets next spring. Snyder can survive fewer fans eating hot dogs at games for now, but the coming storm of losing millions of dollars in ticket sales in 2010 means Snyder needs something to sucker fans into returning.
That main attraction is the coach. And not just any coach. Snyder was forced into a no-name once with Zorn. It can’t happen a second time. Nor can Snyder try a college coach again thanks to the Steve Spurrier debacle.
Now the smarter move is first hiring a general manager, who picks the coach. But little works properly at Redskins Park and the personnel man is the afterthought. Thus explains why the team regularly stinks under Snyder despite one of the NFL’s higher payrolls.
Shanahan has two Super Bowl rings thanks to John Elway. That somehow makes everyone forget Shanahan only led the Broncos to the AFC Championship once in his final 10 years before being dismissed after last season. He didn’t reach the playoffs the past three years.
But Shanahan’s chances rise with every defection. Snyder wants someone who convinces skeptical ticket-holders into renewing one more time. It will take a big name.
Maybe Shanahan.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
