Bruce Allen was trying not to reveal who will be the Washington Redskins next coach. The general manager wasn’t having much luck, though.
Hours after firing coach Jim Zorn on Monday, Allen spoke of needing a leader, someone who embraces the franchise’s history and knows that “last place is not Redskins football.”
But did the newcomer need, say, Super Bowl trophies on his resume?
“Does it have to have certain initials?” countered Allen with a chuckle. “Is that the next question?”
Well, M.S. would be a good start. Mike Shanahan is expected to be named Redskins coach as soon as Tuesday. This rumor started in June, strengthened in October and seemed a done deal in recent weeks. Add that Shanahan was met at Dulles International Airport on Monday by owner Dan Snyder’s limo and it’s either a hiring or a hijacking.
The only wild card on whether the Redskins would get the former Denver Broncos boss was if the latter chose another team. But with Dallas winning the NFC East, Houston keeping its coach and Florida coach Urban Meyer flipping on retirement, Shanahan’s options for a $10 million annual payday quickly dwindled.
It’s a perfect marriage. Snyder desperately needs a big name to avoid massive season-ticket non-renewals. Shanahan wants more control than most owners permit and an eight-figure paystub few can afford.
Snyder loves big-name coaches. He hired Marty Schottenheimer, Steve Spurrier and Joe Gibbs — as fine a trio as there is regardless of outcomes — before the front office toxicity scared off top candidates in 2008 and left Snyder with promoting offensive coordinator Jim Zorn.
Snyder wasn’t going to be outbid this time. Shanahan would bring two Super Bowl trophies — hoping to add to Washington’s three.
It’s star power time once more in Washington, where who you are is more important than what you are. Forget Shanahan hasn’t won a Super Bowl in 11 years and there are brighter prospects out there. Shanny has the wow factor Snyder loves.
What will Shanahan bring to an organization with such mixed success under three predecessors with equal resumes? Allen said the Redskins need someone who can transform the existing roster. With only five draft picks and a limited free agency crop, there’s only so much any coach can do.
“What we’re looking for in a head coach is somebody who can lead these men that we had in our locker room this year to levels they haven’t played to before,” Allen said. “It’s really about leadership. It’s about getting the right person.”
The Redskins hope the seventh coach since 1999 under Snyder is finally the right person. Otherwise, look for more change in 2012.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
