Shanahan The New Head Coach Of the Redskins

Player reactions:

washingtonpost.com (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/06/AR2010010600080.html)

Fletcher sums it up well:

"Being able to add a two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach, it's phenomenal," middle linebacker London Fletcher, a defensive captain, said while attending the Washington Capitals' game at Verizon Center. "He commands respect from the players right away. . . . He instantly becomes the face of the franchise."

If Cowher had been hired i'd be happier with the head coaching selection, but just as dismayed at the hiring process and the front office structure. as ive said, my gripe isnt the hire itself, its how the process played out and what that tells us about who's really running the show.

as far as being "all over the place," i apologize for not putting all my gripes in one post at the same time. unfortunately, i could not see the future and know in advance what new information would become available and reveal. i'm sure in the days and months ahead, when we start hearing rumblings about snyder meddling and butting heads with shanahan, i'll have even more to complain about. Snyder may have fooled you, but he hasn't fooled me.

So you couldn't see the future in advance but you are sure that in the days and months ahead we will start to hear rumblings about Snyder meddling and butting heads. Is that a power you can turn on and off?

If Cowher had been hired i'd be happier with the head coaching selection, but just as dismayed at the hiring process and the front office structure. as ive said, my gripe isnt the hire itself, its how the process played out and what that tells us about who's really running the show.

as far as being "all over the place," i apologize for not putting all my gripes in one post at the same time. unfortunately, i could not see the future and know in advance what new information would become available and reveal. i'm sure in the days and months ahead, when we start hearing rumblings about snyder meddling and butting heads with shanahan, i'll have even more to complain about. Snyder may have fooled you, but he hasn't fooled me.

Did he meddle and butt heads with Gibbs when he was here?

I think we'll have a similar situation with Allen/Shanahan. These are two guys he trusts and already has established relationships with. I think these are also guys that Snyder looks up to, and he knows his place with them.

So if Shanahan would have decided at the 11th hour that he changed his mind and didn't want to come to DC would Allen have been fired?

Actually, thats a distinct possibility.

It's not a matter of 'believing the hype' but the past 3 weeks have been a departure from business as usual under Snyder. It's a far cry from 'if it's not broke don't fix it' to Snyder taking responsibility and apologizing 3 times since October. I understand cynicism but there's a fine line between that and just being a negative nancy.

I guess thats the difference - you're taking everything that's been said at face value. I was skeptical and every day there's new information that reinforces my skepticism. Are the skins better now than they were a month ago - yes. Shanahan's a better coach than Zorn. Is Allen a better GM than Cerrato? In most areas - yes. However we still don't have a proven personnel guy making player decisions. Allen's draft record (Tampa Bay only - he had nothing to do with the draft in Oakland) is worse than Vinnys. Shanahan's is very good offensively and very poor defensively. In the short term, thats fine - our offense needs the most work now anyways. However, in the long term, our defense is going to decline. we'll have a team thats probably about as talented overall as the one we have now, just better coached. And it will only last as long as Allen can keep Snyder and Shanahan from butting heads.

The Snider (ironic name) article makes some good points, but it's obviously opinion and conjecture. Of course Snyder is going to be involved in personel decisions, to me it's just a matter of how & when.

I can see where the cynicism comes from given the team's past, but he didn't even mention Denver's history under Mike S. Take a look at Shanahan's work in Denver. They were one of the few teams that spent $ on par w/the Skins. So to me, there is cause for concern that Snyder has only changed the faces around him, but not the way of doing biz.

I can easily see how this could be 2000,2004 or 2006 all over again, but w/different people, Allen & Shanny, involved. HOpefully, Allen's impact will be to curtail the big signings. From past experience it appears Shanny isn't opposed to throwing money at the players he wants.

Actually, thats a distinct possibility. Wow. I'd call that a stretch, but calling that a stretch in itself is a stretch.


I guess thats the difference - you're taking everything that's been said at face value. I was skeptical and every day there's new information that reinforces my skepticism. Are the skins better now than they were a month ago - yes. Shanahan's a better coach than Zorn. Is Allen a better GM than Cerrato? In most areas - yes. However we still don't have a proven personnel guy making player decisions. Allen's draft record (Tampa Bay only - he had nothing to do with the draft in Oakland) is worse than Vinnys. Shanahan's is very good offensively and very poor defensively. In the short term, thats fine - our offense needs the most work now anyways. However, in the long term, our defense is going to decline. we'll have a team thats probably about as talented overall as the one we have now, just better coached. And it will only last as long as Allen can keep Snyder and Shanahan from butting heads.

Well I guess it's just a difference in personality and perspective. I'd rather trust the evidence I see and give the benefit of the doubt than view everything in a skeptical light and anticipate the worst.

Shanahan is the coach, for better or worse. My issue is with the entire hiring process (which clearly showed Snyder selected the coach, not the GM) and his title - the same one vinny used to have. To me, its very telling that neither Shanahan or Allen have a Team President Title. No matter what is said in press conferences, Snyder is reserving final say for himself and he'll be just as involved as ever.

Ok, I'll come over to your house and make some changes, don't worry I won't bother you with any of the changes I'm making since clearly you being the owner don't need to have any say in what happens.

So you couldn't see the future in advance but you are sure that in the days and months ahead we will start to hear rumblings about Snyder meddling and butting heads. Is that a power you can turn on and off?

we can never be 100% sure about anything, but history is repeating itself before our eyes. Snyder's said he's changed so many times, but he obviously hasnt.

I'm sure it was his first choice. The only reason Allen was hired is because thats what Snyder and Shanahan had already worked out. I'm sure Allen had no freedom to hire anyone else. Shanahan will definitely be a more successful coach than Zorn. There's no denying it. But the fundamental change we'd all hoped would happen to our organization didn't happen. For the life of me, i can't understand how so many redskins fans are buying that it has. Mike Wilbon, Mark Maske, and Rick Snider aren't buying it and neither am I.

Don't beleive the hype.

Rick Snider: When it comes to Snyder backing down, don't believe the hype | Washington Examiner (http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sports/When-it-comes-to-Snyder-backing-down_-don_t-believe-the-hype-8723182-80760112.html)


I cant remember where but I read this but Shany and Allen already discussed working together, and I don't think they knew where they would end up originally. And also there was many rumors the last couple of years and recently that whoever was the next coach in D.C. was going to get 10 mil a year. Allen is more of a cap and negotiating guy and the fact that Shany is getting 7 mil. tells me Allen is doing his job already, and I'm sure Shany probably gave up some $ per year to have more control over the team and in return will get some big fat bonus for playoff and or super bowl appearances. And who gives a crap what wilbon snider and maske have to say, wilbon in particular never has anything positive to say about the Skins, he's right there with JLC as far as reporting.

Wow. I'd call that a stretch, but calling that a stretch in itself is a stretch.



Well I guess it's just a difference in personality and perspective. I'd rather trust the evidence I see and give the benefit of the doubt than view everything in a skeptical light and anticipate the worst.

whats that saying: fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice, shame on me. right now we've been fooled how many times? Snyder's like the boy who cried wolf in the sense that he's lost the benefit of the doubt. And its not like there isn't evidence right now that everything's on the "up and up." He's guilty until proven innocent.