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Redskins players praise hiring of Shanahan
(Updated 10:47 p.m.)

Clinton Portis called the hiring of Mike Shanahan "a great idea." London Fletcher said that Shanahan "instantly becomes the face of the franchise." Reporters Barry Svrluga, Rick Maese, Jason Reid and Dan Steinberg are rounding up reaction from the Washington Redskins. We'll be adding to this file as the night wears on.

"I think it's a great idea," running back Clinton Portis said Tuesday evening. Portis played under Shanahan in 2002 and '03 with the Broncos. "I really think it's the best direction you can head in. You're talking about a proven coach, a coach who's going to come in and get things done, a coach that's got something to prove. He's a hell of a coach. I think the players are going to love him, and I think he's going to bring in the right kind of guys."

Linebacker London Fletcher, who attended the Capitals' game at Verizon Center: "I think it's great. Being able to add a two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach, it's phenomenal. He commands respect from the players right away. ... He instantly becomes the face of the franchise."

"I think we needed a guy in here who people are going to respect off of his name alone and Mike Shanahan is that guy," said cornerback DeAngelo Hall. "You already knew he was going to come in here with a great scheme, a great mind because he's a great coach. You know he's a great leader. But to have that name, Mike Shanahan, associated with the Redskins is big for us, it's big for the fans, and it's just great news."

"I'm not really surprised. Everyone knew it was coming," said right end Chris Cooley. "I think my first reaction is that I still feel for Jim Zorn. The guy worked hard, wanted to win but it just didn't come together. ... Moving forward, I'm excited to be a part of Mike Shanahan's and Bruce Allen's team. I think with that combination, it's a new vision, a new direction, which is good at this point."

As for Shanahan's offensive approach, Cooley said: "He's done great in the past. They run the ball extremely well. I remember looking at film and there was lots of play-action, lot of formations. It was an intelligent offense. He has the opportunity, with Fred [Davis]and I, to do a ton of different stuff."

"It's definitely a start," defensive end Andre Carter said. "You're talking about a man who's been to two Super Bowls, so he knows what it takes to build chemistry in an organization and have everyone start moving in the right direction. So I think this is a great hire. It's an honor to be working with Mike Shanahan."


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Report: Kyle Shanahan to join his dad
Kyle Shanahan, the Houston Texans' offensive coordinator whose season ended Sunday, will join his father, who reached agreement with the Redskins Tuesday night, in Washington, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

The move of Kyle Shanahan to Washington, like that of his father, Mike, has been considered to be a done deal for weeks. In fact, Schefter tweeted: Another poor secret now public: Kyle Shanahan, the former Texans offensive coordinator, is the Redskins new offensive coordinator.

Leaving the Texans is not expected to be a problem for Shanahan; Houston head Coach Gary Kubiak worked for Mike Shanahan in Denver for years.

"It's going to be very hard to leave because of everything we've accomplished," Shanahan said told the Houston Chronicle recently. "I work with a lot of good people, but I've always wanted to work with my dad. If he comes back, I think the timing will be right.

"When he got fired by Denver last year, I told him when he came back I wanted to work with him, no matter where."

Kyle Shanahan, 30, joined the Texans in 2006 after two years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.