Coming into this game the Redskins were a disappointing 3-9. Before the game reports surfaced from ESPN saying that Mike Shanahan wanted to quit after the playoff game because of the relationship with Robert Griffin III and Dan Snyder but changed his mind because of RGIII’s injury. Then Bleacher Report reported that the Shanahan camp spilled this news because Shanahan wanted to be fired so that he could be in the running for the Houston Texans head coaching job, in the report it also talked about how the owner of the Texans wants Shanahan and if he didn’t have a job then Shanahan would be his top choice.
All this unfolded right before the game and that was all anyone was talking about. Then we get into the football game, if that’s what you can even call it, where the 3-9 Redskins took on the 9-3 Chiefs in Washington where snow was falling for most of the game. To sum up the game the Redskins lost 45-10 and RGIII was pulled out of the game in the fourth quarter. What was really surprising was the post game press conferences with Mike Shanahan. When Shanahan was asked about the reports his answer was that he wasn’t going to talk about it because that was last year, so in short he answered the question without answering the question because he didn’t decline the notion that he did and some people including me will take that as a yes to that answer.
He sounded really frustrated and went on to take the blame for this loss. Shanahan said that it was his fault and that the players were not prepared for the game. For the past couple of games it seems that that is Shanahan scapegoat. Shanahan had the chance to clear up the air after the game and put down the rumors but instead he continued to try and stay away from that subject which makes people believe that all of these rumors are true. This team needs change and unfortunately thats with a new head coach, offensive coordinator (which I think Kyle should stay), defensive coordinator, and special teams coach. Who will fill those holes who knows? One thing I do know is that Shanahan and company won’t be back. This team needs a coach that can command the locker room and a coach that is great at developing players and player evaluation. Jason La Canfora tweeted out about who should coach the Redskins next year, he said “Griffin will have a voice in this process, and he is a huge Briles guy. Briles managed RGIII’s health, ego and family in college.” I think that Briles would be a great hire, maximize Griffin III’s skill set, and evolves his offense year after year. Another option for this Redskins team would be Lovy Smith but the Texans are looking at Smith and interviewing him.
Smith would be a great hire as he is a defensive genius who will turn this defense around, and Smith would also create a feel in the locker room and will show the Redskins that he means business and won’t take players being treated differently. Who will be the next head coach? Who would be his staff? We don’t know the anwser to that just yet. Thats another chapter for the Redskins soap opera. Hopefully the final chapter.
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