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发帖数: 5101 | 1 It doesn’t matter whether Mike Shanahan was the source of an ESPN report
Sunday that he strongly considered quitting last season because of owner
Daniel Snyder’s relationship with quarterback Robert Griffin III. What is
significant is that many within the Redskins organization believe the report
has irreparably damaged Shanahan’s relationship with Snyder and the team
likely will have a new coach next season, if not sooner.
The Redskins’ embarrassing collapse and Shanahan’s poor overall record
already had stirred speculation Snyder may fire Shanahan with a year
remaining on his contract. Sunday’s report — which claimed Snyder’s bond
with Griffin undermined the team dynamic — could prove to be the tipping
point. It certainly appeared Shanahan or one of his supporters leaked it in
an effort to help the struggling coach repair his image as he exits
Washington, which can’t happen soon enough.
It’s finally time to acknowledge what has been painfully obvious the past
few weeks: Shanahan must go. Griffin’s ongoing friction with Shanahan’s
play-caller son, Kyle, the team’s late-season fade and the players’
alarming lack of effort can’t continue.
At a time the Redskins should have come together behind their coach, they
became unglued. The Redskins have been a mess throughout a losing streak
that reached five games after Sunday’s disturbing 45-10 loss to the Kansas
City Chiefs at a mostly empty FedEx Field. The only thing more miserable
than the weather was the dysfunction in the football operation.
There’s no doubt Snyder and Griffin get along. They ate Thanksgiving dinner
together last season after the Redskins’ victory over the Dallas Cowboys
in Texas, and they hung out in the offseason. And it’s clear Snyder’s
history of doting on top players (Darrell Green, LaVar Arrington and Clinton
Portis were among those who have enjoyed the owner’s attention) has
created divisions within the locker room.
The journalist who wrote the ESPN report is among my oldest friends in the
business. He’s also close with Shanahan, who would benefit from anything
that makes it appear as if he failed in Washington because Snyder continued
to meddle. But that dog won’t hunt.
Snyder did more for Shanahan than any coach in his tenure as owner. He gave
Shanahan a five-year, $35 million contact and final say over the roster. He
permitted Shanahan to hire his son despite his misgivings about father-son
coaching tandems.
Shanahan wanted an indoor-practice facility at Redskins Park; the Redskins’
practice bubble was finished before last season. Shanahan requested better
food at the complex; Snyder hired a chef. The weight room wasn’t up to
Shanahan’s standards; Snyder struck a deal with Loudoun County to improve
it.
Shanahan preferred to conduct training camp away from Ashburn; Richmond is
the Redskins’ new summertime home. Shanahan believes players need time for
their bodies to adjust on long trips; the Redskins leave a day earlier than
they used to when they play on the West Coast.
Has Snyder remained completely in the shadows? Of course not. He actively
pushed for the Donovan McNabb trade, people in the Redskins organization say
, and was out front on the deal to trade three first-round and one second-
round draft picks to acquire the one they used to take Griffin. Snyder,
though, hasn’t coached the team to a 24-37 record in four years. That’s on
Shanahan. He owns it. |
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