It probably does. Although he was fired after the 2008 season, he is still a staple of the Broncos organization. Or perhaps it is the other way around, when you think of Shanahan, you think of the Broncos.
Whatever the case, they are correlated. When you think of Shanahan, you think of Denver... and vice-versa. There is no way that he is seen in any other organization... despite a stint as head coach for the Raiders (1988), and that he roamed the sideline for San Francisco as the quarterbacks coach in 1992; he is a Bronco.
Shanny was hired in Denver as head coach in 1995, and waited only a year to win the division and make the playoffs. In his third year, he took Denver to the big game. There, he took the favoured Green Bay Packers to the limit... eventually winning Super Bowl XXXII. The next year, it was the same result.
However, the years after Elway retired were not kind to Shanahan. Denver has made the playoffs on a bunch of occasions, yes, but since Big John hasn’t been pretty. Denver, with Shanahan at the helm, has only won one playoff game. That's one win in what is approaching twelve years!
Shanahan’s team was on the cusp last season. But after his team failed to clinch a playoff berth (when they were just one victory away with three games remaining, any of which would have qualified them for the promise land called the playoffs), it spelled the demise of Shanahan’s tenure in The Mile High City. This was missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year. It still came as a big surprise to the football community. Broncos kicker Jason Elam speaks about the firing of his longtime coach, "He’s a tremendous coach. I respect him a lot. He’s done a lot for that city and that organization. I was very surprised. I think most people were.”
The surprise— and enamour— is equal trying to think of the coach coaching in a different city. But every football fan knew it would happen that Shanny would be back in football somewhere, no matter how peculiar it’d be. “I'll see if there are any opportunities out there at the end of the year that will work out for the club and myself."
Surely there will be.
Reportedly, he’s had opportunities for head-coaching jobs, but he declined. "it just didn't feel right at the time,” he explained. "I probably needed a little time to get away, especially with the way the situation wound up in Denver."
The Redskins suffered another loss Sunday, and their team plane, rather conspicuously, arrived in Denver soon thereafter...
Which leads us to Frank Schwab’s report in The Gazette of Colorado Springs (http://gazettebroncos.freedomblogging.com/2009/09/28/redskins-plane-not-in-colorado-for-football-reasons/1471/):
A certain former Broncos coach lives just a few miles from the airport.
However, the plane was not in town to whisk Mike Shanahan back to Washington. Redskins spokesman Zack Bolno confirmed the plane was in Colorado but said it was not being used by the team. He explained, "It's unrelated to the Washington Redskins."
Shanahan, who was fired after last season, has said he wants to coach again, perhaps in 2010. Many have speculated that the Redskins are a possible destination.
I personally think that Washington appears to be a great fit for Shanahan, but more so the other way around. Washington needs an established winner after years of mediocrity and disappointment for their fans in a rugged NFC East division that also contains the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Philadelphia Eagles— a powerhouse division.
And again, the story resonates:
Bill Williamson, NFL.com (http://espn.go.com/blog/afcwest/post/_/id/4493/dont-expect-shanahan-to-redskins-talk-to-die):
The topic became relevant again Sunday when the Redskins lost to, gulp, Detroit and fell to 1-2. The big-money Redskins have been anemic on offense under offensive-minded coach Jim Zorn. His job security will be in question until he can show he can get it together in Washington.
I have long thought Washington could be a strong potential landing spot for Shanahan. He was fired by Denver last December after 14 seasons with the Broncos.
Shanahan has made it clear he wants to coach in the NFL again and plans to pursue opportunities in early 2010. Shanahan has an office not far from the Broncos’ facility, where he routinely breaks down tape and studies the NFL as he eagerly awaits another chance.
And they would be an intriguing fit for Shanahan. The Redskins would likely offer big money and there are some talented players in the roster. Shanahan would like the spotlight of being the head coach of such a high-profile team and he is friendly with Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, who never shies from making a huge splash.
This pairing just makes sense and the more the losses continue to pile up, the more this pairing will be discussed.
Detroit is a far below average team, losing 19 straight contests. All this does is intensify coach Jim Zorn’s hotseat, and correspondingly turns up the flame on the Shanahan rumours
Back to the Colorado Gazette website for some other commentary on this subject:
Paul says: It would be an interesting combination, Shanahan and Snyder, and an interesting side story reuniting Portis and Shanahan - but I'd have to wonder if Coach Shanahan wants to go to another team that is looking for a quarterback. The years between Elway and Cutler were painful for Shanahan and the Broncos, but we've all seen what the Coach can do when he's got a QB in place.
Shanahan and Portis were in Denver together for two seasons until 2004 when the clubs made a blockbuster deal for Portis. Elite cornerback Champ Bailey went the other way in hopes to steady an ailing defense. When Denver drafts running backs as well as they do, Portis may be seen as expendable (especially with their O-line ). Under Shanahan’s tutelage, Portis rushed for over 1,500 yards in each of his first two seasons with the Broncos, averaging 5.5 yards per carry in that span. The latter is an NFL record for a running back's first two seasons.
Clinton Portis as a Denver Bronco
But, perhaps it was Washington who offered Shanahan their head-coaching job, which he declined. That isn’t to say it won’t be offered again (if it even was Washington who offered), but maybe there was certain reasons, other than ‘it not feeling right’ for him to reject the offer.
On NFL.com, one notable comment follows:
Adam Mantell says: Shanahan would be a fool to take the Redskins job, assuming it becomes available. Dan Snyder is not a good owner to work for. Assuming the Chargers get rid of Norv Turner, and I think they will, San Diego would be a better spot for him. Shanahan can maximize talent, but he needs a good front office to work with and a good defensive coordinator. He had too much control in Denver and became complacent. A.J. Smith is a good general manager, and with a top flight quarterback like Rivers, Shanahan's own talent for establishing a running game, and the hiring of a good defensive coordinator, the Chargers could finally live up to the media hype they've received the past few seasons.
Norv Turner looking his normal
The San Diego job would be more appealing to Shanahan than Washington. They are a better team, with a better quarterback (Rivers’ comparison to John Elway atleast somewhat resemble one another, though Rivers has much work to do yet...).
Phillip Rivers
San Diego also plays Denver twice a year, giving Shanahan opportunities for revenge on his former club for his firing. And it shouldn’t be forgotten that Shanahan is getting older and the warmer weather of San Diego fares better than Washington’s.
The question is, could Shanahan find the Elway in Rivers, and have it sum in a Super Bowl?
We shall see where the old coach ends up.
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