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Source: Shanahan Nearly Left Redskins After '12 Season Due To Schism With Snyder

As "speculation mounts" about Redskins coach Mike Shanahan's future with the team, details "have emerged about the coach's dissatisfaction with the relationship between owner Dan Snyder and quarterback Robert Griffin III," according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. A source said that Shanahan, "disillusioned with the way Snyder was running the organization ... cleaned out his office in advance of last January's wild-card playoff game" against the Seahawks and "expected to leave the team whenever the season ended." The source said that Shanahan "had grown tired of the way Snyder empowered Griffin and openly esteemed him above all other players." Shanahan reportedly said privately that he "felt Snyder's behavior with regard to Griffin was a 'complete farce.'" However, the source said that when Griffin injured his knee in the playoff loss to the Seahawks, Shanahan "changed his plans." He believed that "leaving at that point was no longer an option," as he "didn't want the general public, or possibly even his players, to think he left because of Griffin's injury." Redskins Senior VP/Communications Tony Wyllie called the reports "ridiculous" (ESPN.com, 12/8).

BEYOND REPAIR? In DC, Mark Maske reports Redskins front office execs believe that fractures in the relationship between Shanahan and Snyder "are now so deep that they are skeptical Shanahan can remain with the franchise beyond this season." Redskins management "was angry" with Graziano's report. Some sources suggested that Shanahan -- "or someone close to him -- was behind the story." Shanahan yesterday said, "It's not the right time or place to talk about my relationship with Dan Snyder. Or it's not the right time and place to talk about something that happened a year ago. I'll get a chance to talk to Dan at the end of the season. I'll give some viewpoints from me, and I'm sure he'll give me his thoughts on what direction we'll go. And so we'll communicate that at the proper time." Maske notes Shanahan is in the fourth season of a five-year contract that pays him approximately $7M per season (WASHINGTON POST, 12/9). Also in DC, Jason Reid notes Graziano is "close with Shanahan." Reid also clarifies that he himself counts Graziano among his "oldest friends in the business" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/9).

RUNNING UP THE HILL: The POST's Thomas Boswell writes of the Redskins' 45-10 loss yesterday to the Chiefs, "Maybe this is the bottom for a team that can't even get its name right. You can hope. But you have deep doubts." Redskins fans "merit far better than an inept owner and a coach who wants to undermine the reputation of the team's quarterback as he slinks out the door with his loot" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/9). ESPN's Keyshawn Johnson said of Snyder, "Stop recycling the same guys over and over. You tried it all: The best in college football, guys that used to be in the NFL. Why don't you try something new for a change and see if that works?" ("Sunday NFL Countdown," ESPN, 12/8).

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