The Redskins yesterday were "sorting through their options" regarding coach Mike Shanahan, and "one of the possibilities is firing Shanahan for cause and attempting to withhold the money due to him for the remainder of his contract," according to sources cited by Mark Maske of the WASHINGTON POST. One source said that it "was not clear what the team would do and added it was not certain the Redskins would take that approach even if they decide to dismiss Shanahan." Several sources also "agreed it is likely that Shanahan and the Redskins will part ways by the end of the season, at the latest." Those sources said that the "major remaining uncertainty ... is how and when the divorce between Shanahan and the team will be crafted." Shanahan's contract "runs through next season" and pays him approximately $7M per year. It is "believed that under normal circumstances, the Redskins would owe Shanahan the remainder of his contract if they fire him and he would forfeit the rest of his contract if he resigns." But sources said that if the Redskins "fire him for cause, they could contend that Shanahan violated his contract and therefore forfeited his right to the money due to him under the deal." The sources said that the Redskins "likely would contend that Shanahan was involved in the dissemination of a report Sunday by ESPN that he considered quitting his job after last season because of the relationship" between Owner Dan Snyder and QB Robert Griffin III (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 12/9).
GOOD OL' FASHIONED STANDOFF: In DC, Mike Harris writes Shanahan is "doing his level best to get fired," because if he "walks, he doesn't get" the $7M owed in the final year of his contract. If Snyder can "wait for Shanahan to get so fed up that he quits," he "doesn't have to pay out that load of cash" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 12/10). Also in DC, Maske & Jones report Shanahan and Snyder spoke yesterday, but there was "no apparent resolution to Shanahan's status with the franchise on anything more than a temporary basis" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/10). Shanahan said, "All I'm saying to you is I get along with Dan quite well" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 12/10). In DC, Jason Reid writes for Snyder, the departure of Shanahan would "open a door," as he could "finally structure the team's dysfunctional football operation the right way." Snyder should "hire a true general manager who possesses the scouting chops to improve the talent on the field" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/10). Also in DC, Mike Wise writes, "There is only one era that needs to be over today: the Daniel Snyder era, which 14 years later has yet to begin in earnest." Wise: "When will all those maddening falls and winters at FedEx Field manifest themselves in something other than brilliant marketing and windfall profits?" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/10).
