The sports-media world has been abuzz today with talks between Mike Shanahan, former Broncos coach, and the Washington Redskins heating up. A signing, it seemed, was on the horizon and drawing closer by the minute.
Earlier today, the local Fox affiliate reported that Shanahan was at Redskins Park, the team headquarters and practice facility. Then, per Pro Football Talk, the report was retracted, the link to the story on Fox 5's website found dead. Regardless, the odds of Shanahan replacing Jim Zorn as the next head coach of the Redskins are looking pretty overwhelming at this point.
The Denver Post reported yesterday that the discussion between the two parties were very real and, as far as anyone could tell, serious. Washington began what will likely be a conspicuous regime change on Thursday, with Bruce Allen replacing Vinny Cerrato as general manager.
Allen and Shanahan have reportedly built a strong relationship over the years, with Shanahan's son Kyle landing his first NFL assistant coaching gig with Allen's Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2005. This would explain, of course, the proliferation of the Shanahan-'Skins talk today.
This would also, however, take one possible Wade-replacement off the Wade-replacement-list, which we believe is kept in a cupboard in Jerry Jones' house. For Wade himself, any potential deal would spare him the ignominy of being replaced by the same man twice.
Of course, Shanahan replaced Phillips as head coach in Denver in 1995, and went on to win two Super Bowls.
