WASHINGTON – As the Redskins’ fortunes continue to sink, some in the fan base are calling for Coach Mike Shanahan to be fired. But according to one report, he almost left the team a year ago.
ESPN reports that Shanahan cleaned out his office before January’s playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. He planned to leave the team because he considered owner Dan Snyder’s treatment of quarterback Robert Griffin III “a complete farce,” according to a source quoted by ESPN.
“Shanahan had grown tired of the way Snyder empowered Griffin and openly esteemed him above all other players,” ESPN says.
After Sunday’s 45-10 loss to the Chiefs, Shanahan declined to elaborate on his relationship with his QB or the team’s owner.
“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,” Shanahan said during the post-game press conference.
“I’ll get a chance to talk to Dan at the end of this season. And I’ll give him some viewpoints from me and I’m sure he’ll give me his thoughts and what direction we’ll go. And so we’ll communicate that at the proper time.”
According to ESPN, Snyder reportedly sent his personal security team out with Griffin when the quarterback went out in Washington and ignored backup quarterback Kirk Cousins after Cousins led the Skins to a win over Cleveland.
When Griffin was seriously injured in Washington’s loss to Seattle, according to ESPN, Shanahan changed his mind about leaving, because he didn’t want fans and players to think he was quitting because Griffin was hurt.
ESPN says that Shanahan declined to comment for their story, and adds that a team spokesman called the story “ridiculous.”
Follow @WTOPSports and @WTOP on Twitter.
