The Washington Redskins finally fired Mike Shanahan on Monday, ending the bitter, drawn-out saga that dogged the team for most of this past season. With Shanahan's removal, Redskins owner Dan Snyder finds himself in a difficult situation - it won't be easy to find a coach with the talent to right the ship, and Snyder's less-than-stellar reputation could scare off quite a few of the top candidates - in his 15 years as owner, not one head coach has made it to the end of their contract.
There are still some coaches out there with interest, though. Washington has a solid foundation of offensive talent in Robert Griffin III, Jordan Reed, Alfred Morris and Pierre Garcon, and there are far worse rebuilding projects out there. Based on what we've heard coming out of the Washington front office, here are the five most likely candidates to step in for Mike Shanahan:
5. Greg Roman, San Francisco 49ers Offensive Coordinator
Roman is getting looks from a number of teams, and the Redskins are interested because of his recent success working with a dual-threat quarterback. With the 49ers expecting to make a deep playoff run, Washington is unsure about sitting back and waiting for Roman to become available, and while they're technically allowed to interview him after Wild Card weekend, he'll probably be too busy to talk for another few weeks. Roman would be a great fit, but the logistics prevent him from being considered a frontrunner.
4. Lovie Smith, Former Chicago Bears Head Coach
Smith has already taken a team to the Super Bowl (Chicago in '06), which makes him one of the top candidates on the market. Because Smith is being courted by so many teams (he's reportedly being considered for every currently open job except for Cleveland's), a dysfunctional Washington franchise might be a tough sell.
3. Jay Gruden, Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Coordinator
Gruden's stock has risen this year as Cincy has improved leaps and bounds on offense. While he may not have the name recognition of his more famous older brother, Jay has interviewed for a number of positions and is seen as a high-potential head coaching candidate going forward.
2. Mike Zimmer, Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Coordinator
Zimmer is another Cincy coordinator getting looks from around the league. His defenses have been excellent for several years now, and while he won't be available for another few weeks, it sounds like the Redskins rate him highly enough that they're willing to wait. An outspoken disciplinarian held in high regard by his players, Zimmer is seen by the Washington front office as the right guy to repair the Redskins' fractured locker room.
1. Art Briles, Baylor Head Coach
Briles recruited Robert Griffin III at Baylor and eventually turned him into a Heisman winner. After Griffin's difficult relationship with Shanahan helped derail Washington's season, Briles would be a guaranteed improvement (at least as far as Griffin is concerned). An offensive wizard with a sterling reputation in college circles, Briles is also being courted for the Texas Longhorns job. Briles would reportedly choose the NFL and a reunion with RGIII over Texas.
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More Washington Redskins:
Mike Shanahan fired by Redskins: Video from Redskins Park (Washington Post)
Mike Shanahan's Final Media Statement (Washington Redskins Official Site)
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