ESPN: Shanahan was ready to quit in '12

As speculation mounts about Mike Shanahan's future in Washington, details have emerged about the coach's dissatisfaction with the relationship between owner Dan Snyder and quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Disillusioned with the way Snyder was running the organization, Shanahan cleaned out his office in advance of January's wild-card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks and expected to leave the team whenever the season ended, according to a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

[+] EnlargeGriffin III
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Mike Shanahan grew disillusioned at the special treatment Robert Griffin III received from owner Dan Snyder and had planned to resign after last season before the quarterback hurt his knee in the playoffs, a source said.
The source said Shanahan had grown tired of the way Snyder empowered Griffin and openly esteemed him above all other players. Shanahan didn't blame Griffin but did blame Snyder for creating an atmosphere that Shanahan did not believe was conducive to winning. Shanahan privately told people close to him that he felt Snyder's behavior with regard to Griffin was a "complete farce."

In spite of that, Shanahan believed he would be leaving the team on a very positive note, as the Redskins had won the NFC East in his third year as their coach and were preparing for a playoff run. He believed the team had come together and shown strong character during the seven-game winning streak on which it ended the regular season.

But when Griffin injured his knee in that playoff loss, a source said, Shanahan changed his plans. He believed leaving at that point was no longer an option. He didn't want the general public, or possibly even his players, to think he left because of Griffin's injury.

Contacted this weekend about this information, Shanahan declined to comment.

Through team spokesman Tony Wyllie, the Redskins said, "That story is ridiculous."

A team source said Shanahan had grown weary by January of the way Snyder treated Griffin, empowering his quarterback and helping make him feel bigger than the team. The issue apparently carried over into the offseason and into this season.

Snyder regularly sent his security team to accompany Griffin when he went out in Washington. Snyder's personal driver was spotted picking up Griffin's then-fiancee (now wife) at road games.

But it wasn't just Snyder's relationship with Griffin that irked Shanahan. It was also the way in which he dealt with employees who had less star power than his star quarterback, sources said. After Kirk Cousins relieved an injured Griffin last December in Cleveland and led Washington to a 38-21 victory over the Browns, players and coaches spotted Snyder standing at the quarterbacks' lockers, talking only to Griffin while, one source said, Snyder "didn't acknowledge" Cousins.

The strain in the Shanahan-Snyder relationship is one of several negative backdrops to a season gone wrong in Washington, and the question now is what happens with Shanahan at season's end.

Those who know him believe that, if he was willing to walk away last season, he might be willing to do the same this offseason. Snyder also could decide to fire him.

Either way, it appears a breakup is inevitable. Shanahan has one year left on his contract, and the Redskins are struggling through a disappointing season at 3-9. As a result of the 2012 trade that allowed the Redskins to draft Griffin, the team doesn't even have a first-round draft pick in 2014. The Rams hold that pick, which, if the season ended Sunday, would be the No. 2 pick overall.

Mike Shanahan was ready to quit Washington Redskins after 2012 season - ESPN

If this is true it shows what a train wreck of an organization we really are. I thought we had moved past that.... ugggggggg

For all the talk of Shanny's big ego...you expect me to believe he's going to clean out his office the day before a winnable home playoff game?

In the Fire Shanahan thread, I said Snyder has a problem of getting too close with players. It looks like he may be undermining his desire for a winning team. Think Snyder was to be a star, so tries too hard to get the star players to like him. Of course the players are taking advantage of the situation.

I should have seen this coming at start of training camp. We all saw the social media pics of Snyder having dinner with RG3 at the Tobacco Co. Never heard or saw pic of him with another player.

I honestly thought Snyder had learned and changed...looks like I was wrong. He is going to destroy my beloved team.

all this is, is shannys way of saving face.

So riggins...someone posts an unsourced ESPN web article reporting something that supposedly happened a year ago (that somehow escaped media attention until now) and you immediately buy every word of it?

I have no doubt that Snyder rubs elbows with some of his star players. To the extent he does it, he needs to stop. I'll also say that in the 20+ times I've been in the Redskins lockerroom after a game I have never seen Snyder actually in the lockerroom. I've seen him off on the fringe, talking to a headcoach or front office person, but never talking to players in a lockerroom. Does that mean it hasn't happened? Of course not. But it leads me to believe this stuff, like everything else about the Redskins, is wildly overblown.

Rymanofthenorth said:

all this is, is shannys way of saving face.

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Are you suggesting Shanahan or 'his people' are putting this out there? You guys really have a low opinion of your fellow man, you know that?

I have a really low opinion of shannahan, and its based on past behaviour. lets be honest, hes always been a martinet, and he is sneaky and image obsessed. I wouldnt be shocked at all if he was setting the stage for his exit by a stunt like this.

exactly Mike, everyone knows snyder has always been a fanboy who loves football, hes a billionaire of course he is gonna want to be buddies with his players. I dont know any of us who wouldnt.

The more of this stuff I read and then read the reaction of this fanbase across the 'net, makes me almost want to "un-plug" from it all.

80% of this fanbase seems so gullible that they'd buy the "elixir" off the carpetbagger from Josey Wales.

To those 80% I say: "How's it on stains?"

This is just another embarrassment for the team in a season full of embarrassment.

If this is Shanny trying to save face, I think it will backfire. What good could come of this? It wouldn't surprise me if Snyder fired Kyle, just to make Shanny quit. As I said before, train wreck....

It sucks being a life long fan of a team that is the laughing stock of the league, year after year....

This report comes from a NYG beat reporter with strong ties to Schefter. Schefter and Coach Shanahan are good friends and if this is true, then Schefter is using the beat reporter to make this public. Is it possible. Yeah. Is it likely? None of us can know for sure.

PFT is trying to fan the flames by suggesting that a firing later today is possible if the team loses to the Chiefs.

Well, we now have a full blown crisis no matter how you look at it. Team or media related, it is still a crisis and major distraction.

Ah well, sucks to be us, doesn't it? Really a shame we've reached such a low point. Whether true or total BS, this kind of poisonous stuff is oozing out of the cracks on a daily basis. Redskins fans deserve a lot better. Whatever happens, at this point, happens. At some point, you have to acknowledge that there's really been only one common denominator over the years of suckage. And that's Dan Snyder.

I wish he'd worn some other team's belt buckle as a kid.

I don't know if this is even close to the truth or not but I always thought that maybe Shanahan stuck with starting Griffin on Game 1 despite not being even close to ready because Snyder would want it that way. Snyder may have even put in his 2c, or even directly told Shanahan what he wanted, who knows, but I'm sure Shanahan knows what Snyder wanted to see.

With this team Marketing > Success 100% of the time. That's Snyder's mark on the team. Losing is always acceptable until the marketing takes a hit, then its time for a new coach and more big name signings whether it brings wins isn't important either. Hype, hype, hype.

This team drains my energy. I love football. I love the Redskins. Why do they have to make it so ****ing difficult to love?

Yeah, I know. I just wish I felt like it wasn't unrequited occasionally.

Boone, I am not saying I buy every word. I do feel based on Snyder's previous MO that he tends to get too close to certain players. This can cause problems as they are seen as the teachers pet. As the boss or leader of an organization you can't afford to get too close to one or two employees. And you don't want to undermine your managers by giving perceived authority to those under them.

This was a problem when Zorn was here. Portis and others went to Snyder and not Zorn. There appears to be some smoke. I feel Snyder hasn't changed in the area of trying to be one of the guys.

I may be completely wrong. Problem is stories like this has to hurt our chances to hire good coaches, retain good players, or attract FA's. Who would want to deal with the potential drama?

I don't know what's true and what's not, but off all the offseason BS that has come out this has a ring of truth to it for me. Maybe not the cleaning out office, but I believe Snyder is undermining his coaches with his behavior. It just feels like Deja Vu all over again.

As to other owners being close to Brady or Manning, that has to be earned through play over some course of time. Not given because you are starstruck like Snyder does.

If Shanny ends up gone I think we'll be in for a rough period ahead maybe ending with Griffin either being ruined or leaving as soon as he can. I am in the bring Shanny back camp for sure. Now I guess the question is does he want to come back.

Do we really deserve better? Most of our fans act like our owner.

HOF44 said:

I don't know what's true and what's not, but off all the offseason BS that has come out this has a ring of truth to it for me. Maybe not the cleaning out office, but I believe Snyder is undermining his coaches with his behavior. It just feels like Deja Vu all over again.

As to other owners being close to Brady or Manning, that has to be earned through play over some course of time. Not given because you are starstruck like Snyder does.

If Shanny ends up gone I think we'll be in for a rough period ahead maybe ending with Griffin either being ruined or leaving as soon as he can. I am in the bring Shanny back camp for sure. Now I guess the question is does he want to come back.

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Why would you possibly want Shanahan back?

Who hired this ST coach?