Mike Shanahan will lead the Washington Redskins on the field at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants for the team's regular-season finale on Sunday in Week 17, but while his future beyond that game seems to be in doubt the head coach expects to know his fate shortly after the game--even as soon as Monday.
Shanahan, who has one year left on his contract but may be fired as the team enters Week 17 with a 3-12 mark and is 24-39 overall over the course of the head coach's tenure despite winning the NFC East last season, told ESPN he expects to know soon whether or not he'll need to start looking for a new job amidst a lost season and some controversy with his quarterback.
"I'm sure it will," Snyder said per ESPN about the issue being resolved shortly after the season finale. "But you'll have to ask [owner Dan Snyder]. I can't answer that."
The Redskins will finish with double-digit losses for the third time in four years--the exception being last year's 10-6 record and NFC East title--and the team has also had its fair share of drama between Shanahan, Snyder and second-year quarterback Robert Griffin III.
The latest stories to emerge this season were reports that Shanahan wanted to quit last season due to his dislike of Griffin's relationship with Snyder hampering the coach's ability to coach and teach his quarterback.
There has also been sideline drama between the coach and RG3 all the way back to training camp when Griffin was vocally upset about the way the team handled his recovery from off season surgery to repair ligament damage in his knee.
Griffin didn't agree with the patient approach Shanahan and the team took with him on his way back from the surgery he had in January, but the team may have had a point to be careful as RG3 hasn't appeared to be the same player this season as he was in his rookie campaign following the surgery last January.
Griffin is 274-for-456 (60.1%) for 3,203 yards with 16 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and has rushed for 489 yards on 86 carries without reaching the end zone after scoring seven touchdowns on the ground last season. Griffin's teammates and opponents have even said he hasn't appeared to be the same dynamic player he was in his rookie year.
Despite all the drama, Shanahan said he'd still like to return.
"No, I've told you from day one, I love these guys," Shanahan said via ESPN. "We've been working extremely hard to put this thing together. We've had a couple of bumps, which we all know, with the [$36-million] salary cap [penalty]. But I'm looking forward to building this team. Like I said, I'll get the chance to sit down with Dan at the end of the season and we'll go from there."
The Redskins are in a downward spiral and have lost seven games in a row--which is tied for a franchise record.
The team losing and RG3's controversy with the coach doesn't bode well for Shanahan's job security following Sunday's finale.
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