Poor Old Michael Shanahan Began Again

There was an old man named Michael Shanahan.

He drove from Denver in a VW Vanagon.

To be the Redskins head main manahan.

Poor old Michael Shanahan began again.

(For those of you who don't know the children's song Michael Finnegan, you're completely lost...

There was an old man named Michael Finnegan, He had whiskers on his chinnegan, They fell out and then grew in again, Poor old Michael Finnegan, Begin again. Nevermind...)

Anyway, I digress. Michael Shanahan has been unveiled as the Washington Redskins' new head coach with a shiny, new $35 million 5-year contract. The Redskins have a habit of trying to replace head coaches like Liz Taylor replaces husbands or Larry King replaces wives. They've done it more in the past decade than I can count. The 'Skins can count Norv Turner, Marty Schottenheimer, Steve Spurrier, Joe Gibbs, and Jim Zorn as the coaches that have come and gone in the 2000's.

Mike Shanahan is coming off a short hiatus following his firing in Denver. Mike had been struggling in his recent seasons with the Broncos, but did lead them to two superbowls in the 90s with the all-star cast that included John Elway, Shannon Sharp, Rod Smith, and Terrell Davis. His new contract from Redskins owner, Dan Snyder, gives him final authority over football decisions as head coach and executive vice president of the Washington Redskins.

After being introduced by new General Manager, Bruce Allen, Shanahan said, "I've got very high standards, just like everybody in this organization. I can't tell you how long it's going to take. But I can guarantee you: We'll get better every day and hopefully it won't take long to get back to where this organization has been." Previous coach, Jim Zorn, had just turned in a 4-12 season and was ousted two days before Mike was announced as his replacement. Shanahan and Bruce Allen represent a change in tone from a previously Snyder-dominated franchise.

Dan has long been a controlling factor in the Redskins operational decisions, micro-managing and installing yes-men to do his bidding. Allen and Shanahan are both strong-willed football minds who have Snyder's blessing and ultimately, complete control of personel decisions. I'm cautiously optimistic that Shanahan can do some good for the Skins. I just hope he hasn't lost the edge in his old age - and that Snyder gives him enough time to get results...