DENVER, Colo. - Mike Shanahan still has the best job in all of Denver. Yes, even though he was fired from it last December.
There is no job in Colorado that is tougher or more highly scrutinized by the public than being the head coach of the Broncos. Governor Bill Ritter? He finishes a close second to Shanahan's successor, Josh McDaniels. If you are reading this and don't live in Colorado, ask anybody who does. I'm totally serious.
The reason Shanahan is still living so large is because even though he is no longer coaching, he is still cashing...checks, that is. Owner Pat Bowlen is paying Shanahan $7 million a year to not coach.
Shanahan has been either a college assistant, NFL assistant, or head coach every year since 1975. His stops include Charleston, Illinois, Gainesville, Florida, San Francisco, and Denver. He has not only succeeded but excelled at every stop. That incredibly consistent track record and those two Lombardi Trophies sitting in a lobby on Broncos Parkway in Englewood, Colorado have made him a hot commodity to this day, both in the pro game and college game.
On Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Buffalo Bills were interested in making Shanahan their head coach after firing Dick Jauron on Wednesday.
If Buffalo isn't palatable how about the...Buffaloes?
The rumor mill has been churning out various stories on the eventual replacement for Dan Hawkins at the University of Colorado, even though he is still the coach.
One far-fetched story had Shanahan coming to Boulder and bringing his son, Kyle, currently the offensive coordinator of the Houston Texans, along with him. Presumably, Kyle would be the offensive coordinator and eventually take over for his father.
You would think that after the current father-son fiasco in Boulder, this option would just be ruled out entirely (I personally think Shanahan already has ruled it out) but it is still fun to discuss.
Another fun topic to dissect: which is the better "Buffalo" job? The Bills or the Buffs?
To me, Shanahan would prefer to be back in the NFL, but I wouldn't rule out the college game entirely. Remember in 2002, Shanahan was extremely close to taking the University of Florida head coaching position before opting to remain in Denver.
I still think Shanahan's eyes are on an NFL head coaching job, but the question of how much power he would wield will be a point of contention.
In Denver, even though the Broncos had a general manager, Shanahan was in control of every facet of the organization from coaching, calling plays, evaluating personnel, and draft selection. Nobody has ever questioned his coaching acumen but his shortcomings in free agency/trades/draft acquisitions slightly tarnished a largely sparkling career in Denver.
If he returns to the NFL, will he take a job in which somebody else has control over facets of the team that he is so used to controlling? Hard to say. In Buffalo, it might be possible. The team has what many believe is an ineffective General Manager in Russ Brandon. He is viewed by many as a "business" guy that weaved over to the personnel side of the organization. His decisions, most notably not keeping Jason Peters and drafting Aaron Maybin, have been generally been regarded as bad moves.
Bills owner Ralph Wilson is 90-years-old and wants to win and is willing to go to desperate measures to do so. After all, they did sign Terrell Owens this offseason. However, combine Wilson's will to win with a rabid Buffalo fan base thirsting for long lost glory and maybe the owner gives Shanahan everything he wants and the power he craves.
The question then is, even with all of that of control, is it a good fit? Shanahan is largely known for his work with quarterbacks from Steve Young to Jay Cutler. Currently, the Bills have Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick, neither of whom will be ever be mistaken for Young or Cutler.
I say he passes on Buffalo or, at the very least, uses them as a bargaining chip for a better opportunity.
What about the Buffaloes?
I don't see it happening.
For one, I think Shanahan would have an easy time luring the top national and local recruits to Boulder, but I don't think he wants to be a recruiter. It probably wouldn't be too hard for him, as any potential student-athlete who has dreams of playing on Sundays would be more than happy to play for him on Saturday. I just don't think a guy with his reputation wants to deal with the problems of 18-22-year-old kids. He wants to coach, coach, and coach some moreĀ not coach, babysit, and check in on study hall.
The idea that his son, Kyle, would come with him also seems remote.
Kyle has proven himself to be a worthy coordinator at the NFL level and with the Texans off to their best start in team history (and with the season Matt Schaub is having) I can't see how the younger Shanahan won't have his own head coaching opportunities in the NFL one day, if he so desires.
The "package" deal of both men to Boulder makes the story more interesting but less believable.
My best guess as to what happens? Dan Hawkins gets one more year in 2010 so there is no CU football opening. Shanahan listens to Buffalo but declines the offer. In a perfect world, I think he wants the Chicago job. He is a native son and of course, Jay Cutler awaits his tutelage once again. Though with $11 million committed to Lovie Smith, a change at the top in Chicago seems unlikely. So I think Shanahan waits for Washington or Dallas to have an opening and takes the job there, and there will be smiles all around.
The biggest smile though? That will belong to Bowlen, who could then stop writing those $7 million yearly checks.
There is no job in Colorado that is tougher or more highly scrutinized by the public than being the head coach of the Broncos. Governor Bill Ritter? He finishes a close second to Shanahan's successor, Josh McDaniels. If you are reading this and don't live in Colorado, ask anybody who does. I'm totally serious.
The reason Shanahan is still living so large is because even though he is no longer coaching, he is still cashing...checks, that is. Owner Pat Bowlen is paying Shanahan $7 million a year to not coach.
Shanahan has been either a college assistant, NFL assistant, or head coach every year since 1975. His stops include Charleston, Illinois, Gainesville, Florida, San Francisco, and Denver. He has not only succeeded but excelled at every stop. That incredibly consistent track record and those two Lombardi Trophies sitting in a lobby on Broncos Parkway in Englewood, Colorado have made him a hot commodity to this day, both in the pro game and college game.
On Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Buffalo Bills were interested in making Shanahan their head coach after firing Dick Jauron on Wednesday.
If Buffalo isn't palatable how about the...Buffaloes?
The rumor mill has been churning out various stories on the eventual replacement for Dan Hawkins at the University of Colorado, even though he is still the coach.
One far-fetched story had Shanahan coming to Boulder and bringing his son, Kyle, currently the offensive coordinator of the Houston Texans, along with him. Presumably, Kyle would be the offensive coordinator and eventually take over for his father.
You would think that after the current father-son fiasco in Boulder, this option would just be ruled out entirely (I personally think Shanahan already has ruled it out) but it is still fun to discuss.
Another fun topic to dissect: which is the better "Buffalo" job? The Bills or the Buffs?
To me, Shanahan would prefer to be back in the NFL, but I wouldn't rule out the college game entirely. Remember in 2002, Shanahan was extremely close to taking the University of Florida head coaching position before opting to remain in Denver.
I still think Shanahan's eyes are on an NFL head coaching job, but the question of how much power he would wield will be a point of contention.
In Denver, even though the Broncos had a general manager, Shanahan was in control of every facet of the organization from coaching, calling plays, evaluating personnel, and draft selection. Nobody has ever questioned his coaching acumen but his shortcomings in free agency/trades/draft acquisitions slightly tarnished a largely sparkling career in Denver.
If he returns to the NFL, will he take a job in which somebody else has control over facets of the team that he is so used to controlling? Hard to say. In Buffalo, it might be possible. The team has what many believe is an ineffective General Manager in Russ Brandon. He is viewed by many as a "business" guy that weaved over to the personnel side of the organization. His decisions, most notably not keeping Jason Peters and drafting Aaron Maybin, have been generally been regarded as bad moves.
Bills owner Ralph Wilson is 90-years-old and wants to win and is willing to go to desperate measures to do so. After all, they did sign Terrell Owens this offseason. However, combine Wilson's will to win with a rabid Buffalo fan base thirsting for long lost glory and maybe the owner gives Shanahan everything he wants and the power he craves.
The question then is, even with all of that of control, is it a good fit? Shanahan is largely known for his work with quarterbacks from Steve Young to Jay Cutler. Currently, the Bills have Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick, neither of whom will be ever be mistaken for Young or Cutler.
I say he passes on Buffalo or, at the very least, uses them as a bargaining chip for a better opportunity.
What about the Buffaloes?
I don't see it happening.
For one, I think Shanahan would have an easy time luring the top national and local recruits to Boulder, but I don't think he wants to be a recruiter. It probably wouldn't be too hard for him, as any potential student-athlete who has dreams of playing on Sundays would be more than happy to play for him on Saturday. I just don't think a guy with his reputation wants to deal with the problems of 18-22-year-old kids. He wants to coach, coach, and coach some moreĀ not coach, babysit, and check in on study hall.
The idea that his son, Kyle, would come with him also seems remote.
Kyle has proven himself to be a worthy coordinator at the NFL level and with the Texans off to their best start in team history (and with the season Matt Schaub is having) I can't see how the younger Shanahan won't have his own head coaching opportunities in the NFL one day, if he so desires.
The "package" deal of both men to Boulder makes the story more interesting but less believable.
My best guess as to what happens? Dan Hawkins gets one more year in 2010 so there is no CU football opening. Shanahan listens to Buffalo but declines the offer. In a perfect world, I think he wants the Chicago job. He is a native son and of course, Jay Cutler awaits his tutelage once again. Though with $11 million committed to Lovie Smith, a change at the top in Chicago seems unlikely. So I think Shanahan waits for Washington or Dallas to have an opening and takes the job there, and there will be smiles all around.
The biggest smile though? That will belong to Bowlen, who could then stop writing those $7 million yearly checks.
