Former Broncos and Raiders coach Mike Shanahan, who has made clear his desire to return to the NFL after a one-year break for which he’ll receive $7 million not to coach, met for seven hours on Monday night and Tuesday morning with Bills COO Russ Brandon, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Per the report, Brandon made a “persuasive presentation” to Shanahan.
“We had an excellent meeting,” Shanahan told Schefter. “I was really
impressed with Russ Brandon and everything he had to say. We’re going
to stay in touch and see what develops.”
Possible translation? “I want to be sure that Jerry Jones, Daniel Snyder, and anyone else who might be interested in getting into the bidding regards the Bills as a viable candidate for my services, even if they aren’t.”
(And, naturally, 15 percent of you will think that Shanahan actually said that last sentence. The number would have been even higher but for this parenthetical.)
As Peter King of NBC pointed out over the weekend, Shanahan won’t be making any decisions until after the season, at which time he and other available candidates will assess the pros and cons of each job.
And with full recognition of the fact that I hope to live to be at least 91 (as long as I can still fire off a double-fisted middle finger every once in a while), one very real factor in Buffalo is that owner Ralph Wilson is 91, and that his family will most likely be selling the team after Mr. Wilson passes on. As a result, a coach with options would have to consider the possibility that the new owners would want to hire their own head coach.
In order to land Shanahan or another high-end coach, then, the Bills will have to compensate for that reality by sweetening other aspects of the pot, such as salary, power, budget for players, and/or budget for assistant coaches.
Guess where Cutler will be playing next year.
Anyone who believes the Bills can’t pull this one off based on the team’s history forgets one fact. The owner is 91 years old, this will probably be the last coach he hires. Wilson is in “screw it” mode. He is going to write some checks now.
“(And, naturally, 15 percent of you will think that Shanahan actually said that last sentence. The number would have been even higher but for this parenthetical.)”
Man I’d love to point out what a condescending prick you are for saying that Florio, but having witnessed first hand the caliber of “perception” pervading this site, I’m sadly forced to agree.
Wow, I can’t believe Shanahan called out to Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder directly.
Why is it that some owners die (Giants) and kids can afford the tax bill, while some owners die (Dolphins, Rams, old Redskins) and the kids have to sell the team? Why is that?
Shanny’s going to the bills like…never. No quarterback, no farm team, no big draft choices upcoming, it’s BUFFALO! Go get some wings and settle for…wait. Not even Marty’s going to Buffalo.
I see Shanny in Dallas, San Diego or Chicago. I see Shanny getting along with Dallas Skelator but not with Danny Snider.
Playing with Rivers or Cutler would appeal to The Mastermind.
Wow. It’s been a very long time since anyone actually called Shanny The Mastermind. And I hear his wife is tougher than he is.
Shanahan will end up in Dallas. Bank on it.
The guy is being paid by Denver for doing nothing. So why would he need anything additional to take the Buffalo job because if the owner takes the permanent dirt nap the new owner might fire him? If he does, he again gets paid for doing nothing. And we all can safely assume he will be paid a good fortune where ever he ends up. That there would provide security against being fired for simply not being the new owners “guy”
If the contract makes him harder to fire, then he ends up working for an owner that does not want him. How is that good?
Do we have examples of when an owner died and the successful coach was replaced?
If he is not winning when a new owner comes into the picture, sure he could be at risk. But if he’s not winning he should be at risk of being canned anyway.
Glad to see Mike that you realize your customers..most of them..are football idiots.
I can’t see this as anything more than a bargaining chip for other openings that will come about in the off-season
besides wanting 100% complete control of things, I can’t see Shanny in such a small market
He’ll be in Dallas or Wash next year
Don’t forget to include the Houston Texans in that list of teams seeking new Head Coaches. That loss to Tennessee basically sealed his fate…
his defenses are to soft for the cold. he better get a great def coordinator.
Mike Florio said:
Possible translation? “I want to be sure that Jerry Jones, Daniel Snyder, and anyone else who might be interested in getting into the bidding regards the Bills as a viable candidate for my services, even if they aren’t.”
The “and anyone else” here is a much more likely scenario…especially with the writing already on the wall that saw coaching greats such as Bill Parcells and Joe Gibbs leave the two aforementioned organizations recently.
Shanahan is more likely waiting out the situations in Green Bay and Chicago. To see if an opening comes about with one of these two teams…
So far so good.
No way he goes here, with Washington, Dallas, KC, and others out there. Why go to Siberia?
TO would be out. Although it would be very funny watching TO try to push Shanahan around. I doubt that word work.
Why would he go to Washington, too much dead cap money.
Why would he go to Dallas, why deal with Jerry Jones pacing your sidelines telling you what to do? Bill Parcells wouldn’t.
KC? Are you kidding? They just hired their coach last year.
While the nation likes to stick it to Buffalo, I think they are greatly underestimating the situation. You don’t meet for 7 hours in two days unless the conversation is serious.
What do you mean KC? Not an option you idiot.
Ill say this, would you really think that much more of Shanny if he won a SB in Dallas? They have tons of talent.
Do it in Buffalo and people will take notice.
Hey Jspicoli, eat a fat one.
Shanahan loves Cutler….. Chicago cant afford to trade or release him so Mike will be coming soon enough to the windy city as long as they show him the money
Ok, so let’s look at the teams looking for a coach. Chicago, Dallas, Washington, Cleveland, Bills, Raiders, Panthers. Of these the places most likely to derail your career are Dallas, the Skins, the Raiders and maybe Cleveland. Chicago, the Bills and Carolina all would welcome a savior type of coach and would give them a few years to see what they could do. Excluding Chicago, these teams are also small market, low pressure situations. And, through some bizarre twist which eludes logic, the small market middling teams like Buffalo and Carolina are all perceived as places which will need to offer greater incentives to prospective coaches in either salary or control.
So if you’re a coach who wants more control, more money, a longer run, less drama, less press (unless you’re winning) you’d go to Buffalo or Carolina. It seems pretty cut and dried right?
Also I really doubt that new owners would remove the “savior coach” in places like Buffalo and Carolina for exactly the same reasons why places like that need them to begin with. They’d have to find the same type of guy all over again. What would be the point?
That said, the only 2 places that I think have Shanahan’s attention are Dallas and Chicago. Dallas because they have all the pieces, an owner willing to spend to win now, and a very public profile. This might excite someone wanting that ride. And Chicago because it’s an easier transition, is still relatively high profile yet arguably stable. If neither of those pan out seeing Shanahan in B-lo isn’t that big a stretch.
After Denver loses 12 in a row, Pat Bowlen will run naked thru LoDo begging Shanahan back to the Broncos LOL!!!
Shanny only does this should he get FULL CONTROL over ALL football operations. That doesn’t necessarily mean he is the GM, but at the very least that he has final call on all personnel decisions and the GM is basically his puppet and a negotiator. Having said that, as Jerry Seinfeld would agree, this is a perfect match for the Bills and for Shanahan. If he doesn’t sign he will have to play second fiddle to someone like Jerry Jones or Danny Snyder who get their grubby little hands into football decisions.
Wow, I cant believe Shanny called out “JerryJones, Danielle Schneidley and anyone else” directly!
……14.9% out……..
i just spit my coffee all over my computer when i read “dallas skeletor” uhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahaa!
I like the guy who’s screen name is “Gene Simmons’ Tongue”, only he misspelled “tongue”….he spelled it “tounge”. What a mope!
Shanny, Cowher and BB coaching the AFC East next year? That’s some serious coaching pedigree wrapped up in one division. Sparano’s pretty damn good for a newer head coach too. Big-time chess matches!
“Wow, I cant believe Shanny called out “JerryJones, Danielle Schneidley and anyone else” directly!
……14.9% out……..”
What percentage of the posters, would you say, can’t comprehend sarcasm?
14.999% checking in, i always new Rat Shannahan was a jerk. What kind of unemployed coach would bite the potential hand(s) that feeds?
He should be lucky if Jerrah and lil’Jerrah cut him a check.
I wouldn’t mind him in Green Bay.. give me him or The Chin lol
@MARTY
Not enough tanning beds in Buffalo for this to be taken seriously as a ‘persuasive presentation’. Window dressing for the off-season bidding to come.
I’m hoping for Dick Jauron in Green Bay……
Good luck Buffalo, looks liek you’re gonna need it.
inre: Miami Dolphins were sold because the kids could not afford the $200,000,000,.00 estate tax on the team and Huizenga purchased 15% of the team and their sports venue in 1990, during a period of financial hardship for the franchise. Original Long time owner Joe Robbie had recently died and his family found it difficult to keep the team afloat. In turn, Huizenga bought out the remaining shares of the team to become full owner in 1993. Remember when the team was sold for a at that time a staggering $250,000,000.00 million including the stadium. Most of the “old” or original owners NEVER in there lifetime made that kind of money back then.
I think Buffalo offers the most power for this position, it’s either a new GM and a coach there or someone like Shanahan who could sort of do both. I heard a report this morning that Ralph Wilson would even consider giving a piece of the team to one of these A-list coaches on top of the boatloads of cash that a coach of Shanahan’s caliber would demand
boltmancraft says:
November 25, 2009 2:05 PM
I like the guy who’s screen name is “Gene Simmons’ Tongue”, only he misspelled “tongue”….he spelled it “tounge”. What a mope!
___________________________________
What an obvious slip (mope is better than douche anyday)!
Thanks and corrected!
“What a mope!”
It’s “Moops,” Bubble Boy.
Occam says:
November 25, 2009 2:06 PM
“Wow, I cant believe Shanny called out “JerryJones, Danielle Schneidley and anyone else” directly!
……14.9% out……..”
What percentage of the posters, would you say, can’t comprehend sarcasm?
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85%
Shanahan = Dallas.
Philips = D coordinator or fired.
As already stated, Jones has the money to spend and has to be getting desperate for a win.
A lot of coaches would love the paycheck from Jones and to be on a high profile team. At least 2 great coaches have already proved that.
Shanahan to Dallas means we should make it to the SB again and again and again and… how many times have we been there?
I bet this is a “smokescreen.”
The Bears fire Lovie, and bring Shanny in to help Jay Cutler.
@ LighTsouT
For someone who sound like a Bills fan you sure know the Dallas roster very well. Is that what you guys do, drool over the better teams?
I concur with Tomb about one thing: Florio is a condescending prick. That is all.
Haley is in over his head. The only reason he sticks for a second year in KC is the ego of the GM. They made their bed there and are in mid process of shatting in it.
Did I hit a nerve?
I would have said SD too but Norvell seems to have quieted the nay sayers for another year.
JAX is open, but who wants that gig, as they might move, are having problems with attendance etc.
Point is, as many have stated. this is Shanny acquiring a bargaining chip.
Why it won’t be the ‘Skins:
1. Little Danny can beat Vinny The Suck Up in raquetball. And no one else.
2. Vinny The Suck Up says, “No, I like playing around like I know the GM role”. It gets me hot chicks.
3. RedSkin One is not big enough to transport Shanny’s massive ego.
4. If Little Danny wanted to hire Shanny behind Vinny’s back, he would ask The Bingo-Caller, who would relay the invitation to Z-Man, who would add-in the protection schemes, check with Joe Thiesmann to make sure he agrees, relay the decision to JC (no, Jason Campbell, not Jesus Christ), who would not get the play in time and just throw the ball away. That’s how Little Danny’s management of the “organization” works!
No way Shanny puts up with this minor league circus.
Shanny, Cowher and BB coaching the AFC East next year? That’s some serious coaching pedigree wrapped up in one division. Sparano’s pretty damn good for a newer head coach too. Big-time chess matches!
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although i doubt you’ll see cowher and shanny in the division, there wont be any chess matches involving buffalo next year. unless you count them with only pawns and knights, against teams that have all rooks, bishops, knights, and obtained more than one queen.
Why is it that some owners die (Giants) and kids can afford the tax bill, while some owners die (Dolphins, Rams, old Redskins) and the kids have to sell the team? Why is that?
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Original owners set it up to make the team inheritance tax easier to handle. Not hard to do, just have to accept that you will die soon and need to get affairs in order.
That or they found a loophole and exploit it fr all it is worth.
@Stinemonster
I’m a Rams fan, actually. but thanks for taking the time to notice.
@lighTsouT
I expected the Rams to do better this year. What happened?
For a Rams fan you know a lot about the Cowboys.