Retiring (most likely) Redskins linebacker London Fletcher, one of the most respected players in the NFL, has some advice for coach Mike Shanahan and owner Daniel Snyder.
Work it out.
Fletcher, who said he’s 99-percent sure he’ll retire, is 100-percent certain that Shanahan should remain the team’s head coach.
“The way I look at it, I think Coach Shanahan is a great coach,” Fletcher told reporters, via 106.7 The Fan in D.C. “Any player who’s played for him, probably 95 percent of the guys who’ve played for him, would love playing for him. “
Even though he admitted that it sounds “crazy,” Fletcher thinks Shanahan should get an extension, so that he’s not a lame duck in 2014.
“As I look at the current situation, I think coach Shanahan is definitely the right guy,” Fletcher said. “I think Mr. Snyder would be wise to let him see this thing through. Obviously, there’s going to have to be some changes made because right now we’ve won three ball games. Even if we win these next two, we’ll have five games. So there is change that needs to take place, but I don’t think it needs to be with the head coach.
“I feel like he’s the right guy for it. I think Coach Shanahan will have to have a conversation with Mr. Snyder at the end of the year, let them get some time, maybe a week or two, let the season get past them, and let them two just get into a room and really say, ‘Hey, What’s the situation? How do we move forward? How do we get this thing right?’”
Fletcher believes that stability in the coaching position becomes critical to success, and he’s right. The Redskins haven’t had that continuity. Firing Shanahan would only underscore the lack of stability.