Mike Shanahan frustrated with RGIII-Dan Snyder relationship, per report
Shanahan is reportedly upset with the treatment given to RGIII by the owner, so much so that he was prepared to leave the team after last season.
Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan is upset with the relationship between owner Dan Snyder and quarterback Robert Griffin III, according to a detailed report from ESPN's Dan Graziano.
Citing several different sources close to the team and the head coach, Graziano details a relationship that has soured because of the close attention the owner has paid to Griffin when compared to other players on the team. Shanahan was apparently so frustrated with the situation that he had reportedly cleaned out his office and was prepared to leave the team after the 2013 postseason, but chose to stay after the quarterback’s severe knee injury against Seattle.
Shanahan’s frustration with Snyder stems from what the head coach feels to be detrimental attention paid to Griffin, with the owner essentially playing favorites with his star quarterback at the expense of others with the team, and therefore fostering an environment not exactly conducive to winning.
Per Graziano:
Snyder regularly sent his security team to accompany Griffin when he went out in Washington. Snyder's personal driver was spotted picking up Griffin's then-fiancee (now wife) at road games.
But it wasn't just Snyder's relationship with Griffin that irked Shanahan. It was also the way in which he dealt with employees who had less star power than his star quarterback, sources said. After Kirk Cousins relieved an injured Griffin last December in Cleveland and led Washington to a 38-21 victory over the Browns, players and coaches spotted Snyder standing at the quarterbacks' lockers, talking only to Griffin while, one source said, Snyder "didn't acknowledge" Cousins.
Shanahan joined the Redskins in 2010 after two seasons away from coaching, and has missed the playoffs in all but one season and will miss the postseason again this year. In 2012, the Redskins won the NFC East thanks in large part to the incredible play of the Griffin before he suffered his injury in the playoffs. Now they sit at 3-9 in the midst of another year with no postseason hopes.
Griffin, after a magical season his rookie year in which he scored 27 touchdowns and committed just eight turnovers, has struggled to provide the same explosiveness while continuing to recover from his torn ACL. In 2013, Griffin has 17 turnovers and just 15 touchdowns, with zero rushing touchdowns through 12 games.
Either Shanahan walks after the season is over, which certainly appears to be a possibility once again, or it’s likely that Snyder will fire his head coach after another disappointing season.
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