>After starting the season with a 3-6 record, head coach Mike Shanahan of the Washington Redskins appeared to have no hope for his team moving forward. Shanahan made comments that led many to believe that the two-time Super Bowl champion had given up on the season and was ready to concede a losing season.
Shanahan’s comments caused quite a backlash in Washington, but also motivated his team and rookie quarterback. Robert Griffin III instantly kicked it into high gear and led the team to seven straight wins to finish the season.
As a result of the team’s second half resurgence, the Redskins won the NFC East division title and are playoff bound after winning on three of the first nine games of the year. Not only has Griffin turned into a legitimate superstar and leading candidate for Rookie of the Year, but Shanahan may be on the verge of receiving a lucrative contract extension according to Mark Maske of The Washington Post:
The Washington Redskins are seriously considering negotiating a contract extension this offseason with Coach Mike Shanahan, multiple people with knowledge of the team’s planning said Monday.
Shanahan has two more years left on his current deal with the team worth about $7 million per season. Although that should be more than enough time to work out an extension, the team appears to be leaning towards getting it done as soon as possible.
Shanahan’s time in Washington since signing a five-year deal with the team back in 2010 hasn’t been all that impressive. Before the seven-game winning streak leading to a NFC East division title, Shanahan had only won 14 games for the Redskins since being hired.
The extension might be a bit too soon with no telling how the team will play in the postseason or next season with every team in the league having film on Griffin and fellow rookie Alfred Morris. The core of the team seems to be intact and promising with those two players leading the way, but the Carolina Panthers may be a perfect example of how it can all fall apart a season later with a young superstar under center.
