WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Washington Redskins‘ miserable National Football League season has hardened the resolve of head coach Mike Shanahan to return the once-proud franchise to its winning ways.

The three-time Super Bowl-winning Redskins finished in last place in the NFC East with a 5-11 record, losing 10 of their last 12 games after opening the year with a 3-1 mark.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of putting a great football team together here with the Washington Redskins. I know we’re not there yet,” Shanahan told reporters on Monday.

“But I’m excited with what I do. I’m excited about this football team and the players that we’ve got. And I’m excited for the future.”

Washington was 6-10 a year ago in Shanahan’s first season with the club and the coach admitted he did not expect to see an immediate turnaround for a franchise that has not made the NFL playoffs since the 2007 campaign.

“We’ve got the people that I feel give you the chance to make up something special. And that’s where it starts. It’s not going to happen all in one year or two years,” he said.

“I’m still disappointed we didn’t win 10 or 11 games. I really believe if we would have stayed healthy – that’s not using it as an excuse because we didn’t have a lot of depth – I think we could have gotten there.”

The Redskins lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 34-10 in their season finale on Sunday, sealing the team’s fourth-consecutive finish in the NFC East basement.

Shanahan, who won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos, conceded losing was agonizing.

“With all the time that you put in, every time you have a loss, especially with the effort that you put in, it’s like somebody sticks a knife in you. It’s tough to go through a season like that,” he said.

“Thank God I haven’t gone through any like this before. I might not have been in this profession very long. But it’s something that really drives you, motivates you.

“It’s something that I look forward to doing – putting a great football team together and doing it the right way. And sometimes it takes a little bit longer than sometimes expected.”

(Reporting By Steve Ginsburg; Editing by Frank Pingue)

The Washington Redskins’
miserable National Football League season has hardened the
resolve of head coach Mike Shanahan to return , you better be
motivated, because if you’re not motivated, you’re not going to
be in this business for a long time,” Shanahan the once-proud
franchise to its winning ways.

The three-time Super Bowl-winning Redskins finished in last
place in the NFC East with a 5-11 record, losing 10 of their
last 12 games after opening the year with a 3-1 mark.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of putting a great
football team together here with the Washington Redskins. I know
we’re not there yet.

“But I’m excited with what I do. I’m excited about this
football team and the players that we’ve got. And I’m excited
for the future.”

Washington was 6-10 a year ago in Shanahan’s first season
with the club and the coach admitted he did not expect to see an
immediate turnaround for a franchise that has not made the NFL
playoffs since the 2007 campaign.

“We’ve got the people that I feel give you the chance to
make up something special. And that’s where it starts. It’s not
going to happen all in one year or two years,” he said.

“I’m still disappointed we didn’t win 10 or 11 games. I
really believe if we would have stayed healthy – that’s not
using it as an excuse because we didn’t have a lot of depth – I
think we could have gotten there.”

The Redskins lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 34-10 in their
season finale on Sunday, sealing the team’s fourth-consecutive
finish in the NFC East basement.

Shanahan, who won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos,
conceded losing was agonizing.

“With all the time that you put in, every time you have a
loss, especially with the effort that you put in, it’s like
somebody sticks a knife in you. It’s tough to go through a
season like that,” he said.

“Thank God I haven’t gone through any like this before. I
might not have been in this profession very long. But it’s
something that really drives you, motivates you.

“It’s something that I look forward to doing – putting a
great football team together and doing it the right way. And
sometimes it takes a little bit longer than sometimes expected.”

 

ASHBURN, Va. (AP)—Instead of playing for the playoffs, Mike Shanahan is
playing to match Jim Zorn.

The Washington Redskins must win their regular-season finale Sunday against
the Philadelphia Eagles for Shanahan to equal the two-year record of his
predecessor, a coach who was undermined by management and fired in the middle of
the night.

But, unlike Zorn, Shanahan is not a condemned coach playing out his final
days on the job under owner Dan Snyder. As the Redskins (5-10) wrap up a fourth
consecutive last-place NFC East finish—an unprecedented run in franchise
history—there is no sense that change is coming.

“There’s no doubt in my mind. Hopefully, there’s no doubt in Dan’s mind,
too,” Shanahan said Thursday. “Like I talked to him about when I first got
here, I said: `Dan, if you don’t plan on me coaching here five years and doing
it the right way, you’re hiring the wrong guy.’ It’s going to take some time to
do it right.”

Although Shanahan is 11-20, he has had it easy when considering what it was
like before his arrival. Zorn’s 12-20 record is somewhat remarkable given that
he was at the mercy of a front office led by Snyder and personnel chief Vinny
Cerrato, whose dubious drafts and free-agency choices weakened the roster and
whose faith in the coach was so tenuous that Sherm Lewis was hired out of
Bingo-calling retirement to call the offensive plays.

“I actually enjoyed playing for coach Zorn, and I enjoy playing for coach
Shanahan,” defensive lineman Kedric Golston said. “I think the difference is
that right now we’re building something not to be a flash in the pan. We’re
rebuilding something that would be able to compete and sustain for years to
come. I often look at it like building a building: the higher the building, the
lower you’re going to have to dig the foundation.”

After dismissing Zorn following a 4-12 season in 2009, Snyder gave Shanahan
a $35 million, five-year contract and full control over football matters.
Shanahan is likely safe for at least another year if only because another
coaching move would again validate Snyder’s reputation for impatience and thus
make it difficult to find a quality replacement.

Of course, nothing is a guarantee, given Snyder’s track record in 12 years
of ownership. The owner has stayed mum all season, declining to answer questions
about the team when appearing at various functions. Spokesman Tony Wyllie said
Snyder was unavailable for comment Thursday.

Records aside, the Redskins appear in better shape than two years ago.
Shanahan has instilled a sense of order and professionalism lacking under
Cerrato and Zorn. Washington had the oldest opening day roster in the NFL last
year, but a large draft class has added in some promising young talent.

Shanahan’s major stumble has been his choice of quarterbacks. He wasted a
year with Donovan McNabb, and neither Rex Grossman nor John Beck has proven this
year to be the long-term solution, a significant setback to the rebuilding
process.

“I’ve been here 3 1/2 years, and it’s always been `hopefully next year,’ so
you definitely get tired of it,” cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. “And hopefully
that won’t be the case next year.”

But at least he’s not expecting any offseason chaos.

“I feel like from the top down we know who our coaches are going to be next
year,” Hall said. “That’s a complete 180 from what happened with Zorn.”

It’s been decades since a Redskins coach had a winning tenure. Norv Turner
went 49-59-1 and was fired. Interim replacement Terry Robiskie was 1-2. Marty
Schottenheimer was dismissed after one 8-8 season. Steve Spurrier quit after
going 12-20, and Joe Gibbs was 31-36 before retiring a second time.

The players and coaches are confident Shanahan will buck the trend—as long
as he’s allowed to continue his work.

“There’s some stability,” said safeties coach Steve Jackson, another of
the dwindling holdovers from the Zorn years. “And the biggest thing is you know
who the guy in charge is, and he sets the course. Regardless of how it looks
right now, we know where we’re headed.”

———

Joseph White can be reached at http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

The Philadelphia Eagles are looking to salvage a .500 record by coming away with a win in the final game of their disappointing 2011 campaign.

They’ll have to get through the Washington Redskins, who may be wildly inconsistent but have shown flashes of brilliance that make them a dangerous force.

There is no question that the Eagles are the more talented team, but will they hang on for the victory or will Week 17 be another harsh reminder that stars don’t always equate to a victory?

 

Where: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)

When: Sunday, January 1st at 1 p.m. EST

Watch: FOX

 

Spread: Redskins +8.5

The Redskins were dropped by a Minnesota Vikings team that saw both Adrian Peterson and Christian Ponder fall to injuries. They lost by seven at home, which is coincidentally the same amount of points they lost to the Eagles by the first time they played them this season.

As long as the Eagles can stay motivated, they are going to orchestrate another brilliant blowout and leave the world wondering how this team managed to miss the playoffs. Take the Eagles.

 

Over/Under: 46

Philadelphia has the offensive firepower to almost hit this over by themselves, but they’ve scored 30 points or less in six of their last seven outings.

They are going to have to carry the load to hit the over, and given their underwhelming performances of late, it’s best to take the under.

Key Washington Redskins Injuries Via NFL.com

DeJon Gomes	S	Knee	Full Participation in Practice
Niles Paul	WR	Shoulder	Full Participation in Practice
Saverio Rocca	P	left Ankle	Full Participation in Practice
Jammal Brown	T	Hip	Limited Participation in Practice
Adam Carriker	DE	Chest	Limited Participation in Practice
London Fletcher	LB	Ankle	Limited Participation in Practice
Roy Helu	RB	Toe	Limited Participation in Practice
Donte’ Stallworth	WR	Ankle	Limited Participation in Practice

 

Key Philadelphia Eagles Injuries Via NFL.com

LeSean McCoy	RB	Ankle	Did Not Participate In Practice
Asante Samuel	CB	Hamstring	Did Not Participate In Practice
Todd Herremans	T	Ankle	Full Participation in Practice
Trevor Laws	DT	Knee	Full Participation in Practice
Brian Rolle	LB	Ankle	Full Participation in Practice
Darryl Tapp	DE	Ribs	Full Participation in Practice

 

Fantasy Big Plays

Start: Though you’ll have to watch LeSean McCoy’s injury closely, he’s been one of the very few bright points for the Eagles and is a must-start this week, as long as he is playing.

With 20 total touchdowns and over 1,300 yards on the ground alone, don’t let Shady McCoy’s injury scare you into benching this superstar.

Sit: Rex Grossman had four picks and no touchdowns last time he squared off against the Eagles. Grossman is going to prove once again why the Redskins need to go quarterback hunting this offseason.

 

Keys to Redskins Win

The Redskins need to find a way to break the Eagles’ spirit. Philadelphia has proven that they are capable of melting down. The Eagles have nothing to play for right now, and the Redskins could easily capitalize on their indifference.

Protect the football. If Rex Grossman can refrain from doing everything in his power to let the Eagles back into the game, the Redskins have a shot.

 

Keys to Eagles Win

Be aggressive offensively. The Eagles have more home-run hitters at their disposal than any team in the league.

The Redskins don’t have the means to compete in an offensive shootout, and the Eagles will run away with this game if they get up early.

Attack Rex Grossman. We all know how awful “bad Rex” can be. It’s up to the Eagles to ensure that we see him at his worst. As long as sack master Jason Babin performs at his best off the edge, the Eagles’ star-laden secondary will take care of the rest.

 

Prediction

Eagles 24, Redskins 13

When DeAngelo Hall came to the Washington Redskins midway through the 2008 season as a free agent who had been cut by the Oakland Raiders, the Redskins – then coached by Jim Zorn – owned a 6-2 record. But they stumbled, going 2-6 to finish 8-8.

Hall recalls how he and his teammates entered that offseason saying “hopefully next year will be our year.”

But Zorn and the Redskins went 4-12, and the coach was fired. The players again hoped for next year, and Mike Shanahan took over in January of 2010, but went 6-10 in his first season.

Now the Redskins own a 5-10 record and need a win over the Philadelphia Eagles to equal last year’s mark and equal the lowly record of Zorn’s embarrassing two-year tenure. And once again, Hall is hoping for next year.

“I’ve been here 3-1/2 years and it’s always been ‘hopefully next year,’ so it’s definitely tiring. Hopefully that won’t be the case next year,” Hall said chuckling and rolling his eyes. “Hopefully [we’re] one offseason away. Hopefully one draft, one free agency away from adding more pieces on offense, maybe a couple pieces on defense away from being what we want to be.”

Hall said he believes a turnaround in Year 3 of the Shanahan era is possible. The organization spent last season primarily upgrading the defense, and the results have started to show. Now the hope is that with an emphasis on the offense this coming offseason, a breakthrough will come there as well.

“We took the 31st-ranked defense to now being top 15,” Hall said. “The offense has been playing great the last couple weeks, so hopefully, through the draft and free agency we can get the pieces we want and get our kind of guys, Washington Redskins, and be the team we want to be.”

The Redskins face an Eagles team Sunday that, like them, entered the year with high aspirations, only to post a disappointing campaign and miss the playoffs. Hall and his teammates hope to avenge a 20-13 loss to Philadelphia earlier this season and at least give themselves a positive start to their unwanted vacations.

“When I got here, they were 6-2, and that’s more wins than we’ve got right now. We’re not trying to compare the two coaches and win for that. We just want to go out there and end on a good note,” Hall said. “It’d be nice [to win]. It’d be real nice, especially against the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that we know pretty well and haven’t been able to beat for a while.”