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Sports

Redskins hire Shanahan to bring back glory years

By Reuters
Published | Updated

Toronto, Canada – By Steve Ginsburg

Terms of the deal were not released but local media reported the five-year contract to be worth $35 million.

"It's a very, very special place. Super Bowls, world championships -- it's what you call a franchise that has a great history.

"I promise you I won't disappoint you. I'm going to give it everything I've got."

Shanahan, who won Super Bowls with Denver in 1998 and 1999, spent more than a decade with the Broncos before being fired in December 2008 after the team finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs.

"We were looking for a man who is passionate about football, passionate about the Redskins' history, someone who had a good winning record and someone who could lead our team on and off the field," said general manager Bruce Allen. "We got our man."

In Snyder's 11 seasons as Redskins' owner, the team has made the playoffs only three times.

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Last month, he fired Vinny Cerrato as general manager and replaced him with Allen, the son of former Redskins coach and Hall of Famer George Allen.

Many Redskins fans perceive Snyder to be a meddlesome owner but the strong-willed Shanahan said he and Allen would be making the team-related decisions.

"When I was in Denver I had the final say on everything," Shanahan said. "I know Bruce will not agree with me on a lot of things and that's what I'm looking for.

"I wanted a guy that has experience in the National Football League as an executive, as a GM, as an agent, knowing the salary cap, knowing personnel.

"I want a guy that knows that like I know football. And Bruce is that guy. We will work together. Do I have the final say? Maybe you could say that. But together I will never use that. Because we will work as a team."

Washington blew several late-game leads this season and stumbled to a 4-12 record, the second straight year the Redskins finished bottom of the NFC East.

The Redskins have won three Super Bowls but none since 1992. Shanahan cautioned the team's frenzied fan base not to expect an immediate turnaround.

"It doesn't happen overnight," he said. "But we're going to give you the best shot that we can."

(Editing by Ed Osmond)