RG3 Saves Shanahan….At Least For 2012

RG3 and Coach Shanahan

About a year ago, Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan told reporters that he would stake his reputation on Rex Grossman and John Beck. Well, that experiment was a Major Fail. After a 3-1 start, the Skins only won 2 of their remaining 12 games. Understandably, Shanahan’s reputation took a hit. After his second year with the Skins, his record was 11-21 which was actually a game worse than Jim Zorn‘s two-year record of 12-20. Remember Jim Zorn, the coach who was stripped of all play calling duties mid-season 2009 and then summarily released when the season ended. Zorn got the boot, and Shanahan got, well, he got Robert Griffin III. RG3 represents a do-over for Shanahan. The rookie QB pretty much assures that Shanahan will keep his $7 million coaching job, at least through 2013. With the drafting of RG3, Shanahan put himself in a win-win situation for 2012. If RG3 doesn’t perform well, it will be attributed to his being a rookie who is still developing. If he does perform well, Shanahan will be considered a genius for making the draft pick and helping him develop. Either way, RG3 and Shanahan are joined at the hip. RG3’s success or lack thereof will either resurrect Shanahan’s tenure in D.C. or cause it to go up in flames.