Mike Shanahan



On coaching in Washington vs. coaching in Denver

It’s pretty similar. It’s a lot to do and a short time to do it, especially your first year coming into an organization.
You’re trying to put your staff together, go through your team, free agency the draft. All those things take time to do.


On McNabb:

I had a chance about two days ago to talk to Fletcher Smith and we talked for about an hour and a half. I thought I had a great
conversation with him. Obviously we had a lot of quotes that were out there over the course of the season. I was able to address
questions he had and I thought the conversation went well. I think over the next few weeks we’ll get the chance to talk again, and
then we’ll make a decision right after the draft of the direction we’ll go. But I thought it was a good initial conversation. We’ll
let time take care of itself and we’ll get a chance to spend some more time together in the near future.



On Washington's lack of success in past drafts:

No. 1, it’s a process. You bring in a certain way to scout. A lot of times, Washington in the past has traded away a lot of draft
choices and they didn’t have many draft choices, but hopefully with the system that we have, hopefully we’ll have a lot more draft picks.
I like the people we have, I’ve had the chance to spend a lot of time with them. We talked about the direction that we want to go. I like what we’ve got.


This is part of the process right now. For me, I get a chance to spend more time with interviews. What I’ve been doing for the last
month is spending a lot of time studying film for free agency. Once you come here, the week before, you really start doing the college
players, at least the first three rounds. I really enjoy getting a chance to sit down with them for the 15, 20 minutes or whatever the
time that’s allotted and getting a chance to know them a little bit better.



On Alabama RB Mark Ingram:

Obviously very talented. I’ve only watched a couple games, but you can see why [Ingram] was the Heisman Trophy winner [in 2009].



Where an pass-rusher ranks on the priority list:

I think [outside pass-rusher] ranks right at the top. Obviously when you have any consistent defense, using the 3-4, you’ve got to have
two great outside pass-rushers, a great nose tackle and a great safety.



I obviously am not going to share my feelings through the press. I had to wait til the end of the season and I wanted to share it with Fletcher,
because I wanted to do it the right way. There was a lot of information out there, a lot of misinformation but I have to handle it the way I feel
like I should do it, and do what’s best for our players and our organization.



[spoken to Donovan directly?]

No I haven’t.



Evaluating draft needs:

I think really it helps you going into your second season because you know where you’re at. You know what offense you’re running, the
type of defense you’re running. You have an idea of what players fit in and what players don’t. So then, when you hit free agency and the
draft, you have a gameplan. When you first come in, you’re not really sure. Not sure about the people you have, personalities.
So it is a process the first year.



We’ve got a ways to go. The only place we’re really deep at is the tight end position. That’s why we’ve got to have a good gameplan for free
agency and the draft and build it the right way. It’s not going to happen overnight, it never does. But we’re going to focus on character and guys
that want to be a part of this football team longterm. We want to try to get younger. But we’re not going to do it all overnight.



You can always trade back, that’s a possibility. When you do go into free agency, you’ve got to make sure you’ve got the right type of guy,
especially with the rules and coming in with 500 free agents and being a little different than what we’ve had in the past. If you take a chance
on a guy, he’d better not be making a whole lot of money.



[On Haynesworth]

You never really know. Albert, right now, is appealing a four-game suspension. He’s had a couple alleged instances he’s got to take care of.
Obviously that goes through the commissioner and hopefully that comes out positive. There’s a lot of ramifications there,
so we’ve got to take care of that first.



Evaluating running backs:

We’ve always been pretty lucky, evaluating running backs through the years: the style we look for. Usually watching film, a running back stands
out right away. Some times it may go fourth or sixth round. Some times you see a guy you like and he goes second or third round. So you’ve got
to look at all your options and do what’s right for your football team.



How LT Trent Williams did as a rookie:

Trent’s probably the most talented offensive lineman I’ve ever been around. 325 pounds, he can run a 4.758 40 [yard dash], everything you
look for in an offensive lineman, hopefully he just keeps on getting better.



[On Elway getting the job in Denver]

I was happy for John. John is a football person, obviously his dad was a great football coach. I had a chance to be with John a lot of years
both as an assistant and a head football coach. Obviously he’s very passionate, very bright, very organized. I know he’s biting at the bit to
prove to people that he can get the Broncos back to where they used to be and I know he can get the job done.



[Nose tackle need]

You’re always looking for that great nose tackle. They don’t come around every day. We’ve got a plan in free agency, we’ve got a plan in the
draft. We’re just going to have to let that play out. We do have a couple of guys there, but we don’t have a dominant guy there.



[evaluating spread QBs]

I think what helps is workouts, when you get to do the drills for him on your own, and you get to see the footwork.



[evaluating background of a high draft pick]

You spend a few days with him. As much time as you can, you try to get to know them. Put them through some drills, put them through some
work on the blackboard. A number of different things you do by looking at film.



[on being limited in the are of offseason moves because the lack of a CBA]

I’m planning on something getting done, and then if not, you adjust. So we’ll have to wait and see.



[Impending free agency of Santana Moss, and if they will bring back Clinton Portis]

Relative to free agency and our own, we’re always wanting to sign our players, so we’re constantly talking to their agents. With a guy like
Clinton Portis, he’s a little bit different. With a guy with a high salary cap, I’ve always dealt with it a little differently. If we’re not
going to sign Clinton to that high salary, I’ll let him test the market out. Not to say we don’t want him, but for a lower price, and obviously
we’ll try to find the best deal. It could happen. I don’t want to say right now. If I said that, usually I’m being pretty honest with you.
Could be two days from now, could be three days from now. Could be later today.



[On where negotiations are with Moss]

That’s one thing Bruce Allen has done a great job of, talking with the agents. I’ve moved away from that. And he does a great job with it.
It’s in his hands to get all that stuff done.



[On the potential lockout]

I think everybody’s in the same spot. If it does workout, then we’re ready to go. If it doesn’t work out then we’ll have to wait and see.
I’m ready to go right now. So if we get a deal worked out, we’ll be ready to go. If we don’t then we’ll adjust.



[LaRon Landry’s health]

He’s had some minor surgeries, but right now he’s doing great.



[On how potentially no OTAs will impact players’ conditioning]

I think it’ll work out. You’ll have players that like to workout and stay in shape. Those guys will continue to be in great shape.
There will be a few guys who don’t like to work out and do the things they need to do. They’re not going to change. So it’s part of the equation.



[On Newton]

I think you deal into everything. You watch the film. I’ve watched a lot of film on Cam and he’s an unbelievable athlete. He can make all
the throws and is what you want in a quarterback. I think a lot of people will spend some time and ask what kind of a guy are we dealing
with. Is it a one-year guy, or is he going to take you to the next level. Obviously though he has all the skill you’d want in a quarterback.
Very talented.



[On McNabb move by just after draft?]

I didn’t say that. I said that’s what we’re hoping for. Again I talked to Fletcher for an hour and a half, he gets a chance to digest
the things I said, I get the chance to digest the things he said. And if I had to guess, I would say we’ll take care of it right after the draft, but it could be before.



[On Jake Locker]

I would make more similarities to Jake Plummer for me, relative to his ability to run. He’s got great speed and an ability to do some
things outside the pocket that most quarterbacks can’t do. But I’ve only watched a couple of games and looking forward to watching some more.