Redskins looking to fire Mike Shanahan and withhold $8 million

There were reports that Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan was ready to quit after the 2012 season. The Robert Griffin III injury forced him to stay because he didn’t want it to be perceived as the reason he left. He might not get the chance to leave on his own terms this time around.

Mark Maske of the Washington Post is reporting that the Redskins are looking at ways to fire Shanahan and keep the money owed to him over the remainder of his contract.

"Shanahan would have the ability to challenge such a tactic by the Redskins via a grievance. One person familiar with NFL legal matters said he didn’t know if the Redskins would take such an approach with Shanahan but they would face a difficult task in proving such a case."

There is a lot of money at stake as well. Shanahan is signed through 2014 at $7 million per season. If he were fired after the season he’d be owed $7 million, if it is during the season it’d be that number plus the remainder he is owed for this season.

This will be an interesting situation to watch play out and could impact several head coaching vacancies around the league.