Broncos who played under Shanahan glad to see him return to the NFL coaching ranks

Several holdovers laud Shanahan’s return to NFL

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Some were sad to see him go in the first place. All were glad to hear Mike Shanahan was getting back into the NFL coaching world.

When the Denver Broncos cleaned out their lockers earlier in the week after going 8-8 under first-year coach Josh McDaniels, they were pleased Shanahan was in the process of re-entering the coaching ranks.

Shanahan was introduced as the Redskins’ new coach Wednesday, a day after signing his five-year, $35 million contract that gives him final authority over football decisions as head coach and executive vice president in Washington, essentially the same role he had in Denver.

“Well, I tell you what, if anybody can get it turned around, he can,” said Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey, who came to Denver from Washington in one of the biggest moves of Shanahan’s time in Denver. “It’s been so up and down the last 10 years in Washington. And I wish him the best.”

Shanahan was fired a little over a year ago in Denver, where he won two Super Bowls in the 1990s.

Tight end Tony Scheffler, who ended up in McDaniels’ doghouse by season’s end and was one of many holdovers from the Shanahan era who saw their roles reduced under the new coach, smiled at the thought of Shanahan roaming the sidelines again.

“That’s awesome,” Scheffler said Monday upon hearing Shanahan was in Washington, D.C., to hammer out details of a contract with owner Dan Snyder. “That’s obviously a great city, a great organization with an owner that’s willing to do a lot to win, so that’s a great situation for him.

“He’s the one that brought me here to Denver, so I have a lot of respect for him.”

Elvis Dumervil was one of only a couple of Shanahan holdovers who thrived in the new regime, recording an NFL-leading and team-record 17 sacks. He, too, was glad to hear Shanahan’s exile was ending.

“I wish him the best,” Dumervil said. “… Good for the Redskins.”

Although he hasn’t spoken publicly about it, the happiest one at Dove Valley is probably Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, who will save millions now that Shanahan has signed on with another team.

Bowlen was on the hook for Shanahan’s $7 million salary last year as Shanahan was fired with three years and $21 million left on his contract in Denver.

AP Sports Writer Pat Graham contributed to this report.