Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder's hands-on approach and his close relationship with quarterback Robert Griffin III has potential coaching candidates wary of taking over as the team's next coach, according to Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report.
Snyder fired coach Mike Shanahan on Monday after a season of drama and controversy that ended with a 3-13 record. Despite the high-profile vacancy, coaches reportedly aren't clamoring for the job.
"There is a feeling among the agents for a number of the NFL coaching candidates that the candidates are very nervous about coaching in Washington," Freeman wrote on Wednesday. "They know about Dan Snyder's reported meddling and that Robert Griffin III became closer to the owner than the head coach. They wonder if that knee will ever totally heal. The organization makes some of the candidates damn skittish.
"'A situation where a lot of money is almost guaranteed to come with a lot of headaches,' said one agent.
"Another agent said coaches in the running for head coaching jobs have the most questions about two organizations: Washington and Cleveland."
Griffin appeared to struggle in his first season back from ACL surgery, and he ultimately found himself benched for the last three games of the season. Shanahan and Griffin appeared to have a fractured relationship over the summer.
ESPN reported in December that Shanahan, who was said to have grown unhappy with Griffin and Snyder's close relationship, had planned to quit after last season but changed his mind when Griffin tore his ACL.
Washington already has several targets in their search for a new coach. They already spoke to Seahawks coordinator Darrell Bevell and are expected to interview Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell and Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott in the near future, according to ESPN.
The team also requested permission from the New York Giants to interview defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.
