Mike Shanahan's Firing: From "The Nation's" Point of View

When the news reached me that Mike Shanahan was gone, there was both elation and a bit of shock. After all, here was the man who year in and year out would drill his team on rivalry, bitterness, and how to take it to Al Davis.

Most of the people know the story. Mike's first coaching job was in LA with the Raiders, and it didn't pan out. Al felt he was trying to destroy the Raiders' style, while Shanahan was simply trying to do things his way.

Exit Shanahan, enter Art Shell.

Shanahan goes to Denver, gets into the coaching circuit again, and when Wade Philips can't replace Dan Reeves, well, Mike gets a second chance and helped Denver win two Super Bowls, something Reeves couldn't do in three tries.

As a Raider fan, this guy was public enemy No. 1. From Art Shell until now, about the only coach that had decent numbers going head to head with Mike was Jon Gruden.

However, the aura of invincibility started to fade these last two years. There was the timeout game, with Mike throwing a timeout in overtime, negating a field goal. The second game last year, Oakland made sure a timeout wouldn't stop them, beating up a Broncos team bad enough, that some wondered if it derailed their course to the playoffs.

Denver would claim, oh, it was Cutler's undiagnosed illness for last season's collapse.

This season, Denver started out good, winning big in Oakland, and again, Denver was off to the races, going 4-1.

Then down to 5-5.

When Oakland and Denver faced off later in the season, most people thought Denver would have no problems, some even saying, what's next week? The Jets?

Oakland went to Denver and punished the Broncos by almost the same margin that Denver won back in September.

Shortly after that, Denver's self-destruction continued.

So, how does the firing affect the Raider Nation?

In a way, we're elated. We don't have to face the Rat-Man anymore, deal with anymore sneaky actions, or torment twice a year.

At the same time, some fear that some clubs might try to trade up (e.g. the Chiefs), and then not only do we have to face him twice, but then Denver's going to get shelled by their former coach, too. (I've heard Kansas City is retaining Herman Edwards...all I'd say, is why?)

But there's been talk of him going to a big-time club, like Dallas. Sure, Jerry Jones speaks a good piece about Wade Philips, but let's be honest. If you had your choice...

So, Oakland's happy Mike is now unemployed. But I think everyone agrees, it won't be for long. It'll be a matter on where he lands, is how fast he'll be back in contention.

Denver, for that matter, is in a different situation altogether...But that's for another story.