ASHBURN, Va. http://www.manchesterunitedteamshop.com/Chris-Smalling-Manchester-United-FC-Jersey.html . -- Mike Shanahan, still for now the coach of the Washington Redskins, made a surprising reversal Monday and said he might bench a "100 per cent" healthy Robert Griffin III for the rest of the season to keep the quarterback from getting hurt. Shanahan essentially declared it might be more beneficial for Griffin to get off-season snaps in May rather than game experience over the next three weeks. The coach, for the first time, then explicitly left open the possibility that he might not return next year, saying his future will be decided after he meets with owner Dan Snyder at the end of the season. Shanahans departure appears more likely than ever after the Redskins (3-10) were embarrassed 45-10 by Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, a fifth straight loss that ensures a third season of double-digit losses in the coachs four seasons in Washington. "You always want to come back. I love these guys," Shanahan said. "Whatll happen at the end of the season, well get a chance, Dan and I, to sit down and decide -- hell make the final decision on whats the best interest of the Washington Redskins. Ill give my opinion and what I think, and obviously hell make the final decision." Shanahan said he has a "good relationship" with Snyder and spoke with the owner on Monday. The coach didnt go into detail about the conversation other than to say it involved Griffin. "He asked me about my relationship with Robert," Shanahan said. "And I said I was his coach, his head football coach, and not necessarily his best friend, dont need to be his best friend. I want to make him the best quarterback possible." A team spokesman said Snyder was not available for comment. Nevertheless, Shanahan has increasingly appeared to be the odd man out in the triangle of owner, coach and quarterback. Shanahan and Griffin have publicly clashed this season, and Shanahan said he hasnt discussed the possible benching with Griffin and wont do so until after making a final decision on Wednesday. On Sunday, when asked if he had any doubts he would start the upcoming game against the Atlanta Falcons, Griffin replied: "No, thats not an issue." In discussing the reasons for sitting Griffin in favour of backup Kirk Cousins, Shanahan repeatedly pointed out that Griffin has been sacked 24 times in the last five games. He also noted that Griffin missed this years off-season practices while recovering from major knee surgery, a reason often cited for Griffins struggles a year after winning the NFLs offensive rookie of the year award. "Were talking about his health," Shanahan said. "I want to make sure hes healthy. I think thats the most important thing going into the off-season, that he has his first full off-season being healthy. And if he did play, and something happened to him, I think it would set our franchise back." Shanahan has previously insisted that Griffin would remain the starter if healthy because the quarterback needed as much regular season work as possible to develop an all-around game. Asked if Griffin is healthy now, Shanahan said: "I think hes 100 per cent. I think hes feeling very good." The tension was palpable throughout Shanahans news conference, which also included him debunking a report that he cleaned out his office in advance of Januarys playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks. "It would take me two minutes to clean out my office," Shanahan said. "Ive got two notebooks and Ive got an iPad. When I hear different things like that, I just shake my head." Such bizarre days have become standard fare for the Redskins under Snyder. The team is 104-133 in the regular season since he bought the team in 1999, and Shanahan is his seventh coach in 15 seasons. Shanahan is 24-37 in Washington. And, according to Shanahan, there are more bizarre days to come. "Fortunately I havent been in too many of these situations, and if you have, then youre not around very long," Shanahan said. "But I understand what goes on when you win the NFC East and all of sudden youve got three wins. It goes with the territory. I understand theres going to be a different story every day, and its not going to change over the next three weeks." Notes: RB Evan Royster will go on injured reserve with a high left ankle sprain. ... There was a rare moment of levity during Shanahans news conference when a Redskins intern stumbled to the floor while helping to pass out microphones. "OK, we got one on IR," Shanahan said with a chuckle. "Some guys will do anything to get on TV." Danny Welbeck shirts . It didnt take long for the pair to realize they shared a blueprint for what it will take get the franchise back on track. In his first significant hire since being named the Canucks president of hockey operations last month, Linden officially introduced Benning as the teams 11th general manager on Friday, two days after the club announced the move. Guillermo Varela Womens Jersey . Averaging over seven runs per game in their last 11 contests, the Blue Jays look to keep the production going tonight in the second of four straight meetings with the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum.PHOENIX - Patrick Beverley sank the go-ahead 3-pointer with 34.3 seconds to play and the Houston Rockets escaped with 115-112 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. Dwight Howard scored 25, James Harden 23 and Beverley 20 for the Rockets, who trailed by 10 entering the fourth quarter. Goran Dragic scored a career-high 35 for the Suns, but missed what would have been the game-tying 3 at the buzzer. Gerald Green added 23, 18 in the third quarter, and Markieff Morris 21 for Phoenix. Beverley, who scored 12 in the fourth, made two free throws that boosted Houstons lead to 113-110 with 20 seconds to go before Dragic scored on a layup to cut it to 113-112 with 14.7 seconds to play. Donatas Motiejunas sank two free throws with 14.1 seconds left to put Houston up 115-112. Phoenixs last lead was 110-108 on Morris driving layup with 47.3 seconds remaining. The Rockets scored four points in one possession when Marcus Morris was called for a questionable clear-path foul against Chandler Parsons with 6:16 to play. Parsons made both free throws, then Harden sank a 19-footer to cut the Suns lead to 98-96 with 5:54 to play. Houston tied the game three times before Beverleys big shot put Houston up for good. The Rockets dominated inside with a 64-42 advantage in points in the paint. Dragic made 10 shots in a row, half of them 3s, from the first quarter until he missed a long 3 midway through the third. He had 19 points on 7-for-7 shooting in the second quarter to help Phoenix erase Houstons 17-point lead, but Howard returned to the game and the Rockets were up 60-56 at the breeak.http://www.manchesterunitedteamshop.com/Wilfried-Zaha-Manchester-United-FC-Jersey.html. Phoenix used a 12-1 run to go up 77-70 on P.J. Tuckers steal and breakaway dunk with 5:16 left in the third quarter. Chandler Parsons rebound basket cut it to 88-83 with 35 seconds left in the quarter, but Miles Plumlee scored on a rebound, then Green banked in a 28-footer just before the buzzer to put the Suns up 93-83 entering the fourth. Early on, it was all Rockets. Omer Asiks three-point play gave Houston its biggest lead 37-19 with 9:55 left in the half. The Suns outscored the Rockets 26-8 over the next six minutes, consecutive 3s by Dragic giving Phoenix a 48-45 lead with 3:32 left in the half. But Howard came back from a brief rest and scored the first five in an 11-0 spurt that put the Rockets up 56-48 with 1:57 to play in the half. Dragic, though, sank two more 3s to help cut the lead to six at halftime. Dragic scored 25 in the first half on 10-of-12 shooting. He missed his first 3-pointer, then made the other five in the first half. Howard had 18 points and seven rebounds in the half. NOTES: Dragic has seven games of at least 30 points this season. ... Howard had 34 points and 14 rebounds in the Rockets 122-108 win over Phoenix on Feb. 5. ... Phoenixs 40 points was the most for a Rockets opponent in the second quarter this season and matched the most by the Suns. ... Houston won the season series 2-1. ... The Suns were without Leandro Barbosa for the second game in a row with a sprained toe. ... Ex-Sun and current Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson appeared at halftime to commemorate his baseline dunk over Houstons Hakeem Olajuwon 20 years ago. ' ' '
