Shanahan Welcome in Denver

If Mike Shanahan wants to become an assistant coach again, he’s welcome to return to the Denver Broncos’ staff.

Shanahan, a former offensive coordinator with the Broncos, was fired Tuesday as head coach of the Raiders.

Bronco Coach Dan Reeves said that although he hasn’t talked with Shanahan since the firing, he definitely is receptive to discussing Shanahan’s return to Denver.

“I wouldn’t rule out any possibility,” Reeves said. “Mike is a great coach. I don’t know what his plans are, but I would love to have Mike Shanahan on our staff.”

Asked what capacity he would fill, Reeves said, “Anything but head coach.”

Shanahan, 37, guided the Raiders to a 7-9 record in his first season in 1988. This year, after winning their opener, the Raiders lost their next three games.

Shanahan is believed to have two-plus years remaining on his contract with the Raiders, a deal that pays him about $300,000 a year. “I feel badly for Mike because I don’t think he was given an opportunity,” Reeves said.

Before taking the Raiders’ job, Shanahan was an assistant coach in Denver for four seasons, serving as offensive coordinator during Denver’s two Super Bowl seasons of 1986 and 1987.

Reeves said he never talked with Shanahan about the influence of Raiders’ managing general partner Al Davis. But Reeves said former Raider coach Tom Flores had told him when he resigned after the 1987 season that he had grown weary of Davis’ interference.

On Tuesday, Art Shell was named the Raiders’ new head coach, becoming the first black head coach in modern NFL history.

“I think the world of Art,” Reeves said. “He’s been a great player, and I know he can be a great coach. He certainly has silver and black running through his blood. I wish him the best . . . in all his games except one.”

In Chicago, Bear Coach Mike Ditka ripped Davis for firing Shanahan, a friend of Ditka’s.

“I’m disappointed for Mike Shanahan,” Ditka told Chicago writers. “I think he got a very raw deal. That guy has taken the organization backward and it’s going to be hard for him to get it straightened out. And I mean Davis.

“There comes a certain point when this isn’t 1970 anymore, or 1968 or even 1979. The Raiders have got to go through a complete rebuilding process. “He (Davis) has to let the coach coach. If you want to coach, then you coach. But let the guy coach who you hire.”