ASHBURN, Va. -- When the Washington Redskins hired Mike Shanahan, they gave him the power in the organization. Now that he's been fired, that power will transfer to general manager Bruce Allen.
"The control will be mine," Allen said Monday.
Allen said that also means control over personnel decisions. But he said he will work with director of player personnel Scott Campbell and director of pro personnel Morocco Brown, who interviewed for the general manager's position with Arizona last offseason, on any sort of personnel decisions. The Redskins also have former San Diego general manager A.J. Smith listed as a senior executive.
"We are going to redefine some of the characteristics that we're looking for in players," Allen said. "Obviously when we have a new head coach there will be some schematic adjustments that we will make, but that power will be with me."
Allen said the team will keep everyone in their current roles -- and they will be involved in the interview process for Shanahan's successor.
"We feel comfortable with them," Allen said. "It doesn't mean we might not add somebody to the personnel department, but we feel we have a good personnel department that has been interviewed for other positions and we're comfortable with it now."
However, if there's a coach the team really wants who demands the same sort of power Shanahan had, it's always possible the setup could change again. Or Allen could maintain the power, taking other opinions -- coaches and the personnel department -- into account but making the final decision. When the Redskins hired Allen, he was considered as much a politician as a GM.
For now, Allen will remain in charge.
"My job is to put the Washington Redskins organization on the right track," Allen said, "and to continue to build the foundation for this team to win, and it is my job to find the next head coach for the Washington Redskins."
One candidate for the coaching vacancy will be Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. Redskins officials were in Seattle meeting with Bevell on Tuesday, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Another candidate will be Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, who is scheduled to interview with the Redskins this weekend in Charlotte, N.C., a league source told ESPN.