After the Denver Broncos fired him, Mike Shanahan said he wanted to take two weeks, sit back, process his thoughts and then make a decision.

During that time, various teams tried contacting him. The list included the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and New York Jets. Despite rampant speculation that he would be on Tampa Bay’s short list of head-coaching candidates, he wasn’t. Shanahan never heard one word from the Buccaneers, who promoted defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to head coach.

Now, after some time away, Shanahan is more inclined than ever to take next season off. Barring the unforeseen, that’s exactly what he’ll do — not coach in 2009.

But then again, gear up for 2010, when the head-coaching candidates in play are expected to include Shanahan, Mike Holmgren, Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden.

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