Who will be the Denver Broncos' new head coach may be resolved today - then again maybe not.
The finalists are San Francisco 49er offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan - who held the same job for several years with the Broncos - and Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.The Broncos could not be reached for comment Sunday.
Shanahan reportedly is Bronco owner Pat Bowlen's first choice, but there is a problem with salary and power.
A Denver Post source said Shanahan wants to make sure he has the power and resources to hire his assistant coaches.
When he was hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders in 1988, Shanahan had to keep four assistant coaches from the previous staff. Conflict developed and Shanahan was fired four games into this second season by Raiders president Al Davis.
Sources also told Denver newspapers that money is another sticking point. Shanahan reportedly has been offered $350,000 or $400,000 a year by the Broncos. Fired Broncos coach Dan Reeves was making close to $1 million a year when he got the boot.
The 49ers are in a bidding war to keep Shanahan in San Francisco, according to 49ers president Carmen Policy.
The 49ers have offered to give Shanahan, who earned about $200,000 last year, a three-year contract extension for about $1.2 million.