Shanahan sticking around in Mile High City

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has signed a three-year contract extension, keeping him in Denver through the 2011 NFL season.

Shanahan, 54, led Denver to Super Bowl victories in 1997 and 1998. Since becoming head coach in January 1995, he has led the Broncos to seven playoff appearances and a 123-69 regular-season record, best in the NFL over that span.

Although he’s had just one losing season, in 1999 following John Elway’s retirement, Shanahan has just one playoff win the last eight seasons.

His victory total with Denver is 11th-best by one coach with one team in NFL history. Since he became their coach, the Broncos have led the NFL in points, total yards and yards rushing.

He ranks third among active coaches with 139 career wins, including eight in the playoffs. He also coached the Raiders from 1988-89.

Marshall granted pardon

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jim Marshall’s felony drug conviction was scrubbed from his record by the state Board of Pardons with the aid of his former coach.

Marshall, an ironman of pro football for nearly two decades, won a pardon for his 1991 conviction on a cocaine possession charge, a clean bill of health he sought so he can travel the world without restrictions to do work for a nonprofit he co-founded.

Now 70, Marshall came to a hearing at the state courts building with his former coach, Hall of Famer Bud Grant, and lawyer Ron Meshbesher. Marshall’s application for the pardon included letters of support from policemen and former Minnesota Chief Justice A.M. “Sandy” Keith.

Marshall, who completed probation in 1996, said he was humiliated by the arrest, has been sober since then and has worked with the Life’s Missing Link charity to urge young people to stay away from drugs. Meshbesher said Marshall has had difficulty obtaining travel visas for some countries because of his criminal record.