The NFL Coaching Carousel
January 5th 2011 15:44
Although it may not be as heated-up as we once thought it would be, the process of firing and replacing NFL coaches is still on fire. You would think it wouldn't be such a big deal seeing as the NFL may not ever get going in the fall of 2011 any way. This has caused a few teams to take a more conservative approach, with the Vikings removing the interim tag from Leslie Frazier and the Cowboys likely staying in house with Jason Garrett. That wouldn't exactly be the norm for Jerry Jones, but then again, the next year could be the least normal one for the NFL in a long time.
Many, including myself, are still surprised that some coaches retained their jobs. Marvin Lewis, even though I think he's a great guy, shouldn't still be in Cincinnati. I'm still scratching my head about Gary Kubiak being welcomed back by the Texans. The New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars also held on to their coaches, with the always seeming hot-seat members Tom Coughlin and Jack Del Rio staying employed respectively.
The experts ready to take a stab at trying to pin the next coach for a team, aren't quite having the field day that most would have thought. Even ESPN's NFL insider Adam Schefter and half-anchor, half-idiot Hannah Storm gave each other a high-five when news that Eric Mangini had been fired came through. But don't get me wrong, Mangini is far from alone. John Fox is out at Carolina, Tom Cable becomes the newest member to exit Al Davis' personal coaching carousel, and Tony Sparano is as good as gone.
The top replacements are one's every one is by now familiar with. Jim Harbaugh, Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher, and a mix-in of Brian Billick and Hue Jackson. Sources say the Dolphins are trying to "woo" Cowher or Harbaugh, while the Browns may just have Mike Holmgren take the coaching reigns. With Cable out in Oakland, their offensive coordinator Jackson might get a heavy look. Harbaugh may have the Miami option, or possibly the Carolina one as well. Multiple sites have reported that Carolina would draft Andrew Luck with the first pick, so the tandem sticking together is possible.
Another coach I think that should be getting some attention from teams is John Fox. Yes, that John Fox. It wasn't nearly all his fault with Carolina plumeting to the bottom this year, and I think this guy can still coach in the NFL, maybe with the Browns or out in Denver, where the booting of Josh McDaniels has been old news for awhile. Seeing where Gruden and Billick go is still a major toss-up, with their TV runs going very well. Billick seems more ready to jump back in than Gruden, but we'll see if that's the case.
San Francisco is also an open job, but despite me thinking of Gruden as a "Cali" type of guy, San Fran, with no quarterback, isn't the fit for him. If ot for Garrett, Gruden would be good for Dallas. Another job that may open up is the Tennesee one. Jeff Fisher and owner Bud Adams are still going at it about Vince Young. I say get over it Bud, Vince isn't what you first thought, even if he stays away from off-field incidents and on-field injuries and tantrums. Fisher is a solid coach, one you want to have during, and coming out of a lockout if one were to occur.
So the carousel will continue to go round, and faces will match with places eventually. But for now, let's enjoy the playoffs. You never know, it might be the last games we see for awhile.
Many, including myself, are still surprised that some coaches retained their jobs. Marvin Lewis, even though I think he's a great guy, shouldn't still be in Cincinnati. I'm still scratching my head about Gary Kubiak being welcomed back by the Texans. The New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars also held on to their coaches, with the always seeming hot-seat members Tom Coughlin and Jack Del Rio staying employed respectively.
The experts ready to take a stab at trying to pin the next coach for a team, aren't quite having the field day that most would have thought. Even ESPN's NFL insider Adam Schefter and half-anchor, half-idiot Hannah Storm gave each other a high-five when news that Eric Mangini had been fired came through. But don't get me wrong, Mangini is far from alone. John Fox is out at Carolina, Tom Cable becomes the newest member to exit Al Davis' personal coaching carousel, and Tony Sparano is as good as gone.
The top replacements are one's every one is by now familiar with. Jim Harbaugh, Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher, and a mix-in of Brian Billick and Hue Jackson. Sources say the Dolphins are trying to "woo" Cowher or Harbaugh, while the Browns may just have Mike Holmgren take the coaching reigns. With Cable out in Oakland, their offensive coordinator Jackson might get a heavy look. Harbaugh may have the Miami option, or possibly the Carolina one as well. Multiple sites have reported that Carolina would draft Andrew Luck with the first pick, so the tandem sticking together is possible.
Another coach I think that should be getting some attention from teams is John Fox. Yes, that John Fox. It wasn't nearly all his fault with Carolina plumeting to the bottom this year, and I think this guy can still coach in the NFL, maybe with the Browns or out in Denver, where the booting of Josh McDaniels has been old news for awhile. Seeing where Gruden and Billick go is still a major toss-up, with their TV runs going very well. Billick seems more ready to jump back in than Gruden, but we'll see if that's the case.
San Francisco is also an open job, but despite me thinking of Gruden as a "Cali" type of guy, San Fran, with no quarterback, isn't the fit for him. If ot for Garrett, Gruden would be good for Dallas. Another job that may open up is the Tennesee one. Jeff Fisher and owner Bud Adams are still going at it about Vince Young. I say get over it Bud, Vince isn't what you first thought, even if he stays away from off-field incidents and on-field injuries and tantrums. Fisher is a solid coach, one you want to have during, and coming out of a lockout if one were to occur.
So the carousel will continue to go round, and faces will match with places eventually. But for now, let's enjoy the playoffs. You never know, it might be the last games we see for awhile.
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