Had no idea Vance Joseph faced pretty credible sexual assault allegations. Perhaps he could join up on the Lions' staff if Cincy doesn't work out?
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25656735/tampa-bay-buccaneers-gm-says-new-coach-accept-jameis-winston
This probably makes the Bucs job the least attractive open job right?
So if you are a person who has enough chops to be in the list being discussed as new head coach, how do you rank the openings? Here's my take:Lincoln Riley is smart. He is building something there. For the vast majority, the NFL is fool’s gold. For the most part, NFL owners are adolescent idiots.
they look like they might have a good QB on a rookie deal, and everyone below them has some combination of:Jets don’t belong at 3rd on any list unless it’s in inverse order. Good lord man...
they look like they might have a good QB on a rookie deal, and everyone below them has some combination of:
Terrible Cap
Bad QB at $$$$
Bad GM
Bad Owner
For the first 4 years of Matt Ryan's career, Mike Mularkey was Atlanta's offensive coordinator. Just thought that was odd. How often do guys coach as OC in some location, leave and then come back?The Falcons interviewed Mike Mularkey for their vacant offensive coordinator position.
Kill me.
The Falcons are also reportedly preparing to interview *another* of Matt Ryan's OCs for a second go at the position - Dirk Koetter.For the first 4 years of Matt Ryan's career, Mike Mularkey was Atlanta's offensive coordinator. Just thought that was odd. How often do guys coach as OC in some location, leave and then come back?
The Falcons interviewed Mike Mularkey for their vacant offensive coordinator position.
Kill me.
Even worse will be the Darrel Bevell interview.The Falcons are also reportedly preparing to interview *another* of Matt Ryan's OCs for a second go at the position - Dirk Koetter.
Kill me again.
There’s that’s one asshole that left the Colts at the altar, so it happens.For the first 4 years of Matt Ryan's career, Mike Mularkey was Atlanta's offensive coordinator. Just thought that was odd. How often do guys coach as OC in some location, leave and then come back?
1Green baySo if you are a person who has enough chops to be in the list being discussed as new head coach, how do you rank the openings? Here's my take:
- Cleveland
- Green Bay
- NYJets
- Denver
- Miami
- Tampa
- Arizona
- Cinci
In GB you're dealing with an aging, moody, and now injury prone QB. Put me in zona or Florida where the expectations are low.1Green bay
2Denver
3Cinci
4Miami
5Cleveland
6Arizona
7Tampa
8NyJ
Unsurprising---people are overvaluing Lewis' tenure in assessing that job, IMO. I think it's a pretty poor organization without a ton in place. Being in a mediocre to bad situation for a long time is not really a positive thing for McD.
Josh reportedly passing on an interview with the Bengals.
I think the other advantage to Cincinnati is having more of an opportunity to have a say in personnel matters versus the other jobs where a GM / personnel guy is already in place. The importance of that is going to vary to different candidates.Unsurprising---people are overvaluing Lewis' tenure in assessing that job, IMO. I think it's a pretty poor organization without a ton in place. Being in a mediocre to bad situation for a long time is not really a positive thing for McD.
I don't personally like AR or the pack but he's clearly been top 1 or 2 QBs in the league the last few years, this year and injures aside. I think he has some years left in the tank.In GB you're dealing with an aging, moody, and now injury prone QB. Put me in zona or Florida where the expectations are low.
I don't know about ownership not spending money. They haven't used free agency much but they've spent to keep their own guys - Green, Atkins, Dalton, Burfict, even guys like Dre Kirkpatrick where they probably should have. With the 90% cash floor in this CBA it's not clear that an organization can really get away with not spending money.Yes, that's a good point---though it is lessened in appeal somewhat by the unwillingness of ownership to spend money and the relative lack of appeal of the team/market.
It's not the worst situation out there---I would aruge it's a better one than the Jets job for example--but I do not think it's near the top either.
When's the last time Rodgers played like a top 1-2 QB over the course of an entire season? 2014?I don't personally like AR or the pack but he's clearly been top 1 or 2 QBs in the league the last few years, this year and injures aside. I think he has some years left in the tank.
An interesting note on that. Recall that great BB/Parcells joint-interview/joint-remembrance program?
BB gushed about Parcells giving him Head Coach training. The praise could not have been more effusive. Being called into Parcells’ office for explanations about why Parcells was handling a player a certain way, personnel moves and so forth.
Gase had 3 years.Miami just gave up on a decent coach after 2 years, or is it 3. I think firing Gase is a mistake and I wouldn't trust ownership to allow a coach to build things.
I’d probably put him 3rd or 4th. Brown’s tenure as coach was about average, making the playoffs 3 times. Depends on how you view Gregg and Wyche making the SB versus Lewis’ overall record.Cinnci is tough too because (other then Paul Brown) you probably following their best coach ever.
Right, because Jets have a great GM and owner....they look like they might have a good QB on a rookie deal, and everyone below them has some combination of:
Terrible Cap
Bad QB at $$$$
Bad GM
Bad Owner
I'd probably rank Cleveland GB 1-2 as well, in addition to what SR said above both teams have good O lines and draft capital in the 2019 draft (GB has an extra 1st and 4th, Cleveland has an extra 3rd rounder and two extra 5th rounders). I'd drop Denver down pretty far on the list-above just Cinci and maybe Arizona. They still have a QB problem, and I dont think Elway is the guy to solve it. He's drafted Brock Osweiler, Zac Dysert, Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch and Chad Kelly since 2012. Elway's record as a GM in non-Payton Manning years is pretty far in the red.Here are my thoughts for why I ranked as I did.
Cleveland -- Mayfield, tons of young talent, tons of cap space. Division possibly on downside. Make the playoffs and you'll be a hero. Win a playoff game and they will erect a statue.
GB -- Rodgers, historical franchise, great fans, stable ownership, some other good young talent.
NYJ -- Darnold, some good young talent on D, #3 pick this year, second most cap space. Again, not much recent positive history to contend with.
Den -- lots of talent, though not at QB, recent history of success under Elway -- can he do it again?, maybe the best HFA in the NFL
Mia -- cap crap, Tannehill, ownership -- none are awful, but none are positives. OTOH, another team without much recent positive history to contend with.
Tam -- a good amount of talent on hand, depending on your view of James
Ari -- #1 pick in hand, Josh Rosen, David Johnson -- all pluses. But they are probably looking up at all other teams in their division with the Rams being miles above them
Cinci -- management/ownership (how can you trust a group that let Marvin Lewis coach for 13 years?), not much young talent left, looking up at the other teams in the division
What is it Gase did in 3 years that you think warrants him coming back, particularly as the Dolphins move away from Tannehill, Gase's darling of sorts, and one of the big reasons they brought Gase in in the first place. I've been a bit ambivalent about Gase, even now, but I think the argument(s) against him are solid.Miami just gave up on a decent coach after 2 years, or is it 3. I think firing Gase is a mistake and I wouldn't trust ownership to allow a coach to build things.
the point was that they appear to have possibly gotten a good QB, none of the teams below them do (maybe Arizona has a shot) and none have some great structure to offset that. You could make a case to me for a team with no QB if they had a great owner, GM and cap space because they could maybe acquire one. When you have at most 1 of those 3, and no QB.... you're going to be bad. Nobody wants to take a job with a bad team and lock himself into Jameis/Keenum/Tannehill/Dalton if he could get a similarly bad team with what looks like a good QB in Darnold on a cheap deal (plus a high pick to spend on other holes)Right, because Jets have a great GM and owner....
Which is fair, I just don’t have the same opinion of Darnold that you seem to. They do have cap space, true. But the ownership is a mess and I don’t see what faith to put into Maccagnan. When he goes and drops $15/yr on Bell or some other dumb move it’s not gonna help.the point was that they appear to have possibly gotten a good QB, none of the teams below them do (maybe Arizona has a shot) and none have some great structure to offset that. You could make a case to me for a team with no QB if they had a great owner, GM and cap space because they could maybe acquire one. When you have at most 1 of those 3, and no QB.... you're going to be bad. Nobody wants to take a job with a bad team and lock himself into Jameis/Keenum/Tannehill/Dalton if he could get a similarly bad team with what looks like a good QB in Darnold on a cheap deal (plus a high pick to spend on other holes)
Dorsey is nobody’s fool. I’d love to have a spy in that interview if it happens.https://www.cantonrep.com/sports/20190103/doerschuk-josh-mcdaniels-very-interested-in-browns-job
Josh McDaniels "Very Interested" in Browns job. This is always where I thought he would end up. It really is a perfect fit for both sides and I think he'd do really well in Cleveland.
I don’t recall. I do recall that this was the commitment made going forward when Josh reneged on the Colts job last year.Didn't McD say similar things about BB?
I think it has the potential to be a terrible hire for Cleveland. After last year's circus, they a stable presence as a head coach ... and I think the jury's out over whether McDaniels could provide that. He was flaky, to be kind, in Denver, and the Indy debacle doesn't help.https://www.cantonrep.com/sports/20190103/doerschuk-josh-mcdaniels-very-interested-in-browns-job
Josh McDaniels "Very Interested" in Browns job. This is always where I thought he would end up. It really is a perfect fit for both sides and I think he'd do really well in Cleveland.
I remember hearing that and chuckling to myself. But, hey, if he gets Rhule a few extra bucks on a reworked deal, good job by him.Let’s play a little connect the dots.
Earlier this week, Lombardi mentioned Rhule from Baylor as a possibility for the Jets
Today Mehta drops a story about the Jets interest in Rhule.
Who has a son coaching at Baylor and another coaching at the Jets? Mike Lombardi.
From wiki:
He and his wife, Millie, have two sons:[5] Matt, who is a coach for the Baylor Bears; and Mick, who is a coach for the New York Jets.[citation needed]
I think a majority of coaches would take the opportunity to coach Rodgers over the situation in Cleveland, but those are definitely the two best jobs. The Johnson family’s ownership puts the Jets a notch below those two, but it’s clearly better than the others, each of which has obvious flaws.Here are my thoughts for why I ranked as I did.
Cleveland -- Mayfield, tons of young talent, tons of cap space. Division possibly on downside. Make the playoffs and you'll be a hero. Win a playoff game and they will erect a statue.
GB -- Rodgers, historical franchise, great fans, stable ownership, some other good young talent.
NYJ -- Darnold, some good young talent on D, #3 pick this year, second most cap space. Again, not much recent positive history to contend with.
Den -- lots of talent, though not at QB, recent history of success under Elway -- can he do it again?, maybe the best HFA in the NFL
Mia -- cap crap, Tannehill, ownership -- none are awful, but none are positives. OTOH, another team without much recent positive history to contend with.
Tam -- a good amount of talent on hand, depending on your view of James
Ari -- #1 pick in hand, Josh Rosen, David Johnson -- all pluses. But they are probably looking up at all other teams in their division with the Rams being miles above them
Cinci -- management/ownership (how can you trust a group that let Marvin Lewis coach for 13 years?), not much young talent left, looking up at the other teams in the division
Just to isolate this piece of it - your comment may be true, but they may have also just decided to move on from a tire fire. Based on last year's coaching carousel it seemed like they got stuck with one of the worst hires after the game of musical chairs had subsided. It is important they get the right guy with Rosen and the #1 pick coming and if they knew Wilks wasn't that guy then it would be wise to move on.With Rosen and the #1 pick, Arizona might be a good situation with patient ownership, but the decision to fire Wilks after just one season suggests that patience won’t be in abundant supply.
I definitely agree. That’s why I put Arizona ahead of a lot of other jobs — there is definitely something to work with, and if Wilks was the wrong man for the job, ownership was right not to keep him around to let him fuck it up. I do think it’s hard, however, to attract a good coach to lead a long-term rebuild (which is what’s needed in Arizona) when you just sacked your coach after one season.Just to isolate this piece of it - your comment may be true, but they may have also just decided to move on from a tire fire. Based on last year's coaching carousel it seemed like they got stuck with one of the worst hires after the game of musical chairs had subsided. It is important they get the right guy with Rosen and the #1 pick coming and if they knew Wilks wasn't that guy then it would be wise to move on.
That said, if they end up hiring like Todd Bowles or Brian Flores, then yeah, they will have fucked up again.
I think the general feeling of people who cover the league seems to be that ARI has one of the worst Ownership/GM situations. Keim's draft record is.... not great, he hasn't done much in the trade for FA markets, and he has the dubious distinction of having been suspended 5 games this year for "extreme" DUI. The ownership is Bidwell who is a clown. The Arizona papers have basically said that Bidwell was the reason Arians didn't come back, and wanted to move on from anything Arians related, and was the driving force in hiring Wilks (his GM didn't want Wilks, preferring incumbent D-coordinator Bettcher). But don't think that means Kleim is good, his compromise with Bidwell is that Wilks had to agree to Kleim's choice for O-Coordinator........ MIKE FUCKING MCCOY possibly the worst offensive coordinator of this or any decade.Just to isolate this piece of it - your comment may be true, but they may have also just decided to move on from a tire fire. Based on last year's coaching carousel it seemed like they got stuck with one of the worst hires after the game of musical chairs had subsided. It is important they get the right guy with Rosen and the #1 pick coming and if they knew Wilks wasn't that guy then it would be wise to move on.
That said, if they end up hiring like Todd Bowles or Brian Flores, then yeah, they will have fucked up again.
2016 top 5 in yards, prob number 1 in td, prob number 1 td/int ratio, one of the highest qb ratingsWhen's the last time Rodgers played like a top 1-2 QB over the course of an entire season? 2014?
UCLA already refused permission for 2 NFL teams to interview Kingsbury for head coaching gigs, not sure why they would turn around and let him leave for a coordinator job.PFT saying Pats preparing for Josh to leave and to keep eye on Kingsbury to replace him.
That sounds familiar!UCLA already refused permission for 2 NFL teams to interview Kingsbury for head coaching gigs, not sure why they would turn around and let him leave for a coordinator job.
Edit- USC I meant. Apparently there are rumors he'll quit at USC if they don't let him interview and take his chances.
It's hardly scientific, but every year NFL players vote on the top players in the league (top 100), and Rodgers has been in the top 5 just once in the past 6 years (and smart money says he'll finish outside the top 5 again after this year). Granted he finished #1 7 years ago and was #6 3 times since, but he's rarely been considered by his peers the #1 or #2 QB in the league for awhile now.2016 top 5 in yards, prob number 1 in td, prob number 1 td/int ratio, one of the highest qb ratings
Edit. When healthy he can be the best QB on the field.