Ch-ch-ch-changes!!! This has been a bi-annual event in the District of Columbia since Mr. Dan Snyder took over as First Galactic Emporer owner of the Washington Redskins. Yet, DC stays quiet after 2 years of the Shanahan Era. Now, as long as the sports world continues to stay quiet through the week, I will have a lot more on this later this week along with what is going on in the Big Apple with the Coughlin Era, as I see a lot of similarities and quite frankly, it disgusts me. But that’s for another day. Today, we are here to discuss the recent firings and hirings of head coaches in the NFL and whether each are good, so-so or stupid. We will go with all the teams that have already hired a new coach (in order of when they fired “the bum”) and then look at the teams that have fired but not hired. So, let’s get to it.
Jacksonville Jaguars, Fired Jack Del Rio – Hired Mike Mularkey - The River City got things started early this year. Well, when you look at how long a leash they gave Del Rio I’m surprised they didn’t wait until the next century. Look, I understand they want stability and want to create the atmosphere that is up in Steel Town, PA. But, come on! Holy crap…could we not see Del Rio for what he was 6-7 years in? The man got 8 years and 11 games and he would have probably been given the full season had he not screwed up with Blaine Gabbert so much. The firing is good but the timing is stupid. They wasted 3 years of Jaguars fans and talent on a crappy head coach. Just go back and look at all of the issues he’s had with his QB’s. The Jags then went out after the season and hired Atlanta Falcons OC Mike Mularkey. I understand a lot of Jags fans aren’t happy with this and honestly this is not a sexy/big splash hire. But, when you’re looking to build a winner do you have to go with a sexy pick? Especially when a lot of those big name hires wanted absolute power? I think cooler heads need to prevail and do a wait-and-see. I know we are a society that wants everything and wants everything NOW but you have to wait on this one. Mularkey comes into a situation with a talented defense but a one-trick pony when it comes to the offense. Now, that one-trick is a pretty darn good one. MJD is one of the best RB’s in the league and that’s on a team with no passing game. So if you have to grade Mularkey’s hire you would have to say so-so but unknown and pending a grade in 3-4 years. Jacksonvlle: Give the man a chance and give him some time!
Kansas City Chiefs, Fired Todd Haley – Hired Romeo Crennel - The Chiefs were STUPID in firing Todd Haley. The man won the AFC West last year in just his second year on the job. This year they suffered massive injuries to their best players. Eric Berry, Matt Cassel, Jamaal Charles and Brandon Siler all lost for the season. That just decimated a team, I don’t care how much depth you have on your team. How could Haley succeed? Yes, they did have quite a few blowout loses but after only 3 years Haley should have been kept. Someone will be a lucky franchise to pick him up. The hire was with Romeo Crennel. Crennel seems like a great guy and a possible a good-great head coach. Who could anyone have succeeded in Cleveland with the lack of talent back then? I think the Crennel hire is a good one but the verdict is still out.
Miami Dolphins, Fired Tony Sporano – Hired Todd Bowles - Now this is a fire that I believe to be a good one. But this is what it comes to when you take all authority away from the head coach and dangle him in the wind. Miami is lost right now and needs a lot of fixing. The Fins chose to put their franchise in the hands of Todd Bowles who was last the Secondary Coach at Miami. Bowles became the interim and they decided to go with them because of the decision of Mr. Jeff Fisher to go with St. Louis. The hiring of Todd Bowles is sort of like what is going on in Jacksonville. Not a splashy or big name hire. Again we need another 3-4 years to see what Bowles is.
St. Louis Rams, Fired Steve Spagnuolo - Spags was a huge name after the dominance of New York’s defense in 2007. The Rams picked him up and he just never could get the plane off the ground. He looks like a great coordinator but bad head coach. But don’t worry Steve…if Norv Turner can get 3 chances in the NFL you probably can too. Just a few days ago I wrote about Jeff Fisher going from coming oh-so-close to beating the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV to being hired on as their new head coach. St. Louis now has a bright future with one of the best coaches in the game. Firing - good, hiring - good.The next three teams have fired their head coaches but have yet to fill their own spots.
The next 2 teams have fired but have not yet hired:
Oakland Raiders, Fired Hue Douglas - This is probably the most bafflinf change for many years to come. How can you say anything about Douglas when there. Douglas had only 1 year and had Jason Campbell and Darren McFadden go down for the season…and he still got them to go 8-8. I think Jackson has a great chance to go somewhere and succeed. But, I am beginning to wonder if Al Davis is sending messages through Jesus to Tim Tebow and then to GM Reggie McKenzie. The firing was beyond stupid.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Fired Raheem Morris - The man should have never been hired in the first place. This was immediately after the wild success of Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh and Tampa wanted to copy it…too bad they didn’t get Mike Tomlin because Morris was a failure from Day 1. Firing - good, timing – stupid.
Enjoy your day and look out for more on the coaching situations in NY and DC later this week.
