Pretty much took the words right out of my mouth Nabo. I really hope this report is inaccurate. I was so looking forward to hearing Sparano was gonna be fired today.
At the least, it would cost money. But theres also the issue of having the owner tell any future prospective HC candidates that he's willing to fire his coach after 4 games. Not to mention you're potentially creating resentment with the players as well.
By messing with the currently-working Suck for Luck method. The last thing we need is to stumble into a 4 or 5 win season by firing Sparano.
If you're a prospective coach, which would you choose??? Team A: will fire you 4 games into the season if you suck Team B: won't fire you 4 games into the season if you suck
Id rather he be safe for the year. At this rate this team will struggle to win a couple games, we'll have our shot at a great, legitimate franchise QB, and it helps to rebuild Ross' crap reputation after the Harbaugh experiment last off season. I think you should keep Tony around as a sign a good faith. You tried to replace him, while he was still on the job, then you failed and extended his contract. At least show you have good faith as the employer and will actually give him the chance you said you were going to. I think from a PR standpoint, its what should happen. He'd look really stupid now, trying to replace, then extending, then firing 4 games in. Sure the performance isn't there, and it warrants a firing, I just think all things considered it sends the wrong message right now though. Unless the team morale in the lockerroom is completely shot. We're not hearing that yet, I dont suspect it's too long though.
My opinion of Sparano is that he's a puppet coach who is now missing the hand up his ***. That being said, keep him until mathematically eliminated from a winning record or even the end of the season. For the same reason other's have mentioned in this thread. He's losing if not already lost the locker room and right now having him as head coach is our best chance to lose games.
He's had 3+ seasons and the results are only getting worse. The new coach will not get fired 4 games in. Sparano is just in a hopeless situation right now.
Dan Snyder has had no such trouble obtaining any coach he desired despite his itchy trigger finger. It's all about the Benjamins.
Money isn't an issue. A coach like Cowher is going to choose his spot, and how much he's paid. You aren't getting guys like that because of money.
I'm not so sure. Outside of KC and Denver, I don't see any game that we would be favored in, and I don't think those games are locks either.
He hired Marty Schottenheimer who was in demand at the time. He then hired spurrier who multiple teams had been trying to land for years. Many teams would have hired Joe gibbs had they realized he was interested in returning. And Shannahan had multiple options.
I would imagine we'll beat Denver, but I don't think we're all that capable of beating anyone "handily" at this point. And at what point do we need to start including Denver in the "Suck 4 Luck" race?
After resigning Sparano after the Harbaugh fiasco in the offseason, I think that firing Sparano now would do more harm than good. If we were going to make a move we should have done it then, not now, after we recommitted to him. We've also got to start getting healthy at some point. Missing Vontae has hurt. Missing Daniel Thomas has hurt. Losing Chad Henne clearly hurt us yesterday. It's tough to make a coaching change this early in the season, when injuries have played such a large part in how we have faired. Aside from that, there's really no one on the roster that I would feel comfortable taking over on an interim basis. Nolan maybe, but his defense has been solved this season. Todd Bowles is an interesting thought, but he's the one who I blame for starting Reshad Jones over Chris Clemmons. No one else really warrants consideration, really.
I look at the Denver game as a trap game, personally. We've got Kyle Orton coming in to face the team who (allegedly) refused to pay him this offseason. So he'll be looking for payback, and will likely play well against our woeful secondary. And then there's the whole Tebow halftime angle. So we'll have the dubious distinction of playing as the away team in our own stadium. Coming off a short week against the Jets on MNF (a game I do expect us to be up for), with those factors? Not to mention our awful home record? I'm not so sure we don't end up losing that game, and losing badly.
I don't think its an issue of Tony not working hard. I think he's done just that. His problem is he's just not cut out for it. Doesn't have the knowledge, the experience, the ability to instill confidence in these guys. I don't think its anywhere near a lack of effort on Tony's part.
I'll be at the game with a paper bag over my head. I may have a "Suck 4 Luck" t-shirt made to wear to the rest oif the games this season. They already got my money, I might as well make the games somewhat fun for myself
It would hurt our chances at Andrew Luck, IMO. I don't think the timing is right yet to get rid of Tony.
Why? Bigger markets don't make a difference in the NFL they way they do in baseball and basketball. And we've never had a problem getting the coach we wanted before. Money talks. And if Ross is willing to pay the price he will get any coach he wants.
They absolutely do. The Washington Redskins have a bad year, and they still fill up their stadium. The exposure a coach will get in that market is a lot different than what he gets in a lot of other markets. Not to mention the money is going to naturally be more in a larger market. Wasn't this just refuted less than a year ago???? Why would a HC choose Miami over New York, all things being equal?