i see no reason to keep Tony on knowing that he will be fired at seasons end (unless he continues to win) ... it isn't honorable to do so. what it does is give some foolish hope that somehow his job could be saved by continued success on the field. i agree with CK, in that axing him does provide an early start in recruiting a new HC. IMHO the only thing that goes against axing Tony is 'who' replaces him ... and do we want Nolan taking the reigns knowing he has no shot a being the HC next year. what helped immensely was the overall level of effort and performance over the last month. potential candidates could visibly see that this team really isn't far off in the parity that is the NFL ... it does not need a complete overhaul, and with the right additions/subtractions it can be a winning team immediately.
KB....I dont think the SF job was so attractive per say as Harbaugh was determined to stay on the West Coast to coach. I believe that was the ONLY job open around there last year. He wasnt really interested in Miami PARTLY because it wasnt on the WC.
The latest rumors about Cowher is that he isn't interesting in returning to coaching, period. The initial rumor was that there were three jobs he would be interested in: Giants, Dolphins, and Texans. Point two doesn't diminish the fact that there is a rumor that Jon Gruden is interested in the Miami job.
I disagree with that. Bill Cowher got on air and said that his mindset right now is that he's going to continue with the television job next year. He didn't say he wouldn't change his mind. But people close to him, people that speak to him, have spoken up and said that Miami doesn't hold his interests, he wants a team that's closer to championship contention and has an established quarterback. You might not have heard that, but look up what Jerome Bettis had to say on it a few weeks ago. That's what he said. If I say that Gruden is interested in the Miami job, does that constitute a rumor? Where's this rumor coming from? Is it based on his speech in Week 1 about how he would like to see Miami get back to playing Miami football? Because that hardly constitutes valid evidence. I've heard Miami is interested in him. I've never heard anything significant to say that the interest is mutual.
Technically......the Oakland job was open.....BUT........After what the Raider offense did after he became acting HC, The old man was not about to hire anyone else. Al D. loves scoring points and The offensive output about doubled in pts after he took over HC.
Why do you need to fire a coach with 4 games left? Are people really hiring coaches with 4 games left? You fire a guy early to get a jump on the UNEMPLOYED. Guys with jobs have things to do. Hell, sometimes teams end up waiting until late January/early February to land assistants on the playoff teams. Sometimes you get an assistant to squeeze in an interview during a playoff week. Hard for a candidate to prepare under those circumstances. If you insist on getting out in front, Week 16 would be the (earliest) time to do it. And for only that reason. I don't see Tony going before then. As for Gruden, if he truly was the target and Ross wanted to put the full court press on -- with 4 games to go -- it's assuredly going to leak. And it would undermine Gruden's work at MNF. And as such, you're probably going to lose him.
It is amazing to think 3 losing seasons is more than Miami experienced between 1970 and 2003. I sure do miss the Shula years.
The only time a coach should be canned during the season is when he has completely lost the players. Despite our horrible start to the year he seems to have kept the players playing hard and more importantly...Believing. I also think ownership has showed some class with this season and how it's gone. They probably believe that Sparano has atleast earned the right to finish out the year with his team. I too think this as well..
And it just so happens that the top three guys on Miami's wish list are all currently not coaching. Hence they need the head start.
The extension for Sparano was a joke and we all knew it will be a mistake to keep him and the fact that he isn't fired by now is even more a joke, imo! Mr. Ross has no clue how to be an owner of a NFL franchise, no wonder he is #5 in the worst NFL owners poll!
Thats what I'm thinking. I don't think Ross has a choice. If this team was still winless at this point, and if he's lost the team, then its a different story. however at this point, the team still respects him, and goes out and is playing hard for him. To fire him now at this point, just makes you look even more unstable as an owner than the entire league already thinks you are.
I don't think you need a month for three guys though. I'd be surprised if more than one of them actually gets beyond flirtation.
Ofc the players will say they respect him, they have to and ofc they play hard, they want a job here next year! If they act like a jerk or give up they'll be playing on another team!
Exactly! But i guess that Ireland's future lays in the hand of the new HC, if he wants full power or a GM which he trust, then he's gone like yesterday as well!
hey Nobody ever mentions Steve Mariuchi the former san fran coach for a canidate he is from the Bill Walsh coaching tree here are a couple of othercoaches to consider. former wide receiver coach Robert Ford , Brian Bilick , Mike Shula . its a shame that thereis no Don Shula Coaching tree .i wish ole Dan Marino would would do what John Elway is Doing in denver I think is John has time for golf then Dan Marino could do it. Ok bad idea, had to put it out there.bottom line is I sure as hell dont want sparano back but I really hope Ireland gets canned .
I have had this gut feeling that Coughlin isnt gonna make it in NY after this season. I think the Giants expectations are higher than what he's delivered. They almost fired him prior to the SB winning season so to do it after the seasaon wouldnt surprise me. IMO Cowher will leap at the chance to coach the Giants and i'm sure they are aware of that. Gruden to me is like a guy that loves cake, it dont matter what kinda cake is put infront of him he's gonna say yum great cake. Gruden you wanna eat chocolate cake? Gruden: why yes i'd love to. Gruden you wanna eat strawberry cake? Gruden: Mmmm I love me some strawberry cake. Gruden: I love all cake u give me a cake i'll eat it. In otherwards He loves football period, all kinds of football, and he is willing to tell everyone that..so if he tells you he loves your cake and would eat it,, i mean football and coach it, then take that with a grain of salt. Unless I see him in a presser accepting the job i'll have my doubts. As far as firing Tony,, ehhh, both side have valid points. I would say keep him until the season is over, because #1 who are you moving into the interm HC spot and #2 what if they start winning with that Interm HC? then what, all hell breaks lose on these boards. lmao.
Taking a couple of points from previous posts, if indeed Ross wants Cowher or Gruden, and if Cowher and Gruden can't be hired to coach any team prior to the end of the season because they need to keep having access to all teams as announcers, then there is no urgency to fire Sparano. There would only be urgency if Ross was looking at a coach who could be hired before the end of the season. If Ross has his sights set on Gruden or Cowher, he sticks with Sparano, looks like a man of his word who thinks things through carefully after all the data is in, gets Sparano to work five more games for his money, then fires Sparano and goes after Cowher or Gruden aggressively after the season has ended. The players like Sparano and are still playing hard for him, and the season is in the tank, so no other reason to fire him now. I predict he stays until the end of the season.