OT: Black Monday open thread
EDIT: Updated to reflect moves made by Chicago
While we all celebrate how we snagged the big one (omg Harbaugh!!!), some other NFL head coaches will be fired today. Here's my view on who will be looking for work by the end of the day:
Already Gone:
Jim Harbaugh, SF (!!!!!!!)
Rex Ryan, NYJ (he and GM John Idzik are both done)
Mike Smith, ATL
Marc Trestman, CHI (along with GM Phil Emery)
Keep an eye on:
Tony Sparano, OAK (he was an interim HC, but players liked him so he's in play for the permanent job)
Tom Coughlin, NYG (don't see him getting canned, a Super Bowl win buys you at least 4 more years IMO)
Use this as an open thread to discuss the rest of the coaching moves. Did I forget anyone?
December 29th, 2014 at 8:49 AM ^
So where do you guys think Harbaugh ends up? I think the Raiders are the most likely place because he wouldn't have to move, but the Jets axed their GM as well, so they could offer him a GM/HC position. And the Falcons have a lot of money...it's going to be interesting. Buckle up.
December 29th, 2014 at 8:54 AM ^
I heard his wife doesn't want to leave the Bay Area so he's almost certainly going to Oakland.
December 29th, 2014 at 8:58 AM ^
Very true. He also really idolizes and respects the Davis family for letting him coach there for two seasons. That kind of loyalty is important to a guy like Harbaugh. It's gotta be the Raiders.
December 29th, 2014 at 9:05 AM ^
It DOES make sense he would want to go back to where his coaching career started. And that's Oakland since those years at Western Kentucky don't really count because NO NFL guy cares about college at all!
December 29th, 2014 at 8:54 AM ^
And his wife likes the Bay area.
December 29th, 2014 at 8:51 AM ^
I'd fire every guy you mentioned...
I just think there are some very good assistant coaches out there and I think a couple of those coaches have lost their locker room. Doesn't make them bad - just time for a change of scenery.
Sparano I'd use the language "do not retain" because I would sit down with him and tell him that he will be a finalist for the position if he wants to be. I'd bring in a couple guys along with Sparano and pick the best candidate.
I think the Seattle DC would be a nice fit in Oakland...but I wouldn't dismiss the idea of Sparano altogeher.
December 29th, 2014 at 8:56 AM ^
Agree, the Titans come to mind from last year. Mike Munchak looked promising and they fired him and this year they took an obvious step backwards under the Wiz.
December 29th, 2014 at 9:26 AM ^
Wouldn't fire Coughlin after what he has done there and the fact that he has that offense humming with OBJ.
December 29th, 2014 at 8:55 AM ^
Yeah looks like Coughlin will stay but they absolutely have to get rid od DC Perry Fewell and the ST coach Quinn. Tom's got to swallow that. If he fights it then show him the door because he cashed in his last Super Bowl chip this year. But i don't think he'll fight it. He won't like it but he'll save his own neck first.
December 29th, 2014 at 9:04 AM ^
December 29th, 2014 at 10:02 AM ^
Agreed on all fronts. Coughlin should get another year. Offense really started to look good and thats after dealing with a number of serious injuries this year. Gotta give that O another chance with hopefully a rehabbed Victor Cruz and a better OL
Fewell needs to go though. D has looked terrible the last few years. Amazing how inept they were trying to defend the zone read all year.
December 29th, 2014 at 8:55 AM ^
Well, Rex Ryan should be able to get his foot in the door somewhere. He's got a way with feet.
December 29th, 2014 at 9:31 AM ^
But I like Rex Ryan at Oakland. Only because I associate the Raiders with Madden, and Ryan is charismatic like Madden.
December 29th, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^
December 29th, 2014 at 9:00 AM ^
Isn't Trestman in his second year? I don't really follow the bears but to me, he deserves to stay a bit longer. Perhaps with a QB that doesn't look like he hates to play the game.
December 29th, 2014 at 9:03 AM ^
That's the problem - the Bears just committed to Cutler long-term. He's their anointed one. Coaches are easier to replace than "franchise" quarterbacks.
December 29th, 2014 at 10:10 AM ^
Yup, they put him in a bad situation. Gave him a poor, unteachable QB with a team killing contract. How you make a QB that was outplayed by a backup journeyman QB one of the highest paid QB in the league is beyond me
December 29th, 2014 at 10:41 AM ^
he can be an idiot, but sometimes he's hilarious.
That was quality (NFL Network last night) stuff.
December 29th, 2014 at 9:19 AM ^
There's some good news and some sad news, as Jordan Kovacs had by far his busiest day in his NFL career, notching 5 solo tackles against the Jets in the Dolphins' loss.
The sad part is that the Dolphins were very bad on defense, so he didn't win over many fans, even though the collapse was a full team effort. The Phins had no pass rush (sound familiar?) and their corners weren't good enough to compensate; as a result Geno Smith posted a perfect QBR. In one Jets TD, Kovacs whiffed a tackle when the front 7 had lost contain. In another case they went Cover 0 and promptly gave up a long TD. Thing is, he also shut down some runs putting the Jets in bad yardage situations. I doubt the Jets went "hey that guy's slow let's pass"; the Dolphins were fielding multiple backup DBs so it was a pretty obvious choice to test them.
After a shaky start, it seems Kovacs is still Kovacs -- not a great coverage guy but a sure tackler who'll limit the long plays if he's not given more than he can handle. Fans think he shouldn't be in the NFL but they're hot after an embarrassing loss so fortunately they don't make decisions. I think he'd ideally be paired with a Deion Sanders-like cover corner who can play man every down but is content to let the SS do the dirty work; unfortunately the Phins don't have that so he'll continue to struggle to stay on the roster.
December 29th, 2014 at 9:31 AM ^
December 29th, 2014 at 9:34 AM ^
December 29th, 2014 at 9:47 AM ^
Jay Glazer tweeted that Trestman has been fired. Schefter just tweeted that UM has told its biggest boosters that deal for JH is done and press conference is Tuesday
December 29th, 2014 at 9:48 AM ^
December 29th, 2014 at 9:50 AM ^
Trestman gone
December 29th, 2014 at 9:55 AM ^
December 29th, 2014 at 10:04 AM ^
The Bears have fired both coach and GM. Now they just have to get rid of that suck ass QB
December 29th, 2014 at 10:15 AM ^