Coaching Carousel: Master Thread (1 Viewer)

[CanadianNFLJunkie]

There is no official word YET but according to one of the local Buffalo TV stations, Mike Sherman is about to sign a deal with the Bills for something like 5 years - $13 million. They covered their you-know-you-whats by interviewing ex-Bill (minority) James Lofton on Thursday and Dom Capers is supposed to be in town on Friday.IF Sherman does become HC then look for Jim Bates to follow him and run the Defense.

 

[Verbal Kint]

The man many think will be the Lions' next head coach is the man president Matt Millen reportedly will interview tonight in Pittsburgh: Steelers assistant Russ Grimm.

An NFL source said Wednesday the talk in coaching circles was that Grimm was the Lions' guy. Various media have reported Grimm is at or near the top of the Lions' list, with one ESPN.com columnist writing that "league and Lions sources" have said the job is Grimm's when the Steelers' season ends.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article.../601120516/1049

I'm telling you, this is going to be a HUGE mistake.Various reports from other GMs claim he will be a horrible head coach.

No I do not have links. It's been talked about on the radio here at great length.

If they hire Grimm without at least interviewing T. Lewis, Millen is a joke.

He'd rather hire his buddy and former teammate than possible a better candidate.

No offense Payne but I HIGHLY doubt any GM, much less several, would allow themselves to be quoted deriding the prospects of ANY head coaching candidate much less one that other teams seem to be looking at. In what context would that come up in conversation? And how many GMs are you hearing say this [do you travel a lot?].

Furthermore, Grimm nearly landed the Chicago Bears job two years ago, and IIRC, that was the only HC job he's ever seriously interviewed for.

Czar's scoop: Steelers LB Joey Porter gave the Colts some bulletin board material this week, saying that the Colts prefer to play finesse football and would never dare to line up and play smash-mouth ball with the Steelers. "They don't want to just sit there, line up and play football," Porter said. "They want to try to catch you off guard. They want want to trick you. They want to catch you substituting, know what I mean?"

Porter said James had a "cheap 100" yards against them. "I don't think they out-hit us,'' Porter said. But Pittsburgh has found an offense lately, averaging 29.5 points in the last six games. They haven't scored 107 points in a three-game span since the Steel Curtain days back in 1973. Since 1994, Pittsburgh has a 1-7 playoff record in the second postseason game in any given year.

Hank Williams, Jr. was a guest of Coach Bill Cowher at practice this week. Also, Jerome Bettis graced the cover of Sports Illustrated this week. When safety Troy Polamalu was on the magazine's cover this season, the Steelers were definitely jinxed, losing three straight. Even if Bettis retires, the Steelers probably won't have Duce Staley back next season — unless he reworks his salary.

Steeler insiders are saying that offensive line coach Russ Grimm isn't ready to be a head coach, although he has interviewed for the vacant Lions' job.

LOL...Steelers "insiders"...nothing is worse than an unnamed source. At how does "insiders" = "several GMs"? Like it or not, it appears Grimm is the heavy favorite for the Lions job.

I hit Joe Jacoby's house with a golf ball about 12 years ago. I think that establishes me as an "insider" for all things Hog-related. Believe me, Grimm is the front runner.

If you're serious, you're wrong.[

 

[Payne]

The man many think will be the Lions' next head coach is the man president Matt Millen reportedly will interview tonight in Pittsburgh: Steelers assistant Russ Grimm.

An NFL source said Wednesday the talk in coaching circles was that Grimm was the Lions' guy. Various media have reported Grimm is at or near the top of the Lions' list, with one ESPN.com columnist writing that "league and Lions sources" have said the job is Grimm's when the Steelers' season ends.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article.../601120516/1049

I'm telling you, this is going to be a HUGE mistake.Various reports from other GMs claim he will be a horrible head coach.

No I do not have links. It's been talked about on the radio here at great length.

If they hire Grimm without at least interviewing T. Lewis, Millen is a joke.

He'd rather hire his buddy and former teammate than possible a better candidate.

No offense Payne but I HIGHLY doubt any GM, much less several, would allow themselves to be quoted deriding the prospects of ANY head coaching candidate much less one that other teams seem to be looking at. In what context would that come up in conversation? And how many GMs are you hearing say this [do you travel a lot?].

Furthermore, Grimm nearly landed the Chicago Bears job two years ago, and IIRC, that was the only HC job he's ever seriously interviewed for.

Czar's scoop: Steelers LB Joey Porter gave the Colts some bulletin board material this week, saying that the Colts prefer to play finesse football and would never dare to line up and play smash-mouth ball with the Steelers. "They don't want to just sit there, line up and play football," Porter said. "They want to try to catch you off guard. They want want to trick you. They want to catch you substituting, know what I mean?"

Porter said James had a "cheap 100" yards against them. "I don't think they out-hit us,'' Porter said. But Pittsburgh has found an offense lately, averaging 29.5 points in the last six games. They haven't scored 107 points in a three-game span since the Steel Curtain days back in 1973. Since 1994, Pittsburgh has a 1-7 playoff record in the second postseason game in any given year.

Hank Williams, Jr. was a guest of Coach Bill Cowher at practice this week. Also, Jerome Bettis graced the cover of Sports Illustrated this week. When safety Troy Polamalu was on the magazine's cover this season, the Steelers were definitely jinxed, losing three straight. Even if Bettis retires, the Steelers probably won't have Duce Staley back next season — unless he reworks his salary.

Steeler insiders are saying that offensive line coach Russ Grimm isn't ready to be a head coach, although he has interviewed for the vacant Lions' job.

LOL...Steelers "insiders"...nothing is worse than an unnamed source. At how does "insiders" = "several GMs"? Like it or not, it appears Grimm is the heavy favorite for the Lions job.

I hit Joe Jacoby's house with a golf ball about 12 years ago. I think that establishes me as an "insider" for all things Hog-related. Believe me, Grimm is the front runner.

If you're serious, you're wrong.[

Are you contributing anything here?

 

[CanadianNFLJunkie]

###'t HC Jim Caldwell (Indy) was in Buffalo today for an interview with Ralph and Marv. One of the local TV stations claim that that's it for the interviewing and that a decision will be made soon, probably early next week.Sherman appears to be the favorite.

 

[Gargoylez]

###'t HC Jim Caldwell (Indy) was in Buffalo today for an interview with Ralph and Marv. One of the local TV stations claim that that's it for the interviewing and that a decision will be made soon, probably early next week.

Sherman appears to be the favorite.

According to WGR55:Marv Levy likes **** Jauron... why? Both Ivy League guys.

Wilson likes sherman... why? A Winning record.

I can't beleive there are so many head scratching head coach hires when Martz, Sherman, Haslett, and Capers are still out there... not that Capers would be a good hire... but WTF!

 

[reg]

The NFL is a very expensive version of a college fraternity. From the secret handshakes to the pledge of almuni of the fraternity, it’s an unwritten rule to take care of your own. The last few days have proven that out at several levels as it pertains to the Vikings.

On the Vikings front, head coach Brad Childress was denied access by the Eagles to other assistant coaches under Andy Reid. Since none of them could make more than a lateral move – defensive coordinator Jim Johnson was going nowhere – the Eagles had the chance to nix any overtures from Childress. To compound matters, one name that may never be repeated at VU is Jason Licht. Who? He used to be the assistant director of player personnel for the Eagles. Now he’s the vice president of player perssonel. Why? Because he was being courted by the Vikings to serve as the team’s de facto general manager in the newly devised management pyramid of the organization. It marks the second business card order sent in by the Eagles to circumvent the Vikings – before Childress was hired, Zygi Wilf made a run at Philly’s Tom Heckert – who was subsequently promoted to general manager to keep him from bolting.

 

[Jason Wood]

Updated for the [snicker snicker] **** Jauron hiring and also the Mularkey to Miami as the OC announcement.

 

[Toxic Gatorade]

http://houstontexans.com/news/news_detail.php?PRKey=2359

Kubiak will be the man in Houston.

 

[Snot Bubbler]

Saints hire Gary Gibbs as their new Defensive Coordinator

New Orleans Saints

 

[Payne]

Mularkey chooses Dolphins instead of Lions

Monday, January 23, 2006

By Tom Kowalski

DENVER -- It appears that hiring a head coach was the easy part.

The Detroit Lions, who hired Rod Marinelli as their new head coach last week, are having a more difficult time landing the coordinators on their wish list.

Mike Mularkey, who coaches the kind of power running game that Marinelli likes, decided to accept an offer from the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

 

[Jason Wood]

Wow, how about Mularkey and Capers joining the Phins...Saban adding two recent NFL head coaches as assistants. That's impressive.

 

[Payne]

Wow, how about Mularkey and Capers joining the Phins...Saban adding two recent NFL head coaches as assistants. That's impressive.

Lions sure blew it with Saban. He was there for the taking.

 

[Statorama]

Has Mooch ended up anywhere yet?

 

[Jason Wood]

Has Mooch ended up anywhere yet?

Mooch, IIRC, said in the early going he wanted to do broadcasting for a year and setttle back in. Not sure whether he's been formally offered any TV deals, but I could see him joining the ESPN crew [not for the Countdown, but as one of their talking heads] in 2006.

 

[Toxic Gatorade]

Offer pending to Jim Bates?Sat, 21 Jan 2006PackersNews.com reports the Houston Texans are believed to have made former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jim Bates a lucrative offer to take over their defense. Houston is going to hire Denver offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak as their new head coach, according to numerous reports, but the Texans have to wait until the Broncos' season is finished before they can make the move. They can hire members of the coaching staff, presumably with Kubiak's approval, and the demand for Bates means they probably can't wait until Denver's season ends to have a shot at him.=========================================================Has anyone else heard this?

 

[nerangers]

Tony Dungy will be staying put for the Colts...I know there were rumors he might retire.

Dungy will coach Colts next season

Buffalo Bills - **** Jauron

Detroit Lions - Rod Marinelli

Green Bay Packers - Mike McCarthy

Houston Texans - Gary Kubiak

Kansas City Chiefs - Herm Edwards

Minnesota Vikings - Brad Childress

New Orleans Saints - Sean Payton

New York Jets - Eric Mangini

Oakland Raiders - TBA

St. Louis Rams - Scott Linehan

Raiders head coach will be.....

 

[Jason Wood]

Tony Dungy will be staying put for the Colts...I know there were rumors he might retire.

Dungy will coach Colts next season

Buffalo Bills - **** Jauron

Detroit Lions - Rod Marinelli

Green Bay Packers - Mike McCarthy

Houston Texans - Gary Kubiak

Kansas City Chiefs - Herm Edwards

Minnesota Vikings - Brad Childress

New Orleans Saints - Sean Payton

New York Jets - Eric Mangini

Oakland Raiders - TBA

St. Louis Rams - Scott Linehan

Raiders head coach will be.....

For all of Al Davis' many faults, Davis has a good history in hiring on two fronts. One, he's done well finding young coaches ready to ascend into the upper echelons [admittedly he parted ways with Shanahan but he did identify greatness at the outset, and there's Gruden] and two, he hired Art Shell at a time when minority hires simply weren't happening. With Oakland now officially the only game in town, expect the candidates to be VERY accomodating in terms of salary and control issues.

 

[Payne]

Offer pending to Jim Bates?

Sat, 21 Jan 2006

PackersNews.com reports the Houston Texans are believed to have made former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jim Bates a lucrative offer to take over their defense. Houston is going to hire Denver offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak as their new head coach, according to numerous reports, but the Texans have to wait until the Broncos' season is finished before they can make the move. They can hire members of the coaching staff, presumably with Kubiak's approval, and the demand for Bates means they probably can't wait until Denver's season ends to have a shot at him.

=========================================================

Has anyone else heard this?

There were rumors that Detroit was interested in Bates.They better do something!

 

[Toxic Gatorade]

Oakland Raiders - TBA

Raiders head coach will be.....

I think it will be Ken Whisenhunt............the longer the Raiders wait to fill the job, it points more in the direction of the PITT OC.If it were going to be Singletary or Shell, the move probably would have been made by now.

 

[acefootball]

Rams have hired Greg Olson as OC. He was formerly the QB's coach in Detroit. Can't say I'm very excited about this hire but I do realize Linehan will be calling the plays. It's not been made "official", but is considered a done deal.

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/sports/13697565.htm

 

[reg]

The Vikings have offered the job of personnel director to San Diego's Fran Foley, two people with knowledge of the situation said late Monday night. Barring a last-minute and unexpected change, the team could announce his hiring as early as today.Several club officials said earlier Monday that no decision had been made. But according to the sources, owner Zygi Wilf began informing some of the other candidates Monday night that Foley was his choice. It is unclear what title Foley, 44, will carry, but he is expected to share decision-making authority with coach Brad Childress and vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski.No team official could be reached for comment Monday night after Foley's job offer was discovered.Foley spent the past three seasons as the Chargers' director of pro scouting, where he focused primarily on scouting players in the NFL, NFL Europe, the CFL and the Arena League. Prior to arriving in San Diego, he spent nine seasons in Jacksonville -- five years as director of pro scouting and four as assistant director of pro personnel.Wilf began planning a restructuring project for the front office last fall, and his first choice was to hire Philadelphia executive Tom Heckert. Had that scenario played out, Heckert would have been granted authority close to that of a traditional general manager.Heckert remained with Philadelphia, however, after accepting a raise and a title of general manager.The Vikings then shifted the job description to one that put Childress at the top of their Triangle of Authority and put Brzezinski and the personnel director at the bottom corners. As a result, Foley will supervise the Vikings' college and pro scouting departments.Wilf chose Foley over at least six known candidates who interviewed for the job: former Miami General Manager Rick Spielman, former Atlanta vice president Ron Hill, Jacksonville director of pro personnel Charles Bailey, Kansas City vice president of personnel Bill Kuharich and internal candidates Scott Studwell and Jeff Robinson.New England director of college scouting Tom Dimitroff pulled out of the running prior to his scheduled interview, and the Vikings also expressed interest in Philadelphia assistant director of personnel Scott Cohen. They passed on the opportunity to interview Denver director of pro scouting Rick Smith.The contracts of Studwell and Robinson expire May 31. They are expected to be given the opportunity to remain with the organization, at Foley's discretion.

 

[Jason Wood]

Looks like it's official now...

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/sports/13697565.htm

The article also mentions that St. Louis' DC position is likely down to Jim Bates or Jim Haslett.

 

[Payne]

Looks like it's official now...

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/sports/13697565.htm

The article also mentions that St. Louis' DC position is likely down to Jim Bates or Jim Haslett.

Maybe Detroit will get the leftovers as teir DC.This Detroit hiring is starting to be a concern.

Rookie coach who looks to be surrounded with a rookie OC and DC = recipe for disaster.

 

[Gatorman]

Wood -- no mention of Linehan?

Hey Gator, you mean as a HC candidate? I can add him, I hadn't heard anything that mentioned him, I tried to list people that either a) had been head coaches already, b) had interviewed for HC jobs prior to this season, or c) had been directly mentioned as potential candidates in chatter this season.

 

[Jason Wood]

Wood -- no mention of Linehan?

Hey Gator, you mean as a HC candidate? I can add him, I hadn't heard anything that mentioned him, I tried to list people that either a) had been head coaches already, b) had interviewed for HC jobs prior to this season, or c) had been directly mentioned as potential candidates in chatter this season.

indeed...but be honest, weren't you talking about Linehan as an OC at the time?

 

[Gatorman]

Wood -- no mention of Linehan?

Hey Gator, you mean as a HC candidate? I can add him, I hadn't heard anything that mentioned him, I tried to list people that either a) had been head coaches already, b) had interviewed for HC jobs prior to this season, or c) had been directly mentioned as potential candidates in chatter this season.

indeed...but be honest, weren't you talking about Linehan as an OC at the time?

No as a HC candidate, but for the Vikes.

 

[Statorama]

Looks like it's official now...

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/sports/13697565.htm

The article also mentions that St. Louis' DC position is likely down to Jim Bates or Jim Haslett.

How could you hire, with a straight face, the quarterbacks coach of the Detroit Lions to have anything to do with your offense. Who's next? The runningbacks coach of the Arizona Cardinals?

 

[JohnDoe]

Jim Hasslet new DC for the Rams per ESPN Radio.

Edit to add Link.

 

[Payne]

Donnie Henderson will be the D-Coordinator for the Lions per Sirius.Hue Jackson is the favorite for OC. He is currently the WR coach for the Bengals. He is the former Redskin OC under Spurrier.

 

[warrior69]

January 24, 2006 12:26 PM ETRaiders: Whisenhunt, Sherman drawing interestThe NewsAccording to the San Francisco Chronicle, the newest candidate atop the Raiders' wish list for a new head coach is Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. "He's at the top of their list,'' a person familiar with Whisenhunt and the Raiders' search told the Chronicle. "They'll be patient on this.'' Oakland may also interview former Packers coach Mike Sherman while they wait for Whisenhunt until after the Super Bowl.Our ViewAt this point, the Raiders can afford to wait, as every other head coaching vacancy has been filled. Oakland has ranked near the bottom of the rushing statistics in each of the past two seasons, so Whisenhunt's commitment to the run game is obviously compelling

 

[Bri]

from usa todayNational Football LeagueATLANTA FALCONS-Named Bill Musgrave quarterbacks coach.BUFFALO BILLS-Named Bill Kollar defensive line coach.MIAMI DOLPHINS-Named Dom Capers special assistant to coach Nick Saban.MINNESOTA VIKINGS-Named Fred Pagac linebackers coach and Joe Woods secondary coach.ST. LOUIS RAMS-Named Jim Haslett defensive coordinator and Greg Olson offensive coordinator.

 

[Bri]

why "special assistant" and not DC for Capers? someone planned to move in as DC also?

 

[Statorama]

why "special assistant" and not DC for Capers? someone planned to move in as DC also?

I'm thinking it's a feel good for Capers, so it doesn't seem like such a step down from being head coach. Ego booster in my opinion.

 

[hutchins929]

I posted this in the "Marinelli = Lions Coach" thread as well.I too when I heard of the Hire thought "WHO" but I did a little reading on it and found that this guy is very respected around the league. Here is an example from Tampa Bay DE Simion Rice.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS PRO BOWL DE SIMEON RICE >> Statement on Marinelli“When talking about Rod Marinelli, you are talking about a man, a myth and a legend. He evokes thoughts of those who have come before us. In the game of coaching, there’s nothing like him. He’s definitely one of a kind. He’s a Michelangelo, an Aristotle, a Socrates. He’s a great philosopher. He changes coaching to an art form. He understands the psyche of man and how to motivate men. He understands how to speak to men and how to lead men.“One of the hardest tasks in the game of football is leading men. When you are talking about a coach like Rod Marinelli, who not only knows how to lead men, but he is a great example of how to live your life. He knows how to look at life through perspective and to live life with great focus. It shows you a little bit about one of the true great minds of our time.“What he has done for me and my life, what he has brought to me and my life, words can’t describe it. I’m extremely happy for him, but I’m extremely sad for me. He’ll do great at what he does, because what he does is mold men into becoming whatever they seek to become in their careers. And what he has done for me, in terms of enlightenment and just philosophies, are the things that I eat, drink and sleep by. By me meeting this man, and him being a part of my life for the short time he was, he’s been able to change my perspectives and my ideas about life. The Lions are getting much more than a coach; they are getting much more than a man. They say legends aren’t born everyday, but the Detroit Lions are getting one, and I salute them.”I saw that statement and thought to myself WOW you just don't hear things like that to often. It doesnt stop there either comments by Dungy, Gruden, Kiffin, Anthony McFarland, Derrick Brooks, Herm Edwards and Atlanta Falcons President and General Manager Rich McKay were all very flattering toward Rod Marinelli.so far this looks like a good hire and from what I heard in the press conference it will be interesting to see what happens from this point.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Bills hired Steve Fairchild as their offensive coordinator. He was the Bills RB coach under Gregg Williams a few years ago, but has served as the offensive coordinator in St Louis for the past few years.

 

[reg]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2305418

San Diego Chargers director of pro scouting Fran Foley has agreed in principle to become the new director of player personnel for the Minnesota Vikings, and a deal is expected to be completed by the end of the week. Foley would become the third "point" in what new Vikings owner Zygi Wilf has described as a "triangle of authority" in the franchise's revamped football operation. In the front office model described by Wilf last week, vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski and the club's personnel director will work with new head coach Brad Childress in a committee approach. The highly respected Brzezinski signed a three-year contract extension during the final weekend of the regular season. Childress, former offensive coordinator for the Eagles, was hired two weeks ago to replace the deposed Mike Tice. Wilf has been clear for some time about the need to hire a top personnel executive. After the Vikings interviewed at least seven candidates, Foley was offered the job earlier this week. The two sides are working toward finalizing his contract. Foley, 44, joined the Chargers' scouting staff in 2003 after spending the previous nine seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A former college coach, Foley was hired in 1994 as assistant director of pro personnel, and then promoted in 1998 to the position of director of pro scouting. The addition of Foley, when it becomes official, further strengthens a front office that Wilf has worked hard to bolster since purchasing the Vikings last spring. Under former owner Red McCombs, the Vikings had one of the league's smallest support staffs. Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

 

[Bri]

Bills hired Steve Fairchild as their offensive coordinator. He was the Bills RB coach under Gregg Williams a few years ago, but has served as the offensive coordinator in St Louis for the past few years.

I hope this means some spark and creativity to their O.BTW Jets released Heimerdinger from his contract so Broncos probably have their O cooridnator now

 

[3nOut]

Bills hired Steve Fairchild as their offensive coordinator. He was the Bills RB coach under Gregg Williams a few years ago, but has served as the offensive coordinator in St Louis for the past few years.

I hope this means some spark and creativity to their O.BTW Jets released Heimerdinger from his contract so Broncos probably have their O cooridnator now

I didn't like the Jauron hiring but this isn't so bad. Jauron is a defensive specialist and will probably (hopefully) leave the offense up to Fairchild. With Jauron's mindset of beng a run-first team and with Fairchilds creativity, I am feeling a little better as a McGahee owner.

 

[raidergil]

Just heard report on local radio (Rochester), that Bills have made offer to Bates for DC position.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Just heard report on local radio (Rochester), that Bills have made offer to Bates for DC position.

from today's Buffalo News:

Buffalo Bills head coach **** Jauron reached out to one of the NFL's most productive passing teams Wednesday to fill the most crucial role on his new staff of assistant coaches.

The Bills hired Steve Fairchild to be their offensive coordinator. Fairchild, 47, was the St. Louis Rams' offensive coordinator the past two years and is familiar to the Bills. He was Gregg Williams' running backs coach in Buffalo in 2001 and 2002.

Meanwhile, the Bills also have offered their defensive coordinator job to former Green Bay defensive coordinator Jim Bates, according to a league source. The Bills were waiting to hear if Bates would accept the job.

Before Mike Mularkey quit on the Bills two weeks ago, he was strongly considering Fairchild as his offensive coordinator. The Bills had asked the Rams for permission to speak with Fairchild, but Mularkey resigned before Fairchild ever came to interview.

Fairchild interviewed with the Jets' new head coach, Eric Mangini, on Tuesday to become New York's offensive coordinator. The Jets reportedly had proposed a contract to Fairchild, but he chose the Bills instead.

The Rams' passing offense ranked fourth in the NFL this season and fifth last year. Of course, the man largely responsible for designing the St. Louis attack was head coach Mike Martz, who was fired by the Rams this month. Martz also called the Rams' offensive plays.

Martz was forced to take a medical leave of absence in October. In his absence, Fairchild handled the play-calling duties for the Rams' final 11 games. The Rams' attack was decimated by injuries this year. Starting quarterback Marc Bulger played only eight of 44 quarters after Martz left the team.

The Rams managed to beat New Orleans and Jacksonville without Bulger or their top two receivers, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt. Fairchild was down to his third quarterback, rookie Ryan Fitzpatrick, for four games. St. Louis finished 6-10.

Fairchild is expected to have free reign with the Bills' offense. Jauron gave his offensive coordinators autonomy when he was head coach in Chicago.

There was pressure on the Bills to fill the offensive spot. Not counting Buffalo, there still were seven NFL teams without offensive coordinators Wednesday evening.

The pool of prime offensive coordinator candidates this offseason is low, because five teams named new head coaches from the ranks of offensive coordinators.

Fairchild left Williams' staff to reunite with Martz. He played quarterback in college at San Diego Mesa Community College. Martz was an assistant there at the time. Fairchild was quarterbacks coach for the Rams in 2003. Fairchild was an aide at Colorado State University for eight years before joining the Bills.

Meanwhile, the Bills are wooing an experienced hand in Bates. Buffalo is the last team in the league without a defensive coordinator.

Bates, 59, got good reviews for his work with a depleted Green Bay defense this year. The Packers ranked seventh in yards allowed. The previous year they were 25th.

Bates was defensive coordinator for Dave Wannstedt in Miami from 2000 to 2004. He was interim head coach for the Dolphins late in 2004 after Wannstedt stepped down. Bates also has worked in the NFL for Cleveland, Atlanta and Dallas.

Elsewhere around the league, Tom Clements, fired by Mularkey as offensive coordinator, had an interview with Green Bay for the Packers' quarterbacks coaching job.

I'm happy with the Fairchild hiring (especially since the Jets wanted him), and if they're able to lock up Bates as well, that would be even better.

 

[Jason Wood]

Right now...there are two remaining defensive coordinator jobs: Buffalo & Houston. [Assuming R. Ryan remains in Oakland as he's under contract]Presumably Bates would be best served joining the Texans as Kubiak [an offensive coach] would be most likely to let Bates run the show completely. The Bills theoretically have a better overall defensive unit in place but Bates would have to work for a defensive minded head coach, and we've no idea whether Jauron and Bates are like minded in that respect.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Right now...there are two remaining defensive coordinator jobs: Buffalo & Houston. [Assuming R. Ryan remains in Oakland as he's under contract]

Presumably Bates would be best served joining the Texans as Kubiak [an offensive coach] would be most likely to let Bates run the show completely. The Bills theoretically have a better overall defensive unit in place but Bates would have to work for a defensive minded head coach, and we've no idea whether Jauron and Bates are like minded in that respect.

the Texans are a mess as they will be switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 this year but they don't really have the personnel to make that an easy transition.I think Jauron gave Greg Blache a lot of autonomy when he was the DC in Chicago, so I'm not sure that he would have to worry too much about that. Bates was the DC under a defensive minded HC in Miami with Wannstedt and was very successful there as well.

 

[Autumn Wind]

Raiders interview Mike Martz for vacant HC position:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...SPG5CGTVJJ2.DTL

 

[Bri]

Carl Hairston DL Coach for Pack

 

[Bri]

Presumably Bates would be best served joining the Texans as Kubiak [an offensive coach] would be most likely to let Bates run the show completely. The Bills theoretically have a better overall defensive unit in place but Bates would have to work for a defensive minded head coach, and we've no idea whether Jauron and Bates are like minded in that respect.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cita...adel&type=storyThe Buffalo Bills have offered their defensive coordinator job to former Green Bay defensive coordinator Jim Bates, according to a league source. The Bills were waiting to hear if Bates would accept the job, the Buffalo News reported Thursday.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Presumably Bates would be best served joining the Texans as Kubiak [an offensive coach] would be most likely to let Bates run the show completely. The Bills theoretically have a better overall defensive unit in place but Bates would have to work for a defensive minded head coach, and we've no idea whether Jauron and Bates are like minded in that respect.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cita...adel&type=storyThe Buffalo Bills have offered their defensive coordinator job to former Green Bay defensive coordinator Jim Bates, according to a league source. The Bills were waiting to hear if Bates would accept the job, the Buffalo News reported Thursday.

HONDA

 

[nerangers]

Interesting Read about the Lack of coaching continuity in the NFL.Snipits from article:

Much will be made in the coming week -- and justifiably so -- about the relative stability demonstrated by the two Super Bowl XL franchises.

Consider this: As things currently stand, fewer than half the NFL franchises (15 of 32), will embark on the 2006 season with the same head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator with which they began the 2005 campaign. And given that the Oakland Raiders remain interested in Pittsburgh offensive chief Ken Whisenhunt for the last of the league's head coach vacancies, the turnover might not have altogether ended.

Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden, who views the top three spots on a staff as a kind of holy trinity, agreed the degree of wholesale shake-up taking place could promulgate serious repercussions next season.

With 10 head coach changes, and the trickle-down ramifications that entails, the 2006 season could be an uneven one, at least at the outset. The scale of change this offseason all but dictates that next offseason, at least when it comes to coaching turnover, will be significantly less active. But some owners have made it clear, especially with the shorter-term contracts to which head coaches were signed over the last two weeks, that they will not easily reconcile a lack of progress.

"We've always felt that when you change coaches, you become like an expansion team, because you're starting over, in a sense," Rooney said. "Football is our family business, and we tend to believe that you're better served [with stability]. We kind of think that patience isn't such a bad virtue to have."

 

[Cookiemonster]

Raiders interview Mike Martz for vacant HC position:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...SPG5CGTVJJ2.DTL

Won't happen. Martz is too well known for being a 'loose cannon' and doing things his own weird way. I just don't see Davis going for this. Martz requested the interview, and Davis doesn't mind picking other coaches' minds. That's all.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

The Buffalo Bills interviewed two candidates for their defensive coordinator on Friday.

One was Chicago Bears defensive backs coach Perry Fewell and the other was former Baltimore Ravens defensive backs coach Johnnie Lynn.

The Bills requested and received permission to speak with Fewell, who is under contract with Chicago.

Fewell, 43, previously worked with Bills head coach **** Jauron in Jacksonville in 1998. Jauron was defensive coordinator for the Jaguars that year, while Fewell was in his first year in the NFL as defensive backs coach. Fewell spent five seasons working in Jacksonville under head coach Tom Coughlin, then moved to St. Louis as defensive backs coach in 2003 and 2004.

Fewell served under defensive coordinator Lovie Smith in St. Louis, then moved to Chicago when Smith got the Bears head coaching job.

Lynn, 49, was on the staff of the New York Giants under Jim Fassel from 1997-2003, first as defensive backs coach and then as defensive coordinator. He moved with Fassel to the staff of Brian Billick in Baltimore in 2004 and coached defensive backs. Lynn was fired with four other assistant coaches in a Ravens staff shake-up this month.

Lynn played defensive back for eight years for the New York Jets from 1979-86. He was an assistant in Arizona, Tampa Bay and San Francisco before going to the Giants.

Lynn's 2000 Giants defense made it to the Super Bowl.

Two of Fewell's defensive backs made the Pro Bowl this season. Cornerback Nathan Vasher had a breakout year in his third season, making eight interceptions and earning his first Pro Bowl spot. Sixth-year safety Mike Brown also was voted to the game.

Before joining the NFL, Fewell spent 13 years as an assistant in the college ranks, with North Carolina, Army, Kent State and Vanderbilt. He was assistant head coach and secondary coach at Vanderbilt.

The Bills are looking for a replacement for Mike Mularkey's defensive coordinator, Jerry Gray. A league source said they had offered the job earlier this week to former Green Bay defensive coordinator Jim Bates. Bates was passed over as head coach by the Packers after they fired Mike Sherman. Bates was reported to be in line to be defensive coordinator in Houston, but the Texans now are looking elsewhere.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060128/1038973.asp

 

[acefootball]

Rumors in St. Louis that Martz has officially "withdrawn" from the Oakland Raider HC job, but is being considered as OC in Detroit and possibly Dallas. ( I think he would benefit much working for Parcells ) Not concrete, but rumors are from a strong source. FWIW