not happening even if the Cowboys have an epic collapse @ WashingtonDallas.
Read awhile ago that Cowher would want to be in Carolina under the right circumstances.. wonder if that would have legs now?And frankly, I think Rivera has earned another year.The immediate expectations of success put on young, first-time head coaches are ridiculously unfair.
That's where he lives, so that speculation is logical.Read awhile ago that Cowher would want to be in Carolina under the right circumstances.. wonder if that would have legs now?And frankly, I think Rivera has earned another year.The immediate expectations of success put on young, first-time head coaches are ridiculously unfair.
Not sure why he wouldn't if that's the guy they want. He has spent money on coaches in the past (Seifert was a huge name hire), and spending money has never been a problem, outside of the one year he was making a point during the labor dispute.Chip Kelly + Cam Newton = Must-See-TV.But I won't hold my breath waiting for Richardson to outbid other owners for a marquee coach.
It won't happen, but I'd be on board with it.San DiegoRivers is shipped out
High taxes and bad weather uhh...Buffalo with Mike Vick
I'm not sure anyone is going to mention George Seifert when discussing all-time great coaches. His record is impressive but the perception - fair or not - that he won with Bill Walsh's talent will always be hanging over him.Not sure why he wouldn't if that's the guy they want. He has spent money on coaches in the past (Seifert was a huge name hire), and spending money has never been a problem, outside of the one year he was making a point during the labor dispute.Chip Kelly + Cam Newton = Must-See-TV.But I won't hold my breath waiting for Richardson to outbid other owners for a marquee coach.
Another strike against Kelly. There is a clear pattern here.On the other hand, maybe he'll realize that what he's been doing hasn't worked.Anyone who's paid attention to the Panthers in their short history ought to know that Jerry Richardson is not the hands-off owner he plays on TV. He'll hire someone to do a job, but he wants it done in a certain way and doesn't mind making that clear. Witness the great roster purge of 2009 as an example.
It makes you wonder how involved he's been in coaching searches. The Panthers have had four coaches, and all share a single characteristic. Each was a celebrated Defensive Coordinator before they entered the Head Coaching ranks. Of the four, only one had already been a Head Coach previously, and he worked out poorly. Two have held coaching and Player Personnel duties, and neither of those worked out.
That has nothing to do with the point I was making. You suggested that Richardson will not go after a big, coveted coaching hire. With Seifert, he did that.I'm not sure anyone is going to mention George Seifert when discussing all-time great coaches. His record is impressive but the perception - fair or not - that he won with Bill Walsh's talent will always be hanging over him.Not sure why he wouldn't if that's the guy they want. He has spent money on coaches in the past (Seifert was a huge name hire), and spending money has never been a problem, outside of the one year he was making a point during the labor dispute.Chip Kelly + Cam Newton = Must-See-TV.But I won't hold my breath waiting for Richardson to outbid other owners for a marquee coach.
not happening even if when the Cowboys have an epic collapse @ WashingtonDallas.
Not really. $2M/year, IIRC. Big deal. And he's gone cheap ever since then.That has nothing to do with the point I was making. You suggested that Richardson will not go after a big, coveted coaching hire. With Seifert, he did that.I'm not sure anyone is going to mention George Seifert when discussing all-time great coaches. His record is impressive but the perception - fair or not - that he won with Bill Walsh's talent will always be hanging over him.Not sure why he wouldn't if that's the guy they want. He has spent money on coaches in the past (Seifert was a huge name hire), and spending money has never been a problem, outside of the one year he was making a point during the labor dispute.Chip Kelly + Cam Newton = Must-See-TV.But I won't hold my breath waiting for Richardson to outbid other owners for a marquee coach.
Well don't most college guys require some control over personnel b/c they have that in college ball and obviously don't draft BPA but for their system. As far as Roseman. I would think he would be an ideal candidate for a coach to be at least partially in control of personnel. He is a numbers guy with little football background which is why he and Reid didn't really fight too much b/c Roseman didn't have too much of an opinion. I think the next coach has to have some say on personnel b/c I don't really trust Roseman to be able to draft for a system since he is a lawyer and not a football player.I've heard he wants total control of personnel, so he'd have to find a GM who's okay with that.I'd like him in Philly but I don't know if Howie Roseman will be on board.
For someone on teh east coast with only a limited knowledge of Kelly and Oregon but good you explain how you think Kelly would use newton and what type of offense you think Kelly would bring.Rivera had Newton in a weird read/run option in the first 10 games or so and it really didnt work for game, lately they have dialed that back and let cam move in the pocket and he has had great success. My gut says that Cam needs to be in a traditional pro style regardless of his skill set.I would say Kelly would listen to Carolina first and foremost. His system is predicated on a mobile QB (not necessarily a running QB) and Carolina fits the bill most. Add on the RB situation and that looks like an Oregon team. As an Eagles fan, I'd like him b/c I love his creativity and his ability to play the %'s with regards to 4th down calls but that would probably require bringing Vick back or someone else in to run the read-option. Cam and Kerlina make too much sense here.
Maybe you are right but Riveria has looked overmatched and way in over his head for the better part of 2 years. Yes he has made strides this year and there have been a lot of injuries but I am not sure if he has "it". I wouldnt be opposed to give him one more year but its diff playoffs or else and hopefully they modify the offense a little more.And frankly, I think Rivera has earned another year.
The immediate expectations of success put on young, first-time head coaches are ridiculously unfair.
Its not a money thing, it's a fit thing...and they wanted to build a strong defensive team. Richardson has never had a problem with spending money, contrary to popular belief as a result of the lockout year. It's also worth noting that Marty Hurney hired the last two coaches, so any history since Seifert is irrelevant because the GM who hired them is gone. With Hurney gone, there is a lot of question about the direction of the team. I would not be surprised to see an offensive minded coach this time.Not really. $2M/year, IIRC. Big deal. And he's gone cheap ever since then.That has nothing to do with the point I was making. You suggested that Richardson will not go after a big, coveted coaching hire. With Seifert, he did that.I'm not sure anyone is going to mention George Seifert when discussing all-time great coaches. His record is impressive but the perception - fair or not - that he won with Bill Walsh's talent will always be hanging over him.Not sure why he wouldn't if that's the guy they want. He has spent money on coaches in the past (Seifert was a huge name hire), and spending money has never been a problem, outside of the one year he was making a point during the labor dispute.Chip Kelly + Cam Newton = Must-See-TV.But I won't hold my breath waiting for Richardson to outbid other owners for a marquee coach.
I actually like to see Kelly go to KC. It would be interesting to see what he would do with those high draft picks. Would he trade down to get more players that would fit his system?I've heard he wants total control of personnel, so he'd have to find a GM who's okay with that.I'd like him in Philly but I don't know if Howie Roseman will be on board.
Speaking as a panther fan I would love to see them hire Kelly. He has the most efficient practices in the game. I think his offense would be remarkably similar to shanahan's: a lot of bootlegs to move the pocket and stretch runs. I believe he'd be successful. But let's be honest, there will need to be massive personnel upgrades.For someone on teh east coast with only a limited knowledge of Kelly and Oregon but good you explain how you think Kelly would use newton and what type of offense you think Kelly would bring.Rivera had Newton in a weird read/run option in the first 10 games or so and it really didnt work for game, lately they have dialed that back and let cam move in the pocket and he has had great success. My gut says that Cam needs to be in a traditional pro style regardless of his skill set.I would say Kelly would listen to Carolina first and foremost. His system is predicated on a mobile QB (not necessarily a running QB) and Carolina fits the bill most. Add on the RB situation and that looks like an Oregon team. As an Eagles fan, I'd like him b/c I love his creativity and his ability to play the %'s with regards to 4th down calls but that would probably require bringing Vick back or someone else in to run the read-option. Cam and Kerlina make too much sense here.
It's a shame that Seifert spent his entire career in the shadows. Top 10 defense in each of his 6 seasons as defensive coordinator, .766 win percentage and 2 Super Bowl wins in 8 seasons as head coach in SF. His success is always tied to Bill Walsh and his defenses are largely forgottenI'm not sure anyone is going to mention George Seifert when discussing all-time great coaches. His record is impressive but the perception - fair or not - that he won with Bill Walsh's talent will always be hanging over him.
Well then let's just put Tedford in in StL and it will be all Pac, all the time and LHucks will mess himself.'GordonGekko said:My guess is, outside of Philly, he looks to San Diego or Arizona. With Reid being linked heavily to the Chargers, I would say the darkhorse here is the Cardinals.My link
Kelly seems certain to make the jump to the NFL. He is rumored to be seeking near total control over personnel decisions.
Where do you think he'll end up?
There's a lot of talent in the desert and my guess is Kelly will want to stay out west. There is a lot of blue chip talent on the Card's defense and there are some nice pieces offensively. Yes, the QB and O line situation will need fixing, but I wager he would have overhauled those areas anyway.
The NFC West is tough but so are the South and East. Seattle and the Niners are already using elements of his offense ( well it's technically Dutch Meyer's offense) so free agency in the West could mean arming up at the cost of a division rival, an added bonus.
I think a lot of people will focus on what kind of QB1 that Chip Kelly will want to pursue, but I think what will be more predictive is his mindset about his offensive line. You'll need a Chip Kelly versed center to run his O line in the pros. So I would say how teams start to scout tackle Kyle Long this year ( Howie's son) and center Hroniss Grasu for next year will be indicators of teams truly interested in CK and willing to divest personnel control.
Be interesting to see how his offense works at the NFL level to a much larger degree. Defenders in the NFL have much better recovery speed and there are more hybrids that can survive attempts to mismatch through the no huddle. I also doubt he ran into defenses run like Rob Ryan's, where the presnap confusion would be harder to decipher. QB wise, people are saying he'd go after Vick, I'm not sure, depending on what Tampa does, I think he could have some interest in Freeman.
I'm not trying to be argumentative, but a lot of GMs hire coaches.Where Richardson comes in is the finances. No GM is going to hire a coach without running it by the owner first. That's when he has to make a decision between high-priced candidates and an up-and-coming assistant, who will come cheaper. In the end, price range for the new coach is the owner's call.Its not a money thing, it's a fit thing...and they wanted to build a strong defensive team. Richardson has never had a problem with spending money, contrary to popular belief as a result of the lockout year. It's also worth noting that Marty Hurney hired the last two coaches, so any history since Seifert is irrelevant because the GM who hired them is gone.Not really. $2M/year, IIRC. Big deal. And he's gone cheap ever since then.That has nothing to do with the point I was making. You suggested that Richardson will not go after a big, coveted coaching hire. With Seifert, he did that.I'm not sure anyone is going to mention George Seifert when discussing all-time great coaches. His record is impressive but the perception - fair or not - that he won with Bill Walsh's talent will always be hanging over him.Not sure why he wouldn't if that's the guy they want. He has spent money on coaches in the past (Seifert was a huge name hire), and spending money has never been a problem, outside of the one year he was making a point during the labor dispute.Chip Kelly + Cam Newton = Must-See-TV.
But I won't hold my breath waiting for Richardson to outbid other owners for a marquee coach.
With Hurney gone, there is a lot of question about the direction of the team. I would not be surprised to see an offensive minded coach this time.
I might have agreed with this a few years ago, but some bastardized versions of the offense Kelly runs have had recent success in Carolina, Washington, Seattle and San Francisco. I think he'll be fine. Seems like a bright guy.It must just be me, but I think Kelly is going to crash and burn bringing his game to the NFL.
And that's been my point all along...Richardson has no problem spending money. I'm not sure why you have trouble getting this point that I've been making to you since my first response. For some reason, a number of people (obviously including you) have it in their mind that Richardson is tight with his spending, but it's not the case. He had one year where he refrained from spending money, and it was when he was trying to make a point during the lockout.'Raider Nation said:I'm not trying to be argumentative, but a lot of GMs hire coaches.Where Richardson comes in is the finances. No GM is going to hire a coach without running it by the owner first. That's when he has to make a decision between high-priced candidates and an up-and-coming assistant, who will come cheaper. In the end, price range for the new coach is the owner's call.'solorca said:Its not a money thing, it's a fit thing...and they wanted to build a strong defensive team. Richardson has never had a problem with spending money, contrary to popular belief as a result of the lockout year. It's also worth noting that Marty Hurney hired the last two coaches, so any history since Seifert is irrelevant because the GM who hired them is gone.'Raider Nation said:Not really. $2M/year, IIRC. Big deal. And he's gone cheap ever since then.'solorca said:That has nothing to do with the point I was making. You suggested that Richardson will not go after a big, coveted coaching hire. With Seifert, he did that.'Raider Nation said:I'm not sure anyone is going to mention George Seifert when discussing all-time great coaches. His record is impressive but the perception - fair or not - that he won with Bill Walsh's talent will always be hanging over him.'solorca said:Not sure why he wouldn't if that's the guy they want. He has spent money on coaches in the past (Seifert was a huge name hire), and spending money has never been a problem, outside of the one year he was making a point during the labor dispute.Chip Kelly + Cam Newton = Must-See-TV.
But I won't hold my breath waiting for Richardson to outbid other owners for a marquee coach.
With Hurney gone, there is a lot of question about the direction of the team. I would not be surprised to see an offensive minded coach this time.
I still don't think it will happen, but I hope I'm wrong. As I said earlier, Kelly + Newton would be silly.
The I'm not so sure about that. At least not anymore than a large number of other teams in the NFL. The defensive line has been playing really well lately, even with a number of injuries. They are set for a long time at the harder to find spots (DE) with Johnson and Hardy. At O-Line, getting back Kalil will be huge. Obviously there is a need at RG, but that's probably one of the two big money positions that need to be address. Linebacker is solid with a healthy mix of youth and veteran leadership. They have enough talent now to absorb injuries as well. Getting Gamble back will solidify the CB spots, and while the #2 spot may need to be upgraded, I think Thomas and Norman both have the potential to improve. At worst, one of them should be able to fill the nickle spot. The safety spots are an area that likely need some upgrades, probably in the top three areas of the team to be addressed.That just leaves RB, where I am comfortable with Stewart, Tolbert, and a likely mid-round pick to join the group. WR is a big area of focus because of Smith's age and the need for a true #1...but hopefully the Lafell will continue his development, and another solid option can develop between Gettis, Adams, Pilares, etc. for some depth. Hopefully they will invest in a high pick at WR or go after a good free agent. QB is fine, of course.Basically, all of this put together is a pretty attractive spot for a head coach. I'd venture to say that in terms of a desirable place for a coach to go, Carolina is at/near the top of the list. A little better coaching and upgrades to maybe 3-4 starting spots and this team is suddenly much improved. That's easier said than done of course, but even as a fan who typically is pretty negative when it comes to the team's prospects, I think they are really close to being a scary team for opponents to play.'BruceAlmighty said:Speaking as a panther fan I would love to see them hire Kelly. He has the most efficient practices in the game. I think his offense would be remarkably similar to shanahan's: a lot of bootlegs to move the pocket and stretch runs. I believe he'd be successful. But let's be honest, there will need to be massive personnel upgrades.'pantherclub said:For someone on teh east coast with only a limited knowledge of Kelly and Oregon but good you explain how you think Kelly would use newton and what type of offense you think Kelly would bring.Rivera had Newton in a weird read/run option in the first 10 games or so and it really didnt work for game, lately they have dialed that back and let cam move in the pocket and he has had great success. My gut says that Cam needs to be in a traditional pro style regardless of his skill set.'sporthenry said:I would say Kelly would listen to Carolina first and foremost. His system is predicated on a mobile QB (not necessarily a running QB) and Carolina fits the bill most. Add on the RB situation and that looks like an Oregon team. As an Eagles fan, I'd like him b/c I love his creativity and his ability to play the %'s with regards to 4th down calls but that would probably require bringing Vick back or someone else in to run the read-option. Cam and Kerlina make too much sense here.
No, that's incorrect. If the odds are in your favor you should always take advantage of them. If a team's 2 point conversion rate is 55% then they should be going for 2 in most circumstances. Fourth down and less than ten should be other opportunities to get a first down instead of punting in your opponents' territory. Thinking outside the box is a way that the game can evolve.Chip will fail in the NFL if he brings that gimmicky crap with him and that go for 2 and go on 4th down mentality. That only works against Pac 10 teams who dont play defense. NFL defenses will kill that weak sauce.
Yeah, if you play against ####ty defenses. He will get crushed if he tries that against NFL defenses. Go for it on 4th down inside your own terrotory? Really?uNo, that's incorrect. If the odds are in your favor you should always take advantage of them. If a team's 2 point conversion rate is 55% then they should be going for 2 in most circumstances. Fourth down and less than ten should be other opportunities to get a first down instead of punting in your opponents' territory. Thinking outside the box is a way that the game can evolve.Chip will fail in the NFL if he brings that gimmicky crap with him and that go for 2 and go on 4th down mentality. That only works against Pac 10 teams who dont play defense. NFL defenses will kill that weak sauce.
Because there's no ####ty NFL defenses?Yeah, if you play against ####ty defenses. He will get crushed if he tries that against NFL defenses. Go for it on 4th down inside your own terrotory? Really?uNo, that's incorrect. If the odds are in your favor you should always take advantage of them. If a team's 2 point conversion rate is 55% then they should be going for 2 in most circumstances. Fourth down and less than ten should be other opportunities to get a first down instead of punting in your opponents' territory. Thinking outside the box is a way that the game can evolve.Chip will fail in the NFL if he brings that gimmicky crap with him and that go for 2 and go on 4th down mentality. That only works against Pac 10 teams who dont play defense. NFL defenses will kill that weak sauce.
I really doubt he'd be pulling that in the NFL. Just a guess on my part.'Total personnel control'. Well, I certainly hope he is the next Jimmy Johnson, but geez, kind of a leap of faith to give this guy total personnel control.Yeah, if you play against ####ty defenses. He will get crushed if he tries that against NFL defenses. Go for it on 4th down inside your own terrotory? Really?uNo, that's incorrect. If the odds are in your favor you should always take advantage of them. If a team's 2 point conversion rate is 55% then they should be going for 2 in most circumstances. Fourth down and less than ten should be other opportunities to get a first down instead of punting in your opponents' territory. Thinking outside the box is a way that the game can evolve.Chip will fail in the NFL if he brings that gimmicky crap with him and that go for 2 and go on 4th down mentality. That only works against Pac 10 teams who dont play defense. NFL defenses will kill that weak sauce.
As it was with the Eagles and Andy Reid. It really all comes down to the interview and whether or not his employers think he can handle all of those duties.I really doubt he'd be pulling that in the NFL. Just a guess on my part.'Total personnel control'. Well, I certainly hope he is the next Jimmy Johnson, but geez, kind of a leap of faith to give this guy total personnel control.Yeah, if you play against ####ty defenses. He will get crushed if he tries that against NFL defenses. Go for it on 4th down inside your own terrotory? Really?uNo, that's incorrect. If the odds are in your favor you should always take advantage of them. If a team's 2 point conversion rate is 55% then they should be going for 2 in most circumstances. Fourth down and less than ten should be other opportunities to get a first down instead of punting in your opponents' territory. Thinking outside the box is a way that the game can evolve.Chip will fail in the NFL if he brings that gimmicky crap with him and that go for 2 and go on 4th down mentality. That only works against Pac 10 teams who dont play defense. NFL defenses will kill that weak sauce.
And that's been my point all along...Richardson has no problem spending money. I'm not sure why you have trouble getting this point that I've been making to you since my first response. For some reason, a number of people (obviously including you) have it in their mind that Richardson is tight with his spending, but it's not the case. He had one year where he refrained from spending money, and it was when he was trying to make a point during the lockout.'Raider Nation said:I'm not trying to be argumentative, but a lot of GMs hire coaches.Where Richardson comes in is the finances. No GM is going to hire a coach without running it by the owner first. That's when he has to make a decision between high-priced candidates and an up-and-coming assistant, who will come cheaper. In the end, price range for the new coach is the owner's call.'solorca said:Its not a money thing, it's a fit thing...and they wanted to build a strong defensive team. Richardson has never had a problem with spending money, contrary to popular belief as a result of the lockout year. It's also worth noting that Marty Hurney hired the last two coaches, so any history since Seifert is irrelevant because the GM who hired them is gone.'Raider Nation said:Not really. $2M/year, IIRC. Big deal. And he's gone cheap ever since then.'solorca said:That has nothing to do with the point I was making. You suggested that Richardson will not go after a big, coveted coaching hire. With Seifert, he did that.'Raider Nation said:I'm not sure anyone is going to mention George Seifert when discussing all-time great coaches. His record is impressive but the perception - fair or not - that he won with Bill Walsh's talent will always be hanging over him.'solorca said:Not sure why he wouldn't if that's the guy they want. He has spent money on coaches in the past (Seifert was a huge name hire), and spending money has never been a problem, outside of the one year he was making a point during the labor dispute.Chip Kelly + Cam Newton = Must-See-TV.
But I won't hold my breath waiting for Richardson to outbid other owners for a marquee coach.
With Hurney gone, there is a lot of question about the direction of the team. I would not be surprised to see an offensive minded coach this time.
I still don't think it will happen, but I hope I'm wrong. As I said earlier, Kelly + Newton would be silly.
Kelly may not be the ultimate hire, but his price tag wouldn't be the reason it doesn't happen.
In a full-page ad in Monday’s Charlotte Observer sports section, an anonymous group of Panther fans holding Permanent Seat Licenses called upon owner Jerry Richardson to take steps to improve the team and its key coaches.
“We are a group of local business folks and long-time Panthers Permanent Seat License owners writing to call a regrettable personal foul on the most tenured and venerable member of the Carolina Panthers organization – You!” the open letter began
Second-year coach Ron Rivera was particularly singled out for criticism in the ad.
“His reported salary is 40-50 percent below the salaries of the top ten highest paid NFL head coaches who, not surprisingly, also happen to have the best winning records in the league. Now, after a few inconsequential, late season wins, you are hinting that you might keep Rivera around for at least another year. Of course, that would avoid millions of dollars of severance cost for you and your partners. It would also perpetuate the legacy of Panthers’ management, player personnel and coaching inadequacies that is revealed on the playing field most Sundays.”
Rivera’s sideline demeanor is one of detachment and sometimes bewilderment, and, “His clock management would be a mystery even to the Swiss,” said the letter, signed Perturbed Panther PSL Owners Federation with an email address of PerturbedPantherPSLowners@gmail.com .
“As business executives for many years ourselves, we know that if the Panthers were a company accountable to its public investors, with a perennial performance record that resembled your win-loss record, its board of directors would have a crisis on their hands … We implore you to stop providing on-the-job training for critical Panthers’ management and coaching positions.”
There is? The Panthers have a total of four coaches in their history. No big name hire is taking on an expansion team, so that one really doesn't matter too much. Seifert was a big name hire, and the last two were coordinators hired by a recently fired GM. The hiring process has more to do with Richardson being a proponent of following the Steelers method of hiring quality DC's as coaches than it does with anything financial. Richardson has a fascination with Pittsburgh and has always wanted to model the team after them. THAT could certainly be something that leans to the side of the panthers not hiring Kelly... But I get the impression that Richardson wants to shake things up this offseason so I wouldn't put anything out of the question.And that's been my point all along...Richardson has no problem spending money. I'm not sure why you have trouble getting this point that I've been making to you since my first response. For some reason, a number of people (obviously including you) have it in their mind that Richardson is tight with his spending, but it's not the case. He had one year where he refrained from spending money, and it was when he was trying to make a point during the lockout.'Raider Nation said:I'm not trying to be argumentative, but a lot of GMs hire coaches.Where Richardson comes in is the finances. No GM is going to hire a coach without running it by the owner first. That's when he has to make a decision between high-priced candidates and an up-and-coming assistant, who will come cheaper. In the end, price range for the new coach is the owner's call.'solorca said:Its not a money thing, it's a fit thing...and they wanted to build a strong defensive team. Richardson has never had a problem with spending money, contrary to popular belief as a result of the lockout year. It's also worth noting that Marty Hurney hired the last two coaches, so any history since Seifert is irrelevant because the GM who hired them is gone.'Raider Nation said:Not really. $2M/year, IIRC. Big deal. And he's gone cheap ever since then.'solorca said:That has nothing to do with the point I was making. You suggested that Richardson will not go after a big, coveted coaching hire. With Seifert, he did that.'Raider Nation said:I'm not sure anyone is going to mention George Seifert when discussing all-time great coaches. His record is impressive but the perception - fair or not - that he won with Bill Walsh's talent will always be hanging over him.'solorca said:Not sure why he wouldn't if that's the guy they want. He has spent money on coaches in the past (Seifert was a huge name hire), and spending money has never been a problem, outside of the one year he was making a point during the labor dispute.Chip Kelly + Cam Newton = Must-See-TV.
But I won't hold my breath waiting for Richardson to outbid other owners for a marquee coach.
With Hurney gone, there is a lot of question about the direction of the team. I would not be surprised to see an offensive minded coach this time.
I still don't think it will happen, but I hope I'm wrong. As I said earlier, Kelly + Newton would be silly.
Kelly may not be the ultimate hire, but his price tag wouldn't be the reason it doesn't happen.I love how you state this as fact.
There is a lot more evidence supporting my position than yours.