The NFL Head Coach Hot Seat

[Guest Vitamin X]

I figured I'd make a thread for it, since we're getting close to that time. In some news, here's a piece I thought you guys might find interesting:

 

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- LSU coach Nick Saban has talked to the Miami Dolphins about their vacant head coaching position.

 

In a statement issued by LSU on Wednesday, Saban described the talks as ``a preliminary conversation with the Dolphins to exchange ideas about their head coaching position.''

 

``No decisions were made in this meeting and they will continue their search for a coach,'' Saban said. ``I will continue to be committed to LSU, our football program and totally focused on our bowl game versus Iowa.''

 

LSU (9-2) meets Iowa (9-2) on Jan. 1 in the Capital One Bowl.

 

Dolphins president Eddie Jones said he and owner Wayne Huizenga met with Saban, but did not divulge any other specific details on the meeting and, like Saban, stressed that no choices have been made.

 

``In keeping with our policy to conduct this search with integrity, prior to speaking with Coach Saban we did contact LSU interim chancellor William L. Jenkins to inform him of our meeting,'' Jones said in a statement released by the team.

 

Dolphins interim coach Jim Bates said he hasn't yet discussed the prospects of leading the team in 2005 with Huizenga, but added that conversation will take place later this week.

 

Saban notified LSU in writing about the meeting with the Dolphins, said athletics director Skip Bertman. Bertman said Saban ``has been forthright in his communication with the university about this and I support him in any direction that he may take.''

 

``We are all aware that other NFL teams have made overtures to him in the past and he hasn't expressed any interest,'' Bertman said. ``But this is one of the premier jobs in the NFL and he owes it to his family and their future to hear what the Dolphins have to say.''

 

Dave Wannstedt resigned as Miami coach in November after the Dolphins' 1-8 start and was replaced on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Jim Bates -- who speaks weekly with Huizenga, but said earlier this week that the subject of him taking over on a permanent basis hasn't been broached.

 

Saban met last season with the Chicago Bears and released a statement hours after Wannstedt's resignation insisting that he was interested in no other jobs.

 

He is 48-15 in five seasons at LSU, taking the Tigers to bowl games in each of those years. Saban took over a team that had gone 3-8 in 1999 and in his first season went 8-4 with a Peach Bowl victory, then led last season's team to a share of the school's first national title since the 1958 season.

 

LSU beat Oklahoma 21-14 in last year's Bowl Championship Series title game, triggering a clause in Saban's contract that guaranteed him becoming the highest-paid coach in college football. He received a $18.45-million, seven-year contract after last season.

 

That could be good for the Dolphins.

 

EDIT: Also, the hot seat quote of the week->

Asked if he expected to stay with the 49ers beyond the season, Erickson said: ``I do. I believe that we've got a future.''

[Precious Roy 0]

Mike Tice is second to only Mike Martz as my most hated coach. I find Vikings games incredibly frustrating because his in-game management is so awful. After yet ANOTHER 2nd half meltdown they HAVE to fire that guy!

[Crimson Platypus 0]

This would totally fit Saban's pattern of jumping while the jumping's good. He did the same to MSU, saw that there was not much higher to go with them and jumped to LSU, now I wonder if he sees the same thing there and is ready. God I hope so, hard to say if he can fix the years of bungling that Wannastasch heaped on my beloved Dolphins...

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

The football fan in me hates Mike Tice. The Packer fan in me wants to see him get a 10 year extension.

 

Erickson never should have been hired in the first place. You can't tell me that the Niners didn't know what they were getting.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Mike Tice is a bumbling fuck but I still hate Mike Martz even more.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

Mike Tice is a bumbling fuck but I still hate Mike Martz even more.

I hate Martz on a personal level. I don't hate Tice, that was perhaps the wrong word, but I feel that is in over his head as a coach. Martz is an arrogant shithead, which I wouldn't mind if he could back it up on the field but he can't.

 

Speaking of coaches I can't stand, Tom Coughlin is high on that list too.

[Slayer 0]

I don't think I need to restate my feelings for Mike Tice

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Now that Charlie Weis went to ND, I guess I'd be willing to give Saban a shot.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

I actually like Tom Coughlin.

 

I hated Gregg Williams, good defensive coordinator, not so much as a coach.

 

Yes, I hate Martz too.

[CanadianChris 0]

Why does Martz still even have a job? I can't believe he'd be retained after the spectacular flameout the Rams look to be on the verge of completing this season.

[Slayer 0]

The bad part is that Martz will probably keep his job because he'll wind up in the playoffs by virtue of the NFC West sucking a fat one

[Guest bigm350]

The bad part is that Martz will probably keep his job because he'll wind up in the playoffs by virtue of the NFC West sucking a fat one

There's still a mathematical chance that teams that are 5-8 in the NFC right now could make the playoffs. Parity rules all; how sad is that?

[Guest Failed Mascot]

Erickson never should have been hired in the first place. You can't tell me that the Niners didn't know what they were getting.

I think they got just what they deserve for apparently wanting a White Head Coach and nothing more. They could have had Romeo Crennel.

[Slayer 0]

The bad part is that Martz will probably keep his job because he'll wind up in the playoffs by virtue of the NFC West sucking a fat one

There's still a mathematical chance that teams that are 5-8 in the NFC right now could make the playoffs.

True, but the Rams could win the division, which not only puts them in the playoffs, but gives them a home game against a probably better WC team

[Guest bigm350]

The bad part is that Martz will probably keep his job because he'll wind up in the playoffs by virtue of the NFC West sucking a fat one

There's still a mathematical chance that teams that are 5-8 in the NFC right now could make the playoffs.

True, but the Rams could win the division, which not only puts them in the playoffs, but gives them a home game against a probably better WC team

That's fuckin ridiculous. I'm all for even playing fields but I miss the days of teams like the 49ers and Cowboys, who would just steamroll teams back in the day.

[Slayer 0]

That's fuckin ridiculous. I'm all for even playing fields but I miss the days of teams like the 49ers and Cowboys, who would just steamroll teams back in the day.

[sfaJack 0]

Neither this year's Patriots' team nor either of their two title teams would beat the Cowboys or Niners of the early 90's. Those will probably be the last two truly great teams of the NFL, with the possible exception of Denver's two champions.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

You appear to be on crack, much like the players from your beloved 90s Cowboys if you think the Pats of the last 4 years haven't been a great team. How many more team records do they need to set in order for you to see them as one of the greats?

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

The Packers of 95-97 were pretty damn good too.

[Slayer 0]

If the Patriots win the SB this year, it'll be the same number as the Cowboys in that timespan (3 in 4 years), but they still probably won't get any respect

[2GOLD 0]

If the Patriots win the SB this year, it'll be the same number as the Cowboys in that timespan (3 in 4 years), but they still probably won't get any respect

 

They could win back to back to back and they won't get respect cause they don't blow teams out.

 

Margin of victory in title game= respect

 

Which is bull, but oh well

[sfaJack 0]

You appear to be on crack, much like the players from your beloved 90s Cowboys if you think the Pats of the last 4 years haven't been a great team. How many more team records do they need to set in order for you to see them as one of the greats?

I never said the Patriots weren't great. In fact, I should correct myself and give them their due for one of the best runs ever in the league because it has been great.

 

They are immediately disqualified from being greater than the Cowboys however, because:

 

1. They haven't won 3 Super Bowls yet.

2. The year they didn't win, they missed the playoffs completely whereas the Cowboys lost in the conference title game. The Cowboys also won a Super Bowl with Barry freaking Switzer as the coach, which only further demonstrates how great that group of players was.

 

No disrespect at all to the Patriots...but they just aren't as good.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

Thing is the Pats have been working with a hard salary cap through the past 4 years. The Cowboys won their first Super Bowl in 1993 when the Salary Cap didn't exist, their second in 94 when it was first brought in(the cap ceiling was high then. Had it not been then the Cowboys and a few other teams would have had to cut a third of their roster at least), and in 96 after having some time to get use to the Cap.

 

I would say Denver's 2 in a row are more impressive than Dallas' 3 out of 4 years because of this. I would also venture to say that if the Pats win the Super Bowl this year then they are a dynasty and the greatest one too. Mainly because they've done all this via retooling through the draft while picking up one or two big name free agents along the way without going over the salary cap.

 

Steelers fans of the 70s may be the only ones able to argue against this.

[Red Baron 0]

Depending on how the Seahawks finish, I can see Holmgren getting his pink slip.

[Slayer 0]

Thing is the Pats have been working with a hard salary cap through the past 4 years. The Cowboys won their first Super Bowl in 1993 when the Salary Cap didn't exist, their second in 94 when it was first brought in(the cap ceiling was high then. Had it not been then the Cowboys and a few other teams would have had to cut a third of their roster at least), and in 96 after having some time to get use to the Cap.

Actually the Cowboys won their first two SBs pre-cap ('92,'93) with the '95 coming under the cap's formative years

 

Which strengthens your argument, really

[Guest Vitamin X]

I would say Denver's 2 in a row are more impressive than Dallas' 3 out of 4 years because of this. I would also venture to say that if the Pats win the Super Bowl this year then they are a dynasty and the greatest one too. Mainly because they've done all this via retooling through the draft while picking up one or two big name free agents along the way without going over the salary cap.

Denver got lucky in Super Bowl 32, and they would have been demolished by the `98 Vikings had it been any other game other than the Super Bowl or a championship game. I still to this day have never seen an offense as prolific and as awesome as that Viking squad. I was so looking forward to Minnesota-Denver for Super Bowl XXXIII, but the Vikes had to choke early. God they're so awful in big games they even disappoint fans of division rivals!

 

Depending on how the Seahawks finish, I can see Holmgren getting his pink slip.

 

If this does happen, it's certainly not Holmgren's fault. But I'd love to see a Holmgren return to Green Bay, with Sherman as offensive coordinator, and maybe Rhodes as defensive coordinator. That would be all 3 of Green Bay's last head coaches working together to build up a young team. Maybe Ron Wolf can come back as GM too... OK fuck it, I'm pushing my luck here.

[The Czech Republic 0]

The reason the Patriots aren't as respected as the Cowboys and Niners is just because they're more of a well-oiled machine across the board and don't really have the same kind of star power. You'd think that sort of thing would make a team more respected, but such is life. Tom Brady isn't Joe Montana. He wins games, but he's not a legendary quarterback by any means. I don't care how many rings he has/will get.

 

I don't like Tom Brady.

[The Man in Blak 0]

Funniest thing happened today. I heard a New England Patriots fan bitch about how the media hype for Ben Roethlisberger had spiralled out of control. With a straight face.

 

Oh, and if Martz didn't get fired for coaching himself out of the Super Bowl and single-handedly grounding the team in mediocrity after the first two years of his tenure, then why would they fire him for said mediocrity now?

[The Czech Republic 0]

"Tom Brady" is to me watching Sportscenter as "cleaning woman" is to Steve Martin in Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid.

[Red Baron 0]

Vitamin: I don't like to see it either, and I don't think its his fault either. The lack of great receivers and a depleted defence is hard enough for the Seahawks.