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Open Thread Thursday | January 21, 2010
Okay loyal readers, here is your chance to get the discussion going. Please post a topic and get us started.
23 Responses to “Open Thread Thursday | January 21, 2010”
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Okay, I’ll get this started with a couple:
1) . Has anyone seen the continuing saga with the Oakland Raiders? This thing is absolutely ridiculous!! Al Davis has not fired Tom Cable – nor has he told Cable that he is coming back for a second year. But Davis is apparently interviewing candidates for his position!!
For as bad as things seem in Buffalo – Bills fans have to be thankful that Al Davis doesn’t own the Bills.
2). Has the coaching merry-go-round in college football officially stopped? Has there ever been an off-season in which there has been this much change in the coaching situations? And what is the point of signing these long term extensions, if they can just break the contract a couple months later ?
Personally, I think the NCAA should put its foot down on the situation. I am all for a coach moving up in the ranks, but this offseason has been absolutely ridiculous. You don’t see this happening in the NFL because if a coach is hired away from another team – that team usually has to cough of draft picks ( a la Bill Belichick to Pats and Bill Parcells to Jets). My thought is that the NCAA should limit – not prevent the ability for coaches to jump to a new head coaching position. So how about the hiring team loses a scholarship for a year or two?
Thoughts?
I am solidly aboard the Buddy Nix bandwagon… reason #483:
When asked about the seeming lack of interest in the Bills HC job: “Trust me, it’s a good job. Don’t ever think you can’t fill coaching jobs, even if they’re bad. Oakland gets a lot of calls.”
It’s nice to have someone who isn’t afraid to make a little splash. God knows we need a little bit of swagger even if it means beating up on [the undesirables].
Whenever discussion like this about the Raiders comes up, I think of Jason Giambi on Letterman and his top 10 reasons for leaving Oakland to go to the Yankees.
#7(?) Have you ever BEEN to Oakland?
Cut Al some slack. At least he pegged Lane Kiffin as a liar.
Speaking of Kiffin, did you catch this article: http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/ncb/news/story?id=4845312
An interesting read on Tim Floyd’s motivation for leaving USC.
As for the coaching Tilt A Whirl (a carousel is too slow for describing the recent activity), I’d like to hear Pete’s take on whether he ever remembers as much activity. I don’t blame a kid for being uncomfortable if forced to work under a new coach.
Tim – I am going to enjoy the southern drawl influence on the Bills. Buddy is not afraid. The Bills need that.
Tim,
I am not a Bills fan, but I have to say that I am enjoying Buddy Nix. He appears to be someone that the Bills organization needs. Considering the QBs he has been involved in picking – I think the Bills have the right person in place for what is going to be a critical decision.
On Mike & Mike the other day, they had an interesting take on why a lot of coaches passed on the Bills job – the lack of a franchise QB. Regardless of how Chan Gailey turns out – and I will be secretly rooting for him to be successful for many years – the next decision on the Bills QB will be huge. Jimmy Clausen at #9 is not out of the question. If not, then who? Maybe a trade for Donovan McNabb?
Agreed on a potential Jimmy Clausen sighting at number nine. There is also some speculation that Nix tried to go after Whitehurst who he knows from his time in San Diego. Whitehurst has had a few years to learn in a very good system and even though he is low on NFL starts, might be more “NFL ready” than a lot of other options. I am okay with a trade for McNabb if they also pick up another young QB somewhere. That way they have Brohm and Player X on the bench learning the ropes. A veteran like McNabb (or maybe even Vick?) to get them through another year. And then Fitzpatrick as a second stringer who could come in and play for extended periods if absolutely necessary.
Also, I really chuckled when I saw how my previous comment was edited. I think that is a very amusing synonym.
Today’s SportsNation favorite site: http://gridironexperts.com/
Give it a look. Tell ‘em who sent ya!!!!!
Never have I seen this much coaching activity in college ball, especially at the top of D1. But limits; I don’t think so. The structure and the # of teams is so different than is the NFL. “Moving up in the ranks” is now and always has been the way of college ball. Coaches like Stagg and Warner and Bryant moved around to get better opportunities. Some legends stay in the same place forever (Paterno), but those are rare. Career climbing is the nature of the college game. Some colleges are training grounds (Miami of Ohio – the cradle of coaches; Paul Brown, Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian to name a few), but they happen to be in the same league as the plum jobs. Not true in the NFL, which is why there has to be some compensation at that level when you raid internally. Sorry Smitty, but I am not for it, and that won’t change even if someone robs ND of Brian Kelly. Nature of the game!
Jimmy Clausen backing up Donovan McNabb? I might have to attend a game if that happens.
NCAA legislation might be out of the question, but a ‘natural selection’ of sorts might take place. Who was the Tenn recruit that opted for UNC? He was interviewed and said one of Kiffin’s staff contacted him, and the recruit said no thanks. Something to the effect of “I couldn’t trust you at Tenn. Why can I trust you at USC?
You play to win the game.
Ovechkin vs. Crosby
James vs. Bryant
What’s your viewing choice?
Me? I am with Ovechkin vs. Crosby.
That game should be a barn burner!! But then again, I don’t have cable so I won’t be able to watch both. 2 more months until Direct TV.. 2 more months… 2 more months..
Cowherd on ESPN this morning was ranking the NFL coaching jobs. Dead last was Oakland, next worst was Buffalo.
Now … I love all the people I’ve met in western NY, so there must be something else about the area. And I have no idea what it is. Too much snow??? Unfortunately, the hiring of Chan Gailey certainly gives the impression that this was a very hard job to fill. Nothing like another fired and recycled retread. And Chicago fans would’ve given you Lovie Smith for free … but, dooooh , former Bears coaches don’t work out very well there, do they?
Not a big Cowherd fan, but I don’t disagree with him on his assertion that it is a bad job. The biggest problem is a meddlesome, very very old owner that doesn’t have a clear succession plan in place. Compared to most other head coaching gigs, this one offers no stability (which says something because it’s not like most head coaches are putting down permanent roots). But with all of that being said, there were still plenty of coaches who wanted the gig. My favorite quote out all of this:
“Why he had not called a coach with a Super Bowl ring, 10 wins a year for nine years, having orchestrated the highest-scoring offense and defense in the history of the league, is a question worth asking. But I never spoke with Mr. Nix.” – Brian Billick, the biggest jerk in all of sports.
Cry me a river, Brian.
I am just so happy that the “Billick to ND rumors” never went beyond the rumor stage.
I really believe that the biggest drawback to the Bills right now – is the lack of a franchise quarterback.
With the #9 spot in the draft there is a very real chance that Sam Bradford or Jimmy Clausen will fall into the Bills lap. Mel Crapper Jr. has Bradford ranked extremely high, so it looks like Bradford’s shoulder is okay.
But if you can get a franchise QB in here – suddenly things look a lot brighter in Buffalo. It has been 10 years since they have had one – Jim Kelly.
I don’t buy that Wilson is being cheap because if you are going to interview Shanahan and Cowher, you know you are going to have to open the wallet to get either of them in here.
So what is everyone’s picks for this weekends games?
Colts over Jets by 6 … but “low scoring’ … maybe 20-14. Jet’s are making everyone look clumsy, this time not clumsy enough.
Saints over the Vikings in a thriller … a shame, Id like both of these teams to win. Saints win 28-26. I give the edge to Sean Peyton as a coach and home field.
Colts and Saints…number 1′s hold true yet again this postseason. It’s been a fairy tale run for the Jets but today’s NFL is much different than the NFL in the late 60′s. Too many big wins needed by the Jets. They had their big upset last week. It will be a valiant effort but in the end, Peyton Manning trumps Rex Ryan. Saints at home, Brees with a continued chip on his shoulder, no one to cover Marques Colston (mark my words, he’ll have a huge one), Bush will be shut down but the other Saints are goooooood. Big plays but a close game make this one exciting. This one could fall either way, but if I had to pick, I’d choose the Saints.
Think of these amazing story lines by the way. Whoever wins will be an amazing story…. Colts-Peyton best QB ever? Rookie head coach
Saints – devastation in New Orleans, truly a team of the city
Vikings – Brett Favre drama/age…nuff said
Jets – Cinderella run, Sanchez, Ryan
(I pressed enter by mistake)
Back to the Bills – Wilson’s meddling all stems from the old boy getting burned by Donohoe. He gave the guy too much say too quickly and Donohoe ran with it in a way that Wilson did not like. Since then he can’t key his nose out of the team’s affairs.
It’s a shame, but Brett Favre made yet another critical mistake in a playoff game with that INT near the end of regulation. He could’ve run for 8-10 yards easily and that would’ve put Minn in field goal position. It’s those types of big game mistakes that have and will keep Favre out of my Top 5 QBs of all-time list.
I feel bad for Favre and the Vikings in general … one less stupid unforced mistake and they’d be going to the SB. That 12 men in the huddle penalty actually ended up leading to the Favre INT. The Vikes really outplayed New Orleans … but … oh those turnovers !!!