Have the Bidwills been trying?

[Scott MS]

People who blame Bidwills whenever there's a loss are showing their lack of knowledge.

Their lack of knowledge of superior offensive and defensive coordinators?

 

[joeshmo]

40 you can't really say that with any certainty because the statistical base is simply too small to draw any meaningful conclusions.

 

[Scott MS]

You bring in a guy like Dennis Green, with one of the highest winning percentages in the league, and his team get's progressively worse.

There is something degenerative in the Cards organization and until somebody admits it, things may never change.

There are clearly "control" points that we, as fans, don't know. If you haven't got the feeling that what Bidwill wants or says, will happen, then you haven't been reading the articles in the paper.

 

[JeffGollin]

I was prepared to hate this thread, but found most of the commentary objective and reasonable. A few of my own thoughts:

1. You can't ignore outcomes - the dismal yearly W & L record is too consistent and too long to be a matter of luck.

2. I think the Bidwills do care and do try. They're also part of a dying breed of charter NFL owners whose teams were essentially "the family business." Some family businesses thrive and prosper; some are dysfunctional (the Bidwill family business - which I've likened to a Catskills family-run resort where they scrimp on the towels - certainly has had more than its share of growing pains). All eventually have to make the transition from "mom & pop" to modern day organizations.

3. The emergence of Michael Bidwill and his current front office staff certainly signalled the beginning of that transition. Most of the moves they've made were heralded when they took place. So why hasn't everything lived up to expectations? A few reasons in my opinion: (a) The transition is still a work in progress. Like any new leader, Michael B will make more than his share of management mistakes (for example, overhyping the impact of the new stadium and "glamor" free agent and draft signees so that expectations were raised too high). It's part of the learning curve. (b) It's a competitive world in the NFL, and the brain power and competency of the owners of other teams has increased equally if not faster than that of Cardinal management and (c) the inability or unwillingness to recognize and bring in really smart management talent. (Some owners and top managers incorrectly perceive folks like that more as a threat than an asset).

4. In short, the Bidwills seem to be nice people trying to do the right thing, but appear to be in over their heads and having to play catch-up with other NFL managements in the franchise-development dept. The only four logical options they have are: (a) becoming football-smarter than other NFL owners, (b) bringing in brighter football minds at the front office and coaching levels, (c) shaking up the family power structure (i.e. the Bill Jr. wildcard) or (d) selling the team.

5. I don't think Cardinal ownership will sell the team, and I personally feel shifting power back to Bill Jr. would be (to put it gently) "an unwise idea." What I'm hoping for is that Michael B realizes that he still has a lot to learn and is smart enough to either pick the brains of other smart football minds in the NFL or, if need be, hire at least one of them.

 

[Scott MS]

5. I don't think Cardinal ownership will sell the team, and I personally feel shifting power back to Bill Jr. would be (to put it gently) "an unwise idea." What I'm hoping for is that Michael B realizes that he still has a lot to learn and is smart enough to either pick the brains of other smart football minds in the NFL or, if need be, hire at least one of them.

Jeff, you have some good points.

I think a lot of the issues come down to control of football operations. Not only is there a power struggle within the family for control (Bill Sr., Bill Jr., Michael), but the Bidwill's have a small circle of trust and don't seem willing to give control of the team's football decisions to an outsider. They like Rod Graves because he is a puppet and Denny has been very good saying all the right things.

When I read the articles about Fassel wanting changes and not being hired, Michael forcing the signing of Edge, and not having a full GM, it all comes down to control and the Bidwill's unwillingness to hand the team's reigns over to somebody else.

 

[jefftheshark]

4. In short, the Bidwills seem to be nice people trying to do the right thing, but appear to be in over their heads and having to play catch-up with other NFL managements in the franchise-development dept. The only four logical options they have are: (a) becoming football-smarter than other NFL owners, (b) bringing in brighter football minds at the front office and coaching levels, (c) shaking up the family power structure (i.e. the Bill Jr. wildcard) or (d) selling the team.

The same thing could have been said about the Irsay family until they hired Bill Polian to run things. Until they opt for option "b" we are likely to remain in the same holding pattern we have been in for the past 18 years.

The Shark

 

[40yearfan]

40 you can't really say that with any certainty because the statistical base is simply too small to draw any meaningful conclusions.

Not nescessarally. If you take the square of they hypotenuse and add the sum of change in K9's pocket, it will widen the base enough to get an accurate reading.