Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Well, my theory as to how MB had a deal in place with Reid---just as he did with Reid for Kevin Kolb during the lockout---was obviously wrong. I am marinating the crow as we speak and will throw it into the oven alongside the humble pie---and it will be consumed by the kickoff of the Fiesta Bowl.
Like some of you, i actually am feeling relieved that Reid is going to KC. No question I reveled in the potential positives of having a QB friendly coach in the building.
The gig for Reid in KC is especially attractive seeing as he gets the #1 pick in the draft...and...the AFC West has become what the NFC West was a few years back. Reid could have the Chiefs contending relatively soon, depending on FA acquisitions, a great draft and, as always, a little luck.
There's speculation that Reid's interest in AZ waned when MB did not accommodate AR's request to bring along his own GM.
Whether that's accurate or not---what has me very curious is how MB seems to be treating the GM spot. He doesn't seem all that fazed that Steve Keim is on the GM interview tour---he told Keim that if he wants to be the GM in AZ, MB will not deal with Keim's agent. What's up with that?
It almost seems like MB likes thinking of himself as the real GM and that all he needs is good scout to do the other parts of the job...one that he really doesn't have to pay on a par with other GMs in the league.
This has me worried, considerably.
The fact that MB seems more intent and eager to hire a HC before he gets around to hiring a GM has me worried.
I believe part of the real dysfunction in the organization has been the rifts between the FO and the coaching staff....and players.
The FO seems to shut down come September 1st---after that point if a key player at a key position goes down, there's no asking for adjusting on the run. The coaches seem stuck with the players already on the roster---and if those players can't cut it, it doesn't matter---the coaches are stuck and the team is stuck. And when we are stuck---we always lose.
Plus---I think it is fair to question how astute MB is as a football man. He's an astute marketer, imo. But, does he really have the expertise to evaluate football coaching personnel and player personnel? Seriously.
MB's acting without a GM right now---cause for concern, imo.
Now, that said, the fact that Horton has been interviewed twice...that Reid was a candidate...and that Mike McCoy is a candidate is a good start. I don;t think the Cardinals could really go wrong with any of these three, unless Horton's offensive plan is a failure.
As for Todd Haley---let's face it---hiring Haley is going to be a very tough sell to the fans and some of the players. MB is an astute marketer, like I said. The PR on such a move would not be a slam dunk for ticket sales, unless fans don't want to miss a possible fistfight or spitting match on the sidelines.
On the flip side---even though many of you are questioning Chip Kelly as a viable candidate because you assume that the offense you see at Oregon is what he intends to run in the NFL---I can promise you this: if Chip Kelly is hired as HC, the buzz on this hire will be immediate and explosive on both the local and the national level.
There is a fascination factor with Kelly---and based on his fairly recent history of squaring off versus Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh in the PAC-10 would create games within the games.
Personally---I would be ecstatic if we hired Kelly---I think he would capture our imaginations in ways we have never seen. I also think that as this NFC West situation is slipping quickly through our hands like time, that Kelly would give us the best chance to reverse the current slide.
What I cannot fathom is how this guy---symbolically and literally---is in AZ right now in OUR stadium---and we don't have an interview set up with him?
I would think any football man would want to sit across the table from this guy to see what makes him tick.
If Bill Belichick seeks Kelly out---that speaks volumes.
Beyond---
I know ti's frustrating to wait but the prospect of a Kyle Shanahan with QB Kirk Cousins in tow looks very attractive to me.
I also have a very high regard for Cincy OC Jay Gruden---who, with Andy Dalton at QB and a number of young players has helped to get Cincy into the playoffs two years in a row---
Then---what about raiding the 49ers? Check this one out:
GM: Tom Gamble
HC: Greg Roman
DC: Ray Horton
ST: Kevin Spencer
QB: Alex Smith---UFA (after he is released in March)
TE: Delaney Walker---UFA
DE: Ricky Jean-Francois---UFA
FS: Dashon Goldson---UFA
The Niners tried to steal Kurt Warner away when we were in 1st place---well, how about returning the favor? We actually would be in a strong position to make this happen---stronger than what SF had with Warner.
Like some of you, i actually am feeling relieved that Reid is going to KC. No question I reveled in the potential positives of having a QB friendly coach in the building.
The gig for Reid in KC is especially attractive seeing as he gets the #1 pick in the draft...and...the AFC West has become what the NFC West was a few years back. Reid could have the Chiefs contending relatively soon, depending on FA acquisitions, a great draft and, as always, a little luck.
There's speculation that Reid's interest in AZ waned when MB did not accommodate AR's request to bring along his own GM.
Whether that's accurate or not---what has me very curious is how MB seems to be treating the GM spot. He doesn't seem all that fazed that Steve Keim is on the GM interview tour---he told Keim that if he wants to be the GM in AZ, MB will not deal with Keim's agent. What's up with that?
It almost seems like MB likes thinking of himself as the real GM and that all he needs is good scout to do the other parts of the job...one that he really doesn't have to pay on a par with other GMs in the league.
This has me worried, considerably.
The fact that MB seems more intent and eager to hire a HC before he gets around to hiring a GM has me worried.
I believe part of the real dysfunction in the organization has been the rifts between the FO and the coaching staff....and players.
The FO seems to shut down come September 1st---after that point if a key player at a key position goes down, there's no asking for adjusting on the run. The coaches seem stuck with the players already on the roster---and if those players can't cut it, it doesn't matter---the coaches are stuck and the team is stuck. And when we are stuck---we always lose.
Plus---I think it is fair to question how astute MB is as a football man. He's an astute marketer, imo. But, does he really have the expertise to evaluate football coaching personnel and player personnel? Seriously.
MB's acting without a GM right now---cause for concern, imo.
Now, that said, the fact that Horton has been interviewed twice...that Reid was a candidate...and that Mike McCoy is a candidate is a good start. I don;t think the Cardinals could really go wrong with any of these three, unless Horton's offensive plan is a failure.
As for Todd Haley---let's face it---hiring Haley is going to be a very tough sell to the fans and some of the players. MB is an astute marketer, like I said. The PR on such a move would not be a slam dunk for ticket sales, unless fans don't want to miss a possible fistfight or spitting match on the sidelines.
On the flip side---even though many of you are questioning Chip Kelly as a viable candidate because you assume that the offense you see at Oregon is what he intends to run in the NFL---I can promise you this: if Chip Kelly is hired as HC, the buzz on this hire will be immediate and explosive on both the local and the national level.
There is a fascination factor with Kelly---and based on his fairly recent history of squaring off versus Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh in the PAC-10 would create games within the games.
Personally---I would be ecstatic if we hired Kelly---I think he would capture our imaginations in ways we have never seen. I also think that as this NFC West situation is slipping quickly through our hands like time, that Kelly would give us the best chance to reverse the current slide.
What I cannot fathom is how this guy---symbolically and literally---is in AZ right now in OUR stadium---and we don't have an interview set up with him?
I would think any football man would want to sit across the table from this guy to see what makes him tick.
If Bill Belichick seeks Kelly out---that speaks volumes.
Beyond---
I know ti's frustrating to wait but the prospect of a Kyle Shanahan with QB Kirk Cousins in tow looks very attractive to me.
I also have a very high regard for Cincy OC Jay Gruden---who, with Andy Dalton at QB and a number of young players has helped to get Cincy into the playoffs two years in a row---
Then---what about raiding the 49ers? Check this one out:
GM: Tom Gamble
HC: Greg Roman
DC: Ray Horton
ST: Kevin Spencer
QB: Alex Smith---UFA (after he is released in March)
TE: Delaney Walker---UFA
DE: Ricky Jean-Francois---UFA
FS: Dashon Goldson---UFA
The Niners tried to steal Kurt Warner away when we were in 1st place---well, how about returning the favor? We actually would be in a strong position to make this happen---stronger than what SF had with Warner.
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