Cowher to the Jets (UPDATED)
by PaulMorel on Dec 29, 2008 1:23 PM EST
34 comments
I'm calling it now. Cowher will be coaching for the New York Jets next season.
Okay, okay. Technically, Cowher says that he doesn't want to coach this year, but if that's the case, why didn't he do more to tamp down all the rumors about him going to the Browns? To me, that was a red flag.
Anyway, here's why Cowher is going to the Jets:
First, the Jets will be drafting a quarterback. Cowher has experience bringing QBs into the league... or at least he has a proven track record in Ben Roethlisberger.
Second, the Jets are built around a rushing offense, and a defense that can stop the run. This season, the Jets defense was average over all, but they had the 7th ranked rush defense in the NFL. Their rushing attack is led by the veteran Thomas Jones, who probably still has a few good years left in the tank, due to spending most of his career as a backup.
Finally, Is there a better coaching vacancy? This depends on who fires their coach. Redskins, Cowboys, Bucs, Browns and Jaguars might have coaching vacancies on decent teams, but each team has serious downsides.
Which team do you think Cowher will coach for?
UPDATE:
I just stumbled upon two completely contradictory reports from SI.com. Situations like this are exactly why I wrote this post. Here is Peter King's article, which seems to support the poll results:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/12/30/mail/index.html
And here is another article that reports that Cowher WILL talk to the Jets, and said he is interested in the job:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/12/30/jets.ap/index.html
Take your pick. Peter King is normally reliable, but his information is older than the unnamed AP source. For now, I'll stick with my prediction. The Jets have the money and the right team to lure Cowher. If other commenters are right, then his family situation may be drawing him to New York as well.
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In case you haven't heard
and it appears you haven’t. It has already been reported that Cowher has told Browns’ owner Randy Lerner, that he won’t be coaching the Browns or any other team in ’09.
by Jonny B. on Dec 29, 2008 2:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I heard that, I just don’t buy it.
My post is pure speculation, and I hope nobody reads it as if it is anything else. ;)
by PaulMorel on Dec 29, 2008 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't see why the owner of the Browns would lie in his news conference.
I expect by this time tomorrow Cowher himself will confirm or deny this report. Frankly, all this speculation makes this steeler fan a little too anxious.
by Jonny B. on Dec 29, 2008 3:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think he’s lying, but I think that Cowher is waiting for the right vacancy. He didn’t know about the Jets vacancy at the time.
Who knows. Again, I’m just speculating. That’s why I put up the poll (which shows that most people agree with you!).
by PaulMorel on Dec 29, 2008 4:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Cowher has a longer proven track record of not being able to successfully bring QB’s into the league, until Whis and Ben has success. And apparently he didn’t even get along well with Ben.
charity standing orders
by BadMaafala on Dec 29, 2008 2:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Cowher where??
I agree w/ Maafala – Cowher is no QB guru nor even an offensive guy. He gives direction and passion ala his mentor Shottenheimer. Like Marty, he is not the best in-game coach and was often along for the ride once the game started.
He did make some good asst coach hires and was a vocal and responsible leader. I like his fit in Chicago but not sure if the wife is going for it, no matter where he is wanted. Possible in NY but I think he has been around long enough to know what a snake-pit that city is. Why go through all the crap that inevitably falls on your head in NYC? I say Chicago or nowhere for 2009.
"Franz" in NoCal
by franz on Dec 29, 2008 6:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He wont coach this year
I’m telling you he isnt going anywhere.
Everyone and there mother wants him but he just isnt for sale. I respect the mans decision.
I have a feeling 2010 will bring him 7-10 million a year and he is probably not taking a junk job like cleveland and detroit.
I cant believe people would even think he’d go to Cleveland.
by Mechem on Dec 29, 2008 3:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Detroit
Is actually not a junk job. The ownership group is great and they are willing to spend. The fans are great, they have a few nice pieces to work with and of course the #1 pick this April. The team is still going to have to rid itself of the Matt Millen era, but that won’t take forever, and once it’s out of the team’s system in a few years, that’s just as good a job as many. Its also extra attractive for the right candidate because it will likely entail GM duties as well. We’re then talking close to $10 million per year with all the upside in the world in the job.
by Blitzburgh on Dec 29, 2008 7:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
but really
the main thing is the ownership group. Compared to Oakland, which is a total mess with Davis still at the controls, the Ford family does not meddle. They were just too patient and tolerant of Millen’s absurd decision making.
by Blitzburgh on Dec 29, 2008 7:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The only bad NFL job is in Oakland
Because of a senile Al Davis. All others are great jobs. Unlike college, they all have the same resources. And, if you do get the Detroit job or similar, all you have to do is win a couple games and then a couple more.
Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history
by maryrose on Dec 29, 2008 11:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Its a career killer
Nobody leaves Detroit with a future. Bottom line is Detroits ownership is TERRIBLE. the Fords dont give enough of a hoot to go out and get good people to scout and to draft and the like. The reason you give them credit is the reason they are failures. They dont care enough. Its one thing not to meddle like the Rooneys, but you HAVE to do something for your team. I mean come on,They’ve had the best draft slots for years and only get worse.
They dont have an O-line, a QB, a defense. They lost their only run stopper last year. All they have is a quasi-good RB line up and some Wide Receivers.
I would NEVER take that job, or Oakland cause Al Davis is Satan.
by Mechem on Dec 30, 2008 1:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Bad jobs
Undoubtedly, Oakland is the worst. Davis runs the show, wants everyone to know he runs the show but never accepts responsibility for how bad they are. He is stuck in a time warp where he is the cutting edge coach/owner and rebel here to shake up the league. That was 30 years ago and he can’t let go of the dream….
I had to laugh when attending a recent coaching clinic – one of the Raiders assistant DB coaches was giving a lecture on playing defense “The NFL way”. Same old cover 1 they used when the Raiders were winning in the 70’s…. no zone blitz, no cover 2, no change-up alignments, nothing like what you see other teams doing. I would imagine Al gave the guy the overhead transparencies and told him exactly what to say and do…. or else.
Detroit sucks because they really don’t seem to mind losing that much. They have had the picks but nothing else. Organization must be poor top to bottom. Most coaches can’t change the support and admin staff, not unless they are a true GM also.
"Franz" in NoCal
by franz on Dec 30, 2008 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i disagree man
And so do many executives and media folk around the league. The Detroit job is not bad at all. Millen is totally at fault for the fiasco since the new millenium. Before they were close to breaking through. The fan supports there, the moneys there, the stadiums there. Shouldnt be too hard for them to turn the corner in that weak ass division.
And like I said, for a coach, theres no where to go but up. Turn that team around and ure savior forever.
by Blitzburgh on Jan 3, 2009 9:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
They have one playoff win in the last 51 years! I’d say there’s no where to go but up. If someone goes in their and just gets two playoff wins, there’s your savior.
By comparison, Cowher has 12 playoff wins since ’92 and the Steelers have 28 playoff victories since Franco snatched it right out of thin air and ran for the game winning score in 1972.
by Jonny B. on Jan 3, 2009 11:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Why the rush
Like I said, he doesn’t need the money. In fact, he’s making > $1 million a year on CBS and there is no stress associated with that job! I think he’s looking more like 2011/2012 for a return. Maybe the Steelers job will be open again by then ;)
by vin2k on Dec 29, 2008 3:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I honestly believe
If he does return it will be to an NFC team. Although Mr. Rooney doesn’t hold Cowher on any kind of hook (and we shouldn’t either), his loyalty to the Steeler organization precludes him from taking a position in the AFC, or at the very least in the AFC North.
by Jonny B. on Dec 29, 2008 3:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
wouldn't stewart cancel out ben?
Don’t get me wrong – I love Cowher, but not sure the reason you state is a good reason to bring him in as a HC.
Above avg to great Def’s, solid running game, great assistant hires, been there and done that….. those are reasons to get Cowher as a HC. Getting lucky the Chargers and Giants went after the big names in 04 – not so much. And I don’t think Cowher handled Ben well in 06 – no reason for him to play as early as he did, IMO.
Like others, I would be suprised to see him anywhere, but hard to turn down that many zeros……. at least it would be for me :)
by 703Steeler on Dec 29, 2008 5:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
i liked stewart
but hated mike tomzack and tommy maddox, stewart was just inconsistent. But yea bill is not offensive guy, so yea he got lucky that ben was able to come in and not screw it up for the rest of the team the first year and the second the guy played awesome until the superbowl, hopefully he can have another 3 play off games like he did in 2005 this year, this time the 3rd game will be the superbowl game.
by tannofsteel84 on Dec 30, 2008 5:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
CBS Pregame show
Did you see him waving that terrible towel a few weeks ago? It will take a pretty big mint to get him off that desk, and I’ll put my money on him staying at CBS.
by 40s on Dec 29, 2008 11:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
NFL Network
Says Cowher will not coach in 2009.
To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)
Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.
by HighSchoolSteeler on Dec 29, 2008 11:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
espn
just put this article up a few minutes ago…
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3799959
Interesting to note that his daughters go to school in NY. I think there is a very good chance he goes to the Jets.
by steelerark on Dec 30, 2008 1:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Reportedly wont interview with the jets
Check it out. He doesnt want to coach people lol…
by Mechem on Dec 30, 2008 2:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Precisely
Cowher will coach in NY if he wants to and the situation is right for him. Move over Tannenbaum, Cowher is pushing his way into the job IF he really wants it.
Even though 2010 was his stated return, things change. You never know what is going to be available later. In coaching, you take the right job if you can get it. Cowher will never have more leverage than right now:
- multiple open jobs
- his name recognition is still high
- numerous teams are desperate for a proven winner they can trot out to the season ticket holders
- TV job vs Coaching job leaves all owners to ponder what it will take to get him now
You know the old saying… "Git while the gittin’s good "
"Franz" in NoCal
by franz on Dec 30, 2008 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder
if The Chin was thinking of taking Kevin Colbert with him if he went.
"Whaddya' mean all the beer is gone..?
by OhioYinzer on Dec 30, 2008 2:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
disagree
i disagree. i do not think cowher will coach this year. despite the courting and wooing that will go on, cowher, imho, will stay with cbs. i won’t say anything about next year, but i wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t coach again for a long time, if at all.
...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com
by agentorange on Dec 30, 2008 2:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Steelers might lose Colbert if Cowher goes to the Jets..
…and even LeBeau. A lot of Steeler staff went to Arizona with Whisenhunt. I think there was some acrimony over the choice of the inexperienced Tomlin, who had no history with the team at all.
Personally, I would love to see Cowher in N.Y., especially if Brett Favre comes back next season. Probably my two favorite personalities in the entire NFL.
by robert ethan on Dec 30, 2008 3:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Cowher + Favre = Disaster
Cowher in NY might be OK but I don’t think the old Chin would be that thrilled with Favre’s dramatic mini-series every spring. “I… sniff, sniff…. really love playing, but…sniff, I’m not sure I want to do what it takes anymore…”
Did you see the Jets WR (L Coles?) commenting on Favre’s possible return? That interview said it all, basically “Well IF he is willing to be here with us at all of the minicamps and training camps, and IF he is really commited, and IF he is willing to do what it takes….” You get a guy to say that on tape about an ‘NFL legend’, you know he has worn thin on some people…
No, I don’t think Cowher is looking forward to that. That kind of stuff is what makes me think he would not go to NYC, but the attention and the money will be hard to turn down.
"Franz" in NoCal
by franz on Dec 30, 2008 3:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Le Beau Go?
Good point. 5 years ago he may have but not now I wouldn’t think. He has a roster full of defensive studs who play his system, love him and have a chance at a SuperBowl. After 50 years in the NFL, LeBeau tries to get one more ring and then rides off into the sunset as the greatest DC ever….
"Franz" in NoCal
by franz on Dec 30, 2008 4:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
LeBeau won't go
to the Jets, even if Cowher does. He has it great in da’Burgh, great team around him that will kill and maim at his command, and I believe that of all the coaches that talk about a team being a family and all that, he is the most sincere and would not let his players down like that. I thnk his loyalty is to the Steelers and not to Cowher. Who knows, maybe he thinks The Chin is an ass:)~
"Whaddya' mean all the beer is gone..?
by OhioYinzer on Dec 30, 2008 5:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If Cowher goes to Jets,
and he won’t since he won’t be coaching next year, he would take Marty Shottenheimer with him to be GM. Marty’s son, Brian, is already the OC. I don’t imagine he loses his job if Cowher moves in.
As for LeBeau, hands off. You can have Jim Haslett, Marvin Lewis, even Tony Dungy, but LeBeau— he’s ours.
by Jonny B. on Dec 31, 2008 2:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Eating some crow
Man, looks like I might have to eat some crow on this. If he is even going to listen to the Jets, that means he is interested, d’oh.
I also saw an article claiming that Cleveland was his “Dream job”. Not sure what is true or not anymore. What the F….
-Confused and dazed
by vin2k on Dec 30, 2008 7:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
He's just creating a buzz now,
so he can cash in big time next year or the year after.
by Jonny B. on Dec 31, 2008 2:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
jets are a no-go
espn (and yahoo and others) are reporting that cowher is not interested in the jets job.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3799959
as i said before, i just don’t think cowher is interested in coaching this year. as for what jonny b. just said about drumming up some media attention to increase his value for next year, that might be true. its good business.
...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com
by agentorange on Dec 31, 2008 7:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
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