NFL's Hot New Trend - The Coaching Succession Plan

The NFL is such a copycat league it is amazing we haven't gotten to a discussion of cloning yet. The hot trend as this season came to end seems to be, the coaching succession plan.

When Jason Garrett the offensive coordinator in Dallas began seriously considering offers to coach in Baltimore and Atlanta. Jerry Jones decided that he didn't want to lose the man he saw as the future coach of the Cowboys. He gave Garrett 3 million a year, nearly equal to the salary of head coach Wade Phillips. While it isn't official since Wade Phillips hasn't even mentioned leaving. It is pretty widely accepted that part of Garretts return to the Cowboys is the fact he will be the next coach.

As the NFL world sat around waiting for Tony Dungy to return with a decision about coaching next season. Jim Caldwell sat around waiting to see if the announcement that he would take over for Dungy, would come into effect three days after it was made. When Dungy held the conference to announce his stay or go decision,. It turned out it will be at least another year before Caldwell takes over, possibly even more. Dungy is staying and has said he will go through the same process at the end of next season. Just as he has for the last several seasons.

You can now add Jim Mora and Seahawks to the list. They announced recently that when Homlgren, who also took a few weeks to make a stay or go decision at the end of this season, retires at the end of the 2008 season. Jim Mora will take over the head coaching duties. In a small bit of irony, Mora had recently withdrew his name from the, still vacant, Redskins head coaching job.

That particular position is still vacant despite the pretty much accepted succession plan that was in place for Greg Williams when Joe Gibbs retired. Thing is, it was pretty much accepted by everyone but 'Skins owner Daniel Snyder. Williams not only isn't the head coach, someone else has his old job at defensive coordinator, and he is gone. So take heed Jason Garrett, these other two teams have held conferences and made announcements about their plans. If Wade Phillips loses that job, it'll be because the team is losing and you're a part of that. I don't see Jerry Jones as a guy turning from one losing coach to the other to solve his problems.

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C'mon everybody is doin' it

“Hurry, Hurry get in line.” The Chin Shouted. “I am first” Bobby yelled , to which Bill responded “you’re the one causing the line.” As Jason runs up shouting, “what’s this line for” “oh, were all lining up to reject the Falcons”, “we’re here to cut and run”, “we’re teasing Mr. Blank” the others say over each other
That’s right today Jason Garrett became the fourth major prospect to walk away from the Falcons. All of a sudden Bobby Petrino is looking good for sticking out the half season he managed to show up for. With Bill Cowher as well as Bill Parcells leading the no thanks parade going through Falcons owner Arthur Blanks office. As I mentioned I think this is the right move for Garrett. Now all of a sudden he got a raise to 3 million a year. No longer is it a good decision; it is great. He now makes more than half the head coaches in the league. You can pretty much assume that he is waiting in the wings for the head coaching, job. All around smart move.

Tiny Tuna and Old Mother Hubbard

Dance Tina Tuna Dance
Tony Sparano is officially the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. He is unofficially a marionette to Bill Parcells. Hey I am not saying it’s a bad thing I mean, Parcells is a great leader. Why not let him pull the strings. I mean how far are we from a “I shopped for the groceries, so you make what I tell you for dinner” quote out of Bill Parcells.

Old Mother Jones, He's left all alone
With only Wade Phillips beside him
Seriously, Sparano goes to Miami. You figure he is going to take 2-3 guys with him. Now Jason Garrett is the new coach on fire, to go to Atlanta (really?) or Baltimore(no really?). Jerry Jones needs to keep him there, but not nearly as bad as Garrett needs to stay there. He’s been offensive coordinator for all of about five minutes. In that time the team he led under achieved. Also, is he just chomping at the bit to coach, Atlanta or Baltimore. I know he is a quarterbacks coach, but will he really have time to lead either of those teams and bring along who ever those two NFL bottom feeders end up using at quarterback.