Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002

Coaching corner

Some thoughts on the recent hires and the remaining openings

By Keith Schleiden, Managing editor

Here are some random thoughts on how these hires have played out and what could happen in the next few days with the unresolved situations.

• One of the most ridiculous things I’ve noticed is the disparity in pay between two of the recent hires. Steve Spurrier was given a five-year contract worth $25 million by the Redskins. The Colts gave Tony Dungy a five-year contract worth $13 million. What’s wrong with this picture? Spurrier may have one of football’s great offensive minds, and he had tremendous success at the University of Florida. But he has never coached an NFL game. He deserves nearly twice as much money as Dungy, one of the NFL’s great defensive minds? I don’t think so.

• While on the subject of Spurrier, I simply can’t wait to watch him this season. He could turn out to be more entertaining to watch than his football team. He has guaranteed that he will improve the team’s offensive performance this year. The Redskins finished 30^th in passing and 28^th in total offense. Those numbers had to make him cringe. If Spurrier is to improve on those figures, though, he will need more than some of his creative plays. He’s going to have to get some players. I can’t envision QB Tony Banks running the show. It’s been rumored that team owner Daniel Snyder has suggested giving Jeff George another shot in Washington. While that could be another disaster in waiting, I would love to see Spurrier and George sharing a sideline when things go a little awry. Talk about fireworks!

• As for Dungy, the Buccaneers’ mistake proved to be the Colts’ lucky break. Dungy will be a perfect fit in Indianapolis. He is exactly what the doctor ordered. The Colts featured one of the least inspiring defensive units in football last season. They allowed a league-high 486 points in 2001. Provided he will be given some new talent with which to work, Dungy ought to be able to turn things around in one offseason. He has vowed to institute an aggressive unit that will force turnovers, much like his Tampa Bay defenses that carried the Bucs into the playoffs regularly. Simply a great hire by Jim Irsay and Bill Polian.

• Speaking of the Buccaneers, what a fine mess they’ve gotten themselves into. I don’t know who is more to blame — Bill Parcells or the Glazer family (owners of the Bucs). After giving it much thought, I say both sides screwed up and deserve whatever criticism is heaped on them. It is appropriate to label Parcells a jerk for leaving the Bucs high and dry. He basically got Dungy fired because he showed serious interest in the gig in Tampa. But the Glazers also should be booed for firing Dungy before getting Parcells to sign on the dotted line. Surely they knew that Parcells was wishy-washy and had changed his mind at the last second on several occasions in the past. The only way the Buccaneers can save face here is to hire another big-name, impact coach. The guy they need to somehow get is Jon Gruden, currently the coach of the Raiders. Gruden has already made it clear — through his agent, anyway — that he has no intention of coaching in Oakland beyond his current contract, which expires after the 2002 season. If Al Davis is wise — and that’s been debated in recent years — he will work out a deal with the Bucs that would get him something in exchange for Gruden, because he’s not going to get anything next year. Davis would then be able to hire a new sideline boss, perhaps Dennis Green.

• In San Diego, Chargers GM John Butler is said to be mulling three candidates — Marty Schottenheimer, Ted Cottrell and Norv Turner. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. The right hire here is Schottenheimer. He will whip this team into shape and have it contending in a year or two. Cottrell is certainly familiar with Butler, as they worked together in Buffalo. But with a first-time NFL head coach, you don’t know what you’re getting. Schottenheimer has proven he can win at this level. As for Turner, I like him a lot. He got a bad rap in Washington. But he’s also a bit too laid-back. He’s not viewed as a disciplinarian, which is something that the Chargers are in need of after a few years of being led by nice-guy Mike Riley.

• In Carolina, the Panthers haven’t had much luck in luring their top choices to replace George Seifert. They apparently wanted — and talked to — Spurrier and Dungy. But Spurrier chose the Redskins, and Dungy chose the Colts. Now, it appears as if they are going to go with either Giants defensive coordinator John Fox or Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis. Both of those guys interviewed for the Bills' job last year but were beaten out by a dark-horse candidate, Gregg Williams.

• Finally, I don’t know what to make of Mike Tice yet. He’s a young guy who had been pushing for a shot at an NFL head-coaching job for some time. He was a climber, and his persistence paid off when the Vikings promoted him to their top job. There have been rumors the Vikes did so because he would take the job on the cheap, which is something they were looking for considering they still owed Dennis Green several million dollars. If Tice can surround himself with quality assistants — hire Mike Riley to be your offensive coordinator, coach Tice — and rein in Randy Moss, Tice could fare OK.

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