Kiffin Out, [Insert Lame Duck] In

Chris Mortensen of ESPN is reporting that Raiders owner Al Davis has fired head coach Lane Kiffin (by telephone), seemingly ending the charade that has taken place since Kiffin's hiring last year. That said, Davis aims not to honor the remainder of Kiffin's contract. For that, Davis will be criticized for yet another reason.

The demise of the Raiders is nothing new. Though Davis should be remembered for his contributions to American football, his missteps (and cowardice) as owner over the last five years may result in this generation forgetting that.

In spite of a 4-12 record last year and the exact same winning percentage so far this season, the Raiders were making progress under Kiffin, who was doing his best despite not having any real control over personnel and staff. With the likes of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City (my pick), Detroit, Minnesota, St. Louis, San Francisco and perhaps Seattle looking for a new head coach in the off-season, Kiffin will have a leg up on the competition due to his youth and experience.

This is Bound To Make Your Ribs Hurt

I didn't even know that Zeke was a candidate for the Hoosiers job. In case you thought he was (LOL!), he is not. Why? He has a job.

Also, Tony Bennett (who coaches WASU, not this one) said "Thanks, but no thanks" to the aforementioned Indiana head coaching position. This is fairly surprising as he is losing three starters, including his two best to graduation.

In news that no one other than me cares about, does a lateral move from Kent State to TCU puzzle your mind? If we were talking football, that's one thing, but Jim Christian coaches basketball (though, he has crossed paths with two NFL Pro Bowl players). Fun fact. Anyhow, give credit to TCU for getting a proven coach.

Lastly, in a no-brainer, Pitt's Jamie Dixon opted to stay with the Panthers after being offered the same post at Cal. Now that Bill Self has reached the Final Four (gasp!), do not be shocked if Dixon gets the Self treatment for being "the best coach not to reach the Final Four". In Dixon's case, it's the Elite 8. Of course, there's also that Bruce Pearl guy.

Longtime Wildcats Assistant Scapegoated in Tucson?

For weeks, I have followed and reported the coaching carousel in college basketball. Usually, changes occur immediately after the season and the ones that occur a month afterwards often make me curious enough to take a closer look.

With that said, longtime Arizona Wildcats assistant head coach Jim Rosborough was relieved of his basketball duties earlier this week after 18 seasons as a deputy to Arizona head coach Lute Olson.

Having been a North Carolina fan for so many years, I know a scapegoat situation (see Matt Doherty) when I see one. However, I lacked the perspective and background knowledge to make an educated addition to the marketplace of ideas, so I asked a friend who happens to be a die-hard Arizona Wildcats fan. Here is what he said regarding my hunch that Rosborough was a scapegoat in the ordeal:

I agree that Roz (Rosborough) was a scapegoat. After a major Elite 8 collapse against Illinois and two straight mediocre seasons, Olson had to do something. Whether he was pressured by the alumni or he took it upon himself to make changes, it was clear there would be a real shake-up. He said after the loss to Purdue that they will re-look everything.

Roz was a really nice guy. He was a mentor to the recent wing players (Walton ,Jefferson) and a friend to all. The saddest thing about all this is that he stuck with Lute for 20+ seasons. He was a part of the family. Problem is Lute realized that this family has gotten too cozy and comfortable and this is really a business. I am a die-hard AZ fan and I will be the first to say that Roz is not the right guy to be the head coach at AZ. Besides being nice and a great friend/mentor, he doesn't bring much else. Recruiting?? Zip. He is the guy in charge of preparing the team for the best Pac-10 foes and the elite non-conference games. AZ was 1-8 against the top 4 in the league [this season], and they also suffered their worst home loss in the Lute Olson era to UNC.

Olson wanted to bring O'Neill in, but who do you get rid of? [Miles] Simon? He is a minority assistant coach that can relate to the players in that he was the MVP of the championship team. He also has strong recruiting ties to SoCal. [Josh] Pastner? He is arguably the hardest working assistant coach in the country and a real up-and-comer. He has invaluable recruiting ties in the Houston area and has landed some pretty good international players (see Negedu in '08 class). His father also coaches a Houston AAU team and runs Houston's Kingwood Classic. Roz was left. Olson offered him an admin job with the same pay, but he, as would I, declined. I thought he would be in Tucson and I am sad to see him leave.

As much as they deny it, O'Neill is grooming to be Lute's successor. If he succeeds in returning AZ to national contender status he gets the job. If not, we will likely bring someone like Mike Montgomery in. Looking into the distant future, we also have Steve Kerr and Josh Pastner, but they need experience. If he brings defense and mental toughness to this program, which is why we hired him, then the future looks bright.

Lute Olson had to shake things up. No one person is to blame and sadly Roz was the one to bear the brunt.


Articles Worth Reading
* Like the mad genius that he is, Gregg Doyel wrote this piece about young ballers and the poor decisions they're making. Of course, it features the derogatory tone his readers have come to know and love.
* Whoa! ESPN has a good article and you don't need Insider. And it's a good one by Andy Katz about the short individual team-workout window.
* A provocative article by Mike DeCourcy at the Sporting News (also home to Strat-o-Matic) about the "Gonzaga Syndrome".
* Last but not least, the NCAA has approved a longer 3-point line. The one-foot move from 19'9" to 20'9" may not be enough, but it is definitely long overdue.

College Basketball Confusion: A Weekend in Review

As we inch closer to the NBA Draft, fans are supposed to view issues through a clearer lens. If that's the case, then you can consider this weekend to be an anomaly of sorts.

On Friday, Georgetown juniors Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert declared for the NBA Draft; however, neither has yet to sign with an agent. Essentially, next season goes from being a potential season to compete for the national title to a rebuilding year with lower expectations. At this point, both players are considered to be lottery picks (1-14) in this year's draft, and if that holds true, it would be a shock to see either return for their senior season.

In a story published by the Indianapolis Star on Saturday, Greg Oden Sr. said that his son will enter the draft. He also said that Mike Conley Jr. would represent the odds-on 1st pick overall. On that same day, reports surfaced on ESPN television stating that Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook were also entering their names for the draft. On Saturday night, Mike Conley Sr. refuted the earlier statements and said that Greg Oden had yet to make a decision and that if decides to go to the pros, only then will he decide his representation. Since the elder Conley's statement, ESPNEWS has not reported (and re-reported with its nauseating yet informative 15-minute loops) anything about Conley Jr. and Cook; therefore, as of this moment, we must consider that the initial report was unsubstantiated.

In coaching news, Wichita State got themselves a dandy of a head coach in the form of former Winthrop head coach Gregg Marshall. He replaces Mark Turgeon, who left for Texas A&M earlier this week. As for Marshall, he tentatively agreed to a 7-year contract that will pay him approximately $750,000 per year, including performance incentives.

Winthrop moved quickly to fill its vacancy by tabbing assistant coach Randy Peele to be its head coach. Terms were undisclosed.

Moving On Up: Billy G Style

On Friday morning, Billy Gillispie was named head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats after three successful seasons at Texas A&M. This year, the Aggies won 13 conference games compared to zero in 2003-2004, the season before he took the reins in College Station. In short, it's impossible to understate the achievements of Billy Gillespie as a head coach and a program builder.

However, let's be realistic. If Gillispie was to be offered a job better than the one he has, and especially one from a top 5 national basketball program, it was no question that he was going to be take it. The next few years will determine whether Gillispie is qualified for the undertaking and dedicated to resurrecting UK basketball.

Qualified?
* In five years as a head coach, Gillispie has one remarkable statistic that stands out. He has taken two different teams from having single-digit number of victories in one season to having over 20 wins in the next season. He'll be acquiring a better situation at Kentucky, but the expectations will be exponentially higher.
* Gillispie is an awesome recruiter. Despite only 6 wins in his first campaign as a head coach, Gillispie demonstrated his expertise as a recruiter by bringing in a top 25 class headlined by JUCO stars Filiberto Rivera and Omar Thomas. He has continued to recruit successfully in the state of Texas.
* Gillispie's teams have had 3 NCAA tournament appearances, with one Sweet 16 showing (2007).

Dedicated?
When Gillispie swapped UTEP for Texas A&M, his sincerity came under scrutiny when he had allegedly agreed to sign an extension at UTEP. As a result, the lack of an extension meant a lower buyout for Texas A&M, who swooped in for their man. According to ESPN, when offered an extension at Texas A&M, he agreed to terms but did not sign in order to keep himself available for the Kentucky head coaching position.

Larry Brown's Offspring?
Not yet. As it is, Kentucky signed Gillispie to a 7-year contract earning $2.3 million per year. If Gillispie bolts for another head coaching in four years or less, then he can be certified as Larry Brown's offspring and a guy who's only in it for the money. I'm not saying that's who Gillispie, but he's definitely heading down that path.

OTHER NEWS
* Bob Huggins was introduced at West Virginia University today. In the coming days, we'll find out about which Kansas State recruits decommit from their scholarships.
* This isn't news, but Colorado landed Air Force head coach Jeff Bzdelik earlier this week. Although he couldn't get Air Force into the tournament this season, Bzdelik has left coaching positions in a better situation than the one he acquired. Let's not forget about what he did for the Denver Nuggets.
* Winthrop head coach Gregg Marshall is a frontrunner for the Arkansas position, according to Yahoo! Sports.
* Arizona's Marcus Williams will be entering the NBA Draft. Washington's Spencer Hawes will be doing the same, but he will not hire an agent.

Coaching Changes Abound

Before we delve into yesterday's coaching changes, let me clarify a point that Clement made about not mentioning coaches in posts. When the games are taking place, we usually talk less about coaches unless they do something remarkable. Too often, pundits in positions where they must exhibit some sense of accountability (but often fail) heap excessive praise upon coaches in a liberal fashion (see Coach K nearly every year which happens to be "his best coaching job to-date"). In plain terms, here's how I see it: coaches build programs, players win games, and coaches lose them on occasion. The continued, unconditional support of administration, boosters and fans is also important. It's not intended to diminish the work of fabulous tacticians like Rick Majerus.

With that disclaimer out of the way, let's talk about yesterday's hirings and the accompanying indications.

Iowa Hires Lickliter
This was a surprise. I would've thought that the recently-crowned NABC Coach of the Year would have more pull, but there may be more to the Iowa rebuilding program than I immediately see. Also, Lickliter has experience recruiting in the Midwest, which is a major plus. Lickliter should receive a year to mold his team to his liking, but will be judged on results starting in January 2009 when the Big Ten conference schedule commences.

Beilein to Michigan?
ESPN and CBS Sportsline are reporting that West Virginia head coach John Beilein has accepted the same position at Michigan. When I think of Michigan basketball under Tommy Amaker, the first thought is that of wasted possessions. While Beilein is not going to catch anyone off-guard with his coaching style (predicated on the 1-3-1 defense, outside shooting, and offensive discipline), he's not going to surprise anyone. With Beilein, the ceiling may be somewhat lower in comparison with younger prospects like Chris Lowery, but you know what you're getting and it's a pretty solid product.

Altman joins Arkansas
Goodbye 10-seed curse. Hello, blue chip recruits. In Dana Altman, Arkansas gets a proven bench coach with a penchant for maximizing talent. In Arkansas, Altman gets access to recruiting pipelines, facilities, and money that just isn't there in the Valley. A symbiotic relationship, no doubt. Can Altman make the immediate splash reminiscent to Bruce Pearl in the SEC and be able to lure recruits in the long term? I maintain that despite the inexperience, VCU's Anthony Grant would've been worth an interview following the snub by Billy Gillispie (whose last name I now spell correctly) and ultimately the better fit for the talented Razorbacks than Altman.

Heath: From SEC to Big East
That sounds a lot better than what it is in reality. South Florida has taken a nose dive since Seth Greenberg left for Virginia Tech. Heath's energy and ability to recruit is exactly what the Bulls need in the short-term. The question is whether Heath will bolt once a better job is offered to him.

This most recent fallout leaves vacancies at mid-major hubs Creighton and Butler, as well as at West Virginia. The Creighton job will undoubtedly create some buzz because they play in an awesome arena with a dedicated fan base. Moreover, they're the only game in town, unless you count college baseball. Butler is a coaching factory, but I'm not certain how long they can keep plucking assistants to be their head coach and succeed with flying colors as they did with Thad Matta and the aforementioned Lickliter. In Morgantown, the search for their next coach has begun. Winthrop head coach Gregg Marshall might be the perfect fit.

And of course ...

There's Billy Donovan. So that's 3 Final Fours, 2 NCAA Championships, and the guy is barely over 40. His only loss as a coach in the Final Four was against a dominant Michigan State team in 2000 that 5-seed Florida had no chance beating. Donovan says he's going to enjoy the championship victory [before he entertains any offers to coach elsewhere]. While I see no problem with the leveraging that will take place in order to get a deserved hike in pay and possibly the court named after him, his legacy is at Florida (winning 2 championships with players that he recruited) and not at Kentucky.

As for Kentucky, they will still have a vacancy to address. When the smoke clears, Tom Crean (AKA "The Stockbroker") of Marquette will take the reins in Lexington although Billy Gillispie remains the top realistic candidate after Billy Donovan.

Kentucky Resolution, Heath Firing Fallout, Iowa Chasing Pearl?

With what some considered "over-coverage" of the NFL coaching carousel, you had better expect the same for my forte, college basketball. In college basketball, the 'carousel' is more like a circular metropolis. Instead of 32 coaching staffs, you've got more than ten times that number. The very second that a name is swirled around as a potential candidate, universities and boosters start ante-ing up to keep their beloved coaches. It's a different animal than pro sports, but a business nonetheless.

Kentucky Resolution?
Last Thursday, Tubby Smith left the blue grass to freeze his ..., well, you know. Since then, numerous analysts, most notably Andy Katz of ESPN, have said that many coaches are in line to benefit financially from the Kentucky vacancy even if they have no intention of taking the job. Earlier this week, John Calipari agreed to an extension through 2011-12. Also, sources report that newly-anointed basketball school Texas A&M will do its best to match any offers for head coach Billy Gillispie. And let's not forget about former UK assistant and current god of Gainesville Billy Donovan. He's going to make bank whether he's at Florida, Kentucky, or the Miami Heat. Shall any of these coaches leave their posts, coaches from lesser programs will occupy their posts and move up a few tax brackets. For those who read my post suggesting former players such as Ford and Pelphrey as coaching candidates for this position, they are not even being mentioned by the real media (aka people who have coaches' digits), so I'm content in ceasing conversation about the pair.

Heath Firing Fallout
Staying in the SEC (said with a Tony Barnhardt-esque southern drawl), Arkansas fired its head coach Stan Heath yesterday in what was considered a surprise to all of us except for Heath, who made his second trip to the NCAA Tournament in as many years. In his defense, Heath's team - a much younger one than the previous year - won 21 games; however,winning 21 nowadays isn't your father's 21 when considering that most D-1 schools play in excess of 30 games per season.

Many, including myself, think that the firing was made with a successor already in mind. Although Heath was somewhat successful, his results were always compared to his predecessor's (Nolan Richardson), and in comparison, it's not even close. The Heath style of play isn't exactly the appealing 40 Minutes of Hell either. With that said, everyone returns from an Arkansas team that is expected to win the SEC West (and not with a 8-8 record), making the job more appealing than at first glance. College sports are the only game in town, to boot. For those reasons, expect Arkansas AD Frank Broyles to make a concerted play for the aforementioned Gillispie and possibly Nebraska head coach Doc Sadler who is more of a contingency. Given the athletic makeup of their roster, Arkansas should consider giving VCU a call to see if head coach Anthony Grant is available. Nevertheless, I expect them to go after a more proven head coach despite the obvious upside (yes, that word means the NBA Draft is only 3 months away). Whomever he is, expect him to be paid, as Broyles expects to make a big splash before he dives into retirement.

Iowa's Chase for Pearl Rendered Useless
Now that Steve Alford has left the Iowa rebuilding project (Blair Witch Project) for the New Mexico rebuilding project (Tony Rich Project), the Hawkeyes are chasing former assistant and current Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl. Hoping for the nostalgia hook, Iowa received permission from the Tennessee AD to speak with Pearl, but he rebuffed the overtures informing Iowa that he is not interested in their head coaching position. For his troubles, Pearl earns a one-year extension through 2013.

In my opinion, given the saturation of big-name/talented head coaches in the Big Ten, it may be career suicide for whomever is audacious enough to take the reins at Iowa during a rebuilding period (notice how I did not say "year"). This may result in Iowa hiring from within the extended Iowa family or going after a coach of a mid-major program with ties to Midwest recruiting.

Knicks Sign Randolph Morris ... of the University of Kentucky

In a bizarre news announcement, ESPN reported that the Knicks signed Randolph Morris to what sources call a 2-year, $1.6 million deal. This is bizarre because the signing took place five days after Morris' last collegiate game.

In 2005, Morris declared himself eligible for the draft after his freshman campaign at Kentucky but he did not sign with an agent. Surprisingly, Morris went undrafted and sat out the first 14 games of his sophomore season because of an NCAA penalty related to contact with an agent. Having played for his sophomore and junior seasons, many including myself were unaware of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement provision that Morris is prohibited from re-entering the draft and had free agent status throughout the 2006-07 season at Kentucky.

Kentucky is now trying to figure out how the departure of Morris before spring semester's end will affect the school's academic progress report.

Under the new report, schools are subject to scholarship penalties if student-athletes leave early and not in good academic standing. Withdrawing from school before the end of a semester can seriously impede a team's GPA and academic standing. This may also have ramifications for Ohio State and Texas, who have one or more freshmen that may declare for the NBA Draft.

As for Kentucky, the threat of NCAA action and the departure of 16 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks per game may widen the pool for a new coach. It may also scare off the lead candidates who lack the sentimental ties to Kentucky basketball. This may open the doors for former Wildcat stalwarts Travis Ford (UMass) and John Pelphrey (South Alabama).

Much of this post took pieces from ESPN.com

And The Coaching Carousel Begins in College Basketball ...

Yesterday, Tubby Smith made waves by pulling a pre-emptive move in trading Kentucky for Minnesota ... the university and not the Timberwolves. Like many, I was not shocked by his departure but was by the destination. Frankly, I'm stirred by the names associated with this job -- namely, Flip Saunders of the Detroit Pistons and Chris Lowery of Southern Illinois. Tubby Smith wasn't even on the radar. I'm aware that Minnesota is a basketball state, but this is what I find shocking. Can Smith turn around the Golden Gophers? Early indications are that he'll change it to a degree, signifying that they won't be a doormat in the Big Ten. But, are the Golden Gophers going to be national title contenders? Not by a longshot, and I'll be hard-pressed to find that spending $1.8 million per year on a fading coach is a good business decision.

In other surprising news, Steve Alford has left Iowa, a BCS school, for New Mexico. Was it a realization that with Tubby Smith in the Big Ten, it would mean another high-profile coach to battle against in the recruiting wars? That means he'd be going against Thad Motta, Tom Izzo, Bo Ryan, Kelvin Sampson, Bruce Weber, Matt Painter, and whomever Michigan hires as their head coach. Not to mention, he would have to compete against surging Missouri Valley programs. Rebuilding is no fun when you have that kind of competition. Little does Alford know that the conference he's stepping into is no walk in the park.

Who is the next Kentucky head coach?
The early rumors include Tom Creen of Marquette, Mark Few of Gonzaga, and Billy Gillespie of Texas A&M. Travis Ford of UMass and John Pelphrey of South Alabama are former UK players who have an outside shot at being the next Wildcats head coach.

Here is some speculation on recent coaching vacancies.

Michigan
Southern Illinois' Chris Lowery, Xavier's Sean Miller and West Virginia's John Beilein, and Michigan State assistant Jim Boylen. (source: Yahoo! Sports)

Princeton
Georgetown assistant Sydney Johnson and Brown's Craig Robinson.
(source: Newark Star-Ledger)

Utah
Winthrop's Gregg Marshall, Southern Illinois' Chris Lowery, Butler's Todd Lickliter, and Old Dominion's Blaine Taylor and Kent State's Jim Christian. (source: Yahoo! Sports)

More News and Speculation on the Chargers Vacancy

ESPN's John Clayton has dismissed early beliefs that Pete Carroll will be named head coach of the San Diego Chargers following the firing of Marty Schottenheimer. As it stands, the organization has received permission to speak with five coaches, four of whom are defensive-minded coaches.

Ron Rivera, Defensive Coordinator (Chicago)
Rex Ryan, Defensive Coordinator (Baltimore)
Mike Singletary, Assistant Head Coach (San Francisco)
Norv Turner, Offensive Coordinator (San Francisco)
Mike Zimmer, Defensive Coordinator (Atlanta)

The Chargers are standing pat on their football philosophy, which further reinforces that the rift between A.J. Smith and Schottenheimer was personal. The disagreements on how to address staff attrition following the success of a 14-2 campaign was simply the straw that broke the camel's back. With the scouting combines and free agency around the corner, the organization has placed itself in a position in which it must act swiftly and forthright in order to address its head coaching vacancy (and coaching staff vacancies therefrom).

If the Chargers are to hire from this pool of applicants, then I would be surprised if one of the former Bears (Rivera and Singletary) were not hired. Although Rivera is a 4-3 coach, he was a linebacker and not necessarily married to that defensive formation. As for Singletary, the Niners ran a 3-4 last season; however, he lacks Rivera's invaluable coordinator experience and coaching accolades. These vital differences should elevate Rivera to having the first right of refusal for the Chargers head coaching position.

The Schott Hits the Fan

by Sum Mehrnama

14-2. The Number 1 seed in the entire NFL playoffs. Assurances of not being fired, just one month ago. Offer of a one-year contract extension. Add all of these up, and what do you get? To most, that would equal job security for at least one more year. But to A.J. Smith and the San Diego Chargers that adds up to "Fire Marty Schottenheimer."

Don't get me wrong. I have never been a huge fan of Martyball. However, the timing of this decision by the Chargers lacks any logic and fails to make sense anywhere other than in A.J. Smith's Fantasy Island (insert Shawne Merriman as the steroid-filled Tatu ... "Boss! Boss! De syringe! De syringe!"). The scouting combine opens in less than 10 days and pretty much all qualified in-house candidates have already left. Cam Cameron? Miami. Wade Phillips? Dallas. Rob Chudzinsky or Greg Manusky? Cleveland and San Fran.

A team that has just finished 14-2 and should have, arguably, at least made it to the AFC Championship game cannot afford to completely revamp its style of play in a now shortened off-season. Look at the Oakland Raiders from 4 years ago. Jon Gruden bolted on them, but they had an in-house guy who kept it together for a year and actually led the Raiders to the Super Bowl. Of course, nit-pickers will try to point out that Gruden took over a successful Bucs team and won that very same Super Bowl. However, Gruden had ample time to completely retool the Tampa Bay offense through free agency and to build a scheme that was his. Even if San Diego manages to hire a coach instantaneously, it will leave very little time before the draft and before the start of free agency to organize a plan of attack.

Unless, of course, the Chargers already have their man selected. Rumor has it that University of Southern California Head Coach Pete Carroll has pretty much agreed to the job, now that letters of intent for incoming freshman have already been received. But this is in direct violation of the Rooney Rule. If the Chargers have reached an agreement with Pete "Whitey" Carroll, any interviews conducted with minority candidates will purely be for show. The NFL must look into this, especially if a decision is made quickly.

The Chargers made a stupid decision. Not necessarily about firing Marty, but about waiting so long to do so. Any hire made in less than 3 days will point to violation of the Rooney Rule. But, at the same time, if a hire is made any later than that it seriously affects the team's scouting and plan of action. Ultimately, I think this boiled down to the ongoing A.J. Smith/Marty Schottenheimer catfight. Management saw all of the assistants leaving, which would make Marty the remaining member of the 14-2 coaching staff. Without the assistants, who undeniably played a big role in the big season but less of a role in the playoff choking, hope that Martyball would do well again faded ... fast.

I'm prepared to eat some of my words if the Chargers do well next season ... but that does not change the fact that they waited far too long to make such an important decision.

Jerrah Takes a Plunge While Wade-ing
by Armin Mohajeri

Yesterday afternoon the Dallas Cowboys announced former San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips as their new head coach. The seventh head coach in the Cowboys storied history. Phillips has significant head coaching experience. He was the interim head coach with the New Orleans Saints, taking the reigns for his father Bum Phillips in 1985. He preceded Mike Shanahan as head coach of the Denver Broncos from 1993-1994. He was hired as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills after Marv Levy retired, holding that job from 1998-2000, where he had his most success. In 2003, the Atlanta Falcons named him interim head coach. While Phillips was successful with the Chargers defense last year and was deserving of a head-coaching gig, the hiring brings about many other questions.

Why is it when a sports team hires a new coach, he is usually the polar opposite of the previous coach? Tuna is a tough guy. He does not hold back when addressing the team or individual players. Wade Phillips is a players coach. He is one of the guys, much less authoritarian than Tuna. We saw a perfect example in the press conference. Where Tuna referred to T.O. as “The Player”, Phillips had no problem referring to T.O. by name. However, this hiring has a Switzer-ish flavor to it. Jerrah is taking control again.

In my first bit regarding the Cowboys coaching search, I pegged Phillips as the most logical choice. However, in the back of my mind, I have been thinking that the most logical choice for Jerrah Jones is…well…Jerrah Jones. This hiring may cement that thought. My thoughts, as ridiculous as I felt they were at the time, were that Jerrah would hire strong offensive and defensive coordinators, and name himself as the head coach. Joe Gibbs has a similar philosophy as the CEO among several strong coaches, though he is a little more hands-on than Jerrah would be. Is “Head Coach” just a title for Wade Phillips? Reports of a low-ball salary offer lead me to believe that it is only a title. We will see if Jerrah is man enough to fire himself if the Cowboys underachieve.

In other news…

Rumors surrounding Bucs coach Jon Gruden say that he is eyeing the Philly job, in case Andy Reid steps down.

Unconfirmed rumors continue to swirl regarding the Vikings possibly trying to trade for Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals.

Trying to get the proverbial monkey off his back, Tony Romo asked to be the holder in the pro bowl.