The question hit me this morning: If I owned an NFL team, which (if any) of the recently fired coaches would I hire? Why did this question even enter my mind? Absolutely no idea, but here are my thoughts for this distinguished group.
Mike Shanahan -- Would I hire him? Absolutely, as a coach, but if we still wants control of personel decisions, I would pass. The combination of power rarely works and offers no check or balance on the coach. Plus, he's been pretty mediocre since #7 retired, and he thought Jake Plummer was a good QB solution. Jake the Snake was like Favre with more confidence and less ability; not a great choice, Mike.
Romeo Crennel -- Hmm, let me think about this, NO! His time in Cleveland has been a disaster, and I'm not sure why he'd get another chance. Of course, many probably said similar things about his former boss and former Browns coach Bill Belichik. I believe NFL coaches need to be good at three things: 1. Football knowledge; 2. Managing a coaching staff; 3. Keeping star players happy without alienating the guy who covers kicks. Not sure Romeo showed the ability to do any of these, though as Bill Simmons has pointed out many times, he does manage to look utterly confused on the sidelines.
Eric Mangini -- As much as it hurts to say this as a Patriots loyalist and apologist, I would take a serious look at Mangeniuos. I thought he did a good job in each season. It's not his fault they didn't get any decent WRs for Favre to throw to, or that Brett hasn't figured out that he's not the same QB he used to be. If I were running the Jets, I would have probably fired my GM. I'm hoping the hire Mike Martz.
Herm Edwards -- I'm assuming here that the Chiefs come to their senses and get rid of Edwards. He was a mediocre coach with good talent in NY, and he has been totally exposed with a lesser team. Plus, I can't wait for his Bud Light press conference commercials; he was made for those (as is Mike Singletary). As if you look back at my Romeo comments, I don't think he's above average on any of those three.
Rod Marinelli -- Really? Yes, I captained the Titanic. Can I please guide your ship? Even if Marinelli is a decent coach who was stuck with the horrendous ingredients Matt Millen left him with, I wouldn't want to be owner who decided to find out.
Though he was never fired, I also wondered about Bill Cowher. Would I hire the dude? Yes, again as a coach (not as a GM/coach). But coaches returning from glory (see Holmgren, Mike) don't always duplicate success. Plus he will cost a crap-load of money. I bet you Marinelli might work for free.
