NFL FanHouse

Mike Holmgren on Cleveland's Radar

Matt Snyder — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, AFC North, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

With a bevy of big name coaches likely ready-for-hire heading into the 2010 season, in addition to a lot of really poor NFL teams in 2009, we can expect rumors to be swirling all over the place for the rest of this season and on into the offseason. Thus, it's not surprising to see Mike Holmgren mentioned as a possibility. Of course, most thought he'd have to at least wait until next season to get involved.

According to Adam Shefter of ESPN, Holmgren may not have to wait. Shefter reports that the Browns want to hire Holmgren as their vice president of football operations -- similar to the role Bill Parcells has with Miami -- and that the job is immediately Holmgren's for the taking.

The only real question is if Holmgren wants to take the desk job, just for the sake of having a job in football as soon as possible, or if he wants to wait for a head coaching gig. Obviously, if Holmgren did take this job, it would be possible to fire Eric Mangini and take over as the Browns' head coach, but Browns owner Randy Lerner is reportedly content to give Mangini a chance to prove himself as the head coach. It would be a pretty bold move for Holmgren to take over and immediately fire the head coach.

If Holmgren doesn't take the VP job on the table, three others are reportedly being considered for the job: former Giants' GM Ernie Accorsi, Falcons president Rich McKay and former Packers GM Ron Wolf.

The Browns (1-7) have a bye this week and will host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10.

Mike Holmgren on Cleveland's Radar originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bears Love Lovie, Even if Fans Don't

Matt Snyder — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:25:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, NFC North, NFL Coaching

Lovie Smith has a 49-38 record as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. In his first five seasons, he guided the Bears to two division titles and one Super Bowl. The Bears are currently in the 2009 playoff race at 4-3. Yet, among fans and Chicago-area media, Lovie is just as maligned as the pathetic offensive line.

The complaints range from Lovie's penchant to avoid showing any emotion on the sideline to his not properly preparing players for games to his almost scripted non-answer answers in press conferences. Regardless of the reason, Lovie is not particularly loved, at present, in Chicago ... except by his Bears.

"I was here when coach Smith wasn't here," veteran defensive end Alex Brown said. "So, I remember how it was. Not to say anything bad about coach (Dick) Jauron, but it's a lot different now.

I agree with that, but is it really a great vote of confidence to say someone is a better coach than Jauron? The only winning record of Jauron's career came in the fluky 2001 season where the Bears received more gifts than a spoiled toddler at Christmas. If you toss out that season, Jauron is an abysmal 31 games under .500 ... in nine seasons! That's some futility. Anyway, I digress. There is more support for Lovie Smith in the locker room from Desmond Clark and Charles Tillman.

"Lovie, as a coach, is what this team needs," Clark said. "We need that steadying force. ... To have that steadying voice with the same message coming every week is good for this team."

"The thing about coach Smith is that I trust him," Tillman said. "I trust his decisions. I have faith in him, I have confidence in him."

I don't doubt that one bit. You can tell the players all have the utmost respect for Smith as a coach and as a man. And that's important, because -- in theory, at least -- it should mean the players will always do whatever it takes to win for their coach. Look at the Browns with Eric Mangini as the antithesis of this theory.

But the Bears didn't appear to play hard in Cincinnati. They've made tons of mental mistakes in losses to the Packers and Falcons. They weren't sharp at home against the hapless Browns, in a game following the embarrassing loss to the Bengals. The Lions played with them, in Solider Field, mind you, for a half.

This is why many of the fans are clamoring for someone who shows a little fire on the sidelines. To some, Lovie Smith just seems too nice to be a great football coach. These are fans who haven't seen real fire from their head coach since Mike Ditka (Dave Wannstedt and Jauron were the others between Ditka and Smith), a man still legendary in Chicago for his leadership of the 1985 Super Bowl Shufflin' Crew.

Smith doesn't have to behave on the sidelines like "Iron Mike" would have (I mean, could you ever picture Lovie doing this?), but he does need to win. No one was calling for his job following the 2006 season, after he led the Bears to two straight NFC North titles and their first Super Bowl since Ditka's '85 crew. Since then, though, the Bears are only one game above .500 and haven't really capitalized on all the expectations for the new Jay Cutler-era.

As far as the fans are concerned, you can't rest on the laurels of the 2005-2006 seasons. There is no time like the present for Lovie Smith, for as much as his players might love him, the only thing the fans -- and management -- love are wins. A few more important losses and the cries of fans begin to become much more intriguing to the front office, especially with such a talented crop of head coaches waiting in the wings for 2010.

If the players love Lovie so much, they'll start playing better, because missing the playoffs for the third straight season just won't cut it. Not for fans, not for the media, not for Jerry Angelo and most certainly not for Lovie Smith.

Bears Love Lovie, Even if Fans Don't originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Larry Johnson Petition Pretty Clear Proof How Much Chiefs Fans Hate Him

Will Brinson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, NFL Fans, NFL Coaching, NFL Media Watch, NFL Rumors

Larry Johnson is a mere 80 yards away from passing Priest Holmes as the all-time leading rusher in KC history, but if the fans who put together an online petition have their way, he won't get there.

You see, it turns out that LJ's recent actions -- tweeting at coach Todd Haley, calling reporters homophobic names, being suspended by the team -- combined with his past transgressions -- police problems, being suspended by the team (again) -- have created a sort of pent-up anger within the fanbase.

You can read the entire (and quite lengthy) petition here: petitiononline.com/StopLJ, but for those of you who don't care to parse through (deservedly) bitter, Midwestern ranting, here's the skinny: fans of the Chiefs are loyal, which is true, and they care deeply about and want to support their team, even when the Chiefs stink.

The petition seems to insinuate they realize that 12-win seasons aren't happening every year and they're not around the corner -- meaning they're cool with GM Scott Pioli rebuilding -- but that allowing Johnson to permanently etch his name atop a pretty important team record is simply unacceptable.

And you know what? I completely agree with them, at least in the sense that if I were a Chiefs fan, I would have wanted Johnson gone a long time ago, and I would be none too happy (particularly considering his production this season, which they cite in the petition) if he were still on the team despite his repeated efforts to not be a part of it.

Additionally, I salute these fans for taking a stand that doesn't involve eBay or craigslist -- as much as I would enjoy seeing Johnson up for purchase online, it's pretty inspiring to see a downtrodden group of fans take a stand on a moral level.

Larry Johnson Petition Pretty Clear Proof How Much Chiefs Fans Hate Him originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spagnuolo, Rams Enter Bye With Rare Feeling During Rebuilding Season

Matt Snyder — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, NFC West, NFL Coaching

Steve Spagnuolo is going through a rough season in his first as an NFL head coach. He had the unenviable task of taking over a roster which was left in disarray by the previous administration. No real effort had been done to bridge the gap from The Greatest Show on Turf to the next wave of players, with the notable exception of drafting studly running back Steven Jackson before Marshall Faulk was retired.

The results to this point have hardly been surprising. Poor Spags and his troops endured seven losses, including several blowouts, before finally earning their first victory this past Sunday against the Lions. While he's cherishing this first win, Spagnuolo realizes it's the first step of many.

"We're not going to be blinded by one game: We're 1-7″ going into the bye week, he stressed. "There are a lot of good things we've got to look at and get right. That's what we're going to try to do the better part of this week ... "

"It's great to win; don't get me wrong now. I don't take that for granted. It's hard to win in this league. Players know that, coaches know that. So when you win, you should enjoy it. But after that enjoyment's done, 12 hours or whatever you get, it's back to the job."

It's good that Spagnuolo realizes this is a long road and is keeping his eye on what is important. The Rams seem to have some semblance of positive direction on their team, unlike some of the other dreadful teams out there this season -- like the Browns, Bucs and probably even the Raiders.

They have a strong-willed, well-spoken head coach who is determined to take his time righting the ship his way. They have a superstar in Jackson. They have good building blocks on the offensive line in first round pick Jason Smith and potentially Pro Bowl-caliber free agent signee Jason Brown. Despite a slow start to the career of Chris Long, there is still promise he'll form a potent front along with veteran Leonard Little and rookie linebacker James Laurinaitis. O.J. Atogwe and James Butler are a good pair of safeties as well.

There are a few more areas with a bit of promise, but most other areas are lacking to some degree -- other than kicker and punter, which can't do much for an awful team -- which is why the Rams will find wins rare the rest of the way in 2009, just like they did in the first half of the season. The headaches will begin after the bye week when the Rams have to deal with the mighty New Orleans Saints in Week 10. In fact, it's probable the Rams don't win another game in 2009 (the best bets for a win would be against Seattle at home or at Tennessee).

That won't make the season a failure, though. They need to continue to build and that all starts through the draft. A real question will be if they draft a quarterback with their early first-round selection, but that's far from being determined at this point. For now, it's time to continue building with the players they have.

Fans need to take a page from the head coach and just watch the growth of the nucleus as they hope for a turnaround to begin in 2010 and come to fruition in 2011. Anything quicker than that is just gravy.

For 2009, savor the victories without overdoing it. It's all part of the rebuilding process. One that should have started three years before it actually did.

Spagnuolo, Rams Enter Bye With Rare Feeling During Rebuilding Season originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Case Against Mike McCarthy

Bruce Ciskie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, NFC North, NFL Coaching

Editor's Note: Bruce Ciskie, a lifelong Packers fan, opines about the state of his beloved team.

High expectations greeted the Green Bay Packers in August, as the team arrived at training camp. Practices -- held across the street from Lambeau Field -- were very physical, as the Packers tried to show they wouldn't be bullied around like they were far too often in 2008.

That 6-10 season, we all were told, was a memory. It was a fluke. It wasn't how things would be conducted in Green Bay. Bad tackling, soft defense, poor special teams play, and stupid penalties were going to be a thing of the past.

Or not.

As much as fans would like to warm up to fourth-year head coach Mike McCarthy, it's becoming difficult. The team he is leading couldn't possibly be more insanely inconsistent. They've shown time and time again that they have character, that they won't quit, and they play to the whistle.

Unfortunately for them, those traits aren't enough to win games.

General manager Ted Thompson has given McCarthy talented players to work with. Receiver Donald Driver is one of the top veterans in the game, and youngsters Greg Jennings, James Jones, and Jordy Nelson are all high draft picks. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has done what so many before him have failed at, in that he has stepped in to a position once held by a future Hall of Famer, and he's played exceptionally well.

On defense, Al Harris and Charles Woodson are still top one-on-one cornerbacks who are useful in run support. Linebackers A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett are former first-round picks, and lineman Aaron Kampman has been to multiple Pro Bowls.

The talent is there. What's gone wrong?

For starters, the Packers can't run the ball. McCarthy leans on Ryan Grant at times, but tends to give up on the run way too quickly, sometimes at the first sign of trouble. It allows defenses to tee off on Rodgers, which only makes his job all the more difficult.

McCarthy has preached the importance of running the ball better, but his words ring hollow, because for every game like the easy win over Cleveland in Week 7, where the Packers ran it 41 times for over 200 yards, there are multiple games like Sunday, where Grant spends more time on the sideline or on pass routes than he does carrying the rock.

The Packers used screen passes with great efficiency in the earlier game against Minnesota. Against the same team Sunday, the Packers didn't run any, outside of an attempted screen pass on a two-point play that was batted down.

In the end, however, the biggest issue with McCarthy -- and one that could cost him his job come January if he's not careful -- is discipline.

The Packers have become a penalty-plagued team during his time. In 2005, the final year under Mike Sherman, Green Bay was in the middle of the pack in penalties assessed. McCarthy's first year actually saw them improve, as they were near the upper third of the league in fewest penalties. However, the 2007 team -- one that finished 13-3 -- was fourth in the NFL in penalties, finishing second in penalty yards. The Packers were second in penalties and first in yards marked off in 2008. 2009 isn't looking too much better. So far, they're second in total penalties and third in yards.

Virtually every Monday when he addresses the media, McCarthy talks about how they're going to fix the penalty problem, and the special teams problem. Then, almost on cue, the same issues plague this team every Sunday.

Yes, it can be pinned on the players. Surely, McCarthy isn't telling them to commit dumb penalties, and he and his special teams coaches aren't telling guys to forget about their lanes and blow even the simplest kick coverages. The players aren't doing what they're told.

However, there comes a point where the problem comes back to the coach. When the head man talks a good game about improvement in certain areas, and nothing improves, it has to fall back at his feet. Why can't this team avoid taking dumb penalties, like the one on defensive lineman Johnny Jolly that prolonged a Vikings drive Sunday and turned a likely field goal into a touchdown?

How is it that even players good enough to start on defense can't practice the simple concept of lane discipline when covering a kickoff? Virtually any decent kick returner just has to make one cut against the grain against the Packers, and he's got 35 yards easily.

While the Vikings are clearly better than Green Bay, the most stunning difference between the two teams is the quality of their coaching. The Vikings make mistakes (everyone does), but they rarely make the same error twice in a game. They don't beat themselves with bad penalties, and they are able to make big plays in every phase of the game.

When the 2007 season ended, there wasn't a Packer fan alive who would have traded McCarthy for Brad Childress, and there wasn't a Viking fan around who would turn that same trade down. Childress was about as popular in Minnesota as Favre was. Oh, how things change over time.

Now Childress has to be close to getting his coveted contract extension with the Vikings, and Packer fans are asking serious (and valid) questions about the coach they have in McCarthy.

Blame Thompson for the Brett Favre fiasco all you want, but it wasn't all his fault. Not only that, but no team worth anything is going to fire a general manager who hasn't had a chance to make at least one coaching change. Even Matt Millen got to make coaching changes before being shown the door. Thompson might be the problem, but there should be more fingers pointing at McCarthy at this point. There is still a lot of football to be played.

McCarthy has talked before about constant improvement. While you can't argue that his 4-3 team is much better than they were at the start of the year, there are still nine games left. If this team improves and becomes a true playoff contender, much of this will be forgiven and/or forgotten.

The Case Against Mike McCarthy originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eric Mangini's Job Somehow Safe

Matt Snyder — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:55:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, AFC North, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

After yet another embarrassing beatdown for his Browns -- this time a 30-6 loss at the hands of the Chicago Bears -- Eric Mangini received a vote of confidence, at least for the remainder of this season. Randy Lerner, owner of the Browns, indicated he isn't willing to dismiss Mangini right now, but admitted to the Associated Press that he is "sick" about the state of his franchise.

Even if Mangini's safe, Lerner did express interest in making one change -- he wants to bring in a football-tested authority figure to help run the franchise. The way he's phrasing everything, it sounds like he wants to hire someone in the Bill Parcells-in-Miami mold.

"There's absolutely no question about that," he said. "The highest priority that I have is a strong, credible, serious leader within the building to guide decisions in a far more conspicuous, open transparent way. I can maybe defend decisions by saying I've sought advice and I've brought people in, and we've gone to see people -- and I think my highest priority is to have a stable figure that represents the voice that explains the decisions."

Update: Browns Fire GM George Kokinis

Lerner also admitted the Browns' quarterback situation isn't even remotely close to working.

No matter how they proceed, it's obvious some serious changes need to happen in Cleveland. The Browns are 1-7 and the franchise is currently in as bad of shape as any other team in football. The game in Chicago was just another in a string of embarrassments for the Browns -- as they turned the ball over five times and even missed their only extra point attempt. This was a 30-6 beatdown from a team that lost 45-10 to the Bengals last week.

They don't seem prepared and have no real general direction. The personnel is pretty awful, too.

The Browns have a bye next week, but will face the Ravens at home in Week 10. They likely have three more realistically winnable games left on the schedule. They travel to Detroit in Week 11, go to Kansas City in Week 15, and host the Raiders in Week 16.

Eric Mangini's Job Somehow Safe originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Larry Johnson Suspended Until Nov. 9

Will Brinson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:55:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors, NFL Analysis

Larry Johnson has (officially) been suspended, according to a press release from the Kansas City Chiefs. The team's front office and the NFL had previously been investigating whether or not Johnson's behavior (which included antagonizing tweets and rumored inappropriate statements to reporters) was worthy of a suspension.

Judging by the Chiefs' statement, it's probably safe to say it was.

The Kansas City Chiefs have suspended RB Larry Johnson for Conduct Detrimental to the Club effective immediately. Johnson will not be permitted to participate in any team activities or be on team premises until Monday, November 9th. The Chiefs will have no further comment on Johnson's status at this time.

Now, that seems pretty straightforward, but at the same time, there's something a little odd about this whole thing -- why won't the Chiefs talk about this anymore? Why until November 9th (which includes just one game and a ton of practice)?

And perhaps more importantly, why on Earth are they trying to put this guy in what amounts to solitary confinement when he's obviously angry (again) at the team? The smarter thing is to do what Oregon did with LeGarrette Blount and keep him within the team's fold, so to speak, so that he can actually try and become a slightly better teammate.

Of course, this is professional football, so it's a different situation, but if Johnson's behavior in the past has shown us anything, it's that he's not afraid to put on the petulant pouty face and bring the team down.

But, hey, the Chiefs could always be planning to do something more drastic, and decided to use a suspension to get the media off their back. It certainly wouldn't be the craziest thing Scott Pioli and crew have done so far.

Larry Johnson Suspended Until Nov. 9 originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jim Zorn Safe Until at Least After Season

Josh Alper — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFC East, NFL Coaching

It looks like we can call off the Jim Zorn Deathwatch. For the next couple of days anyway.

Redskins executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato said on his ESPN980 radio show Friday morning that Zorn won't be fired before the 2009 season reaches its conclusion.

"Let me start by making a few things very perfectly clear: Jim Zorn is the head coach of the Washington Redskins, and will be for the rest of this season, and hopefully into the future."

Cerrato's hardly an impartial party to this decision. When and if Zorn gets fired and when and if Daniel Snyder brings in the big-name coach everyone expects he'll bring in as a replacement, Cerrato will be the next head on the chopping block.

Think about it. Let's say Snyder is able to convince Mike Shanahan or Mike Holmgren or another of the big names to take on the Redskins job, what's the likelihood that they're going to want to work with Cerrato? They've been in charge of personnel before and if they want someone to help them with the task in D.C. it isn't likely to be the guy who has overseen the construction of this year's flailing bunch.

As for Zorn's immediate future, he's pretty much the head coach in name only at this point. Greg Blache always had the reins of the defense, and now Zorn isn't even calling the plays for the offense that he installed. That makes him responsible for buying birthday cakes around the office and overseeing fire drills, perhaps, but nothing that fits the job description of the other 31 teams around the NFL. The Redskins have already started the process of firing him, they just decided against doing it all at once.

Cerrato also downplayed the idea of any turmoil within the organization, which seems about right. Everything going on with the Redskins this season seems par for the course for the Snyder era.

Jim Zorn Safe Until at Least After Season originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best and Worst NFL Coaches: The Dirty Dozen Rankings

Dave Goldberg — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Coaching, NFL Analysis

Coaches know their eventual fate the day they are hired. Almost all will be fired within a few years unless they do something very difficult, like win a Super Bowl. Or ride off into the sunset to pursue better causes, as Tony Dungy did.

So maybe Jeff Fisher's time has come.

He is, after all, the longest-tenured coach in the NFL, in his 15th season with the same franchise going back to 1995, when he took over for Jack Pardee with the Houston Oilers. Coaching certainly is a "what have you done for me lately" business -- never mind that the Titans started 10-0 last season and finished 13-3 -- they lost their first playoff game to Baltimore and are 0-6 this year, including that horrendous 59-0 blowout in Foxborough last week.

So folks in Tennessee are upset, including Bud Adams, who founded the franchise in 1960 and has seen enough to know that firing your coach, especially in midseason, doesn't solve much. In fact, the Titans' troubles may stem from the fact that Detroit fired its coach after last season -- Jim Schwartz, Tennessee's former defensive coordinator, now coaches the Lions and Chuck Cecil, his replacement with the Titans, doesn't seem up to the job.

Yet Fisher remains one of the league's most respected coaches, co-chairman of the NFL's Competition committee and a consistent winner -- even with the 0-6 start, he's 128-108 with five playoff wins and a trip to the Super Bowl after the 1999 season.

On the other hand, maybe it's time for him to leave -- voluntarily. Jim Mora (the elder) once suggested that seven or eight years is probably the longest a coach can stick with one franchise. Your message gets stale, he said, the fans get tired of you and so do your players. This was after a midseason public meltdown in New Orleans, where he stepped down in the middle of his 11th season with the Saints after going 93-78 for a franchise that had never won before.

But leaving out Fisher and some of the new guys trying to turn around terrible teams, here's a look at the best and worst of the current coaches.

Top 6

1. Bill Belichick, New England: No brainer. OK, he's not Mr. Warmth. And he's bent the rules. So has almost every successful coach. Does anyone really think that three Super Bowl titles and an unbeaten 2007 regular season were the result of taping opponents' signals? He assumes he's smarter than anyone else and maybe he is -- although on one day in February, 2008, he wasn't as smart as ...

2. Tom Coughlin, New York Giants: The kind of old school coach who truly does "play 'em one at a time.'' This week is an example -- after his defense was shredded by Drew Brees and the Saints, he didn't rant. He simply went about trying to fix problems in the secondary. Remember that he had Jacksonville in the AFC title game in its second year as a franchise. And outcoached an overconfident Belichick in the Super Bowl. Even his quizzical looks at officials on the sideline reflect something -- he wins more challenges than almost any other coach. And his self-examination at age 60 when he nearly got fired after the 2006 season was totally against his character. The result showed it worked.

3. Andy Reid, Philadelphia: He's below Coughlin because he hasn't won a Super Bowl. But he's been to five NFC championship games in the last nine seasons. And in his 11th season he's 110-72-1 playing in a very competitive division. The folks in Philly who'd like to see change might change their minds the minute a new coach loses. Besides, Reid is about to get a contract extension. He sometimes seems wed to the pass, but is clearly a solid coach.

4. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh: When Bill Cowher stepped down, Ken Whisenhunt or Russ Grimm was supposed to step up. But this "remarkable young man,'' as Dan Rooney called him then, stepped into the Steelers' office and the search was over. Whisenhunt and Grimm went to Arizona and did fine, but Tomlin, at 36, beat them in a Super Bowl. A "players coach'' who knows exactly when to stop being a players coach -- ask Limas Sweed, whose penchant for dropping important passes got him demoted and then benched. Sure other coaches do it, but it's harder when you're only a few years older than your players.

5. Sean Payton, New Orleans: Always a smart offensive mind, he was done in last season by his defense. So he gave up $250,000 of his salary to help lure Gregg Williams to run the defensive unit. Over six weeks, he has the best team in the NFL. Enough said.

6. Mike Smith, Atlanta: A generic coach with a generic name who was literally unknown when Arthur Blank hired him after the 2007 season? He had no chance at any other job and he stepped into turmoil created by the downfall of Michael Vick. Yes, he had the good fortune to have Matt Ryan left for him in the 2008 draft, but he also had the foresight to start him right away. Like Coughlin, an even-keel guy who might challenge Payton's Saints in the NFC South, and certainly has an excellent shot at his second playoff berth in two seasons as a coach.

6a. Josh McDaniels, Denver: Normally, I'd never put a first-year coach with a six-game track record on a list like this. But the six games are all wins, when the expectations after a chaotic offseason were for just the opposite. Belichick offspring have not been especially successful. He looks like he will be.

Bottom 6

27. Brad Childress, Minnesota: This may be unfair. It probably is unfair. But watching Childress try to "manage'' the game and clock against the Ravens last week was painful. Playing for a field goal with more than two minutes left and one of the best late-game quarterbacks in history on your side? And winning only because the other guys missed a makeable field goal? He always seems insecure, which is why a team which might have the NFL's best talent might not go very far into the playoffs.

28-29. (tie) Wade Phillips, Dallas and Norv Turner, San Diego: There's a reason why Jerry Jones hired Phillips after Turner turned him down after Bill Parcells left -- Jones wants to coach his team. Phillips is a first-rate defensive coordinator and Turner is one of the NFL's better offensive minds. Both are nice guys. There's truth to the adage: "Nice guys finish last.''

30. Tom Cable, Oakland: OK, he may be over his head because Al Davis wants someone who will do what Al Davis wants. And yes, he outcoached Reid in the Raiders' win over Philly last week. But good coaches don't get in fights with assistants (although again, it's the Raiders.) Just part of a long, sad story in the East Bay.

31. Eric Mangini, Cleveland: His record isn't awful -- 24-30. But it's getting worse. Might be a mole planted by the Jets, who fired him last year and let the Browns grab him almost instantaneously. Now he's traded them Mark Sanchez and Braylon Edwards. He also treats his players like high schoolers -- laps around the field for minor mistakes, as he did last year with Brett Favre when Favre fumbled a practice snap in his first week with the team. Players don't have to always love their coaches (see Belichick and Coughlin) but if they don't, the coaches had better win.

32. Jim Zorn, Washington: Had never even been a coordinator when Dan Snyder hired him to be one two winters ago. When Snyder couldn't get a legitimate candidate to come to Washington, he made Zorn the head coach. Zorn has already been demoted -- Sherm Lewis, who was calling bingo games in Michigan, is now calling plays. Zorn probably will be put out of his misery during the bye week after Monday night's game.

Best and Worst NFL Coaches: The Dirty Dozen Rankings originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thriving Denver D Brings Back the Sack

Nancy Gay — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:05:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, AFC West, NFL Coaching, FanHouse Exclusive, NFL Analysis

SAN DIEGO -- Outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil set aside any doubts that the 2009 Broncos' astonishing turnaround isn't legitimate on Monday night when he leveled Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers a second time in the contest, helping punctuate a 34-23 division victory that gave undefeated Denver a stranglehold on the AFC West.

With that, Dumervil had his NFL-leading 10th sack, putting him on pace to surpass Michael Strahan's single-season record of 22 1/2.

"It's hard to get to 10 [sacks]," said Dumervil, who was surrounded in the crowded visitors' locker room at Qualcomm Stadium by teammates hooting and calling him the next Strahan. "Every sack guy knows it's hard to get to double digits.

"But this ... it's a new team, a new regime, and everything is new. We're just trying to innovate. We're trying to build a brand of football here, what we want to be as the Denver Broncos."

It's not easy building a 6-0 record -- but it's a lot more feasible with plays like inside linebacker D.J. Williams' fourth-quarter, 11-yard sack of Rivers, and linebacker Darrel Reid's drilling Rivers in the game's final minutes for the team's fourth sack. Rivers lost the ball on both hits.

They've crafted a defensive masterpiece in Denver, and the art of the sack is on full display. The Broncos are tied with the Vikings for the NFL lead with 21 total; in 2008, Denver had 26 sacks the entire season.

It's quite a renaissance from the past few years, when Denver's defensive units were among the NFL's worst. In 2008, Denver's defense surrendered 28.0 points per game (30th overall). Now the Broncos are the league's stingiest team, allowing only 11.0 ppg.

"What you're seeing out there are a bunch of guys just playing for each other," said Williams, one of the three holdovers from last season [along with Dumervil and cornerback Champ Bailey] on a defense that features eight new starters in 2009. "The last few years we weren't successful, for whatever reason it was.

"This year, we changed a lot of things around, our philosophy, our scheme, changed a lot of players. It's working. It's productive. You can't really go against it, because it's working."

Is it as simple as making the head coaching switch from veteran Mike Shanahan to the fresh face and message of Josh McDaniels, 33, and the subsequent hiring of defensive specialist Mike Nolan as coordinator?

"That part of it, but it's so much more," said former NFL personnel executive Michael Lombardi, who spent the 2007 season with the Broncos as an advisor and is now an NFL Network analyst and columnist for National Football Post. "They also changed the scheme and stuck to the 3-4, rather than switching back and forth. They brought in a lot of new players -- smarter guys who understand how to play the game of football. They're just solid players who know what the game is all about and what it takes to be successful."

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Denver Broncos Photos

Denver Broncos linebacker Andra Davis points to the San Diego fans as walks off the field while the San Diego Chargers offensive line leaves the field during the fourth quarter quarter of the NFL football game Monday, Oct. 19, 2009 in San Diego. The Broncos won 34-23 over the Chargers. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

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Denver Broncos Photos

Denver Broncos receiver Eddie Royal fails to make a third down catch near the San Diego Chargers' end zone during the second quarter, Monday, October 19, 2009, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California.

Colorado Springs Gazette / MCT

Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley (14) pulls in a five yard touchdown pass in front of San Diego Chargers' Antonio Cromartie to seal the Broncos 34-23 victory over the San Diego Chargers in the fourth quarter of the NFL football game Monday, Oct. 19, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is wrapped up and sacked by Denver Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams during the fourth quarter of the NFL football game Monday, Oct. 19, 2009 in San Diego. Rivers fumbled and Williams recovered the ball. The Broncos won 34-23 over the Chargers. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers losses the ball while being sacked during the fourth quarter of the Chargers 34-23 loss to the Denver Broncos in an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 19, 2009 in San Diego. The Broncos recovered. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Denver Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler dances through the end zone after his 19-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter of the NFL football game Monday, Oct. 19, 2009 in San Diego. Scheffler had six receptions for 101 yards. The Broncos won 34-23 over the Chargers. (AP Photo/Chris Park)

The San Diego Chargers players hang their head during the fourth quarter of their 34-23 loss to the Denver Broncos in the NFL football game Monday, Oct. 19, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 19: Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers gets ready to walk on the field before a game against the Denver Broncos at Qualcomm Stadium on October 19, 2009 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Jacob de Golish/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Philip rivers

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SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 19: Andra Davis #54 of the Denver Broncos walks of the field after defeating the San Diego Chargers 34-23 at Qualcomm Stadium on October 19, 2009 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Jacob de Golish/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andra Davis

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Newcomers such as veteran safety Brian Dawkins, cornerback Andre' Goodman, safety Renaldo Hill and nose tackle Ronald Fields epitomize these types of intelligent leaders.

When McDaniels was hired last Jan. 12 after spending the past eight seasons with the Patriots -- and rising to become Bill Belichick's trusted offensive coordinator -- he knew the Broncos' pitiful defense was only one of many areas in need of an overhaul.

"There were so many things we weren't doing well, in every phase -- offensively, defensively -- we were bad in a lot of areas," McDaniels said. "It just started with hiring a good staff. That was No. 1 on the list. Mike's [Nolan] obviously done a great job with his staff, and the coaches have done a nice job of getting their players ready and prepared.

"And we made the decision to go to the 3-4 system, which is really my background. Mike, of course, is versed in both or either. We could have gone in another direction, but we just felt like, with where we were at, we wanted to go ahead and make that transition quickly and try to get as far as we could by the time the season came around."

Monday night, the Broncos blitzed Rivers continuously, keeping one of the NFL's strongest and toughest quarterbacks under siege. But a lot of the straight pressure masquerades as blitzing, which keeps offenses off-balance. Denver's swarming attack neutralized the Cowboys' Tony Romo and New England's Tom Brady as well, so it's pretty darn effective.

"I don't know the exact percentage that we're blitzing," McDaniels said, "but we've actually created blitzing without blitzing ... I think that's a combination of good coverage and great effort up front. It isn't every time that we have a free run at the quarterback because we brought one more guy that they can block. That really hasn't happened much all year."

Dumervil, for example, often gets matched up against a blocking fullback or running back in Nolan's scheme and he typically wins that battle. Williams calls the signals for the group. The push up front has made the secondary effective again. And much of what Denver does defensively is just sound tackling and powerful hitting.

In the 17-10 Week 4 victory over the Cowboys, Williams made a crushing fourth-quarter tackle of Dallas receiver Roy Williams that looked like a full-body clothesline hit to the big receiver's midsection. Williams the receiver crumpled to the Invesco Field turf in obvious pain with three injured ribs and cartilage damage. He didn't return.

"Never in my life have I ever been hit like that, from Pop Warner through my six years in the league," said Roy Williams, describing the blow.

Said McDaniels, "D.J. is just a very good linebacker. The weak-side of a 3-4, some people think that the ball runs away most of the time ... but D.J. has some coverage responsibility and he's capable of doing that. We've done a decent job of mixing that up. We've blitzed some and created some problems in the backfield.

"And when he has a chance to run and get to the ball carrier where it's tough for somebody to get a body on him, he usually makes the tackle. And that's the sign of a good linebacker, when somebody is struggling to get onto you and because of that you're making a bunch of tackles, you're a dependable player and that's what he's shown the first four weeks."

A McDaniels/Nolan blitz is not a four-man break. "No, it's five. It's gotta be one more than a four-man rush," McDaniels said.

As they bask in the glow of a 6-0 record and enjoy their bye, the rest of the NFL has to wonder: Can the Broncos continue at this pace defensively?

"I had that same question after Week 1," Nolan, the former 49ers head coach, said with a laugh. "But it's pleasing that we're able to help the football team win, rather than hope the offense can overcome you. Our players take a lot of pride in it -- Elvis Dumervil is doing a good job, as well as many other players. Our secondary is experienced, very professional. Hopefully we just keep this going.

"If you ask me that question again in Week 16, then I'll give you a better answer."

Thriving Denver D Brings Back the Sack originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeff Fisher Dons Peyton Manning Jersey At Nashville Fundraiser

Clay Travis — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: Colts, Titans, NFL Coaching, NFL Video

Jeff Fisher's Tennessee Titans are 0-6. This week the Titans are on a bye, and Fisher appeared at a Rocket Town fundraising event alongside former Colts head coach Tony Dungy. In so doing Fisher chose to make light of the Titans failure. How? By taking off his trench coat to reveal that he was wearing a Peyton Manning jersey underneath.

Seriously.

As if that weren't enough, he then said, "I just wanted to feel like a winner today."

Manning, oh by the way, recently swept into Nashville and stomped Fisher's winless Titans 31-9. I'm sure they're laughing in Indianapolis, but is this really the way to endear yourself to the local community? Even if it's at a fundraising appearance? Especially when people are already starting to question whether you deserve another season as head coach?

I think not.

Especially after your team just got beat 59-0, the worst defeat in the NFL in over thirty years.

And I don't think the people of Nashville are overreacting. Would this go over well in any city in America if the team was 0-6? Can you imagine if Jim Zorn showed up at a Washington fundraiser in an Eli Manning jersey?

Would it even go over very well if the Titans were 5-1 and had only lost to Peyton Manning?

Nope.

A joke like this is perhaps the best evidence yet that Jeff Fisher has lost touch with the average fan's frustrations over the collapse of his team. Either that or he truly feels that he's so bulletproof thanks to his relationship with owner Bud Adams that he can get away with anything.

Regardless, fan outrage is building rapidly. And this, wearing the jersey of a rival even if it is for a fundraiser, may have just been the tipping point for the Jeff Fisher era in Nashville. Look out below, Jeff, at least you've got that Manning jersey to cushion your fall.

Jeff Fisher Dons Peyton Manning Jersey At Nashville Fundraiser originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sources: Mike Shanahan Turned Down Redskins Coaching Job

Thomas George — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:35:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFL Coaching, FanHouse Exclusive

Sources have confirmed that the Washington Redskins recently tried to hire Mike Shanahan to replace Jim Zorn and Shanahan declined. The sources would not rule out the possibility that Shanahan would reconsider in the offseason.

"Shanahan told the franchise there was little he could do in the middle of the season for them and that changing coaches during the season in the NFL rarely works,'' a Redskins management source told FanHouse. "Several people that Dan Snyder trusts have suggested, if he makes a move, he should turn it over to secondary coach Jerry Gray. That could still happen.

"We are trying to give Jim every chance to turn it around. The move to [bring in offensive consultant Sherm] Lewis is to take more off Jim's plate, especially the play-calling, because it is not working, and that is where Jim is spending much of his time. Now he can coach the entire team. Let's see where that gets us.''

Blackistone: Redskins Are Worst-Run Franchise in Sports

Reports surfaced Sunday night, after Washington's embarrassing 14-6 home loss to Kansas City, that Lewis would take over the Redskins' play-calling duties. The team confirmed that change Monday.

The Redskins currently sit at 2-4 and in last place in the NFC East, with losses to Detroit, Carolina and Kansas City -- teams that have four total wins combined. Washington hosts Philadelphia next Monday night prior to a Week 8 bye, and has just one game remaining against a team with a record currently under .500.

Sources: Mike Shanahan Turned Down Redskins Coaching Job originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jim Zorn to Give Up Play-Calling Duties

Matt Snyder — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFC East, NFL Coaching

Despite facing off against mostly subpar competition, the Redskins have stumbled out of the gate to a 2-4 start and are averaging just 13.3 points per game. It's pretty obvious some changes need to be made. Embattled head coach Jim Zorn changed quarterbacks -- from Jason Campbell to Todd Collins -- during Sunday's loss to the previously-winless Chiefs. That move proved futile, as they still couldn't muster more than six points (they lost 14-6).

For his next move, Zorn has, in a way, demoted himself. According to The Washington Post, Zorn will no longer be calling the offensive plays.

More Coverage: Sources Say Shanahan Turned Redskins Down

The move was actually a suggestion from executive vice president Vinny Cerrato, who informed Zorn he thought the coach had "too much on his plate." Zorn didn't argue and gladly stepped down from play-calling duties. The two will reportedly meet again Monday to decide who takes over.

If the Redskins feel he's been there long enough to fully grasp the entire offense, Sherman Lewis would be a good candidate to take over. Lewis was hired on just under two weeks ago as an offensive consultant and he is one of the innovators of the modern "west coast" offense.

Regardless of who takes over, they'll be trying to find a way to move the football with a terrible offensive line and shoddy quarterbacking.

The Redskins square off against the Eagles next Monday night.

Jim Zorn to Give Up Play-Calling Duties originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tom Brady Sets NFL Record With 5 Second-Quarter Touchdowns

Will Brinson — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Patriots, Titans, NFL Coaching, NFL Quarterbacks, NFL Record

It started out innocently enough: the winless Titans were holding the Patriots relatively in-check through the first quarter during a heavy nor'easter. It replicated perfectly the attitude that Jeff Fisher discussed about his 0-fer team (i.e. they still managed to have some semblance of heart).

Then all of a sudden, things took a turn for the worse -- or better if you're a Pats fan -- as Tom Brady caught fire and began dismantling the Titans with five (!!!!) touchdown passes ... in the second quarter! (Update: Brady added a sixth touchdown before being pulled; seven is the record for most in one game.)

That is an NFL record. Also records, via the Pats' official Twitter account: 35 points in the second quarter, a New England record for points scored in any quarter, and 45 points scored in a half, which is what the Pats put up on the Titans before intermission. New England won the game, 59-0.

The entire process was equal parts Patriots domination and Titan-fail; Kerry Collins was abysmal and Tennessee looked overmatched every second of the entire quarter.

But that shouldn't take anything away from what Dreamboat did; as MDS pointed out via Twitter, "Tom Brady had two more TD passes in the second quarter today than Brady Quinn has in his NFL career." So, yeah, that's not embarrassing for Quinn at all.

Tom Brady Sets NFL Record With 5 Second-Quarter Touchdowns originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jon Gruden Atop Dan Snyder's Wish List To Coach Redskins?

Josh Alper — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

The first five weeks of the season have led to the widespread belief that Jim Zorn's got about as much time left in the nation's capital as a Congressman found in a hotel room with three dead prostitutes. That means that speculation about his possible replacement has ramped up to a fevered pitch and, since the Redskins are owned by Daniel Snyder, it's focused on only the biggest available names.

Tuesday brings a report from the Washington Examiner that sources close to Snyder have placed former Raiders and Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden at the top of the owner's wish list. It's not hard to figure out why that report would surface on a Tuesday.

Last night was Monday Night Football, after all.

It's a good bet that the source was watching the Jets-Dolphins clash with Snyder and heard the owner remark how he'd love to hire Gruden more than once after the former coach broke down a play during the game. If they had been together on Sunday night, it would have been the same thing with Tony Dungy while a Sunday brunch would have elicited Snyder's desire for Bill Cowher. The only thing odd about the report is that Ron Jaworski, Mike Tirico and Hank Williams Jr. aren't also in the running for the job.

We kid, but it will be interesting to see how interested coaches like Gruden, Cowher, Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren are to return to work for Snyder if they have other options. The option of a different team with a less impulsive owner or a TV gig that pays well while waiting for a better opportunity may well prove to be more appealing than going to work for Snyder.

Gruden makes sense, though, if only because the Redskins would never find themselves saddled with a quarterback who gets no love from the fanbase or media. While he was in Tampa, Gruden liked to take up a good six or seven roster spots with quarterbacks so that he could change horses at a moment's notice. That would be a nice option for this year's Redskins club, and would actually fit well with Snyder's penchant for always going after the shiniest object in his field of vision.

Jon Gruden Atop Dan Snyder's Wish List To Coach Redskins? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heartbroken Mike Zimmer Helps Guide Cincinnati to 'Uplifting' Win

Chris Burke — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bengals, NFL Coaching

Cincinnati defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer could have skipped the Bengals' key AFC North game at Baltimore Sunday and not a single person would have blamed him. Instead, just three days after the sudden death of his wife, Vikki, Zimmer helped orchestrate a splendid effort by his defense that led Cincinnati to a surprising 17-14 win.

In his postgame press conference, someone asked Bengals coach Marvin Lewis what Zimmer told the team after the game.

"He said, 'You know how Vikki felt about all of you. She's up there now in heaven smiling at you,' " Lewis recalled. "Win or lose, she loved these guys. I was in their house on Thursday afternoon, and there were Post-it notes all around, treats for the players, and I reminded those guys of that Friday morning. I said that they were always on her mind."

Vikki, 50, passed away late Thursday of yet-unknown causes. According to the police report, Zimmer made an emergency call to 911 Thursday night after discovering the lifeless body of his wife at home. Lewis said that his team was "shaken" and noticeably "down" at Friday's workout -- understandable reactions, given the awful development. But by Saturday morning, Zimmer had returned to the team, and the boost was immediate.

"Man, it just lifted guys up," Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph told ESPN about the team's reaction seeing Zimmer. "Once we saw him in practice Saturday morning and knew that he was going with us, it was unbelievable the feeling I had in my stomach."

Cincinnati transferred all of that energy to the field Sunday. Playing against a Baltimore team that averaged 31 points per game during a 3-1 start, the Bengals' defense rose to the occasion. They sacked red-hot Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco twice and intercepted a pair of his passes -- including the game-clinching pick by Leon Hall on a Flacco desperation heave with nine seconds left. They limited Baltimore to just 82 yards rushing and held star Ravens receiver Derrick Mason without a catch.

"That's a good football team," Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said after. "They are everything advertised ... and more."

They also might be tougher and more resilient than anyone believed -- they seemingly proved that with Sunday's inspiring effort.

"We are prepared for anything," Cincinnati safety Chris Crocker said, according to ESPN's James Walker. "Yes, this was sad. But it was also uplifting because we had a purpose."

Zimmer, who received the game ball, did not talk to reporters following the Bengals' win. But hopefully he was able to enjoy his team's impressive performance, if only for a moment, before being faced with harsh reality again.

"He didn't want to be a distraction to the football team," Lewis said. "That was all he was worried about."

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Cincinnati Bengals Photos

BALTIMORE - OCTOBER 11: Leon Hall #29 of the Cincinnati Bengals picks off a last second pass to effectively end the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Bengals defeated the Ravens 17-14. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Leon Hall

Getty Images

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Cincinnati Bengals Photos

Cincinnati Bengals' Chad Ochocinco gets the ball knock from his hands by Baltimore Ravens Ed Reed during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Maryland, Sunday, October 11, 2009. (Gene Sweeney Jr/Baltimore Sun/MCT)

MCT

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andre Caldwell (87) scores the winning touchdown in front of Baltimore Ravens safety Dawan Landry (26) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Maryland, Sunday, October 11, 2009. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun/MCT)

MCT

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Frank Walker (41) reacts after a flag was called late in the fourth quarter of their NFL football game against the as Cincinnati Bengals in Baltimore, Maryland, Sunday, October 11, 2009. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/MCT)

MCT

Baltimore Ravens Ray Rice breaks tackles from the Cincinnati Bengals and runs in for a 48-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Maryland, Sunday, October 11, 2009. (Gene Sweeney Jr/Baltimore Sun/MCT)

MCT

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jarret Johnson stops Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson in the third quarter of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Maryland, Sunday, October 11, 2009. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/MCT)

MCT

BALTIMORE - OCTOBER 11: Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals speaks to the press after the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Bengals defeated the Ravens 17-14. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carson Palmer

Getty Images

BALTIMORE - OCTOBER 11: Andre Caldwell #87 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates his game winning touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Bengals defeated the Ravens 17-14. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andre Caldwell

Getty Images

BALTIMORE - OCTOBER 11: Andre Caldwell #87 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs the ball in for the game winning touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Bengals defeated the Ravens 17-14. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andre Caldwell

Getty Images

Heartbroken Mike Zimmer Helps Guide Cincinnati to 'Uplifting' Win originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Should Chiefs Have Gone for Two?

Matt Snyder — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:10:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, Cowboys, AFC West, NFC East, NFL Coaching

With less than 30 seconds left in a home tilt against the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs had the opportunity to win their first game of the season -- which would have also been the first win of Todd Haley's head coaching career. After a Dwayne Bowe touchdown, the Chiefs trailed by the Cowboys 20-19 with a conversion on the way. They could have converted a two-pointer and won the game. Instead, they opted to kick the extra point and tie the game.

The Chiefs eventually lost in overtime to the Cowboys, so let the second-guessing begin. Should Haley have gone for the 2-pointer and the victory?

Yes

The Chiefs are clearly the inferior team. They had allowed the Cowboys to romp for 202 yards on three second half drives, which accounted for 17 of the Cowboys' 20 points. They had no answer for Tony Romo or Miles Austin through the air and weren't exactly stuffing the run (the 'Boys averaged 5.8 yards per carry on the game). Simply put: it was pretty obvious the Chiefs' defense wasn't going to stop Dallas if they were on the field in overtime.

Thus, why not go for two? You are 0-4. It's only two yards. If, heading into the game, someone told the Chiefs you have one play to gain two yards to win the football game, don't you think they would have loved that? I guess not, because Haley didn't go for it. He took the safe way out when he should be doing everything he can to capture that elusive first victory.

No

You are at home and have all the momentum. Why chance losing the game on an unsuccessful two-point conversion when you can go for the sure thing and tie the football game? Plus, the Chiefs had just mounted their most successful drive of the game, going 74 yards in just 10 plays to tie the game. For the first time in three weeks, Bowe and Matt Cassel seemed to be on the same page.

It's easy to sit here and second guess, but what if the Chiefs had gone for two and been unsuccessful? Wouldn't everyone be crucifying them for not taking the tie and heading to overtime at home?

If the Chiefs won the toss in overtime, it seems pretty reasonable that they could have moved the ball into field goal range -- and Ryan Succop had already nailed a 47-yarder earlier in the game.

So, which was it? Vote in the poll to let us know and feel free to argue your case in the comments section.

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NFL Throwback Uniforms

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the American Football League (AFL), several teams have worn throwback uniforms this year. Tom Brady's New England Patriots were one of four teams in retro duds for Week 5. Click through to check out the rest.

Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Image,

NFL Throwback Uniforms

Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Image,

Denver Broncos or Wyoming Cowboys? The Broncos' AFL eyesores looked very similar to those currently worn by Wyoming of the Mountain West conference. Ugly or not, they worked -- Denver upset New England in overtime.

Barry Gutierrez, AP

At first glance, the Kansas City Chiefs' uniforms on Sunday, which they sported for an overtime loss to the Cowboys, didn't look that dissimilar from their current gear. But looks can be deceiving ...

Jamie Squire, Getty Images

... While the Chiefs got to keep their red and white on, they also wore the helmet of the Dallas Texans -- the AFL squad that moved to K.C. after 1962. It made for an odd scene with "Dallas" playing Dallas in Kansas City.

Jamie Squire, Getty Images

The Rams wore what may be the most recognizable of all the throwbacks, suiting up in their well-known yellow and blue jerseys with the ram-horn helmet. It's a look that St. Louis still has in the rotation as an alternate jersey.

Ronald Martinez, Getty Images

Should Chiefs Have Gone for Two? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Biggest Redskins Problem Not Coaching Or Quarterbacking

Matt Snyder — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:55:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFC East, NFL Coaching, NFL Quarterbacks

The Washington Redskins went into Carolina Sunday and came home with a 20-17 loss. You know what that means? Another week of people calling for the respective jobs of head coach Jim Zorn and quarterback Jason Campbell. It's certainly justifiable to at least question Zorn and Campbell to be the leaders of a playoff team, but there is no way either one is the biggest problem on the Redskins. That dubious distinction lays collectively with the offensive line.

And, just think, the Redskins decided to upgrade an already solid defensive front by selecting Brian Orakpo in the first round. Michael Oher went 10 picks later, and he's having a very solid rookie campaign for the Ravens as a right tackle.

Hmm ... right tackle. The same place that is currently a sieve for the Redskins. Stephon Heyer seems like a nice enough guy, but he's a pretty terrible NFL right tackle. If we can second-guess the draft pick, it's pretty clear that Oher would have fit the Redskins much better than Orakpo.

Granted, Orakpo is having a fine rookie season. He's going to be a good player and has made several good plays this season. It's just that the need to replace Heyer at right tackle was greater than the need to add another player on defense.

It's just not Heyer, though. The whole line is struggling right now. Campbell was running for his life on the majority of his drop-backs. Clinton Portis is far too talented to only average three yards per carry (19 carries for 57 yards) against a Panthers defense who ranked dead last in the NFL against the run heading into the game -- allowing an awful 5.4 yards per carry.

Mike Sellers -- who got into a little tiff with Portis this week about his lack of run blocking -- needs to bear some of the brunt as well. He's not hitting the hole as a lead blocker hard enough to clear room for Portis.

The Redskins did lose Chris Samuels to injury early in the game, which only further outlines the lack of depth the Redskins have on the line. Losing the left tackle made them even worse than usual.

The blocking was so bad the Redskins were unable to mount a legitimate touchdown drive all day. They scored a 10-yard touchdown off a Carolina turnover (a two-play, 13-yard drive) and then a one-yard touchdown after a DeAngelo Hall interception return set them up perfectly.

Regardless, everyone in the Washington area should be prepared to hear many complaints about Zorn and Campbell this coming week. They have now lost to the 1-4 Lions, the 1-3 Panthers, their rival Giants and barely squeaked out home victories against the winless Bucs and Rams. With a 5-game stretch like that, it's hardly surprising the coach and quarterback would come under intense scrutiny. Each job brings extra scrutiny. It comes with the territory.

The biggest problem on the Redskins is the terrible offensive line play. The biggest problems we'll hear about the rest of this season are the coach and quarterback.

That's not exactly fair, but life isn't always fair.

Biggest Redskins Problem Not Coaching Or Quarterbacking originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Meeting This Weekend Between Cable, Goodell

Nancy Gay — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Raiders, NFL Coaching, FanHouse Exclusive

Embattled Oakland coach Tom Cable will not have to face NFL commissioner Roger Goodell this weekend while the 1-3 Raiders are preparing for Sunday's game against the undefeated New York Giants at Giants Stadium, an NFL league office source said.

The NFL office has been monitoring developments with the Napa Police Dept. and the Napa District Attorney's Office as the criminal investigation continues into whether Cable attacked and fractured the jaw of assistant coach Randy Hanson during a coaches-only training camp meeting Aug. 5 at the Marriott-Napa Valley.

It was widely assumed the commissioner would schedule a meeting with Cable while the Raiders are on the East Coast. But a looming owners meeting in Boston on Monday and Tuesday makes any sitdown between Cable and Goodell this weekend logistically impossible.

Meanwhile, Napa district attorney Gary Leiberstein continues to review evidence presented to him by Napa police.

"It is under review by our office, and we do not have a time to tell you when that review will be completed," Leiberstein said last week in a recorded message on his media phone line. "But just know that we are taking it very seriously and fully reviewing the reports, and ultimately I as the district attorney will review the case and confirm the final decision."

Lieberstein has indicated he will only update the message line when he has further information to release.

No Meeting This Weekend Between Cable, Goodell originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Browns' D Coordinator: Trent Edwards Is No Carson Palmer

Chris Burke — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:35:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Browns, NFL Coaching, NFL Quarterbacks

Cleveland's off to an 0-4 start, thanks in no small part to a miserable defense that has allowed more yards per game (403.2) than any team in the league and is No. 31 in points allowed (118).

But the Browns' bumbling hasn't kept defensive coordinator Rob Ryan from flapping his gums prior to this week's game at Buffalo. Friday, Ryan -- twin brother of loud-mouthed (and, thus far, more successful) Jets head coach Rex Ryan) -- called out Bills QB Trent Edwards.

"I don't think that's [Bengals quarterback] Carson Palmer back there by any stretch," Ryan said of Edwards.

"The guy can run and do some things, but we've played Brett Favre, we've played Carson Palmer. Those are two pretty good quarterbacks right there. This guy [Edwards] always seems to have a lot to say, so I'm going to say the same thing: Let's go. Let's get it on, see what he's all about this week.''

Hard to say what exactly brought on Ryan's diatribe against Edwards, but The Buffalo News speculates that it may be an after-effect of a game last season when Edwards' Bills rallied past the Raiders, where Ryan was coaching the defense at the time. After tossing for a career-high 279 yards in that Buffalo victory, Edwards said that the Bills' offense wore down Oakland's D.

Hopefully, there's some other background story that we're not aware of, because that's about the weakest bulletin board material ever.

It's also a bit hard to figure how Ryan could be bad-mouthing anyone at this point, given what his defense has done through four games. No one's going to argue that Edwards is an MVP candidate, but even he might find some openings against a Cleveland defense than ranks 29th against the pass.

Browns' D Coordinator: Trent Edwards Is No Carson Palmer originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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