QUOTE: “Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.” -- Harriet Braiker
Good morning from Los Angeles. A few items from around the league…
The Chargers are 2-2, but judging from all the noise coming from their building, you would think they’re 0-4. Tuesday on NFL Network, Jason La Canfora mentioned that Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman might be available for trade, and our own Brad Biggs followed up with his own story detailing the lack of relationship between general manager A.J. Smith and Tom Condon, Merriman’s agent.
APShawne Merriman has not been the dominant player for the Chargers that he was before his injury.
Merriman is not the same player he was before his injury. He doesn’t have the burst or power he had previously, although they might come as he regains strength in his lower body. It’s almost comical that he tried to play on the knee last year without getting surgery in the offseason. By not having the operation after the 2007 season, Merriman set back his progress at the most critical time in his career -- his contract year.
The hard part in trading Merriman is that the Chargers’ defense needs exactly what he’s supposed to provide: a great pass rush. The fundamental question any team would ask before talking trade would be: Why is he good for us when he’s not good for you? The Chargers will say they don’t want to sign him next year, so they’re willing to take a draft pick this year for him, which is complete bull. The Chargers need a pass rush so badly right now, next year might as well be 100 years away. All they’re thinking about is the present day and how to fix their defense.
Merriman’s name value is high among fans, but his tape evaluation value is not very high among NFL teams, so a trade is not likely to happen. But the Chargers must do something in the next six days to help their team. They’ve been active in the past around the trade deadline and I suspect they’ll be active once again. I wonder, had they known Richard Seymour was available for a 2010 first-round pick would they have made that trade? Seymour would have helped the Chargers much more than he’s helping the Raiders.
The ‘Skins and ‘Love you Bro’...
Our man Matt “I Love Me Some Texans” Bowen wrote Tuesday about the Redskins’ potential interest in Jon “Love You Bro” Gruden as the eventual replacement for current coach Jim Zorn. In many ways, this makes complete sense because Bruce Allen, the former general manager of the Bucs and a close friend of Gruden, has a very good relationship with Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. Snyder grew up loving the Redskins since Bruce’s late father George took them to the Super Bowl in the 1972 season.
APAre Jon Gruden and the Redskins a perfect match?
This is complete speculation on my part, but I’m confident that Allen has told Snyder numerous times that Gruden is the right man for this job. Allen has relationships with many former ‘Skins players who have Snyder’s ear, so he’s undoubtedly heard this from others as well. Gruden would clearly upgrade the Redskins’ offense, and he would also upgrade the talent level on the offense. He would also be in another situation without a quarterback, but this time I believe he would select one very early in the draft.
Where would this put Vinny Cerrato, the current GM? That’s a tough one to answer because Gruden and Allen are very close -- in fact, they watch tape together during the week as Gruden prepares for his ESPN game assignment. If Gruden gets the ‘Skins job, it will be because of Allen, so one would assume that Allen would have a role on the team.
The challenge in Washington is much like the challenge in Oakland. The next coach must recognize that there’s a flaw in the culture and bring players into the locker room who can assist him in making changes. I was told by a former player that the locker room is not conducive to winning. There’s not sense of team, just a bunch of players who view themselves as independent contractors. Clinton Portis is the self-appointed leader, but his idea of leadership is far from building team unity. Portis is the “owner’s best friend,” and when the owner has a direct pipeline into the locker room, this makes team building impossible.
Playing in Washington now is much like playing in Oakland — an involved owner who over-values talent and couldn’t care less about team building. Gruden was successful changing that culture in Oakland. If he’s selected in Washington, I’m sure he can do the same.
There was a saying we would frequently use in Oakland: “The jungle is never dangerous if you know the trails.” Gruden knows those trails very well.
Follow me on Twitter: michaelombardi
@Scot -
What makes you think you are qualified to assess as to whether Gruden is a "very good" head coach? Dude - just read the articles and keep those kinds of comments to yourself. Thanks from all the readership here at NFP....
For selfish reasons, I hope that the Skins wait until the end of the season to offer Gruden the job... I think that his performance on MNF is the best since Frank, Al and Dan. I love his insight and appreciate the fact that he will go into technical and precise explanation of the X's and O's. He does have a tendency to fawn over certain players performance a little too much, but it's worth it to hear things that no other announcer is telling me. Gruden sounds like a man who tries to do a good job with whatever he is assigned to do, and I appreciate his efforts on MNF much more than the likes of Dennis Miller or any of the other revolving door fill-ins.
Wait Mike,
Mike Holmgren wants Dan Snyder's money. If Gruden gets the job, where will Mike H. find his next impressionable billionaire to bilk. Oh wait, there's always Dallas.
Scott,
I think the Bucs were pretty decent even after the SB win. He was 9-7 his last two seasons and look where the Bucs will end up this year without him.
nate,
I agree. I like him a lot better than Tony. He seems to have a genuine enthusiasm that comes through in his announcing.
All I hear from the San Diego Union Tribune Charger Beat writer is that Merriman will not be a Charger after his current contract is up. I also keep hearing that players with his injury don't get to 100 % until their second season after surgery, ie: Carson Palmer this year as compared to last. I would like to hang onto Shawne forever if he can play like he did before his injury and it would be worthwhile to wait until next year to fully evaluate him. I am intrigued by the Colts releasing their starting DT Ed Johnson. Chargers desperately need a run stuffer. On paper Ed seems to fit the bill but why did Indy cut him? Unless it's because he'll be suspended by the league, Chargers can't afford to not bring him in.
@ Nate
Also agree. Although Jaws is a great commentator, and they can step on each other a bit, MNF has become the best group of football commentators.
Laugh--well he won one Super Bowl and got to another and has had many playoff appearances. By most objective standards I think that makes him a "very good" coach. Why do you think this website has a message board? I'm guessing the creators of this site like to have people interested in football discussing football. What makes you think you speak for "all the readership at NFP"? If you think Gruden sucks as a HC then explain why, don't hate on me.
As far as my football qualifications, I am currently in second place in my fantasy football league and used to play a lot of football in my backyard when I was ten years old. So there!
Michael -- a few things on the Gruden/ The Daniel commentary I'm having a hard time with...
1. The only way Gruden can upgrade the talent level is by having personnel control -- will he?
2. Does this extend to getting rid of people like Portis, who are declining in talent but have the Daniel's cell phone on speed dial?
3. Didn't you say previously that Gruden can't develop quarterbacks because he can only stay with them for a short period of time?
4. Gruden was successful in Oakland until Al Davis got tired of him getting so much credit and shipped him to TB. It was not a long-term arrangement. And Oakland and TB both had much, much better talent at important positions. Although every time I think of TB winning the Super Bowl, I remember that their QB (Brad Johnson) had been let go in DC because the Daniel wanted Jeff George....
5. If any coach takes the job without a new GM he can work with and without Vinny Cerrato being shown the door, we will know that all he wants is the Daniel's money. For that reason, let's hope at least that The Daniel is having conversations that don't include Cerrato.
Hey Laughoutloud -
If you want to be the thought police, I'm sure there are openings in the Obama administration for more Czar's.
I'm not a big fan of Gruden. For a supposed QB guru, he's had a lot of turnover at the position as HC. The only real stability he ever found was with Gannon. And Skins fans really want a franchise QB (haven't had one since Theismann).
In the Skins coaching sweepstake, I'd prefer Shanny. If it has to be Gruden, I'd much prefer Bruce Allen or an equally skilled FO man be part of the package. Cerrato needs to go, and Danny needs to be hands off.
In this instance, I guess Jay Glazer was lying when he said Shanahan might go to the Skins? I think Gruden would be excellent in Washington, but I'll miss his stellar commentary on MNF. Whatever the case may be, it's obvious the Redskins need a change. Meanwhile, Merriman has perhaps used up his usefulness with the Chargers. Come what may, my Broncos will destroy them Monday night. Keep up the good work, Lombardi, although buying San Diego on NFL Total Access may not have been the wisest thing to do. We'll see what happens.
The Golden Dome isn't wanting them some Gruden?
The man will be in demand across the spectrum of coaching positions. He wanted to get a year in study of the spread offense, it makes me think he would upgrade Tebow in the coming draft.
Besides, implementing more spread for running allows you to insert more slash types at the position should the starter get hurt. It would be simpler to move people up at the 3 slot, etc. Plus those positions could stay ahead of the cap if they are signed as wideouts.
Tampa has a pair of free agent tackles available next year? Why not get some of the people who helped bring them in to lure them to a new team? Suddenly the OL is getting anchored to one end and can focus upon finding help to the other positions.
Gruden may actually compliment Snyder. When he was at Oakland and Tampa, Chuckie was usually able to get his share of value free agents. He may help Snyder develop better evaluative standards and Allen could always show him additional cap magic.
The East is fiercely competitve, Gruden loves to play spoiler. The main challenge is that a lot of Gruden's system mirrors some of the things Zorn is trying to implement. The personnel fit to the scheme is still a big question mark. Would he need to get in early and sort out the fit for what is there now, to accelerate year one's time table?
Merriman hasn't been the same since they took his HGH away.
"Merriman’s name value is high among fans...."
Obviously his name value was high to you as well Mr. Lombardi. You gave him a "blue chip" grade before the season started.
It's true. Steroids are the giant elephant in the room when talking about Merriman's performance decline.
Great stuff Mike. As a Raider fan, it sure appears to me that nobody left in Alameda "knows the trails" these days!
@ Mr. Murder
I really enjoy your comments. If you ever create a blog of your own, I'd become a reader of it.
I'm with Dan...once Merriman stopped juicing he became the definition of ordinary. Throw in the knee injury and the Javon Walker I'm-great-I-swear-just-look-what-can-do-when-I-feel-like-it attitude, and I wouldn't trade a can of tuna for the guy. He's gonna get stoned by Clady on Monday, and when they adjust he'll get stoned by Harris.
Eric Weddle and Philip Rivers are the only two guys on that team that consistently show an ounce of heart.
They ought to trade A.J. Smith is what they ought to do. Since that market doesn't exist, fire his butt and admit its time to rebuild.
In hindsight, it's interesting to recall the criticism that Dallas received for drafting DeMarcus Ware over Merriman. Now Merriman is practically untradable... Randomness rules.
Mack, if you want to take political pot shots there are boards for that. Not this one. I'd rather hear simple minded football talk here, there's enough simple minded political talk everywhere else.
PDR Vet, I was thinking the same thing. I remember all the groans around here when Merriman was passed up for Ware. Looks like Parcells nailed that one.
Bobby Carpenter, Marcus Spears, Roy Williams, Terrence Newman, on the other hand....oops.
Mr.Murder,
I echo the comment above about your posts. Keep'em coming.
Shouldn't Merriman's career be separated into two different phases: pre-suspension and post-suspension? More should be made of the fact that he just hasn't been the same since he stopped using steroids.
Merriman was who I wanted to see the Raiders draft the year Oakland traded for Moss. Both options turned out wrong? He seemed like the cog in a 3-4 transition for a faster era of football.
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Oct 14, 2009
10:53 AM
Gruden is a very good head coach, but needs to have a strong GM. Left to his own devices, he will constantly tinker with his team and, as has been pointed out here, fall in and out of love with certain players too quickly. While he got the Bucs over the hump, the team steadily declined after his Super Bowl win.