Diner News: Around The NFL

From Michael Lombardi

30 Dec 2008

QUOTE:  “People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. . . . The leader works in the open, and the boss is covert.  The leader leads, and the boss drives.”  ~ Theodore Roosevelt

FROM JAY GLAZER OF FOX SPORTS.COM... The Jets have asked for permission to interview Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to replace Eric Mangini, team sources told FOXSports.com.  Spagnuolo is considered one of this year's crown jewels among head-coaching candidates.  It is also believed that the Jets could have interest in former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher.  By going after Spagnuolo, the Jets would make a huge dent in the New York football landscape. Spagnuolo is loved by his Giants players. In fact, former Giants defensive end and current FOX NFL Sunday analyst Michael Strahan went as far as saying he'd almost return to football — not for the money, but because he wanted more years playing under Spagnuolo.

The press conference in New York yesterday was enlightening, featuring Jets owner Woody Johnson and General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.  It was enlightening on a few fronts.  The first highlight was that both parties said they had been talking about Eric Mangini’s job status for the past month and that both had reached this decision.  Now, on the surface that looks fine, but when the man that hired Mangini and is supposed to be his best friend is engaging in conversations about his job status -- without telling Mangini -- it raises some very interesting questions for the next potential coach.  (When I was with the Hotel, Tannenbaum called and asked me what I thought about Mangini as a possible head coach. I told him I thought he was very young and would have to grow into the job.  Tannenbaum sold the Jets’ ownership on finding a young coach who could grow and who also was his best friend.) The second revelation was that Tannenbaum and the information he passes along to the owner would determine whomever the Jets hire.  If that’s the case, this will hinder them in their search for a strong head coach -- not because they will not pay or will not want to win, but because they will be limited in their search. Tannenbaum will need to protect his turf and not bring in someone with strong convictions and opinions.  In addition, the other problem is that no coach wants to be judged by a cap person who doesn’t understand the essence of football.  Tannenbaum is not a football man, even though he might want to project that image (I base this opinion on having hired Mike and knowing his background).  Moreover, the Jets’ search is also likely to be affected because they are in cap jail, leading someone in the Jets building to say, “It is going to get worse around here before it gets better.”  I hope Mike Tannenbaum has updated the owner on what to expect next year. 

FROM MARK GAUGHEN OF THE BUFFALO NEWS... Buffalo Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. said Monday afternoon the team would make a decision on the future of head coach Dick Jauron on Wednesday. Wilson met in Detroit today with Russ Brandon, the Bills' chief operating officer, Tom Modrak, the Bills' vice president of college scouting, and Jeff Littmann, the Bills' treasurer. "I have nothing definitive tonight to give you," Wilson told The Buffalo News by phone from Detroit. "We had a meeting today. We're going to have a meeting tomorrow and the next day, and then you'll have your answer."

When I read what Mark had written, it was clear that Ralph Wilson wants to shake up the staff and bring in new coaches on one side of the ball or the other.  He wants to keep Jauron, but it’s clear to me that he doesn’t want to keep some coaches (losing five games in a row is tough for anyone to take).  Offensive coordinator Turk Schonert, I am sure, is the main topic in these meetings.  The Bills have too much talent to be 25th in the NFL on offense. More important, they have too much money invested in their offense to be this bad.  The meetings are about learning what Jauron will do to shake up the staff.  What is his plan to make changes and get the Bills’ offense on the right track?  Normally, he is very reluctant to make any changes to the staff, but this time he has to be realistic and accept that Turk is not getting it done.  However, Jauron can be stubborn and might be willing to walk the plank rather than fire some coaches. 

This time of year, front offices and coaching staffs have to evaluate three areas of their teams: scheme, coaching and players.  Those areas will also provide the answers that lead to improvement.  When I watched the Bills, I liked their talent for the most part, but I did not like their scheme and wondered at times about their offensive coaches. 

FROM MARY KAY CABOT OF THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER... Scott Pioli, the New England Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel, is believed to be very interested in the Browns general manager job and is expected to interview for the position soon, multiple league sources told The Plain Dealer today. The Browns have been granted permission by the Patriots to interview Pioli and could talk to him as soon as Tuesday. Pioli has also been contacted by either the Kansas City Chiefs or Detroit Lions and will interview for that job as well, a source said.

What Scott must do is lay out what he wants, and if the right situation meets those demands, then he should jump at the chance.  Pioli is well prepared for the challenge and is ready to install a program based on the coach and the team, not the GM, as was the case in Cleveland.  My sense of the Browns is that their owner is willing to do whatever it takes to win, and the only concern that might keep Pioli from saying yes is that the owner tends to listen to a host of people for advice and counsel.  His kitchen cabinet is not always the best, and if he does get Pioli to say yes, he will need to listen to him and not to everyone else. 

FROM JASON REID OF THE WASHINGTON POST.... "I want to coach a team that is a playoff team, not just a team that gets to the playoffs. Do you see what I mean?" Zorn said yesterday at Redskins Park. "I want these guys to be perennial. I don't want it to be a question of, 'Gosh, are we going to make it?' I just want us to say, 'Where are we going to be seeded?' But we've got a lot of work to do to get to that point."

Did Coach Zorn miss Christmas this year?  He sounds like a kid sitting on Santa’s lap making his wish list.  We all want what Zorn wants, and we all want to be a team that can achieve those goals, but wishing and planning are two different things.   The Skins are never very honest with their opinions of their own players, and they have too much invested in them not to be willing to make tough choices and changes.  The main issue this off-season will be deciding what plan they have for Jason Campbell and how they are going to make it work. 

FROM JON GRUDEN PRESS CONFERENCE... “I have a lot of respect for Jeff,' Gruden said. 'Again, we will address all these things later. Jeff will have an opportunity to come back, I am sure; he will be a free agent. We will see who is available. We want to get better at every position that we can and that is our job, that is the profession we are in. Despite what people think, I have a lot of respect for Jeff, and I am really proud of what he has done here in his two years here as a starter.”

At some point, Jon “Love you Bro” Gruden is going to have to fall in love and draft a quarterback.  He is the Warren Beatty of coaches, refusing to make a commitment and refusing to invest time in having a committed relationship.  The Bucs, under “Love you Bro,” are no better off on offense than the day he arrived.  No one will work harder, no one will be as prepared, but no one other than basketball coach Larry Brown falls out of love faster.  Since 2002, when “Love you Bro” arrived in Tampa, he is 57-55 and won the 2002 Super Bowl in his first year -- with, as Warren Sapp has said, Tony Dungy’s team.  He has been very average on offense during that span (thank God for the fullback-in-the-flat play). This is not because of his work habits or his knowledge, but his reluctance to stand behind anyone.  Had this season’s results happened last year, he would not have gotten his extension.  Now that the Glazers have made a commitment to him, he needs to fall in love with someone.  Even Warren Beatty did it.     

FROM NFL NETWORK LAST NIGHT ON BRETT FAVRE...

FROM NFL NETWORK LAST NIGHT ON THE DALLAS COWBOYS...

FROM NFL NETWORK LAST NIGHT ON WHO SHOULD BE THE MVP...

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