Diner News: Around The NFL

FROM MICHAEL LOMBARDI:

8 January 2009

QUOTE:  “A school without football is in danger of deteriorating into a medieval study hall.”  ~ Vince Lombardi

FROM MARY KAY CABOT OF THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER... Reports that Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli turned the Browns off with his "outrageous demands" were absolutely false, multiple sources close to the situation told The Plain Dealer on Wednesday.  Browns owner Randy Lerner spent about 10 hours talking to Pioli over the past week and the dialogue was positive, the source said. It was also described by one source as more "exploratory" than actual negotiating.  Lerner liked and admired Pioli, his first choice for a general manager, sources said.  But Lerner decided early in the hiring process that the head coach was the more important hire.  Amid growing reports that Mangini already was formulating his coaching staff, the club confirmed that an agreement was reached with the fired New York Jets coach Wednesday.  Mangini, who turns 38 on Jan. 19, was the first of four candidates interviewed by owner Randy Lerner to replace Crennel.  Mangini was fired by the Jets on Dec. 29, the day after the Jets lost their final game and were eliminated from the AFC playoffs.

Sometimes, these stories take on a life of their own. The reality of the Cleveland situation was that Lerner and Pioli never reached a point where a contract or demands were discussed. Both parties were more interested in feeling each other out and learning what each other was looking for in the job.  The fact that Scott visited the Chiefs for an interview tells me that he was more in an evaluation mood than a demanding mood.  To say there were demands would be to label it unfairly; inaccurate information was rampant.   

Many reports have circulated that the Chiefs and Pioli were close to a deal.  However, there has not been any confirmation by anyone here at the Post, and knowing how secretive Pioli and the Chiefs have behaved in this process, it would be pure speculation.  Something might happen today, something might not happen today, and Pioli could be back in New England for the next 10 years.  The saga continues. 

With the Browns, I believe that Randy Lerner decided it was more important to get his guy as the head coach than it was to get the right guy as GM.  Mangini came in and took the job with his interview by demonstrating that he was in the mind of Randy Lerner, that he was the right fit to become the Browns’ new coach.  Mangini will need to grow from his experience in New York. He will need to improve his communications skills with his staff and not always be in his office with a closed door.  He has to create a better office environment for the staff and must make sure that access to him is not a difficult chore.  He has to learn give and take, and he must not change his principles or beliefs, but he must alter his course on how to get these things accomplished.  He must write down all the things he feels he must work on and improve, and when he starts his new job, he must avoid the same mistakes.  The Jets paid for his education as a head coach, and now the Browns hope to benefit from it. 

Mangini’s career got a second life and he must take full advantage.  As Bob Boland, my good friend and contributor here at the Post, has written on occasion, coaches with failed terms as head coaches have a much better chance at succeeding the second time around -- as long as they have learned and grown from their time.  Eric cannot repeat his time from the Jets; he needs to build from those days. 

FROM TEDDY KIDER OF THE NEW ORLEANS PICAYUNE... The Saints fired defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs on Wednesday, making the announcement 10 days after the team's defense finished the season ranked 23rd in the National Football League.  "This was a very difficult decision to make," Saints coach Sean Payton said in a statement. "Gary Gibbs is a fine man and football coach who has worked diligently during his tenure with the Saints. I thank him for the many contributions that he has made to this team and wish him continued success in his career."

I know it must have been difficult for Payton to fire his friend and make a change on defense.  But firing Gibbs was the first step, and maybe, if they hire Gregg Williams, it will solve some of their problems.  The Saints must find a way to become tougher on both sides of the ball and get more physical on defense.  If they hire Williams, they will also have to improve some of the players on defense to fit the scheme.  They must find a way to gain more speed in their back seven and they must eliminate big plays.  The Saints were 26th in the league in allowing plays over 20 yards.  To make matters worse, they were one of the worst short yardage teams on defense, so there is a ton of work to do; hiring a new coach is not going to correct everything.  The Saints feel like they were two or three plays away from winning 13 games this year, but in reality they had some fundamental flaws that no 13-win team would have.  Winning on third-and-one on defense is one critical aspect, and it demonstrates the power of your defensive front.  Hiring Williams would be a step forward, but there are many more to make. 

FROM DAVE CALDWELL OF THE NEW YORK TIMES... DeFilippo said he wanted a football coach who considered Boston College a destination rather than a way station for the NFL. And it became clear to him in the last few days that Jeff Jagodzinski, the Eagles’ coach for the last two years, did not feel that way. Claiming that he had a stack of résumés from coaches who wanted to stay there awhile, DeFilippo followed through on his threat to fire Jagodzinski if he interviewed with the Jets for their vacant coaching position. Jagodzinski talked to the Jets on Tuesday night, and DeFilippo called him into his office Wednesday morning and fired him. Jagodzinski had three years remaining on his contract.

Did a little digging yesterday and here is the real deal on the Boston College saga, according to someone close to the program: When Jags was hired, B.C. officials told him they wanted a four-year commitment. They knew they would win a ton of games with Matt Ryan, and this year they expected to have enough talent to win at least eight games.  So they knew that whoever they hired would have success for two years, but they needed that person to be willing to hit the recruiting trail and stockpile talent for the following two years.  Jags was told this before he was hired, and he made a handshake agreement with the B.C. staff that he would not look for any pro job until he had spent four years there, after which school officials would help him reach any personal goals.  The people at B.C. feel Jags lied to them on a fundamental issue-his commitment for four years. 

It was paramount in the minds of the B.C. staff that they hire a coach who would establish a foundation in the Boston area and solidify their recruiting efforts.  Mark Whipple, the Eagles assistant who was close to getting the B.C. job two years ago -- and who Bob Boland here at the Post thought might make an attractive candidate for Syracuse -- would still be a very strong short- or long-range candidate. 

FROM MATT GAGNE OF THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS... The understudy is still adjusting to the spotlight. Domenik Hixon, who has started in place of Plaxico Burress the past five weeks, could only marvel at the attention -- and the scrutiny -- he received Wednesday as reporters swarmed his locker after practice.  Not too long ago, he was just another special teams player looking for a little room to get dressed in the shadow of Amani Toomer's locker, two down from his.  But now Hixon is in the middle of it all, feeling the pressure that comes with replacing the hero of Super Bowl XLII.  "It's going to take some time getting used to, but just talking with guys, it's something that comes with the territory and you can't let it overwhelm you," he said. "There's a lot more off-the-field stuff, a lot more media attention."

I feel Hixon will be a key for the Giants if can find a way to beat the Eagles.  He has the speed and talent to make plays, and all this talk about the Giants not having someone on the outside who can defeat man-to-man coverage is just talk.  Burress was like Larry Fitzgerald in the sense that he would win most jump balls and he was always in a crowd because he did not have the speed to run away from anyone.  However, he had the ability to be in balance, push off and make plays.  Burress is the best wide receiver at breaking the offensive pass interference rule and rarely was called for the violation.  Hixon has speed, and he has the kind of speed that can cause problems for the Eagles’ corners.  Nevertheless, unlike Burress, he will have to prove to the Eagles that he can rise to the challenge and make plays.  Burress was a player that defensive coordinators had to game-plan around -- to make sure you had a size corner over him to tackle him once he got the ball.  Hixon will not get game-plan attention other than a mention of his speed, but the Birds will not roll coverage into him or worry about the match-up on him, which in turn will allow them to expand their defensive playbook. 

First down will go a long way in determining the outcome of the game.  The Giants are eighth in the NFL in gaining yards on first down, and the Eagles are third in first-down defense.  The team that controls first down will control the game, and the best time for Hixon to make his mark will be on first down. 

Another key component of the game will be ball control.  It will be the Giants’ mandate to have the ball for more than 32 minutes; if they can dominate the ball, they will dominate the game.  The Eagles’ defense is like fighting a boxer who can move around the ring.  The longer the fight, the more body punches, the better the chance to win fight.  The team that wears down the other will be the team that wins.  This game will come down to which team is freshest in the fourth quarter, and my instincts tell me it will be the Giants because of the week off. 

FROM CALVIN WATKINS AND TODD ARCHER OF THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS... The Cowboys announced they will release cornerback Adam Jones, ending a brief and turbulent run in which Jones was suspended for six games and missed another because of a neck injury.  The Cowboys can officially release Jones on Feb. 9, the first day teams are allowed to waive players.  "Surprised? Yeah, I was surprised," said Jones, reached at his Prosper home. "All I can do is keep working hard, keep my nose clean and hope for the best."

One of my favorite episodes of “The Sopranos” is from Season 3, “Second Opinion.”  It revolves around Uncle Junior going to get a second opinion for his cancer and Carmella going to see a shrink about her relationship with Tony.  In her session with the shrink, Carmella’s is asked a fundamental question: Why she is willing to stay with Tony despite his transgressions and his behavior outside their family life? Her reply:  “I thought I could make him a better man.”  The doctor follows with another question: “How is that working out for you?”

That would be my question for the Cowboys: “How did that Pacman thing work out for you?” 

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