National Football Post Diner News

5 February 2009

QUOTE:   “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all -- in which case, you fail by default.”  ~ J. K. Rowling, 2008 Harvard commencement speech

FROM JASON LA CANFORA OF THE WASHINGTON POST... Third-round pick Chad Rinehart is not seen as a capable player at this point, according to numerous sources involved in the meeting, and is not projected as being anywhere close to being able to replace Pete Kendall or Randy Thomas at guard. Many coaches, including (Joe) Bugel, worry about his confidence and ability, sources said. He is not being counted on to produce much in 2009, and if he did it would be a surprising development. Similarly, Stephon Heyer is not viewed as a starter; he's okay for depth purposes but with Jon Jansen no longer deemed a starter, either, they need to do something at right tackle (I still expect them to draft a tackle with their first pick). Kendall could not practice on Wednesdays all season because of his arthritic knees and, in addition, is in his mid-30s. Given the team's cap predicament, its needs and the internal expectation that they will not be big spenders, sources said they expect the team to try to re-sign Kendall on the cheap. Thomas's health and decreasing athleticism are a big issue as well, but, like Jansen, his contract makes it more expensive to cut him than to keep him, so he will be back. Look for the team to find a "value" guard in free agency to replace Jason Fabini and push for a starting job. Beyond that, I'm not sure they do a whole lot here.

This is an excellent article about the ‘Skins personnel.  When I was with other teams, this is the type of story that always amazed me.  Why would the front office allow leaks like this to occur?  It makes no sense to allow the minutes of the meeting to get out and let everyone read them.  Give much credit to Jason La Canfora for getting this story and allowing all of us a peak into the Redskins’ thought process. 

Why does this happen?  For one, the main reason is that front office members want to help the main beat writer.  It allows him or her to know the thinking and thought process of the team so that, when it does make a move, the reporter has an understanding.  This protects the club from bad press and gives the writer firsthand knowledge. It also means the writer can present the club’s case to the fans.  But letting the team’s innermost thoughts out there for other teams to view makes it hard to make the moves you need to make.  There has to be balance here, and if you’re secure in what you’re doing, you don’t need to sell the fans or the media on it. Winning will do all the selling. 

What bothers me is that it has taken seven months to reach a conclusion that many knew back in July.  The ‘Skins line was old, and all their backups, for the most part, were old.  They chose to go through the season with this line and drafted two wide receivers instead of any linemen last year.  Therefore, they were not as aware of the problem as many on the outside.  They might come back and say, well, Joe Bugel, the line coach, was happy with his players.  That’s fine in theory but horrible in reality.  Bugel is always going to love his players, he is always going to love older people, and everyone knows that.  However, as an executive, you have to make tough decisions. You have to challenge people, and in the end, you have to do what’s right.  Paying no attention to the line was not right.  Ignoring the line last season has hurt the team and placed it a year behind. 

George Allen once said, “Evaluate the evaluator.”  Everyone knows that Bugel loves older players -- not because he doesn’t like to teach but because he doesn’t like change and doesn’t want to give up a sure thing, good or bad, to make a move for the unknown.  Most coaches share Bugel’s viewpoint.  It then is the job of the head coach or GM to make the moves necessary to benefit the team for the short and long term.  This is what executives in the NFL are supposed to do. 

If I were a ‘Skins fan (and once was long ago), I would be worried about my team’s future and about how this front office is going to find the right pieces to fix it.  However, there’s one thing you know as a ‘Skins fan: Whatever they do, they will let you know beforehand. 

FROM KENT BABB OF THE K.C. STAR... Tight end Tony Gonzalez and running back Larry Johnson spent time this week campaigning to be put out of their Kansas City misery, whether that’s by trade, release or team officials just changing the locks — anything that gets them out of a Chiefs uniform. “You just feel trapped,” Johnson said Wednesday morning during a 23-minute appearance on radio station KCSP 610-AM. “Ever since I came to Kansas City, they’ve been trying to push me out the door. We can do it the easy way.” Hours earlier, a national sports Web site posted a story about Gonzalez’s unhappiness and his desire to be traded if the Chiefs don’t hire the right coach, and specifically if they hire a college coach such as Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz as Herm Edwards’ replacement. “I don’t want to deal with that,” Gonzalez told Yahoo! Sports during Pro Bowl preparations in Hawaii. “It seems like we’re rebuilding anyway, and I don’t want to do that.  I don’t know that I want to do that anymore than I already have been.”

Not everyone likes change, and the one thing an executive must deal with is older players who do not want to be a part of a new regime.  The best course of action in this situation is to get rid of the malcontents, but do it on your timetable.  The more a player bitches to get out, the less likely a team will want to trade him.  More cries might mean more newspapers are sold, but this would harden the team’s position.  Remember, players are watching your every move; they want to see how the team handles this situation and will use this tactic to benefit them later. 

What the Chiefs have to do is make decisions that are in the best interest of the Chiefs and not Tony or Larry.  If they can get the right trade value for either player (the Saints should be all over Johnson), then make the move, but only for the right deal.  Every move you make has implications for future moves, and serious consideration of these moves is essential. 

Once the Chiefs hire a head coach, they can candidly discuss this situation.  In fact, it would be a great question for any potential head coach.  Ask the coach, “If a star player is unhappy and wants to be traded and comes to your office to complain, or complains in the media, how would you handle it?” That answer will go a long way in helping the Chiefs make their head coaching decision. 

FROM CALVIN WATKINS OF THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS... Reeves agreed in principle to work with owner and general manager Jerry Jones (and) coach Wade Phillips on some aspects of the organization. The Cowboys agreed on financial terms, but Jones wanted something in Reeves' contract the former Cowboys player and assistant coach would not accept.  Reeves would not disclose the item that sunk the deal.  "I really and truly thought the deal was done," Reeves said Wednesday night. "And after several days of discussing it and so forth, we basically came to an agreement, so I thought it was done.  But with some of the concessions that Jerry had made, he ended up putting some things in there that I wasn't comfortable with that he thought was important to him.  And I just felt like if we couldn't come to an agreement, it's best we part."

How can this happen?  How can anything in Dan Reeves’ contract be so bad that he would not want to sign the deal?  I have been involved with numerous coaching contracts, and this one does not make sense to me.  My mission today will be to find some answers to this situation. 

FROM USCTROJANS.COM... (Question to coach Pete Carroll: What does it do for Matt Barkley that he's already enrolled at USC) "It's all you could hope for. When we were recruiting Matt a long time ago, we talked about the opportunity that Mark Sanchez might have if he hits it right and is really a great football player, maybe he has the opportunity to come out early. And sure enough right after the day we were in here (for Sanchez's press conference where he announced he was turning pro), we went into the team meeting and one of the first guys I run into is Barkley. And he's looking at me with his yes like this. And I said ‘It happened. Here you go. Just like we talked about.' He's here, ready to take full advantage of jumping in with both feet to give himself the best opportunity to battle and see how far he can take it. As we always do, the newest guys to us are the ones we need to see the most. Our young guys come in and we throw them right to the front and we put them in with the No. 1 group and start to look how they fit in with guys that have been around the program to see how they handle it and how they fit and how they prepare for these opportunities. Matt will be one of these guys. Matt's going to get a great look to see where he fits in. It's always my job to give the guys a good competitive opportunity. It doesn't do a guy any good to sit back and watch around here. You have to get out there and play and show us who you are and what you are all about."

I have tremendous respect for Pete Carroll as a coach, but what separates him from many others is his work ethic and his refusal to rest on his accomplishments.  When you look over his list of 19 signees, you see players from all over the country.  This tells me that Pete is willing to spend the time to get on a plane and recruit.  He has the passion and the drive to be the best, and for someone who has tasted success, this is a rare trait.  Success has not spoiled Pete, and he is an inspiration to everyone to find a job you love.  I learn a great deal from listening to him talk and watching him work.  He’s been a great source of knowledge. 

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