UNCrules2187

I already said I would trade places with the Broncos if I could. If the 2015 team wins that SB and everything else plays out like it has since then, I'm a thousand times happier than I am right now. I went to that SB in 2015 and it was one of the worst experiences in my life, but man if the shoe were on the other foot, would probably be one of the greatest memories I'd ever have.

Apples and oranges. I said a SB ring and mediocrity over no SB and contention. Tomlin won a SB. Best case scenario we get a guy like Tomlin or Andy Reid, but if I had to choose between a Gruden (SB win, some playoffs, mostly mediocre) or a (RIP) Marty Schottenheimer (.613 win %, 13 years in the playoffs and only 2 losing seasons in 21 years, but never even made it to the SB let alone win it), I'm taking Gruden 100 times out of 100.

Honestly, what does contending for years without any SB rings to show for it get you? Isn't the point of this sport to reach the pinnacle? I would take 10 years of mediocrity for 1 SB win rather than 10 straight years of playoffs and no SB wins. It's the hope that kills you.

This is where I disagree. It's so hard to win even 1 SB and after being so close in 2003 and 2015 and coming away empty, I'll take one even if it means bad teams for years on end. I'm sure Denver wouldn't trade SB50 for 10+ win seasons and playoff flameouts instead. Beggars can't be choosers.

Not really - question was how would you rank the fits and would Chargers be better for him than other jobs? Both answered saying of course he'd want the Chargers job over any other due to QB and location, then gave their personal opinion on best fits of the open gigs. Graziano thinks Denver is most likely because they can offer more money than anyone else, Fowler said he'd go with Texans because of picks, cap space, and Houston being desperate enough to give him the control he wants.

Plus some other tidbits from today's piece (paywall): https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/insider/story/_/id/35466669/nfl-head-coach-openings-latest-buzz-coaching-candidates-broncos-cardinals-colts-panthers-texans

For those of us (like me) getting antsy that we haven't moved on a coach yet, something to consider - here's when each coach in last season's coaching carousel was hired (regular season ended 1/9/22): Nathaniel Hackett - 1/27/22 Matt Eberflus - 1/27/22 Brian Daboll - 1/28/22 Josh McDaniels - 1/31/22 Doug Pederson - 2/4/22 Mike McDaniel - 2/6/22 Lovie Smith - 2/7/22 Dennis Allen - 2/8/22 Kevin O'Connell - 2/16/22 Todd Bowles - 3/30/22 (extenuating circumstances here) Most likely we will not name a HC until likely the middle of next week at the very earliest.

Honestly, what scares me most about Payton (aside from acquisition cost) is the track record of successful HCs who take a year or more off before returning to the league: https://pro-football-history.com/blog/10/18/redemption-or-retread Ironically, Mike McCarthy has so far nearly replicated his GB winning % with Dallas (.618 regular season with GB, .600 with Dallas; .556 playoff with GB, .500 with Dallas) so maybe there's hope yet.

Todd Bowles is 59, Mike McCarthy is 59, John Harbaugh is 60, Ron Rivera is 61, Andy Reid is 64, Belichick is 70, Pete Carroll is 71. I don't think Payton taking another year off is really going to hurt his mystique or give him a lack of options. Owners will chase after him and if he takes a couple of years off to recharge, I could see him easily coaching another decade (he just turned 59 last month).

Man I really think Payton is going to be Seifert 2.0. Would prefer Steichen or Kafka now that Johnson is out. Hell I’d even take Reich or Caldwell.

I’d have to think Payton or Steichen are the favorites now. Steichen won’t be able to interview again until 1/30 if the Eagles make the SB.

We’re really gonna end up with Wilks back aren’t we

Welp

Tepper willing to shell out draft assets and give another coach total control again? I find it hard to believe.

And retread HCs are no more successful than first time HCs either. All HC hires are a crapshoot:

I don't understand why this is a knock on Johnson. Sean McVay worked under (a washed) Mike Shanahan for 4 years and Jay Gruden for 3 years, went to the playoffs twice, and Washington lost both of those games by double digits at home. Safe to say that didn't affect how McVay performed in the regular season/playoffs.

Technically speaking the Broncos cannot offer the job or talk contract specifics with Payton today, only interview him and then discuss compensation with the Saints. But in reality, I'm sure a compensation framework is agreed to already (likely the 49ers 1st round pick and maybe another future pick) and while specifics can't be discussed, I'm sure the Broncos ownership will let Payton know they are prepared to meet his demands. We'll see if Tepper gets a shot at Payton or not...

Pretty quiet on the Panthers coaching front today...do we know if the Ben Johnson interview is today or later this week? Given Tepper will be in NY on Friday for Payton, would assume Johnson is coming down to CLT today or tomorrow for his interview.

If we could hire Payton off the street and all it cost was Tepper's cash, I'd be all for it. Giving up more draft assets and especially to a division rival that can help them climb out of the roster and cap hole they've built isn't appealing to me though. I'd prefer to keep the picks and hope we hit on Johnson or Steichen paired with a Fangio/Vance Joseph type DC candidate.

not wasting any time lmao

Curious as to why folks didn't want Mike McCarthy off the street last time around but do want Payton at the cost of draft assets this time? McCarthy: 155-96-2 (.617) regular season record, 10-9 (.526) playoff record, 1 SB win, 4 NFCCG appearances Payton: 152-89 (.631) regular season record, 9-8 (.529) playoff record, 1 SB win, 3 NFCCG appearances

Richard was the Seahawks DC from 2015-2017

Payton says he’s flying to NY to meet with Tepper at the end of the week.

The funniest part of this is “both were various positional coaches before becoming coordinators”. Oh, you mean like 99% of all head coaches ever?

Understand Kafka’s stance when you’re full bore on a playoff run, but tough for teams to wait 2 weeks to place their coaching search on a holding pattern when they’ll need to build a staff as well. The only thing that’s working in his favor is that none of the openings have yet been filled.