Voice of Reason

[Highlandfire]

Many people are wondering why we haven't made a move to either fire or publicly endorse Ron Rivera for next season. This isn't about JR being indecisive or attempting to buck any trends. Arguably, the most important hire that will be made will NOT be the head coaching position. It will be the GM.

Now, what is the first way to show a GM that you're a meddling owner? Make his first big decision for him before his seat is even warm. That would be..... the fate of the head coach.

While JR will certainly have a TON of input on the situation, a likely interview question that can be pitched now is what are you going to do with Ron Rivera. The answer to that question may help determine if JR and Accorsi/Beane, etc. are on the same page as the potential GM in their vision for the team.

Part of me feels that JR has already made up his mind, made it up a long time ago, and is waiting to let the new GM handle the formalities as well as the new head coaching search.

When a highly regarded executive steps into a situation, he wants a degree of autonomy. He wants to be able to form the team in his own image. Nothing is more enticing to these guys than complete control over personnel. No untouchable head coaches, no untouchable players, and a blank check to do what they feel is best for the team. Anything less than that, and the job becomes less attractive.

So by waiting on a GM and not being ready to move on one TODAY, he could cause his new GM to miss out on the top HC Candidates.

Now let me see, what is more un attractive having the option to keep or fire Rivera or have my choice of top HC Candidates..hummm

[2jakefansinva]

Rivera's not going anywhere.

[Marguide]

Rivera's not going anywhere.

Maybe, maybe not. But it's obviously not a given that he will be back or JR would have already given RR that assurance. Why the drama if he is definitely safe?

It is because JR wants the new GM to be part of the decision process. If he was just going to stick with Rivera and promote Beane, he would have already done it.

[panthers55]

Why would JR have made up his mind a long time ago and then tell Rivera that "how they trend from here on out will determine whether you stay or leave". It would be pretty dishonest and anti-JR-like to deceive his coach just to get production out of him if he had already decided to dump him. I think if JR told him that he could influence the decision by how they were trending, he was honest in that the decision had not been made. I figure JR may have plans to get someone in here besides Rivera but he has to consider other factors like player's input, a feel for the team and chemistry developed. JR was a player himself and has a feel for what needs to be happening on the field and in the locker room. But he has tried the proven coach putting in a new system with Seifert and got seriously burned. There is no one out there who is guaranteed to be a success and is a slam dunk. Everyone has risks associated with them.

[raleigh-panther]

Seems to me, JR has gotten burned with everything he has done.

[Mr. Scot]

Many people are wondering why we haven't made a move to either fire or publicly endorse Ron Rivera for next season. This isn't about JR being indecisive or attempting to buck any trends. Arguably, the most important hire that will be made will NOT be the head coaching position. It will be the GM.

Now, what is the first way to show a GM that you're a meddling owner? Make his first big decision for him before his seat is even warm. That would be..... the fate of the head coach.

While JR will certainly have a TON of input on the situation, a likely interview question that can be pitched now is what are you going to do with Ron Rivera. The answer to that question may help determine if JR and Accorsi/Beane, etc. are on the same page as the potential GM in their vision for the team.

Part of me feels that JR has already made up his mind, made it up a long time ago, and is waiting to let the new GM handle the formalities as well as the new head coaching search.

When a highly regarded executive steps into a situation, he wants a degree of autonomy. He wants to be able to form the team in his own image. Nothing is more enticing to these guys than complete control over personnel. No untouchable head coaches, no untouchable players, and a blank check to do what they feel is best for the team. Anything less than that, and the job becomes less attractive.

Good post.

I don't necessarily agree that Richardson has already made up his mind, though.

[jtm]

Harbaugh was not hired until 1/7; Carroll was hired on 1/11; Fox on 1/13.

Everyone relax--today is only the first.

[Panths]

So even if we get a new GM in the next few days, you think he'll be automatically qualified to make a judgement call on Rivera's fate? Most likely not. He'll need to watch two seasons of tape, and interview people on the subject to make an educated decision, would he not?

[CRA]

Harbaugh was not hired until 1/7; Carroll was hired on 1/11; Fox on 1/13.

Everyone relax--today is only the first.

Yes only the first day but, the coaches pool quickly gets smaller over the next few days....

Teams will be interviewing potential HCs and hiring them in the next 10 days.

We need to make a GM call quick. By the time a new GM would have time to review Rivera as the guy.....some coaches have already been hired. We still could be left debating to fire Rivera and open up for interviews