The rumor mill regarding the Miami Dolphins vacant coaching position has kicked into warp speed — with lots of talk that the ‘Phins will be paying a big bill. Or Bill.
How about Bill Cowher?
How about Bill Parcells?
How about — wait for it — Bill Belichick?
Starting in this reality and moving progressively deeper into fantasy-land … The Miami Herald reports that “a person close to Cowher said Wednesday he would be willing to listen” to a Dolphins offer.
The latter two rumors come via the most esteemed profootballtalk.com.
Parcells:
This is all speculation, but there’s talk in league circles that, if the Fins decide to keep G.M. Randy Mueller, a Mueller-Parcells pairing could work. Parcells, we’re told, has always had a good relationship with Mueller. And there is an increasing belief that Parcells has had all he can take of Dallas owner Jerry Jones.
Speculation indeed. The only good part of that scenario would be the wreck he would leave the organization in four or five years.
As for Belichick:
Look, we’re not about to make goofy-ass predictions (e.g., Bill Belichick might leave New England to coach the Texans), but the same spider sense that told us that we were on to something with the Saban-to-Alabama thing (even as everyone involved denied it repeatedly) tells us that something (we’re not sure what) could go down with Belichick and the Pats once their season ends — and that Belichick could land somewhere else.
Maybe even Miami.
Is it unfair to engage in such speculation? We don’t think so, because the aura of mystery surrounding Belichick’s contract with the Patriots invites rumor and innuendo.
Does it expire after this season? Next season? After the 2027 season?
This actually reads less like speculation than the Parcells item. “Spider sense” could well be a euhphemism for “highly placed source.” Or it could be a euphemism for “voice in my head that goes away when I take my pills.” PFT is good, so while I would be floored (and delighted) if Little Bill is anywhere but patrolling the Patriots’ sidelines next year (no — check that — I’d prefer he be in New England than he be in Miami), I can’t completely dismiss the rumor as the keyboard mutterings of a loon.
Just wild-ass speculation. Or is that wild ass-speculation?
January 4th, 2007
I heard the early name on the short list is San Diego’s Offensive Coordinator.
I could be wrong, but wouldn’t that be the first apple off the Marty-ball coaching tree? Or did Cowher DC for him in KC?
January 4th, 2007
Herm Edwards was a Marty-ball assistant.
January 4th, 2007
Look, I’m not about to make goofy-ass predictions (e.g., sports writers will cease writing goofy-ass prediction columns), but the same spider sense that told me in Week 2 that my fantasy football team was not going to win this year (even as Rob S. denied repeatedly that I should throw in the towel) tells me that something (I’m not sure what) could go down with Vince Lombardi and the cemetary he’s buried in once the ground thaws — and that Lombardi’s corpse could be re-animated somewhere else.
Maybe even Miami.
Is it unfair to engage in such speculation? I don’t think so, because the aura of mystery surrounding Lombardi’s burial plot invites rumor and innuendo.
Does his corpse fully rot after this winter? Next winter? After the 2027 winter?
January 4th, 2007
All kidding aside, the Parcells rumor may have some legs given that I would be hard-pressed to see a TO/Parcells relationship lasting into another season. Miami has a very good defense in place, a good RB, good receivers. If Culpepper is healed, this is a team that could contend right away, something that would probably be attractive to Parcells.
January 4th, 2007
On the other hand, I don’t think the Cowher-to-Miami thing makes one lick of sense. He’s allegedly wanting to leave the Steelers because he’s tired – fatigued of the pressures of coaching, and desiring to spend more time with his family. If that’s even remotely true, why in god’s name would he want to leave the town & job where he’s a hero with his players and the fans, just won a Super Bowl, has permanent job security and where HE GREW UP to pursue one which – at best – might, maybe, possibly earn him more money and not much else??
His family lives in Raleigh (he and his wife are NCSU grads), his youngest daughter goes to school there and his two older daughters play bball at Princeton. Where’s the Miami connection?? I don’t see it at all. Cowher leaving to coach in the Triangle (UNC and NCSU are full, but Duke could have an opening!) is really the only thing that even remotely makes sense, other than his retirement (temporary, or otherwise)….
January 4th, 2007
Oh, and:
Cowher is also a Marty-ball alum!
And Mike, you likely heard the San Diego offensive coordinator Cam Cameron rumor/talk on ESPN Radio this morning, as I did. They also mention his name in the Miami Herald article Rob linked, above.
January 4th, 2007
Cowher would go to Miami because they would pay him more than Pittsburgh. It would put the lie to the notion that he’s burnt out. (In other words, if he’s really burnt out then he sits out next season, if he goes to Miami, that was all a smoke-screen to cover up his desire for a big payday.)
I know it must be hard to believe that someone connected with professional sports would break a contract in order to land bigger bucks, but it really does happen on occasion.
January 5th, 2007
While I have read recently that Cowher is one of the lowest paid NFL head coaches, I can’t believe that Pittsburgh wouldn’t give him a commensurate payday and contract extension, if he wanted it. Sure, they’re “small” market compared w/ Miami, but this ain’t baseball or the NHL: they just built Heinz Field, so, methinks they could come up with the extra cash. He’s been there 15 freakin’ years – if he wanted a big(er) payday, I think he’d have left long ago.
Sometimes, coaching your hometown team in a good situation and loyalty actually DO mean something more than money. And it looks like – as of today, at least – that’s true, as Cowher has announced he’s leaving. Or, maybe it’s not true… While hyping the family angle, his article poo-poos the “burn out” angle, and speculates about the money:
http://nfl.com/teams/story/PIT/9908320
January 5th, 2007
The Steelers are known for being cheap. Note that Cowher never said the “retire” word. He’s going to coach again, and it won’t be in Pittsburgh. And he’s going to make a butt-load more money than he would in the steel town.