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HOW ABOUT HAZ?
Now that there's a perception (but not a reality) that our overt lobbying for Mike Tomlin helped to get him hired by the Steelers, some of our readers have asked us to throw out a name for the Cowboys' job.
Though we believe a full and fair interview process should be conducted, we'd be inclined to take a very long look at former Saints coach Jim Haslett.
At a time when Mike Martz's name continues to percolate for head-coaching vacancies, we're amazed that Haz has barely gotten a sniff. And the irony is that Haslett's struggles this season as defensive coordinator of the Rams are attributable (we believe) to Martz's inability to assemble a competent complement of defensive players during his time as the guy with the juice in St. Louis.
Lest we all forget, Haslett was the NFL's coach of the year in 2000. He led the Saints to their first playoff victory in franchise history, over Martz's Rams. (The Rams' postseason loss to the Saints, by the way, was sandwiched around two Super Bowl appearances.)
Haz has extensive experience with the 3-4 defense that Bill Parcells has implemented, given Haslett's time as defensive coordinator of the Steelers. So the roster wouldn't have to be dramatically revamped on that side of the ball.
And the mere fact that he was able to coax some actual production out of quarterback Aaron Brooks suggests that he'd be able to work well with a certain overrated and underperforming offensive player in whom the Cowboys organization has made an unjustified investment.
At a time when former Saints G.M. Randy Mueller is enjoying a career resurgence, shouldn't the guy who worked side-by-side with him to build the first January success story in New Orleans at least be getting a sniff?
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MARVIN TO COWBOYS?
Though we've not recently heard this one on the NFL grapevine, there was talk in the past that Bengals coach Marvin Lewis could be a candidate to replace Bill Parcells, once Parcells packed it in.
With Parcells retiring on the same day that news broke of a ninth Bengals arrest, could the planets be lining up for Marvin to make an exit from Cincinnati?
Though we're not suggesting that the Bengals are trying to push him out the door via, for example, the publication on the franchise's web site of comments from quarterback Carson Palmer that implicitly and indirectly throw rocks at Marvin for the presence and performance of turds on the team, we think that maybe, just maybe, the powers-that-be in Cincy would be inclined to let Marvin go for a bag full of money and a draft pick or two (or just a bag full of money) if Dallas owner Jerry Jones were inclined to inquire.
Then again, maybe Jones won't want him. While guys like defensive tackle John Thornton (whom he like and respect) say, "I don't see what else Marvin can do," the answer isn't what he can do going forward, it's what he could have done when drafting and signing the players who are now embarrassing themselves and the organization.
As our own Taco Bill pointed out, four of the team's eight draft picks from last April have been arrested. And Lewis is the guy who is ultimately pulling the trigger on those picks.
Then again, Jones was the guy who signed -- and thereafter zealously defended -- Terrell Owens. So maybe Jones and Lewis have far more in common that anyone realizes.
Now that there's a perception (but not a reality) that our overt lobbying for Mike Tomlin helped to get him hired by the Steelers, some of our readers have asked us to throw out a name for the Cowboys' job.
Though we believe a full and fair interview process should be conducted, we'd be inclined to take a very long look at former Saints coach Jim Haslett.
At a time when Mike Martz's name continues to percolate for head-coaching vacancies, we're amazed that Haz has barely gotten a sniff. And the irony is that Haslett's struggles this season as defensive coordinator of the Rams are attributable (we believe) to Martz's inability to assemble a competent complement of defensive players during his time as the guy with the juice in St. Louis.
Lest we all forget, Haslett was the NFL's coach of the year in 2000. He led the Saints to their first playoff victory in franchise history, over Martz's Rams. (The Rams' postseason loss to the Saints, by the way, was sandwiched around two Super Bowl appearances.)
Haz has extensive experience with the 3-4 defense that Bill Parcells has implemented, given Haslett's time as defensive coordinator of the Steelers. So the roster wouldn't have to be dramatically revamped on that side of the ball.
And the mere fact that he was able to coax some actual production out of quarterback Aaron Brooks suggests that he'd be able to work well with a certain overrated and underperforming offensive player in whom the Cowboys organization has made an unjustified investment.
At a time when former Saints G.M. Randy Mueller is enjoying a career resurgence, shouldn't the guy who worked side-by-side with him to build the first January success story in New Orleans at least be getting a sniff?
------------------------
MARVIN TO COWBOYS?
Though we've not recently heard this one on the NFL grapevine, there was talk in the past that Bengals coach Marvin Lewis could be a candidate to replace Bill Parcells, once Parcells packed it in.
With Parcells retiring on the same day that news broke of a ninth Bengals arrest, could the planets be lining up for Marvin to make an exit from Cincinnati?
Though we're not suggesting that the Bengals are trying to push him out the door via, for example, the publication on the franchise's web site of comments from quarterback Carson Palmer that implicitly and indirectly throw rocks at Marvin for the presence and performance of turds on the team, we think that maybe, just maybe, the powers-that-be in Cincy would be inclined to let Marvin go for a bag full of money and a draft pick or two (or just a bag full of money) if Dallas owner Jerry Jones were inclined to inquire.
Then again, maybe Jones won't want him. While guys like defensive tackle John Thornton (whom he like and respect) say, "I don't see what else Marvin can do," the answer isn't what he can do going forward, it's what he could have done when drafting and signing the players who are now embarrassing themselves and the organization.
As our own Taco Bill pointed out, four of the team's eight draft picks from last April have been arrested. And Lewis is the guy who is ultimately pulling the trigger on those picks.
Then again, Jones was the guy who signed -- and thereafter zealously defended -- Terrell Owens. So maybe Jones and Lewis have far more in common that anyone realizes.
