January 19, 2010

SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle:

A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.

posted by huddle to general at 06:00 AM - 19 comments

Norv Turner has evidently just gotten a contract extension, hard on the heels of the Chargers' playoff loss.

With the extension of Wade Phillips and the alleged imminent hiring of Chan Gailey, that makes a spellbinding trio of recent bold, scintillating commitments to top flight coaching.

Just a matter of time before the phone rings at Gerry Faust's house.

posted by beaverboard at 08:09 AM on January 19, 2010

Phillips I can understand - the team was better this year than last, and they did actually win once in the playoffs, and the loss came against a team that was probably a better team overall who hadn't lost at home.

Norv though, I don't get. They always start and finish the season in pretty crap fashion. What exactly is he doing for them?

posted by fabulon7 at 10:09 AM on January 19, 2010

beaverboard, I don't know if your post gives me hope or takes it all away. Never mind ex-players, the NFL needs a pension plan for existing coaches so we can get rid of them.

posted by yerfatma at 10:11 AM on January 19, 2010

Jerry Jones likes working with Phillips. Assuming that Jones won't hire a coach who wants personnel control or the power to tell him to shut up every once in a while, Phillips is a good fit. He's the first Cowboys coach since Barry Switzer to win a playoff game, and the only coach who has won a playoff game there in the Jones era without Jimmy Johnson's players.

posted by rcade at 10:18 AM on January 19, 2010

I don't understand why Phillips gets such a hard time. He has been very successful with the Cowboys.

posted by bperk at 12:00 PM on January 19, 2010

The Boston Globe is playing the hating game.

posted by cjets at 01:47 PM on January 19, 2010

I don't understand why Phillips gets such a hard time. He has been very successful with the Cowboys.

It starts and ends with Jerry Jones ...

The guy shows Phillips no respect at all. The players see this and appear to follow suit. Really not a recipe for success no matter how much talent involved.

posted by cixelsyd at 01:47 PM on January 19, 2010

Eh, I don't think Phillips is terrible. I think he's a good coach that can't quite get over the top. The loss sunday was embarrassing. I don't think he should be the coach of the cowboys, and I don't think they'll ever win the super bowl with him, though I'd love to be proven wrong.

But jones needs his 'guy' on the sidelines, and Phillips is his guy, so I'm predicting one more year of the cowboys coming up short with Phillips on the sidelines looking completely bewildered.

posted by justgary at 02:18 PM on January 19, 2010

Heard on ESPN Radio today that Wade Phillips might be the coach for possibly two more years, not just one. The idea behind it was since there will be a CBA after the 2010 season, and no way to predict it's length of delay, the Cowboys would prefer to have a coach and playbook in place at the time of returning to the field. The alternative, of course, would be returning to games after the CBA with not only a new coach, but a whole new system as well.

posted by BoKnows at 09:49 PM on January 19, 2010

With the extension of Wade Phillips..

Wait. When did he recieve an extension? As far as I've heard, he's going into next season with just 1 year on his contract.

Eh, I don't think Phillips is terrible. I think he's a good coach that can't quite get over the top.

I agree but our 'Boys need a coach that will take them over the top. Why just be happy to make the playoffs if they're just going to get knocked out in the 1st or 2nd round? I'm sure as hell not satisfied with the way this season ended.

posted by BornIcon at 11:50 AM on January 20, 2010

The criticism that Phillips can't win the big one because he hasn't in the whole two seasons that he has been coach of the Cowboys is so ridiculous. How many coaches are you choosing from if your requirement is that they had to have brought their team to the Super Bowl in two years? Gruden. Take him, but he didn't have any success after his first year with the team Dungy put together. Tomlin - he probably has the best job in the NFL because the Steelers don't switch coaches incessantly. Cowher is out. Shanahan is out. Belichick is in, but he requires control of football operations which would never happen with Jones.

posted by bperk at 12:59 PM on January 20, 2010

The criticism that Phillips can't win the big one because he hasn't in the whole two seasons that he has been coach of the Cowboys is so ridiculous.

It's really not even about the Cowboys since Phillips couldn't get the job done when he was the Head Coach of the Broncos or the Bills. His history as a HC speaks for itself.

posted by BornIcon at 01:19 PM on January 20, 2010

First, it should be totally and completely about the Cowboys, and not about ancient history. Phillips should be judged by what he has done for the Cowboys, and they are a better and more complete football team than they have had in 10 years. Second, you could have said Belichick's history spoke for itself as coach of Cleveland for four years, but you would have been wrong. Finally, you are completely misjudging Phillips time in Buffalo and Denver. He made the playoffs in 1 of his seasons in Denver. And, Buffalo wishes they could have back the Wade Phillips years. He made the playoffs in his first two of three seasons as head coach, and they haven't made the playoffs since.

posted by bperk at 02:10 PM on January 20, 2010

...you could have said Belichick's history spoke for itself as coach of Cleveland for four years, but you would have been wrong.

Ever since Bill Belichick has taken over the Patriots, they've won the Super Bowl a few times but the same can't be said for Phillips.

...you are completely misjudging Phillips time in Buffalo and Denver. He made the playoffs in 1 of his seasons in Denver.

And how many playoff games did he win while in Buffalo or Denver? I know, 0. This 1 playoff win that the Cowboys won over the Eagles in the 1st round of the playoffs was his first playoff win as a Head Coach anywhere, not just in Dallas. You have to look at his past in order to see what's in stored for the future.

...and sometimes you have to look in the mirror and admit to yourself, "Maybe it is me"

posted by BornIcon at 02:29 PM on January 20, 2010

Ever since Bill Belichick has taken over the Patriots, they've won the Super Bowl a few times but the same can't be said for Phillips.

I don't know. They should switch Brady for Romo and see what happens. Belichick got control of personnel when he became coach of the Pats. Wade Phillips does not have a chance of that kind of control. You know cooking without choosing the ingredients and all that.

What difference does it make if Phillips didn't win a playoff game at his prior stops? You certainly can't argue that he is incapable of winning a playoff game since he just did. He did well with what he was working with, and with the Bills he lost on a famous (and weird) play.

Who would be an acceptable coach for the Cowboys? What would they have to achieve after the 1st and 2nd seasons? How long would you give him to win the Super Bowl before making a change?

posted by bperk at 03:24 PM on January 20, 2010

What difference does it make if Phillips didn't win a playoff game at his prior stops?

It makes a big difference. Would you rather have a coach with playoff experiance or someone that can't take his team to the next level? I know my answer.

You certainly can't argue that he is incapable of winning a playoff game since he just did.

You can't argue that he won a playoff game this year but it's taken him over 25 years to finally do so if that's what you mean.

Who would be an acceptable coach for the Cowboys?

One with a proven track record of winning.

How long would you give him to win the Super Bowl before making a change?

I would've never hired him in the first place. Wade Phillips isn't a bad guy, he's just not a great Head Coach. Some guys are better suited to be an assistant and IMO, that's what Wade Phillips is and should be.

posted by BornIcon at 09:16 AM on January 21, 2010

Specifically, who would you want as head coach? Preferably someone that would actually go to Dallas because they don't care if they have personnel control. I'm just wondering because I think the coach you are envisioning doesn't really exist. Cowher, Shanahan type coaches require personnel control. And, I don't think either one of them could bring a Super Bowl in two years. Gruden? Who else is an option? I can't really think of anyone that fits the criteria you have.

Generally, I don't buy into the idea that a coach can be a good coach, but not be able to take the team to the next level. That was a criticism leveled at Dungy at TB. I didn't buy it when he was fired. They replaced him with Gruden who won a quick Super Bowl with Dungy's team and couldn't get close to matching Dungy's success after that. Turns out, Dungy had no trouble getting his team to the next level because he won a Super Bowl. A lot of things have to go right that are above and beyond a coach's control to win a Super Bowl. I don't think any other coach could have had more success with the team he had than Phillips.

posted by bperk at 11:13 AM on January 21, 2010

BI, I think Wade is gettin' a Bum rap. Which is allright with me. Who the fuck else could work for Jerry Jones? Wade will be allright when all is said and done with his career, just like his dad.

posted by mjkredliner at 12:59 PM on January 21, 2010

I just never liked the guy as our Head Coach. I can't explain why, I just don't. To me, he just doesn't fit the bill as the Dallas Cowboys Head Coach but I just read that he signed a 3 year extension.

So I guess we're stuck with him.

posted by BornIcon at 01:43 PM on January 21, 2010

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