Smoke Signals: The Mike Holmgren rumors get louder

Speaking of Gruden anyone else hear him today on NFL radio? He is so freaking funny. He really does have a bright career ahead of him in broadcasting. The stories he tells are just hilarious. He would be one of those guys I would love to have a beer with and just listen to his football stories.

Well as of yesterday Gruden has said he's not interested. But a package Bruce Allen/Jon Gruden deal is intriguing. Though Gruden wears out his welcome with players rather easily, as I understand it.

I'm not sold on Shanahan as a GM. Not sold on Cowher as a GM. Don't know how I feel about Holmgren as a head coach (for the long term). None of the frequently mentioned candidates really appeal to me at this point.Holmgren is probably a worse playcaller than Zorn is, at least based on his work with Seahawks teams. But this team doesn't need a genius playcaller, it needs a stronger leadership figure.

Thats the funniest thing Ive read all week, you gotta be a Maryland fan. Heyer is a decent back-up at best, no way should he be starting. Look at the tape!!!

I agree that he shouldn't be considered starting caliber, but Jason Campbell has had time to throw this year. His problem continues to be creating lanes in the running game. Of course it sounds like you thought I was putting his pass blocking skills on par with that of Chris Samuals.

Thats not the case, I'm probably even more tired this point of the Heyer experiment then you are, which in part is why I wanted the team to sign Ray Willis during the offseason. Now Seattle only has the 15th best rushing attack in the league right now but they're lead running back is averaging almost 5 yards per carry right now (4.9) while their lead back has 10 carries for 56 yards. I'm pretty sure part of that is due to the fact that they can run the ball to either side.

Well as of yesterday Gruden has said he's not interested. But a package Bruce Allen/Jon Gruden deal is intriguing. Though Gruden wears out his welcome with players rather easily, as I understand it.

I'm not sold on Shanahan as a GM. Not sold on Cowher as a GM. Don't know how I feel about Holmgren as a head coach (for the long term). None of the frequently mentioned candidates really appeal to me at this point.

All the more reason to hire a guy like DeCosta and let him lead a coaching search. If he sees one of the big names out there as a good fit then great. If a young up and comer suits this teams needs better then so be it.

I would prefer someone though that could motivate players and help get quality coordinators into gameplan. Plus the good thing is when you have a Mike Smith or a Jim Harbraugh as your head coach you can be a little more liberal with your coordinators where as in Jim Zorn's situation we're pretty much F'd because despite the debacle we have on offense he's still the most qualified person to call plays.

Holmgren is probably a worse playcaller than Zorn is, at least based on his work with Seahawks teams. But this team doesn't need a genius playcaller, it needs a stronger leadership figure.

Why do you say that?

Speaking of Gruden anyone else hear him today on NFL radio? He is so freaking funny. He really does have a bright career ahead of him in broadcasting. The stories he tells are just hilarious. He would be one of those guys I would love to have a beer with and just listen to his football stories.He reminds me of Terry Bradshaw a little bit, but Terry when he's not being completely, over-the-top goofy.

Well as of yesterday Gruden has said he's not interested. But a package Bruce Allen/Jon Gruden deal is intriguing. Though Gruden wears out his welcome with players rather easily, as I understand it.

I'm not sold on Shanahan as a GM. Not sold on Cowher as a GM. Don't know how I feel about Holmgren as a head coach (for the long term). None of the frequently mentioned candidates really appeal to me at this point.

Did Gruden say he was not interested in coaching next year in general or specificaly the Redskins?

Well as of yesterday Gruden has said he's not interested. But a package Bruce Allen/Jon Gruden deal is intriguing. Though Gruden wears out his welcome with players rather easily, as I understand it.

I'm not sold on Shanahan as a GM. Not sold on Cowher as a GM. Don't know how I feel about Holmgren as a head coach (for the long term). None of the frequently mentioned candidates really appeal to me at this point.

My feeling exactly. There's a reason Gruden and Billick are out of jobs. There are reasons that Cowher coached for over a decade before finally winning a SB. Remember, there were times when any team other than the Steelers would have canned him. As for Holmgren. He won a SB with a team Ron Wolf built and won a playoff game or two with teams he built...at best. Shanahan was basically the same. It's not like we're talking about perennial stud coaches here. They all bring with them some baggage or blemishes

Another issue here, looming, is the CBA situation. Not knowing how teams are going to be constructed in the future makes a lot of this talk a little presumptuous. Maybe in 2 years it'll be a free-for-all and all the money teams can sign every good player out there and buld true fantasy teams. Then how big a deal is a GM? Probably less important than now. But maybe not.

Did Gruden say he was not interested in coaching next year in general or specificaly the Redskins?

Um, well the question was specifically about the Redskins

Um, well the question was specifically about the Redskins

Oh Okay...I guess we can stop talking about him then. That Bruce Allen/Gruden combo was my top choice...oh well.

Well as of yesterday Gruden has said he's not interested. But a package Bruce Allen/Jon Gruden deal is intriguing. Though Gruden wears out his welcome with players rather easily, as I understand it.

I'm not sold on Shanahan as a GM. Not sold on Cowher as a GM. Don't know how I feel about Holmgren as a head coach (for the long term). None of the frequently mentioned candidates really appeal to me at this point.

Me too SS. Shanahan has not had the best track record as a GM. Then again, we are used to VC, so Shanahan may look like a genius to us. My problem with Cowher is, he has not been a GM before. He has been a terrific HC, but that does not necessarily transfer to GM skills. Holmgren, well, I need to think that over. Regardless, if the front office structure of Snyder/Cerrato remain as the decision making process, I think you can probably cross a line though Cowher, maybe even Shanahan.

Lookking at the selection of Zorn and the mess that was with Fassel, public relations wise, how can Snyder realistically go through a search again, while keeping Cerrato at the helm. Did not Cerrato say when he was promoted that he would not be ultimately accountable? Did I misunderstand that? So if we are firing Zorn because of a bad season, Zorn doesn't yield a winning record in two years, the roster is a big chunk of Cerrato and Zorn was Cerrato's hire, how does Snyder justify Cerrato staying.

You need not say, well, Snyder can do whatever he wants. I know that. And ultimately, he will. But if the Redskins continue to spiral down and attendance continues to spiral down while merchandise sales decrease, at some point, Snyder can not simply do what he wants, he will need to do something to save face.

By the way, I got another email today from Redskins.com telling me tickets in various areas are availabel for Sunday. Hmmmmm.

Oh Okay...I guess we can stop talking about him then. That Bruce Allen/Gruden combo was my top choice...oh well.

Well it's only September. Minds can change