Smoke Signals: The Mike Holmgren rumors get louder

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.
Does Cowher even want the dual role?

Does Cowher even want the dual role?

I'm pretty sure he has said he would want control over the roster, but that can be kind of a vague statement

One name I'm surprised hasn't been rumored this time around is Steve Mariucci

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.


It does seem as though we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. There are far too many things yet to consider before we engage in so much premature speculation. Maybe we need to just chill and let this situation take a course to where there is a clearer picture as to exactly what's going to happen with the current administration.

Why does Russ Grimm get no consideraton?
I do not know that much about him other than his history asa player with the Skins. At one time, a couple of years ago, he was being mentioned for a number of spots around the league.........

I'm gonna throw a total wild card out there - Gregg Williams!

I know it's highly unlikely on the surface, but as previously mentioned, in 2001 no one thought there was any way Marty would end up in DC. I don't know his contract situation in NO either.

The only reason I throw his name out there is that in the danny's tenure, he has made some totally unexpected things happen, including the hiring of ALL his head coaches. And I really wish GW had gotten the job & kept AS as O coordinator.

I'm gonna throw a total wild card out there - Gregg Williams!

I know it's highly unlikely on the surface, but as previously mentioned, in 2001 no one thought there was any way Marty would end up in DC. I don't know his contract situation in NO either.

The only reason I throw his name out there is that in the danny's tenure, he has made some totally unexpected things happen, including the hiring of ALL his head coaches. And I really wish GW had gotten the job & kept AS as O coordinator.

Gregg Williams, you mean the guy we should have hired after Gibbs stepped down? FIRE VINNY NOW

I'm gonna throw a total wild card out there - Gregg Williams!

I know it's highly unlikely on the surface, but as previously mentioned, in 2001 no one thought there was any way Marty would end up in DC. I don't know his contract situation in NO either.

The only reason I throw his name out there is that in the danny's tenure, he has made some totally unexpected things happen, including the hiring of ALL his head coaches. And I really wish GW had gotten the job & kept AS as O coordinator.

Considering he already got passed over I think it's pretty doubtful

The more I think about it the best thing Snyder could do is to bring Marty back and give him the the full control over everything. Although he does not have the super bowls like the other big names...what he does have is a resume that includes rebuilding 3 franchises from the ground up. And many of us believe the Redskins were going to be the 4th if Snyder had not pulled the plug. We hope Cohwer and Shanahan can do it in another city...we know Marty can.

I'm pretty sure he has said he would want control over the roster, but that can be kind of a vague statement

One name I'm surprised hasn't been rumored this time around is Steve Mariucci

Yeah, I can not picture Bill Cowher wanting to put his reputation on the lien with Snyder making personnel decisions. Would you? Just look at the last decade.

Considering he already got passed over I think it's pretty doubtful

agreed, it'd be like a Billy Martin/Steinbrenner reunion. I'm just saying that if indeed there is a coaching search, things may be so crazy in ashburn that DS & Vinny might even think of bringing GW back.