NFC North: Rex Ryan
Power Rankings: Rising assistant coaches
ESPN.com’s NFL writers rank the top 10 up-and-coming assistant coaches in the league today. Next week: Top players overall.
Seven NFL teams named new head coaches after last season, tapping into a pool that included experienced coordinators and relatively unknown assistants alike. The class of 2011 featured longtime candidates (Leslie Frazier, Ron Rivera). It also included a trusted position coach in Mike Munchak (Tennessee Titans) and a couple of relative hotshots in Hue Jackson (Oakland Raiders) and Pat Shurmur (Cleveland Browns).
Who will comprise the NFL's next batch of head-coaching candidates? That was the question ESPN.com hoped to answer in this week's edition of the offseason Power Rankings. We established one ground rule by eliminating any assistant who has already had a permanent head-coaching job. The idea was to develop a list that focused on the "next wave" of coaching candidates.
No less than 24 NFL assistants received at least one vote, a reflection of both the variables involved in head-coaching searches and the relative lack of national name recognition for all but the most highly regarded assistants.
So in that vein, it was no surprise to see four well-known assistants at the top of our list, headed by New York Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell -- who placed first or second on six of the eight ballots. Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan finished second, followed by New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and Arizona offensive line coach Russ Grimm.
Fewell is an ideal candidate in many ways, having spent time as the Buffalo Bills' interim coach in 2009 and leading a substantial turnaround of the Giants' defense last season. Fewell interviewed for four head-coaching jobs last winter, and NFC East blogger Dan Graziano suggested that experience, along with a high profile afforded to coaches in New York, make him "the most likely guy on the list to be a head coach soon."
Just don't bother forwarding his name to AFC South colleague Paul Kuharsky, who couldn't find room for Fewell on his 10-man ballot. Kuharsky noted the Giants' poor performance in Week 2 last season against the Indianapolis Colts, during which quarterback Peyton Manning threw three touchdowns and cruised to an easy 38-14 victory.
"Certainly I'm letting one game overinfluence my ballot," Kuharsky muttered. "But Fewell's plan for the Giants against the Colts last season was so bad that I could not help but score him down for it. Was he not familiar with how Peyton Manning and Indianapolis operate?"
We can't cover every coach who received votes in this exercise, but let's hit some of the more interesting names that received attention.
Ranking the Assistant Coaches: How They Voted
| Rk | Coach |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Tot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DG | TG | PK | MS | KS | JW | BW | PY | |||
| 1 | Perry Fewell | 1 | 6 | -- | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 63 |
| 2 | Rob Ryan | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 56 |
| 3 | Brian Schottenheimer | -- | 7 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 48 |
| 4 | Russ Grimm | 2 | 2 | -- | 8 | -- | 2 | 1 | 4 | 47 |
| 5 | Dirk Koetter | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | -- | 6 | 2 | 46 |
| 6 | Winston Moss | 6 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 37 |
| 7 | Greg Olson | -- | -- | 4 | 7 | 9 | -- | -- | 5 | 19 |
| 8 | Rob Chudzinski | -- | 5 | -- | -- | -- | 9 | 4 | 8 | 18 |
| 9 | Bill O'Brien | -- | 4 | 5 | -- | 8 | -- | -- | -- | 16 |
| 10 | Darren Perry | -- | -- | 6 | -- | 3 | -- | 9 | -- | 15 |
| 11 | Mike Zimmer | 4 | -- | 9 | -- | -- | 7 | -- | -- | 13 |
| 12 | Mel Tucker | -- | -- | -- | 5 | -- | 8 | -- | -- | 9 |
| 13 | Mike Waufle | 9 | 9 | 10 | -- | -- | -- | 10 | 9 | 8 |
| 13 | Todd Bowles | -- | -- | -- | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 8 |
| 15 | Rich Biasaccia | -- | -- | 8 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 7 | 7 |
| 16 | Mike Pettine | 5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 6 |
| 17 | Kyle Shanahan | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 6 | -- | -- | 5 |
| 17 | Edgar Bennett | -- | -- | -- | -- | 6 | -- | -- | -- | 5 |
| 19 | Dave Toub | -- | -- | -- | -- | 7 | -- | -- | -- | 4 |
| 19 | Rick Dennison | -- | -- | -- | 10 | -- | -- | 8 | -- | 4 |
| 21 | Pepper Johnson | 8 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3 |
| 22 | Pete Carmichael | -- | 10 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
| 22 | Joe DeCamillis | 10 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
| 22 | Keith Butler | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 10 | -- | -- | 1 |
| Key: DG=Dan Graziano; MS=Mike Sando; KS=Kevin Seifert; PY=Pat Yasinskas; TG=Tim Graham; BW=Bill Williamson; JW=James Walker; PK=Paul Kuharsky Rank: 1=10 points, 2=9 points, 3=8 points, 4=7 points, 5=6 points, etc. | ||||||||||
The success of twin brother Rex Ryan with the Jets might have softened the perception of that risk, and collectively we see Rob Ryan on the doorstep of a job.
"Similar to Rex, Rob Ryan is good with X's and O's and has the type of outgoing personality players want to be around," AFC North blogger James Walker said. "I think both are equally important in today's NFL. Both brothers say exactly what's on their mind, and before that scared off a lot of teams. But Rex broke the ice with his success in New York and that could help Rob in the future."
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• Power Rankings: Pass-Rushers
• Power Rankings: Tight Ends
• Power Rankings: Head Coaches
• Power Rankings: Linebackers
• Power Rankings: Cornerbacks
• Power Rankings: Quarterbacks
• Power Rankings: Safeties
• Power Rankings: Owners
• Power Rankings: Helmets
• Power Rankings: Defensive players
• Power Rankings: Offensive players
• Power Rankings: Toughest Venues
Schottenheimer's pedigree doesn't hurt -- he's the son of longtime NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer -- and I'm not sure how closely teams will dissect the specifics of the Jets' offensive performance. Graziano, on the other hand, thinks Schottenheimer is close to coaching his way out of the golden-child image he cultivated and left him off his ballot.
"Having spent a good amount of time around that team the past couple of years, I just feel like defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is the more likely guy to end up a head coach," Graziano said. "Schottenheimer's under a ton of pressure as Ryan defers the offensive responsibilities to him. I feel like, if the offense has a bad year, he could end up in trouble or even out of a job. And given their youth at quarterback and running back and the uncertainty of their receiver situation, a bad year for the Jets' offense is possible.
"Now, he could be a genius, make chicken salad and be the next hot name eight months from now. But I think there's the potential that he may have already peaked as a hot coaching prospect and that he might not be set up to succeed in New York."
The big fella: Four years ago, Grimm thought he would be the next Pittsburgh Steelers coach. He moved to Arizona after the Steelers selected Mike Tomlin instead, and we view his status as a head-coaching candidate with wide disparity.
AFC West blogger Bill Williamson put Grimm atop his ballot, and AFC East blogger Tim Graham had him No. 2. Kuharsky and I left him off.
Williamson thinks Grimm has moved to "the top of the food chain" largely because most of his "hot-name" contemporaries have already gotten jobs. As well, Graham suggested that it will soon be Grimm's turn because he is still well-regarded throughout the league.
Personally, I couldn't get past Grimm's well-publicized gaffe after interviewing with the Chicago Bears, after which he referred to the team owners as the "McClaskey" family. I also agree with NFC West blogger Mike Sando, who ranked Grimm No. 8 and wondered: "Is he still ascending? Grimm seems content coaching the line in Arizona. He has plateaued and doesn't seem to be losing any sleep over it."
Welcome back: Unless you're a college football fan, you might not have heard of Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. He spent six years as the head coach at Arizona State, but has drawn some quiet acclaim for his work with the Jaguars and made a strong impression while interviewing with the Denver Broncos last winter.
"In a setting where he won't have to deal with boosters and can shine for being a smart X's and O's guy with strong coaching DNA," Kuharsky said, "I think he'd do far better. He's smart and will interview quite well. He really impressed John Elway and the Broncos before losing out to John Fox's experience. St. Louis wanted him as coordinator, but Jacksonville wouldn't let him go. He's heading into the final year of his contract. How Blaine Gabbert develops early on will have a big bearing on Koetter's future."
Secret weapon: In two years, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have developed quarterback Josh Freeman into one of the better starters in the league. The man largely responsible is offensive coordinator Greg Olson, who navigated a disastrous 2009 preseason -- coach Raheem Morris promoted him in the middle of training camp after firing Jeff Jagodzinski -- and NFL teams often seek out coaches with success developing young quarterbacks.
"I think Olson deserves a ton of credit for developing Freeman so quickly," said NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas. "Freeman threw for 25 touchdowns and six interceptions in his first full season as a starter and carried an incredibly young team to a 10-6 record. I also think people need to look at what Olson did last year with rookie running back LeGarrette Blount and rookie receiver Mike Williams. He helped make them into instant stars."
Super Bowl entitlement: The Green Bay Packers were the only team to place more than one name in the top 10, as would be expected from a championship team. Assistant head coach/inside linebackers Winston Moss is at No. 6, while safeties coach Darren Perry finished No. 10. I also voted for receivers coach Edgar Bennett, who has moved over from running backs coach and is clearly being groomed for bigger things.
I'll detail my ranking of the Packers' assistants, including why I think so highly of Perry, in a future post for NFC North readers. But we'll say this for now: Moss is a strong leader who has drawn interest from the Raiders, while Perry is a disciple of Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers and his coveted 3-4 scheme.
Epicenter of Humanity: A respectful rivalry
AP Photo/Mike RoemerPackers QB Aaron Rodgers and Bears QB Jay Cutler share text messages off the field, not insults."I said, 'We'll see y'all in Chicago in the NFC Championship Game,'" Harris recounted Sunday after the Bears secured their spot in that game with a 35-24 divisional playoff victory against the Seattle Seahawks.
"I had a feeling that they would make it," Harris added. "I was very confident in what we could do, so we got that rematch."
To me, that encounter illustrated everything the run-up to Packers-Bears III will -- and won't -- be.
You'll hear about two teams that have peaked in the playoffs. The Packers have won four consecutive "elimination games," dating to Week 16 of the regular season, while the Bears have scored at least 35 points in five of their past six contests.
You'll hear more history than you probably ever associated with professional football. The Bears and Packers have played 181 games against each other, dating to 1921. The Bears hold a 92-83-6 advantage, including the only playoff meeting between the rivals.
But it would be a shock if you hear any of the raw trash-talking that took place last week between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. I would be stunned if you hear any of the threats that shuttled between the New York Jets and New England Patriots.
The Packers and Bears are direct division competitors, and it can get ugly between their fans. (A "Green Bay sucks" cheer surfaced in the second half at Soldier Field.) But from a player perspective, I don't sense anything close to the hatred that exists between those AFC teams.
In this rivalry, players stop before, during and after games to chat and exchange friendly barbs. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has often expressed his appreciation to Bears quarterback Jay Cutler for helping his brother get assimilated at Vanderbilt University. And Sunday, Cutler acknowledged he sent Rodgers a congratulatory text message this weekend after the Packers' 48-21 divisional playoff victory against the Atlanta Falcons.
"I'll probably have a few text messages from him, so we'll have friendly banter, I'm sure," Cutler said.
About the worst thing anyone in the Bears' locker room could muster was this from linebacker Brian Urlacher: "It's our closest rival. They're right up the street, so it's a big deal. We have a lot of history with them. I think it's the oldest rivalry in NFL history, so it's a big deal. We don't like them. They don't like us. I'm sure there's going to be a lot of hype around this game building up to it."
Indeed, there will be ungodly hype, especially on this blog. From this point forward, I'm tagging this game "Epicenter of Humanity." So I don't want to minimize how big and fun this is going to be for fans and media members alike.
But I also think it's important to draw a distinction between the history and physicality of Bears-Packers games and the kind of silly, attention-grabbing verbosity that consumed the AFC games last week. Sorry, the Packers and Bears don't hate each other.
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• There is a big difference between that sentiment and the kind that left Jets linebacker Bart Scott threatening to end the career of Patriots receiver Wes Welker. Scott's comments came after Welker seemingly went out of his way to take subtle shots at Jets coach Rex Ryan. It might have been entertaining to some people. But to me, the regular season is the time for sideshows. The playoffs are all about the games.
We are by no means holier than thou here in the NFC North. But I don't think anyone is going to be making any jokes this week about the other team, either. From a football perspective, this is too good of a matchup to waste time on mind games.
"We just look at this as another obstacle," Packers cornerback Charles Woodson said Saturday night about the possibility of playing the Bears. "It doesn't matter who we're playing. The object is to win. Whoever it is, we look to play our game and come out on top."
Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, a veteran of eight years of these games, said he'll look at this game as "Bears-Packers." With a smirk and wide eyes, Tillman added: "But I think the media will create 'IT'S BEARS-PACKERS. THE BIGGEST RIVALS IN HISTORY OF THE NFL SINCE 1900-SOMETHING.' I think at the end of the day it's still football. They're a great football team. They're in the playoffs. ... If you flip a coin, it's 50-50."
We're in an age where prominent players shift teams often via free agency and trades. They share agents and train together in the offseason regardless of team affiliations. In fact, Rodgers and Tillman have been a part of an offseason training group in California. NFL players sport far more commonalities than differences, and I'm always skeptical when they express hatred for teams or players based simply on affiliations.
To me, Harris got it right. This week will be the Epicenter of Humanity for us, but for the players it will simply be another week of playoff intensity.
"This will be great for TV," Harris said. "FOX is probably licking its chops. ... [But] it will be very respectful. We're not a team that does a lot of trash talking. We'd rather show it on the field. They're the same way. Two teams that definitely respect each other. Maybe I'll have a dislike for them, but you don't have to publicly come out and tell how bad we hate them, or whatever the case may be."
As a blog community, we most definitely are going to get it on this week. The players? Let them know when it's Sunday.
Rex Ryan: 'Best defense' coming to town
As you might have heard, the Detroit Lions have already sold out the building, which I understand was pretty loud last weekend despite some 23,000 empty seats.
The Lions have the NFC's highest-scoring offense, averaging 26.1 points per game. But as Jets coach Rex Ryan said during a conference call, "the best defense in the National Football League [is] coming into town."
Lions coach Jim Schwartz issued a slight jab of his own, as Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com points out.
"They're really good at stopping the run,'' Schwartz said, "and they've done a good job of putting pressure on the quarterback. I think they have 15 sacks. ... We have 22. I think that's what it is."
The Lions actually have 23 sacks, but you get the point. It's more than the Jets.
Does Schwartz's team have Big Rex worried? I'm sure he is shuddering to think he could lose consecutive games to NFC North opponents. Regardless, the Lions have reached another milestone in their rebuilding process: Their opponent is feeling compelled to boast about an (perceived) advantage. Stay tuned.
NFC North: Most indispensable players
No team can win consistently without a good quarterback. That's a given. So we remove that position from the equation for an exercise designed to identify other players whose play is inextricably linked to their team's success.
The way the 2010 season is shaping up, I don't see NFC North teams winning without elite efforts from the following:
National observers have hashed out the arrival of defensive end Julius Peppers, the return of middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and the installation of Mike Martz's offense. But let's be clear: Briggs plays the key playmaking role in the Bears' defensive scheme and has been their best player over the past several years. He's held together the injury-riddled and aging back seven of this once-proud defense, maintaining an elite level even as the play around him has deteriorated. While Peppers offers a new level of pass rush and Urlacher calls all of the defensive signals, the Bears' hopes for a defensive resurgence this season would be crushed if Briggs weren't on the field. That makes him indispensable in my book.
DETROIT LIONS: CALVIN JOHNSON
It's true. Two of Johnson's three seasons have been limited by injury. He's never made the Pro Bowl and is known more for his freakish athletic skills than elite production. But those skills are what scare opponents into making rare adjustments and innovating exotic coverages to defend him. Consistent double coverage, with the occasional triple-bracket, is something most offenses dream of. A good coach can find all sorts of ways to capitalize on the corresponding mismatches elsewhere on the field. Without Johnson, you could defend the Lions traditionally and with modest fear. With him on the field, everything changes.
CAMORRIS.COMCharles Woodson's versatility has paid off for the Packers in their 3-4 scheme.New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, who championed cornerback Darrelle Revis' candidacy for the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year award that Woodson eventually won, put it best: "Woodson would be a better safety and a better linebacker, but he's not a better corner than Darrelle Revis." Indeed, the Packers revealed Woodson's full array of skills last season in Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme, using him just as effectively as a blitzer, a quasi-safety in run support and a cornerback they trusted in single coverage against an opponent's top receiver. Capers' scheme is based on putting the same players in different looks and sub packages, and no one does that better than Woodson. Without him, the Packers would have had to delete a substantial percentage of the schemes they used last season.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS: ADRIAN PETERSON
A summer of personnel uncertainty has given tailback Adrian Peterson renewed relevance in the team's offense. Receiver Sidney Rice (hip) could miss half of the season. Slot man Percy Harvin has been sidelined most of the summer by migraines. Quarterback Brett Favre didn't arrive until last week. Peterson himself missed more than a week of training camp practices because of a hamstring injury, but he will enter the regular season as the Vikings' top offensive threat. Favre still has targets in Bernard Berrian and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, but it will be difficult for the Vikings to repeat their passing success of a year ago. That once again makes Peterson front and center in the team's offense.
Ryan torched the voting process and demeaned Woodson's victory in January. Asked to revisit his position last week, Ryan did nothing but strengthen our original take.
Here's the full text of his response:
"I just think he's a better corner. Woodson would be a better safety and a better linebacker, but he's not a better corner than Darrelle Revis. Darrelle Revis' year might have been as good as there's ever been at the corner position. You start the list with Deion Sanders, and then it might jump to Darrelle Revis if he can continue to play the way he's playing. He's young, he can run and he can match up with any receiver in the league. I don't know if you can say the same about Woodson if he was playing corner every snap. But for what Charles does, he's absolutely phenomenal. He's an impact player. His numbers speak for themselves."
There is no shame in being a lesser cornerback than Ryan's BFF. But Woodson was awfully, awfully good in that role last season while also proving dominant in other facets the Jets never even considered Revis for. Thanks, Rex, for clearing that up.
According to Graham, Tomlinson has spent the day at the Jets facility and will have dinner with general manager Mike Tannenbaum, coach Rex Ryan and others Friday night. He'll spend the night on the East Coast.
Tomlinson previously told Minnesota officials he would return to San Diego this weekend to mull his offers before deciding which team to sign with. So it's unlikely we'll have a decision in the next 24 hours.
I know Ryan was just trying to defend Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, but Ryan revealed himself to be a sore loser and a cheap-shot artist in the process. He also demonstrated a middling understanding, at best, of what the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award represents.
Here’s what Ryan said in New York, according to the Jets’ Web site:
“I wasn't going to comment on it, but I would like to congratulate the people that voted for Darrelle Revis. These guys obviously really know the game. And you've got to look at all the numbers, not just a number about this, or this stat or that stat.
“A number I think is interesting would be eight. And no, that's not the amount of touchdown passes Green Bay gave up against Arizona. That is the number of touchdown passes we gave up all season. And the biggest reason for that is Darrelle Revis.
“There's plenty of things to look at. We had the No. 1 defense in the National Football League, by 35 yards a game. We were No. 1 in scoring … basically 187 points is all the defense gave up all season. That might be a consideration for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
“And it really was for the people that voted for Darrelle Revis. I tip my hat to them because they really know the game. That's all I'm going to say about it.”
That’s plenty, Rex. Oh, where to start?
- First, the DPOY is not given to the best player on the NFL’s top-ranked defense. If it were, Revis would have won. In fact, it’s an individual award that has nothing to do with how the team fares or whether the players around the candidate did their jobs.
- Ryan’s line about eight touchdowns in Arizona might have drawn some laughs in New York, but it’s totally irrelevant in this discussion. The award is based on regular-season games. Nothing but a cheap shot there.
- Ryan said people who “really know the game” voted for Revis. I wonder how many games Ryan saw Woodson play this season. Coaches don’t often watch televised games, so they usually see other teams only through film study of their next opponent. The Packers and Jets shared two common opponents this season, Tampa Bay and Cincinnati. Was two games enough for Ryan to decide Woodson wasn’t worthy?
If you want to see my argument for why Woodson should have won over Revis, click here. Afterwards, please join me in rooting for the SAN DIEGO SUPER-CHARGERS this weekend!
Double Coverage: Pressure on Stafford, Sanchez
 | |
| AP Photo/Reed Saxon | |
| Which rookie quarterback is under more pressure to succeed in 2009: New York's Mark Sanchez or Detroit's Matthew Stafford? |
Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert and Tim Graham
With nothing better to do during the NFL's dog days of July, two of our division bloggers hopped on the phone this week to debate which rookie quarterback faces more pressure this season: the Detroit Lions' Matthew Stafford or the New York Jets' Mark Sanchez.
| |||||||
The NFC North's Kevin Seifert and AFC East's Tim Graham considered the issue from a number of perspectives, including:
- The 2009 expectations for each team. (Detroit: Win some games. New York: Win some playoff games.)
- The contracts each player signed. (Stafford: Biggest in draft history. Sanchez: Biggest in Jets draft history.)
- Each team's alternatives at quarterback. (Detroit: Daunte Culpepper. New York: Kellen Clemens.)
- The urgency for each player to start right away. (Stafford: Moderate. Sanchez: Mandatory.)
Graham suggested the Jets will follow the Joe Flacco model that coach Rex Ryan witnessed last season in Baltimore. Seifert questioned whether Sanchez is as NFL-ready as Flacco. To which Graham responded with a vague insult of Flacco's foundation -- constructed mostly at the University of Delaware after transferring from Pitt -- relative to Sanchez's grooming at USC.
Listen to the podcast for all of the spice and color you've grown to love from Double Coverage -- and to discover the surprising conclusion we reached.
ESPN's Marcellus Wiley and Mike Golic also weigh in on the topic.
Another Lions OC candidate joining college ranks
The only confirmed candidate for Detroit's offensive coordinator job appears set to join the University of Minnesota instead.
Former Denver receivers coach Jedd Fisch, who interviewed Monday with the Lions, was traveling Tuesday to the Twin Cities to meet with Gophers coach Tim Brewster. According to my colleague Bill Williamson of AFC West fame, Fisch is expected to accept the job in the next few days.
The Lions were believed to have been interested in former Denver assistant Jeremy Bates, but Bates is joining the college ranks and will coach at USC.
One remaining possibility for the Lions is New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, if he does not remain on the staff under new coach Rex Ryan.
A thorough, if plodding, search in Detroit
The Detroit Lions' plan to interview San Diego defensive coordinator Ron Rivera on Tuesday doesn't suggest the team is in a tremendous rush to name its next head coach.
Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, the presumed top candidate, is due for a second interview Monday. But unless something unexpected occurs, Schwartz will have to wait at least a couple of days before learning whether he will be offered the job. In addition to interviewing Rivera, the Lions might also wait on Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan or Arizona assistant head coach/offensive line Russ Grimm.
There are no other known suitors for Schwartz, which might give the Lions some flexibility in this situation. But two NFL teams, Cleveland and Denver, already have concluded their coaching searches. Their new coaches have begun hiring assistant coaches. The longer the Lions' process continues, the fewer options they'll have for attracting a high-caliber staff.
Perhaps that's why the Lions retained 14 of their 18 assistants after firing coach Rod Marinelli last month. One of those assistants, quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler, has resigned to join the staff at the University of Florida. But the rest could provide at least a fallback option for the Lions' next coach.
UPDATE: Rivera said recently he was perhaps too focused on his head coaching aspirations while serving as Chicago's defensive coordinator. Here's the story from Brad Biggs of the Chicago-Sun-Times.
Black and Blue all over: Frazier a finalist in STL
Things are starting to get interesting for Minnesota defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who reportedly is a finalist for St. Louis' open head coaching job even though he has yet to interview formally.
Frazier is scheduled to meet with the Rams' ownership group Tuesday in St. Louis, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. That means Frazier has bypassed the first round of interviews and has joined interim head coach Jim Haslett as one of two known finalists for the job.
The move makes sense, considering Rams general manager Billy Devaney interviewed Frazier last year when he was a member of the Atlanta's front-office staff. Frazier was reportedly the runner-up to Mike Smith for the Falcons job.
Considering that Devaney only recently took control of the Rams' front office, it's reasonable to assume Frazier is his top candidate. Haslett was promoted by owner Chip Rosenbloom during the season after the departure of coach Scott Linehan.
Frazier already has interviewed with Denver and Detroit and is believed to be well-regarded by both teams. The Broncos are said to be favoring New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, with Frazier running a close second.
If Frazier gets one of those jobs, the Vikings will be searching for their eighth new defensive coordinator in the past 11 seasons.
Continuing around the NFC North:
- Judd Zulgad and Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune lay out Minnesota's options for upgrading its quarterback situation.
- Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson on his approach: "I would like most of the people to understand that we're trying to do the right thing." Thompson gave a lengthy interview to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which published the Q&A on Sunday.
- Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal also spoke with Thompson at length. Here's one interesting sound bite from Thompson: "We don't hate free agency." Hmmmmm.
- Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette lights up Thompson for a series of mistakes that led to the Packers' 6-10 season: "Nearly everything Thompson touched in 2008 turned to stone. It's imperative that Thompson shake out of his slump if the Packers want to return to prosperity."
- Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press points out the Lions' only shot at interviewing Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is Sunday. Otherwise, they will have to wait until after the Ravens' season is over. Ryan already has interviews scheduled with St. Louis and the New York Jets on Sunday.
- David Birkett of the Oakland Press details a lawsuit against one of the Lions' coaching candidates. According to the story, Washington secondary coach Jerry Gray and two financial advisors are being sued by former Buffalo player Terrence McGee because of what he alleges is an improper investment.
- Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times has this interesting nugget: New assistant head coach/defensive line Rod Marinelli is the highest-paid assistant on the Bears' staff. That's another example of the authority questions that defensive coordinator Bob Babich will face.
- David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune on Marinelli's arrival: "Go ahead and question whether [coach Lovie] Smith's allegiance to defensive coordinator Bob Babich affected the decision to fire three defensive assistants but spare his old pal Babich. Every day that Babich retains his title after a second straight disappointing season on defense will be another day Smith's judgment deserves scrutiny. But it would be ignoring Marinelli's established reputation as a motivator and technician in 10 seasons as an NFL assistant coach in Tampa Bay to chalk up Saturday's hire to cronyism."
Black and Blue all over: The end for Birk, Frerotte?
Two grizzled veterans might have played their final games Sunday in Minnesota's 26-14 wild-card playoff loss to Philadelphia.
Center Matt Birk had a picture taken of himself on the field after the game and spent a long time working the locker room. Quarterback Gus Frerotte, meanwhile, made plans to re-join his family in St. Louis amid rumors he does not want to return as the Vikings' backup.
Birk, who completed his 11th season with the team, does not have a contract for next season and the Vikings want to move on at the position. He said "you never know" about future plans but made clear that moving on was an option, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
"After [the game] I made sure I went around and just shook everybody's hand and just telling them how much I appreciate them," Birk said. "One thing that's evident is change in this deal. A lot of guys aren't going to be back."
Frerotte, meanwhile, is signed through the 2009 season but did not hide his objections to remaining the backup after a back injury healed two weeks ago. He has spoken often about the hardship of leaving behind his family in St. Louis, where his children are in school, and might not be interested in returning to Minnesota in 2009.
Here's what Frerotte said afterwards, according to Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press:
"Like I told Coach [Brad Childress], I want to be the guy that's out there. It's hard to sit back. Any professional wants to be out there and play with these guys. Obviously I'm a pro, and you're going to do whatever you can to help Tarvaris and help the team, but you want to be the guy out there that's facing the bullets."
Continuing around the NFC North on the first day of the offseason for all four teams:
- Chicago defensive line coach Brick Haley appears to be leaving for a job at Louisiana State, according to Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times. Haley's departure would open the door for the Bears to add former Detroit coach Rod Marinelli to the staff.
- Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal confirms a report that Green Bay has fired defensive coordinator Bob Sanders.
- Among the possibilities for Sanders' replacement, according to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, is Packers assistant head coach/linebacker Winston Moss. Other candidates include former San Francisco coach Mike Nolan and interim St. Louis coach Jim Haslett.
- The Lions likely will interview Minnesota defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, Atlanta offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and Miami assistant head coach Todd Bowles for their head coaching job this week, according to Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com. It's also possible they will meet with Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan.
- Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press was disappointed in the answers former Lions president/general manager Matt Millen gave Saturday on NBC: "Detroit deserves a detailed explanation for what went so horribly wrong from those who perpetrated the deed. Simply saying that you're responsible for the disaster doesn't make you accountable. That requires serving a penance. If Millen truly seeks atonement, he must delve deeper into those additional "reasons" of which he spoke."
Black and Blue all over: Lions catchup
Let's get caught up on the Detroit Lions' coaching search, which will continue into the weekend.
The Lions are scheduled to interview Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz on Saturday in Nashville, according to John Niyo of the Detroit News. Schwartz will be the second confirmed interview; the Lions met with New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has withdrawn from consideration, according to the National Football Post. And the Lions have added Atlanta offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey to their list of candidates.
Other candidates under consideration include Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, Minnesota defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, Washington secondary coach Jerry Gray and Miami assistant head coach Todd Bowles. UPDATE (4 p.m. ET: Gray interviewed Friday in Detroit, according to the Washington Post.
Interviews with assistants whose teams play this weekend -- including Ryan and Frazier -- could occur as soon as Monday.
Continuing a weekend tour around the NFC North:
- Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times suggests the Bears could hire former Lions coach Rod Marinelli as a defensive assistant while retaining defensive coordinator Bob Babich.
- David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune disagrees with fans who want the Bears to fire coach Lovie Smith.
- There is no indication if Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy has made a decision on the future of defensive coordinator Bob Sanders, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
- We're expecting Minnesota to sell out Sunday's wild-card playoff game against Philadelphia. But if there is a blackout, Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune has tracked down the preliminary programming schedule on the Twin Cities' local FOX affiliate. Law & Order, anyone?
- No surprise that the Vikings will not have defensive end Ray Edwards (knee) for Sunday's game. The big question is whether nose tackle Pat Williams can play, writes Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Early indications are that he will try to suit up.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Kevin Seifert
Seifert joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and children.
