When Mike Holmgren left the Green Bay Packers, successor Ray Rhodes lasted only one season. The team fired him after the Packers lost three of their final four games to finish 8-8.

The expectations Holmgren established in Green Bay had raised the bar for whichever coach followed him. Rhodes' successor, Mike Sherman, enjoyed five consecutive winning seasons. The Packers fired him when the streak ended with a 4-12 record in 2005.

Is current Seahawks coach Jim Mora the next Ray Rhodes? Firing Rhodes after one season wasn't fair. But the Packers felt as though the team wasn't heading in the right direction under Rhodes. Firing Mora after one season would not be fair. The Seahawks shouldn't make a move unless they can find someone demonstrably better.

Bill Cowher comes to mind. He would be better than just about anyone the Seahawks could hope to hire. The early speculation says Carolina and Tampa Bay are the most likely suitors for Cowher if the former Steelers coach returns to the NFL in 2010, as expected. But if the Seahawks could land Holmgren a decade ago -- and the feeling around team headquarters was surreal when it happened -- why not Cowher?

Update

Jeremy asks via Facebook: "Any truth to this or just speculation?"

Mike Sando: This is not a report. It's me asking, 'Why not?' I do not know whether Cowher would be interested, or if the Seahawks will even seriously consider a change. But if Seattle could land Holmgren a decade ago, why not aim high?