N F L Football coaching changes 2007

[-Jrabbit]

Hearsay, Innuendo & Rumor Dept:

POSTED 1:00 p.m. EST, January 7, 2007

HUIZENGA PLANE NOW IN COSTA RICA

The Internet plane tracker showed the movements of Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga's jet from Atlanta to San Diego to Chicago to Pittsburgh.

And the plane is now in Costa Rica.

And we're getting unconfirmed tips that vacationing in Costa Rica is USC coach Pete Carroll.

We're trying our best to determine whether this tip is accurate. What we know is that Carroll is not in L.A., and could not be reached by the Los Angeles Times for comment in connection with the death of Trojans kicker Mario Danelo.

It's possible that Carroll was in San Antonio for Saturday high school all-star game, and we're also trying to find out whether he was there.

Even if Huizenga and Carroll are both in Costa Rica, it doesn't mean that their paths have crossed. And it also doesn't mean that he's a serious candidate to be the next head coach of the Dolphins.

Really, would Huizenga risk taking a chance on another high-profile college coach who continuously is linked to NFL jobs, and who consistently rebuffs advances?

RUMOR #2 - ATLANTA

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports the Falcons could announce the hiring of their new head coach as soon as Monday. Profootballtalk.com speculates Niners assistant Mike Singletary will get the nod.

Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, and Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt are all believed to be on Atlanta owner Arthur Blank's "short list."

[Imran Siddiqui]

Oy... It'd be a mistake to hire Singletary, IMO. I'd rather have an established coordinator.

[-Jrabbit]

Two other sources name Whisenhunt as the favorite.
All seem to be saying that the new coach will be given the freedom to decide the fate of Mike Vick for himself.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Falcons strike first and it ain't Whisenhunt or Singletary. I'm completely surprised (in a good way) by this move:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2723700

Louisville coach Bobby Petrino has accepted a five-year, $24 million offer from the Atlanta Falcons to become their new coach.

Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich confirmed to ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Petrino told him about 8:30 p.m. ET that he had accepted the job and that Rich McKay, the Falcons' president and general manager, had called this afternoon to tell Jurich about the offer. Louisville sports information director Kenny Klein also confirmed the hiring.

"Bobby Petrino did a great job here at Louisville," Jurich said. "I'm proud of what he accomplished. I just wish we could have kept him longer. He will do a great job for the Falcons."

ESPN.com's Pat Forde first reported the hiring earlier Sunday night. Mortensen reported earlier that the Falcons were in deep negotiations with Petrino.

The Cardinals held a previously scheduled 9 p.m. ET team meeting at which Petrino will tell his players, the source said. ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reported that an NFL source also confirmed the hiring.

"I'm in shock right now," Louisville kicker Arthur Carmody told ESPN's Joe Schad Sunday night. "I'm about to walk into a team meeting right now. We're coming off a great Orange Bowl win and we were all thinking national championship. I didn't think this would happen. He said he enjoyed college football. He's a great coach and we're going to miss him."

An announcement from the Falcons could come Monday.

Before the season, Petrino signed a 10-year, $25 million contract with Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich. Petrino had previously interviewed with Auburn, LSU, Notre Dame and the Oakland Raiders for other jobs, but announced in August that he would be at Louisville for the long haul.

"I can't tell you how happy I am with the commitment and the confidence that Tom Jurich has in me and the university has in me," Petrino said after signing the contract. "I also wanted to make sure that everyone understood, I know I've said it, that this is where my family wants to be. This is where I want to be. I want everyone to really believe it."

Louisville had just completed a 12-1 season climaxed by their first BCS bowl victory, over Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl. Petrino's record was 41-9 at Louisville, as he elevated the program into an annual national contender.

The leading candidate to replace Petrino figures to be Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe, who has taken the Golden Hurricane to three bowl games in four years after taking over one of the worst programs in the country.

The Falcons moved quickly to replace Mora, who was fired just two years after leading Atlanta to the NFC championship game. The Falcons missed the playoffs the past two years, including a 7-9 mark this season.

Petrino's previous NFL experience includes three years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, including two seasons as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator in 2001. He then moved back to the college ranks, taking over as Auburn's offensive coordinator in 2002 before heading to Louisville.

ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[Drake Tungsten]

Petrino messed up. Why would you waste what is possibly your only shot at an NFL head coaching gig by going to a team that has Mike Vick at QB, when you know you need a quarterback who can throw the ball to run your offense? And why would you do that when you have a potential national title team for next year? He'd been better off staying at UL, winning a national title and waiting for an opportunity at the next level that didn't involve trying to change his offense to accomodate Vick's shortcomings...

[-Jrabbit]

Doubling your salary to neary $5MM per annum tends to change your perspective.

[rah]

You never know IF a better opportunity will come along.
Like last week when the ESPN crews were talking about the coaching opening for the Raiders and laughing about who would be stupid enough to take that job. I'm sure there are a lot of coordinators or college coachs that would kill for ANY head coaching job in the bigs.

[Imran Siddiqui]

And if Petrino does what Mora could not, ie advance Vick's performance from his 2002 season, he'll have plenty of admirers. And his system actually does something that plays to Vick's strength in throwing the deep ball... imagine that, having an offensive scheme which allows a QB who throws a good deep ball to do exactly that!!

[Drake Tungsten]

You have to be able to make all the throws to be a good quarterback in the NFL (and Petrino's offense). Vick can't. It's really too bad the Falcons didn't do worse this year; Petrino might be all right if he could draft Brohm and move Vick to tailback...

[Imran Siddiqui]

0.1/10

Though I'm thinking Petrino gets Vick at least back to his Reeves year, with a low 80s passer rating, around 3,000 yards passing and probably 600-800 yards rushing.


Besides, Brohm will probably be around by 10, and the Falcons won't take him.

[Drake Tungsten]

with a low 80s passer rating

If that's your goal for Vick, then I rest my case about his passing abilities...

[Jaguar]

Vick would get creamed at tailback. Anyone who even suggests that is a moron.

[Imran Siddiqui]

For next year that'd be fine... and it'd definately get them to the playoffs (especially in the NFC). Besides, Steve McNair was the low 80s this year.

Eventually a mid-high 80s rating with 500-800 yards rushing would be just fine.

[Drake Tungsten]

All tailbacks get creamed. That's why their average career is like 2 1/2 seasons long...

[-Jrabbit]

Latest reports...

NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports the Raiders' head-coaching job is USC quarterbacks coach Steve Sarkisian's to lose.
Schefter notes that Al Davis wants a young, innovative offensive mind. Sarkisian, 32, fits the bill. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan remains a candidate but seems a longshot to get the promotion at this point. Jan. 9 - 7:32 pm et

Also...

The Dolphins will interview Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz later this week as part of their head-coaching search.
Most near the Lions believe Martz is staying but he's said publicly that he'll take a look at head jobs. The Dolphins will hold the interview in Detroit, and it will be the tenth completed by the Miami brass, so we wouldn't get too excited yet. Jan. 9 - 5:23 pm et
Source: Miami Herald

Finally...

ESPN's Len Pasquarelli confirms the Giants are likely to retain head coach Tom Coughlin for the upcoming season.
A source close to the coach told Pasquarelli that he's "cautiously optimistic" Coughlin will be kept, but the Giants still need to decide whether to extend Coughlin's contract, which is set to expire at the end of 2007. The delay in an official decision being made is likely a result of the Giants trying to figure out which other staff members to keep.
Source: ESPN.com