Cowboys need a boy-wonder coach
by Vinnie Iyer
Sporting News
Some people are shocked today about the fact that a 65-year-old, twice-retired man has decided to retire once again from one of professional sports' most stressful jobs. Um, most 65-year-olds who aren't coach of the Dallas Cowboys and aren't dealing with Jerry Jones, Terrell Owens and great expectations from glory days past are happy cashing out their IRAs, so why not Bill Parcells?
Parcells has nothing left to prove, so it's not surprising he has grown tired of his current gig. Now, to replace him, the Cowboys should hire a coach with a lot to prove.
The Steelers, an organization with a similar winning tradition, just entrusted a Super Bowl-caliber team to 34-year-old Mike Tomlin. They hired a 34-year-old coach by the name of Bill Cowher in 1992, and you could say that worked out pretty well.
Of the 10 new coaching hires in 2006, the four best rookie campaigns were waged by the Saints' Sean Payton (the coach of the year at 43), the Jets' Eric Mangini (35), the Rams' Scott Linehan (43) and the Packers' Mike McCarthy (43). As for the two worst, just look to an old first-timer, the Lions' Rod Marinelli (57) and recycled Raiders coach Art Shell (60), with the latter already having stepped down.
The Cowboys should go with something new, instead of something borrowed or something way too gray. Of course, with his history, it was a requisite to throw out Norv Turner's name, even though there couldn't be a more boring hire. Anything between Jim Fassel and a particularly old fossil shouldn't be considered.
Let's not confuse this with age-ism -- it's a reality that old schemes and old philosophies don't work as well with modern complexities of calling plays and the new, constantly improving athletes that are flowing into the NFL.
Dallas needs a young coach who can develop into a long-tenured savvy coach, much like Cowher was in Pittsburgh and Jeff Fisher (it's wishful thinking if the Cowboys hope to get him now) is in Tennessee.
Back in 1960, the Cowboys' hiring a 35-year-old Tom Landry seemed questionable after he started 0-11-1, but 29 years, 13 division titles, five conference championships and two Super Bowl victories later, the Cowboys had a legend. The Colts took a chance on a 33-year-old Don Shula, and he only went on to become the winningest coach in NFL history.
So who might be out there? If they want to be totally radical, they could pluck 30-year-old Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels away from Bill Belichick. More realistically, how about someone such as 40-year-old Browns defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who has the acumen that would cater the Cowboys' current 3-4 personnel? And because of Parcells' late announcement, they also are in position to wait for 44-year-old Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera after Chicago plays in the Super Bowl.
Really, they should open up the search throughout the NFL and college coaching ranks. I'm not saying start a random open-season reality show called America's Team's Next Top Coach with Jones and Owens playing Simon and Paula, but they shouldn't be quick to rule out anyone with good experience.
A name I'll throw out just for fun is 42-year-old Boise State coach Chris Petersen. From watching that Fiesta Bowl thriller against Oklahoma, we know what a daring and innovating offensive mind he can be.
The Cowboys need to get exciting and new if they are ever to return to the consistent success they had under Landry, and it all starts with finding that new coaching superstar to be.
Sporting News
Some people are shocked today about the fact that a 65-year-old, twice-retired man has decided to retire once again from one of professional sports' most stressful jobs. Um, most 65-year-olds who aren't coach of the Dallas Cowboys and aren't dealing with Jerry Jones, Terrell Owens and great expectations from glory days past are happy cashing out their IRAs, so why not Bill Parcells?
Parcells has nothing left to prove, so it's not surprising he has grown tired of his current gig. Now, to replace him, the Cowboys should hire a coach with a lot to prove.
The Steelers, an organization with a similar winning tradition, just entrusted a Super Bowl-caliber team to 34-year-old Mike Tomlin. They hired a 34-year-old coach by the name of Bill Cowher in 1992, and you could say that worked out pretty well.
Of the 10 new coaching hires in 2006, the four best rookie campaigns were waged by the Saints' Sean Payton (the coach of the year at 43), the Jets' Eric Mangini (35), the Rams' Scott Linehan (43) and the Packers' Mike McCarthy (43). As for the two worst, just look to an old first-timer, the Lions' Rod Marinelli (57) and recycled Raiders coach Art Shell (60), with the latter already having stepped down.
The Cowboys should go with something new, instead of something borrowed or something way too gray. Of course, with his history, it was a requisite to throw out Norv Turner's name, even though there couldn't be a more boring hire. Anything between Jim Fassel and a particularly old fossil shouldn't be considered.
Let's not confuse this with age-ism -- it's a reality that old schemes and old philosophies don't work as well with modern complexities of calling plays and the new, constantly improving athletes that are flowing into the NFL.
Dallas needs a young coach who can develop into a long-tenured savvy coach, much like Cowher was in Pittsburgh and Jeff Fisher (it's wishful thinking if the Cowboys hope to get him now) is in Tennessee.
Back in 1960, the Cowboys' hiring a 35-year-old Tom Landry seemed questionable after he started 0-11-1, but 29 years, 13 division titles, five conference championships and two Super Bowl victories later, the Cowboys had a legend. The Colts took a chance on a 33-year-old Don Shula, and he only went on to become the winningest coach in NFL history.
So who might be out there? If they want to be totally radical, they could pluck 30-year-old Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels away from Bill Belichick. More realistically, how about someone such as 40-year-old Browns defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who has the acumen that would cater the Cowboys' current 3-4 personnel? And because of Parcells' late announcement, they also are in position to wait for 44-year-old Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera after Chicago plays in the Super Bowl.
Really, they should open up the search throughout the NFL and college coaching ranks. I'm not saying start a random open-season reality show called America's Team's Next Top Coach with Jones and Owens playing Simon and Paula, but they shouldn't be quick to rule out anyone with good experience.
A name I'll throw out just for fun is 42-year-old Boise State coach Chris Petersen. From watching that Fiesta Bowl thriller against Oklahoma, we know what a daring and innovating offensive mind he can be.
The Cowboys need to get exciting and new if they are ever to return to the consistent success they had under Landry, and it all starts with finding that new coaching superstar to be.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:42 PM
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