Another Twist To The Cowher Question

by Ridiculous Matt on Dec 31, 2008 10:23 AM CST

I respect the idea that we need to keep the GM and coaching jobs seperate. I think that's a very sound approach to take and the only reason I'm in favor of violating it is in the pursuit of Bill Cowher, who is absolutely everything we've been looking for as the face of a franchise. Hard-line, family-man, xs and os. defense, offense, the works.

If we don't get Cowher because he decides to hang out in North Carolina with his daughters another year, no biggie. If we don't get him because the lure of the New York gig was too much, I'll be glad because that's not what I think Cowher is. If we don't get him because the Lions offer him everything he could ever want and more money than God, I'll wish him good luck and be fine with it.

What I will not be okay with is if we lose out on Cowher because the Broncos get him.

Imagine having to play Cowher twice a year for a half-decade with a franchise quarterback and a solid group of personnel. You know what it's like trying to get over the hump with Cowher on your schedule twice a year? Go ask the Browns or the Bengals.

I know that Hunt wants to exercise due dilligence and pick the right guy for the job. But we're going to lose out on most of the top candidates if we don't get a move on. We'll end up stuck with someone that wasn't our first, second, or third pick. And that's been our MO for too long. Clark Hunt, if you have a plan, execute it. If not, go get Cowher on a plane.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

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I agree that it would be nice

to get Cowher, but it has to be as either GM or HC. It’s been shown time and again that coaches who also try to be personnel guys don’t succeed.

by Seth_C on Dec 31, 2008 10:29 AM CST reply actions

Except Bill Walsh...Bill Belichick....Bill Cowher....Mike Holmgren....Jimmy Johnson....

All of these guys took both roles (realistically if not nominally) and led teams to the Superbowl…it can be done…

by woodman212 on Dec 31, 2008 4:38 PM CST up reply actions

Exceptions

I know Bill Walsh was GM of the 49ers twice. I don’t know what happened that he stopped then started again. Do you know?

Bill Belichick isn’t the GM of the Pats but you’re right, he calls the shots.

Bill Cowher wasn’t the GM of the Steelers (they didn’t have a GM, instead Dan Rooney the owner, Kevin Colbert the director of football operations, and Cowher all had say). If anything, Colbert is/was the de facto GM there.

Mike Holmgren’s stint as a GM in Seattle (because he never was GM in Green Bay by the way, Ron Wolf was) was terrible. His win total went 9, 6, 9, 7 from 1998-2002 before the team took that responsibility away from him. You’re forgetting Ron Wolf, who was the GM during that time.

Jimmy Johnson – Yeah, he was outstanding. The reason they broke up was because Jerry Jones was butting into personnel matters too much. It didn’t last long.

The system rarely works. For every Jimmy Johnson there’s a Marvin Lewis, Butch Davis, Mike Shanahan for the last 10 years, Mike Sherman, Brad Childress (who has the most power in MIN) and Jon Gruden (whose teams haven’t done much since he won a Super Bowl his 1st year with the Bucs).

by Joel Thorman on Dec 31, 2008 6:14 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

Him going to the Broncos would be miserable. However, I don’t see him going there because Pat Bowlen is still on the hook for Mike Shanahan’s $20 million over the next 3 years. And Cowher will likely be the highest paid coach in the league at his next job.

I agree with you that it would be awful (very awful, actually) but I don’t see it happening.

by Joel Thorman on Dec 31, 2008 10:29 AM CST reply actions

+1

We need a future defensive leader, his name is James Laurinaitis and he can be selected in round 1 of the upcoming Draft.

"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"

by Lanier63 on Dec 31, 2008 10:44 AM CST up reply actions

Man, I hope you're right

I wouldn’t want to play him twice a year. He is a good coach.

by TheQ on Dec 31, 2008 1:29 PM CST up reply actions

Cowher wants to bring in his own personnel guy if he goes anywhere

And I don’t think Denver would do that. You’re right though, that would be a disaster.

by Vince D on Dec 31, 2008 1:04 PM CST reply actions

Oh yeah, that's right.

I forgot, he just wanted his own personnel guy.

Never mind my post above. You know, the one up there. ^^Thataway. Don’t look at it!

by Seth_C on Dec 31, 2008 1:39 PM CST up reply actions

He wants Kevin Colbert or Omar Khan...

by woodman212 on Dec 31, 2008 4:38 PM CST up reply actions

Lets not go overboard

Cowher is a good coach, but I don’t know that he would be a more difficult opponent than Shannahan. Shanny is a damn good coach himself.

A large part of Cowhers success in Pittsburg was due as much to the Steelers being the model rock solid franchise of the NFL as much as Cowhers coaching prowess. Now I’m not saying he is not a good coach or that he shouldn’t be at the top of our list. He should. But I think wherever Cowher ends up going, that some of the shine is going to be off him pretty quick when people realize how much the supporting cast of the Steelers organization had to do with his consistent success in Pittsburg.

by ChiefDJ on Dec 31, 2008 1:46 PM CST reply actions