Prickly Pete

I don't know much about him, but I like the thinking behind it. It's basically EJM, or find a guy that hasn't had a chance to play, that's been sitting the bench behind a "franchise" QB. The old vets that have lost their job (like Orton, Foles, Kolb, Fitz,...on and on) aren't gonna make it. Any rookie, even a 1st rounder, would likely need at least a couple seasons to be ready to lead a team to the playoffs.

yeah, me too.

I once heard a USC player talk about being thrown under the bus by Hue when he was an assistant at USC. He really did not like Hue...

Why is the clause in the contract "bad". If you are glad Marrone is gone, why condemn the clause? I'm completely over Marrone, and anxious to see what another coach can do. It sounds like Marrone wasn't well liked by the players, and I am curious to see how players like Manuel, Watkins, Wood, and others, who he apparently resented, will respond to a different HC.

You mean this fat headed loser? http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4613549 No thanks.

Okay. While I pretty much agree, why isn't Ray Farmer more worried? His QB's were both crapping the bed for the last half of the season, with protection from his highly drafted O-linemen. I think EJM is their only hope for next season, so they better get to work on finding excellent O-linemen, a RB in the 2nd or 3rd round, and an OC that can work with what EJM has.

What was he supposed to do, call 50+ people to say farewell? I'm sure he talked to some people personally. I mean, I don't like the guy, but this is little overblown.

Reich is interviewing with the Jets. How funny would it be if Reich took the job Marrone thought (or was lead to believe) he would get, and Marrone ends up blowing his last NFL head coaching job?

I think he is good, maybe very good, but not such a good candidate that EVERY season the first name for any coaching vacancy (or even coach on the hot seat) is "Bill Cowher". I think that is mostly his celebrity at work.

I think the Steelers do it the other way. They already have everything in place, and just move guys up through the organization, instead of having a coach come in and build it up. Cowher didn't "build" the Steelers, he took over the reins. Mike Tomlin is doing pretty much the same thing with the Steelers. I think the Steelers organization is so solid, with well defined roles for everyone in the organization, that any decent coach on their staff can step right in. I think Bill Cowher is way overrated, and a media celebrity. In every city that needs a coach, casual female fans trying to discuss football with hardcore fans will all say "I want Bill Cowher as our new coach". I don't think he has an interest in jumping back into coaching for any team that isn't already elite. He has nothing to gain, and a legend to lose.

I can understand that perspective, and understand a bit of what he brings to the table. He isn't terrible, but I'm not sure his specialty is building a team. I never thought of him as some great tactician either.

Cowher Gruden Dungy Ryan Marrone

The Steelers have been the best, most stable organization in football over the last 40 years. Each of their coaches have won at least one Super Bowl, with everyone's roles are well defined. The Bills are a very different situation. I'm not convinced that Cowher is that great...

I am curious what assistants from playoff teams might become available after the season ends.

How many coaching vacancies has Cowher passed on? Why are people still talking about him? You need guy a that is hungry, and willing to commit fully to the job, none of these retreads are the way to go. The best man for the job is likely someone that the general public doesn't know much about. Gruden, Cowher, etc...these guys were young assistants that were given a shot. Finding a great coach is like finding a great QB.

We already have a stellar defense, why bring in a coach (Rex Ryan) who builds great defenses (which is actually already "in hand"), but has never had a good offense? Isn't that what this team already has?

I completely agree. It was setting EJM up to fail. "Run for the bus" road game, against the best team in the league, a week after getting shamefully outed from the playoffs. "Here ya go EJ....let's see what ya got!" A short week of practice, a bottom dwelling offense...EJM hadn't played in 12 weeks, and suddenly, EJ is supposed to take over, and lead the team....ridiculous.

Will Schwartz stay if he isn't given the HC job?

One of the things that irritates me to no end is when, with a yard or so needed, and with no defender on the nose, the QB doesn't just bull forward. Tom Brady does it successfully all the time, and many times it's likely an audible at the line. There were numerous times when the Orton could have done this, but instead killed a drive with a regular play. At least with a guy like EJM they MIGHT have that option at the line. Just having that threat makes the defense have to respect it, and might improve your chances elsewhere.

I think he will get better at avoiding sacks with experience. I don't think they have a better option than EJM at this point. We can at least expect that he will get better with more experience, and improvements to the line and running game. How much better, I don't know, but the cupboard is bare, and even a new rookie will take at least a season to compete for the playoffs.

Orton was a 9 year veteran. EJM was a rookie forced to start right out of college for one of the league's worst teams, and very worst offense's, with a rookie HC and OC. Lots of room for improving both his surrounding circumstances, and his own play.

Not me. There is plenty of proof just on "All-22" alone. I don't listen to WGR, I live in California.

Yeah, but they changed it for this season. When they dropped the hurry-up, it allowed defenses to make more substitutions and more complex calls.

I'm basing my opinion on the fact that guys don't usually peak at the 14th game in their 2nd season, and he wasn't that far behind Orton. He might continue to suck, but if improvements are made to the line, even an average running game is developed, and an offense is designed to his strengths (like it is for most successful QB's), I can easily see him surpassing Orton's play.

I think it's most likely that he will get a bit better, and possibly become a guy that can win with a good surrounding cast, and an OC that fit an offense to his strengths. An offense in the top half the league would do pretty well with this defense.