Now that the regular season has ended, it’s time to fire some coaches and that’s exactly what just happened. Number one on the list: Rex Ryan. He’s admittedly a great defensive mind and that’s ultimately where I expect him to end up; leading a defense somewhere as a coordinator. The real surprise is his brother Rob didn’t get tossed to the curb in New Orleans after their defense ranked 31st out of 32 teams – I mean hell, they allowed 133 yards on the ground per game! Let’s be clear, the front office for the Jets didn’t help Rex Ryan with their terrible drafting over the past couple of years. Last but not least, don’t forget about Geno Smith, Mr. Turnover himself. He almost single-handedly ensured Ryan wouldn’t be returning for another season. Ryan hadn’t had a winning season since 2010; general manager John Idzik also hits the curb and that’s a huge relief for true Jets fans, after one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.
Now let’s turn our attention to Marc Trestman, fired from the Chicago Bears coaching job after a really, really ugly season. He went 5-11 this year and the front office is completely retooling: Trestman and GM Phil Emery are both gone and rumors have been circulating as to the possibility of Jay Cutler getting tossed in the offseason. His bloated contract might be enough to drag the team down for years to come.
Mike Smith was fired from the Falcons after going 6-10, but it wasn’t his fault – obviously it was just the “Hard Knocks” curse that’s bitten so many teams in the butt. If you watched the show this year (and yes, it was extremely entertaining) you saw a team that was out of control, fighting on a regular basis. The mild-mannered Smith was a poor fit for a team that needed a heavy dose of discipline. Smith won just 10 games combined in his last two seasons.
Dennis Allen, my brother from another mother, let go by the Raiders after an ugly 3-13 season. They’ve picked up some young talent in QB Derek Carr and LB Khalil Mack (who I was a big fan of at Buffalo in college), but their off-season maneuvers weren’t enough to make them even remotely competitive. I pity the next brave soul that wants to lead this beleaguered franchise.
Jim Harbaugh and the 49’ers have mutually agreed to diagree. Now he’ll be the new high-priced coach of his alma mater at Michigan. Despite his winning record during his tenure in San Fran, his inability to get along with the front office led to him leaving the Bay Area.
Get a free week of my NFL Playoff Package for free to all new clients: 1-800-664-8920.