Flawed Logic wrote:It had to happen.
Collins is next.
Agreed.
If Collins takes a drastic reduction in pay (a partial admission of guilt for the abortion of a season) and Al Davis builds the best possible line thru free agency this off season then I think the hometown fans in Oakland will give Collins another shot to fall on his face without rioting…for a few weeks anyways.
Personally, I can’t see that fucker ran fast enough.
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Who's Next?
Some names, both realistic and unrealist, which could surface as the Raiders begin a search for a head coach to replace Norv Turner:
From the recycling bin:
Possible candidates with head coaching experience who are already free to pursue other jobs or could come free within a week:
Jim Fassel, Ravens offensive coordinator: Fassel, 56, coached the New York Giants from 1997-2003 and helped Kerry Collins rebuild his career. Head coach at Utah, 1985-89; Offensive assistant for Oakland Raiders, 1995. NFL record 60-56.
Jim Haslett, Saints head coach: Haslett, 50, was fired as head coach of the New Orleans Saints Monday. Assistant coach with Los Angeles Raiders in 1993-94. Backround is as defensive coach. Bills insiders say Haslett longs for that job. NFL record 46-52.
Mike Martz, Rams head coach: Martz, 54, went on medical leave after five games and was fired Monday. Al Davis says Martz's health a concern. The coach of the Rams since 2000, employs Don Coryell system favored by Norv Turner. He was Turner's quarterbacks coach in Washington in 1997-98. NFL record 57-36.
Steve Mariucci, unemployed: Mariucci, 50, was fired by the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving weekend after being hired in 2003. Head coach of San Francisco 49ers from 1997-2002. Head coach at Cal in 1996. Players coach with West Coast offense backround. NFL record 75-71.
Butch Davis, unemployed: Davis, 53, resigned as Cleveland Browns head coach in 2004 after being hired in 2000. Head coach at University of Miami from 1995-2000; assistant with Dallas Cowboys from 1989-94, the last two years as defensive coordinator. Rumored to be a Raiders candidate in past years. NFL record: 24-36.
Dave McGinnis, Titans linebackers coach: McGinnis, 54, was enormously popular with the players as head coach with Arizona Cardinals from 2000-2003. Respected as a defensive coach, McGinnis' 1998 Arizona defense had 39 takeaways and helped get Cardinals in playoffs. NFL record 17-40.
Dennis Green, Cardinals head coach: Green, 56, interviewed with the Raiders in 2004 but took Arizona job the following week. Said last week he is staying in Arizona. He also said in his last year at Stanford he wasn't going to the NFL, then was hired by the Vikings. NFL record 112-91.
Wade Phillips, Chargers defensive coordinator: Phillips, 58, has been a head coach in New Orleans (1985), Denver (1993-94), Buffalo (1998-2000) and Atlanta (three games in 2003). Bum's son could be a candidate in Houston. NFL record 48-42.
Herm Edwards, Jets head coach: Edwards, 51, says he does not plan to leave New York but persistent reports link him to Kansas City. NFL record 41-44.
Mike Tice, unemployed: Tice, 46, was fired Sunday after serving as head coach since 2002. Tice suffered enough trials and tribulations as Vikings head coach to make him uniquely qualified to be head coach of the Raiders. NFL record 33-34.
Jimmy Johnson, unemployed: Johnson, 62, is former Dolphins and Cowboys coach is an Al Davis confidant who has shown no inclination to return to coaching. Works as an analyst for Fox. NFL record 89-68.
Dennis Erickson, unemployed: Erickson, 58, is relaxing while the 49ers pay off his contract but is eager to get back into coaching. Head coach at Seattle from 1995-98 and 49ers in 2003-2004. Head coach at Washington State and University of Miami. NFL record 40-56.
Mike Sherman, unemployed: Sherman, 52, had four consecutive seasons of 10 or more wins with the Green Bay Packers before going 4-12 in 2005 and getting fired Monday. NFL record 59-43.
Dom Capers, unemployed: Capers, 56, could not work the expansion magic with the Texans as he did with the Carolina Panthers. Fired Monday after a 4-12 season, 18-46 in four years with Houston. Won AFC West title with second-year Panthers in 1996. NFL record 49-81.
A second chance with Al:
Those who interviewed with Raiders owner Al Davis before and could be back for a second look:
Al Saunders, Chiefs offensive coordinator: Saunders, 58, is second-in-command to Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil and a candidate for vacant Chiefs job. Interviewed by phone with Raiders in 2004, but decided to sign an extension with the Chiefs with an eye on being head coach in Kansas City. Chargers head coach 1986-88. NFL record 17-22.
Sean Payton, Cowboys passing game coordinator: Payton, 43, interviewed twice in 2004 and was believed to be close to taking the job, although Davis said it was never actually offered. New York Giants assistant from 1999-2002 while Kerry Collins was quarterback. Quarterbacks coach for offensive coordinator Jon Gruden with Philadelphia Eagles in 1997.
Maurice Carthon, Browns offensive coordinator: Carthon, 44, worked on New York Jets staff with Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells from 1997-2000, joined Parcells on Cowboys staff in 2003. Hard-nosed with a fiery personality.
Greg Knapp, Falcons offensive coordinator: Knapp, 42, was a 49ers assistant from 1995-03, eventually running the offense. Interviewed with Raiders in 2004, but opted to join Jim Mora with Atlanta.
Art Shell, NFL Senior V.P. of operations and development: Shell, 59, last coached 11 years ago, fired by Al Davis after going 9-7 in 1994. He interviewed in 1998 for job that went to Jon Gruden and interviewed with Miami last season. NFL record 56-41.
The hot assistants:
Assistants who could be making the rounds for interviews for NFL openings:
Rick Neuheisel, Ravens quarterbacks coach: Neuheisel, 44, has been at Raiders training camp practices in past years as an invited guest of Al Davis. Head coach at Colorado (1995-98) and Washington (1999-02) before being forced out for involvement in a high-stakes NCAA basketball pool.
Cam Cameron, Chargers offensive coordinator: Cameron, 44, has presided over one of the NFL's best offenses since 2002 under Marty Schottenheimer. Head coach at Indiana from 1997-2001.
Bob Bratkowski, Bengals offensive coordinator: Bratkowski, 50, has helped develop Carson Palmer into a Pro Bowl quarterback and has directed a balanced, explosive offense that helped put Cincinnati in the playoffs. Has no head coaching experience.
Gary Kubiak, Broncos offensive coordinator: Kubiak, 44, is to Mike Shanahan what Dave Duncan is to Tony La Russa. Was quarterbacks coach with 49ers in 1994, moving with Shanahan as offensive coordinator with Broncos in 1995. Believed to be ready to make the jump to head coach, and Houston has asked for an interview.
Brad Childress, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator: Childress, 49, has run the offense for Andy Reid since 1999. Deep runs into the playoffs by Eagles have hurt his chances to be interviewed. That's not a problem this year. Has no head coaching experience.
Eric Mangini, New England Patriots defensive coordinator: Mangini, 34, declined an opportunity to become Raiders defensive coordinator, with club eventually hiring Rob Ryan. Disciple of Bill Belichick, all the way to alma mater (Wesleyan College). Has no head coaching experience.
Jim Schwartz, Titans defensive coordinator: Schwartz, 39, worked for Bill Belichick with 1995 Cleveland Browns and has been on Jeff Fisher's Tennessee staff since 1999. Has no head coaching experience.
Ron Rivera, Bears defensive coordinator: Rivera, 43, is a former Cal star who coached with the 1997-98 Bears and with the Eagles from 1999-2003. Directed stout Bears defense that led Chicago to NFC North title. Has no head coaching experience.
Scott Linehan, Dolphins offensive coordinator: Linehan, 42, directed an efficient Miami offense under Nick Saban after running the Minnesota Vikings offense from 2002-2004. Has experience getting the most out of Randy Moss. Has no head coaching experience.
Ken Whisenhunt, Steelers offensive coordinator, and Russ Grimm, Steelers offensive line coach: Whisenhunt, 43, and Grimm, 47, could both make the interview rounds once the Steelers are done. Detroit reportedly has interest in Grimm, a former Washington Redskins offensive lineman. Neither man has been a head coach.
Mike Heimerdinger, Jets offensive coordinator: Heimerdinger, 53, was linked to Raiders job in 2004 but said repeatedly he was never contacted. A Mike Shanahan disciple who worked with Broncos from 1995-99. Has no head coaching experience.
Tim Lewis, Giants defensive coordinator: Lewis, 44, was defensive coordinator for Pittsburgh from from 1995-2003 before joining the staff of Tom Coughlin in New York. Was a finalist last year for San Francisco 49ers job which went to Mike Nolan, and Atlanta job which went to Jim Mora. Has no head coaching experience.
Mike Singletary, 49ers linebackers coach: Singletary, 47, is a Hall of Fame linebacker and natural leader who didn't get into coaching until 2003 with the Baltimore Ravens. Serving as Mike Nolan's assistant head coach as well as linebackers coach, he aspires to be a head coach.
College coaches:
Some of the top names on the college scene:
Pete Carroll, USC: Carroll, 54, presides over college football's premiere program, has NFL experience as a head coach and an assistant and was born and raised in the Bay Area (Redwood High). He also agreed recently to stay at USC and would want more money and power in terms of personnel and coaches than Al Davis would be comfortable with. NFL record 33-31.
Karl Dorrell, UCLA: Dorrell, 42, led UCLA to an 11-2 season and has three seasons as wide receivers coach under Mike Shanahan in Denver (2000-2003).
Pat Hill, Fresno State: Hill, 54, has said he has no desire for another college job but possibly could be lured to the NFL. Served as Cleveland Browns assistant from 1992-98 (tight ends and offensive line), hired by Bill Belichick.
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: Ferentz, 50, restored the Iowa program to prominence since being hired in 1998. Was offensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns-Baltimore Ravens from 1993-98, hired by Bill Belichick.
Jeff Tedford, Cal: Tedford, 44, inherited a 1-10 Bears team and has built it into a Pac-10 power. Known for developing quarterbacks and strong running games. Has no NFL experience.
Bobby Petrino, Louisville: Petrino, 44, is ambitious and offensive minded, leading one of the nation's most explosive offenses at Louisville. Served as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator with Jacksonville Jaguars from 1999-2001.
-- Compiled by Jerry McDonald
