Analysis: In the NFL, it’s time for playoff races — and coaching chatter
There were a few immediate takeaways from Broncos rookie owner Greg Penner’s news conference following the firing that resonated with executives I spoke with. As with so many billionaires who take over professional franchises, it seemed clear that Penner will be quite hands-on, with his proclamation about the new coach reporting directly to him coming off to some league insiders as chest-thumping.
Many also read Penner’s chain-of-command restructuring as a direct overture to former Saints coach Sean Payton, seen as the prize candidate of this cycle, with it well known in NFL circles that Payton isn’t really keen on reporting to a GM. In fact, he’ll almost certainly handpick who fills the general manager position in his next organization, with former Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland among those to watch.
Others are linking Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh to the job; the chain of command in Denver would suit him, and he’d probably be more inclined to keep George Paton as the GM than some other rumored coaching candidates. But multiple people who know and have worked with Harbaugh and Wilson indicated to me that such an arrangement could prove awkward and tumultuous.“That’s not a fit,” said one individual who is personally familiar with both the coach and the quarterback.
Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, the former Falcons head coach, will be high on Paton’s list,— though ownership is clearly in charge here — and many were surprised Quinn didn’t land in Denver a year ago. But Quinn knows Wilson from Seattle, where he served as the defensive coordinator, and he also knows some of Wilson’s quirks. If there is no longer an elite passer rating to go along with the eccentricities, well, Quinn might prefer other options.
“I would think ideally it’s someone who knows Wilson and who Wilson would be comfortable with,” said one GM, speaking on the condition of anonymity, “but not another first-time guy. This owner won’t want to go back down that path.”One candidate I could see quickly emerging, particularly should Payton not want to go to Denver: Former Colts head coach Frank Reich.
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