One more reason McDaniels isn’t going anywhere. Should we be glad?
Plenty of fans are calling for Josh McDaniels head. Here’s another reason it will remain safely tucked inside his hoodie.
Listening to the Rich Eisen NFL Network podcast this morning I stumbled onto an interesting perspective from Eisen’s first guest, Peter King of Sports Illustrated. King was commenting on the future prospects of the interim coaches in Dallas and Minnesota. He pointed out that, with the looming labor situation in the NFL, possible replacements will have very little opportunity to work with their players prior to the 2011 season. Therefore the interim guys are likely to be given the opportunity to keep their jobs for one more season at a minimum.
King makes a very interesting point and it is every bit as applicable in Denver as it is in either of those other circumstances. If the Broncos organization were to decide to go in another direction at head coach – and the labor conflict lasted into the fall – whomever had been brought in would have virtually no time to put his “system” into place prior to training camp. This, along with the fact that both McDaniels and Mike Shanahan would remain on the payroll, points toward Josh remaining the coach in Denver for at least one more year.
Another interesting point I heard made (this time on Twitter) is this: fans have been critical of McDaniels based on the performances of players he let leave the organization – Peyton Hillis in particular. In other words, Josh didn’t give them enough of a chance to show what they were capable of before kicking them to the curb. These same fans are willing to kick Josh to the curb without his having the same opportunity.
How would we all feel watching McDaniels take another team to a Superbowl?
Love him or hate him, Josh is here here to stay – at least through 2011. We might as well give him a chance. Personally, i have been very critical of him. I didn’t like him from the moment I first saw him on TV. Something about him rubs me the wrong way.
On the other hand, when I see Mike Shanahan stalking up and down the sidelines in Washington I feel as if the Broncos made the right decision in firing him. Shanahan’s time has run out.
McDaniels has tons of upside. That’s what is exciting about him. He is young and, presumably, innovative. He comes from the most successful organization in the NFL. Maybe, just maybe, I have been to quick to judge him. Maybe if I give him some time to learn on the job he will prove me wrong.
