By Chris Mortensen

ESPN Insider

 

 

When I saw Dave Wannstedt in total agony as the Arizona Cardinals stole a victory Sunday away from his Miami Dolphins, I thought that surely Wayne Huizenga will do this most decent man a favor and relieve the pain of this wretched season by dismissing his coach.

 

Then all you kept hearing Monday was that Huizenga out of loyalty would not fire the coach until the end of the season. Huizenga knew that Wannstedt was an honest, hard-working coach who had four winning seasons in his previous four years on the job. He knew that Ricky Williams' abrupt retirement had devastated a team that was built around the running back. He knew that David Boston's season-ending injury in preseason was a fatal football blow to the offense. He knew that a horrific Hurricane season had made chaos of the early-season schedule.

 

Dave Wannstedt

Wannstedt

Wannstedt knows the facts of football life. A half-empty Pro Player Stadium on Sunday was only the first of many to come. Defensive end Jason Taylor cried on his shoulder in the locker room, telling the coach he played as hard as he could in defeat. The previous Monday night's 41-14 loss to the New York Jets was an embarrassment. Fans were calling for his head. And Monday's weekly press gathering was anticipatory of his firing than it was for another postgame analysis of Sunday's setback. The season was no longer about the season.

 

So Wannstedt knew what he had to do and what he wanted to do for his team, for himself and for his wife Jan. Even though he had just told the media he would not prematurely resign, he soon thereafter appealed to team president Eddie Jones and asked for his blessing to step aside. Jones connected with Huizenga and the owner reluctantly obliged.

 

Now, thankfully, we no longer have to speculate about Wannstedt's future. Now we can earnestly speculate about the future of the Dolphins one of the league's premium franchises.

 

As for the future, Jones said that the team will conduct a thorough search to hire the best coach for the Dolphins. But this is not going to happen overnight. The search for a new coach may start with a search for a new president. Jones, another splendid man, is retiring at the end of the season. There is also a league policy that must be followed, which includes interviewing qualified minority candidates. No NFL assistant may be interviewed until after the regular season.

 

But let's go ahead and start analyzing the coach search. In discussions with seven team executives from around the league, here's the consensus on the leading "candidates" that surfaced and a few points about their qualifications (listed alphabetically):

 

Brad Childress, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator: He has been the steady assistant at Andy Reid's side through three consecutive NFC championship appearances (albeit defeats) and through the 7-1 run to open the 2004 season. Ex-Packers GM Ron Wolf said, "I'm a little surprised (Childress) isn't already a head coach, but I expect that will change soon."

 

Reid sees "greatness" in Childress' potential.

 

"He's the best," said Reid. "He's thorough, he's tough, he's good with people."

 

The only downside? Childress hasn't been a head coach. But that doesn't wash. The league history is lined with legends whose first head coaching job came in the NFL.

 

Jim Fassel

Fassel

Jim Fassel, former New York Giants coach: Fassel is currently serving as a part-time assistant/consultant for the Baltimore Ravens. His credentials include seven seasons with the Giants in which he led them to the Super Bowl in 2000.

 

Fassel is strong on the offensive side of the football, as is Childress; a point that may weigh in his favor with the Dolphins struggling in that area.

 

Fassel will have to address one concern about his reputation that the Giants had grown "soft" under his supervision, even though he seemed to grow authoritatively in the eyes of many around him.

 

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: There is universal acclaim for Ferentz among league executives because of his success at Iowa and his experience as an NFL line coach in Cleveland and Baltimore. Everyone sees a leader, a teacher and charisma.

 

However, Ferentz has kept the NFL at arm's length. Some execs say that maybe the timing is right. Others believe Ferentz will continue to wait to see if anything happens with Joe Paterno at Penn State, perhaps his true dream job. And one astute front-office man said the Ferentz speculation would be legitimate if the Dolphins ever hired Ravens personnel director Phil Savage as their general manager because Savage and Ferentz were considered pretty tight friends.

 

Nick Saban

Saban

Nick Saban, LSU: Saban issued a statement Tuesday saying he is not interested in changing jobs, but don't take that statement too seriously. And in the words of one executive, "Any Dolphins' list should start and end with Saban."

 

Why? He long has been considered NFL head-coaching timber, but he has resisted, some say because he truly does prefer the college game; others say it's because the right job hasn't come along yet. The Dolphins, by almost all accounts, is the right job.

 

"I think Nick has resisted, wisely so, until this one opened up," said one exec, "If you're going to have to do battle with Bill Belichick in that division every year and that's reality then why not do it with somebody who comprehends everything about Belichick? It's almost unfair to call Saban a Belichick clone, but it's close. He was Belichick's defensive coordinator (in Cleveland), and the two are always exchanging ideas."

 

As for the notion that the Dolphins need to hire an "offensive" coach and that Saban's background is tied to defense, most executives shrugged it off.

 

"First and foremost, you hire the best head coach," said one. "Saban has been a head coach for a long stretch now He understands all aspects of the game. He knows offense, special teams, defense, everything. And plenty of these so-called defensive coaches have fared pretty well, wouldn't you say?"

 

A couple of executives admitted that they would have to press Saban about the perception that, like Belichick, he would want to control all aspects of the football operation, something that Huizenga may resist.

 

Saban is said to be prepared to send this message: He doesn't want total control. He doesn't want to be the general manager. He wants to coach.

 

Steve Spurrier

Spurrier

Steve Spurrier: There has been raised speculation that since Spurrier took himself out of the running for the Florida job that he must have something cooking with the Dolphins. I'm told, rather reliably, that's plain wrong. He would only be a long-shot candidate, at best, with Huizenga and that may be generous.

 

Spurrier does have some supporters who believe he could be successful with the right front office and the right coaching staff. His offensive, pass-oriented slant would play well in the land of Dan Marino.

 

Just don't count on Spurrier being the guy. In fact, he's spreading the word that he's no longer interested in coaching in the NFL again.

 

Charlie Weis

Weis

Charlie Weis, Patriots offensive coordinator: Two Super Bowl rings, the development of Tom Brady and a creative offense that generally gives the defense a lead to play with top the list of Weis' calling cards.

 

"He may be the only guy in the league who actually might be a genius his IQ is off the charts," said one executive.

 

Weis will have to convince any team he speaks with that his health is not an issue. Almost every executive mentioned his near-death experience from a stomach bypass operation in 2002.

 

That's the "short list" of coaching candidates that these executives compiled.

 

There was some discussion given to a bunch of others: Jeff Tedford (Cal); Pete Carroll (USC) "maybe we need to look at Pete's credentials again"; Bob Stoops (Oklahoma); Ty Willingham (Notre Dame); Chan Gailey (Georgia Tech); Dan Reeves (ex-Falcons coach); Romeo Crennell (Patriots defensive coordinator); d*** Jauron (Lions defensive coordinator); Al Saunders (Chiefs offensive coordinator); Russ Grimm (Steelers line coach); Tim Brewster (Chargers assistant head coach); Mike Nolan (Ravens defensive coordinator); Tim Lewis (Giants defensive coordinator); Scott Linehan (Vikings offensive coordinator); Mike Heimerdinger (Titans offensive coordinator); Gregg Knapp (Falcons offensive coordinator); Wade Phillips (Chargers defensive coordinator); and Gregg Williams (Redskins defensive coordinator).

 

ESPN's Chris Mortensen is a regular contributor to Insider. He chats every Wednesday in The Show.

lol.. the 2nd part of that write-up on KF had me laughing.

lol.. the 2nd part of that write-up on KF had me laughing.

612328[/snapback]

Why ?

Tommy Tubberville from Auburn should be a candidate.

Why? All these rumors for the last couple years are getting tired.

 

I think it's funny that Chris Mortenson talks about Kirk Ferentz like he has actually covers Iowa football.. LOL

 

Penn State is the Captain's 'True Dream Job' almost made me spit out my water. His son, who is on the Iowa football team, commented on that today saying how ridiculous and insulting that is. He has no ties to Penn State whatsoever except that he is from Pennsylvania. He would never in his lifetime coach another Big Ten team.

 

His son being on the football team is also another reason he wouldn't leave for Miami... "Sorry son, it's been fun coaching you but I'm going to Miami!" lol

 

But it is flattering that he is mentioned for every single job in America... Dolphins, Steelers, Nebraska, Penn State, Florida, Notre Dame... I heard he is in line for the Attorney General job too! ...but it is very flattering to the program.

 

He's also said many times how he and his wife want to put all of his kids through the same high school with his youngest being 11.

 

Even though Iowa has had 2 coaches since 1979, there is this preconceived notion that Iowa is a stepping stone job.. I'm trying to find the exact quote in the rivals database from KF but I can't find it.. It's his comments from being named as the possible ZOOK replacement (which he shot down 2 minutes after Zook was fired) and says he doesn't see Iowa as a stepping stone job as other people do.. Like good ol' college football anaylsis and Iowa expert Chris Mortenson does!

 

 

After listening to KF the last 6 years.. Decline the Jacksonville job. Decline the Nebraska job. Dismiss the Florida rumors. Dismiss the Penn State rumors... he is the best college coach in America and one of the most honest and good people there is and I can honestly say he isnt going anywhere for a long time.

 

That's why.

Kirk is all but gone.

Kirk is all but gone.

612388[/snapback]

lol

Kirk is all but gone.

612388[/snapback]

lol

612390[/snapback]

 

Dude, it's time you start getting used to the idea...really, it's for the best.

k if you say so

 

 

dolt

Somehow I doubt that we would hire Chan Gailey again.

 

My top list would be Nick Saban, Charlie Weis, and Dan Reeves. Jim Fassel wouldn't be a bad choice either.