The Sports Rumors

Gibbs Resigns; Replacement Candidates?

The Legend Retires

Some may say that Joe Gibbs tarnished his legacy by coming back for the past four years with the Washington Redskins after already being inducted into the hall of fame. Some may say that he lost his touch, wasn’t current or up to date with today’s game or today’s players. In my eyes, he didn’t tarnish his legacy; it would take a couple of Miami Dolphins-esque seasons for him to do that. There is no question that he made some mental errors with clock management over his four years. But there is no coach in the entire NFL, including Belichick and Dungy, that I would rather have coaching my team post Sean Taylor tragedy. Gibbs’ star player, his best player, was murdered in the middle of the season. The team was two games below .500 and managed to make the playoffs; and for a brief moment, looked like they’d win a playoff game. To me, the final 5 games of the season and playoffs summed up exactly why Joe Gibbs is a hall of fame coach. Ask anyone in that locker room if Joe Gibbs couldn’t “connect” with them. If he couldn’t, they wouldn’t have played their hearts out. If he couldn’t, Portis and Landry wouldn’t have looked so dejected after their season came to an end. Last I checked, Portis and Landry are young players.

I figured that Joe Gibbs wouldn’t be back if we lost in the first round because this season was just too fatiguing. It was fatiguing for me as a fan. Throw in the fact that Gibbs has some personal stresses of his own (Grandson fighting leukemia), and you can understand why the 67 year old found it necessary to take off from pro football for once and for all. I’m glad he came back. I got to watch an icon in Washington and for the NFL coach for four years, two of which he made the playoffs. I can now say that I watched the best coach in Washington Redskins football history coach his final game.

The Early Candidates

Obviously, this news of Gibbs resigning is very new but time doesn’t wait and football fans have already begun talking about possible replacements. So will I. I’m separating the coaches into two categories; in house and out of house. Simple enough to understand.

In-House

Gregg Williams: If the Redskins want to keep everything in place from this season heading into next, which isn’t a bad idea considering they were moving in the right direction, then Gregg Williams is the obvious choice. He’s been Gibbs’ second hand man throughout the tenure and has some head coaching experience of his own. He knows the players, the staff, and his defense is a good one. If the Redskins want the least disruption in this transition period, Williams is the clear cut choice.

Al Saunders: Though he was also part of Gibbs’ staff, he has little chance of becoming head coach. His offensive system has not done well and players were very against him at one point last season. I don’t think Snyder would have any confidence in Saunders being the head coach.

Out of House

Bill Cowher: The first choice for every team that needs a head coach. Cowher has made it clear that he doesn’t plan to coach for another year, but he has been listening to every team that has called so far. Dan Snyder is right there with Jerry Jones in being able to talk people into doing things. Everything Cowher would want, Snyder has. He would be granted power to bring in players that he wants, make the decisions that he wants, get paid handsomely, and throw in the fact that there is already a solid nucleus of young talent. The only job I can see Cowher considering more (if any at this point), would be Baltimore.

Pete Carroll: You ever play a video game that you keep beating, even when you’re not trying as hard? You know the feeling when things become just too damn easy? Well that’s Pete Carroll and USC. USC is so established and gets such great recruits that winning has become almost TOO easy for Carroll. You show me any other team in history that can be upset as big as Stanford upsetting USC was, and then still be in talks for a national title. That’s when you know that you need a new challenge. Pete Carroll has the itch to try and conquer the NFL; he has to. He’s a competitor and competitors want to be the very best at the highest of levels. He has made it clear that if he were to give the NFL another shot, it’d be with a good team, he’d have the power and he’d get paid. How often do you get a chance to take over a team with young talent, an owner who’s willing to make you the highest paid in the league while giving you GM powers, and take over a squad that just made the playoffs. This isn’t Atlanta, this isn’t Miami.

Brian Billick: I am surprised that I haven’t heard his name come up in any talks so far this morning about replacing Gibbs. Billick has a Super Bowl win on his resume and has quite a way of wowing people that he meets. He’s not the offensive “mastermind” that he was perceived to be, but he’s one of the best available coaches out there. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind making a transition to a team just across he beltway either.

Jason Garrett: I’m only including his name because people I’ve talked to seem to think that Washington would go after him.  I think there is ZERO percent chance Jerry Jones would let his coach-in-training go to Washington, of all places.