December 17, 2003

I doubt they'll win any awards for breaking the story, but ESPN is reporting that Jim Fassel will be fired at the end of the season. Is he getting the shaft or is it about time? And what other coaches are on the year-end chopping block.

posted by 86 to football at 10:56 AM - 13 comments

Fassel has had a nice run and he's a good head coach, but the team seems to have stopped responding to him and a change couldn't hurt. Tom Coughlin appears to be the front runner to replace him. He's a good choice, but I wonder how he'll get along with Shockey. The following other coaches are possibilities to be fired: Jauron, Tice, Haslett, McGinnis, G. Williams, Wannstedt, Callahan, & Schottenheimer. Unless they make the play-offs, I think the only ones to survive will be Tice (barely) and Schottenheimer (one more year). That would leave seven other vacanies for Nick Saban, Maurice Carthon, Romeo Crennel, Bob Stoops, Dennis Green, Larry Coker, Ralph Friedgen, Al Saunders, Lovie Smith, Jimmy Johnson, Mike Heimerdinger, Charlie Weis and of course, Deion Sanders. I'd take Crennel. How 'bout you?

posted by 86 at 11:11 AM on December 17, 2003

All this makes me wonder: What is the 'record' for coach firings in one season/offseason is. As far as the coaching candidates goes, you neglected to mention one prominent name: Tom Coughlin. He already has ties to the Giants, and his name has been thrown around ever since it was assumed that this was Fassell's final year in NY. He's an extremely good coach (just don't give him full GM-level control), and he would make the Giants good again.

posted by bcb2k2 at 11:29 AM on December 17, 2003

Crap! One too many 'is's in that first line. Please to be excusing...

posted by bcb2k2 at 11:30 AM on December 17, 2003

bcb2k2, Tom Coughlin is in bold up there. I'm reasonably certain he's going to the Giants so I left him off the list at the end of my post. That said, I agree with your statement about him... He would/will be a nice fit for the Giants.

posted by 86 at 11:43 AM on December 17, 2003

Coughlin needs to go to a team that has severe disciplinary problems...do the N.Y. Football Giants fill that mold? Holmgren's job is safe in Seattle, unless they lose their last games and miss the playoffs. If they win them and miss the playoffs because of mathematics then he'll stick for another year. Got to figure Bill Callahan is gone after the year. And I'm sure Dan Reeves will be...what? Oh, never mind.

posted by vito90 at 11:53 AM on December 17, 2003

Wasn't there a firetomcoughlin.com back when he was in Jax? If someone is that unwanted by a bad team I don't want him either. Fassel did a good job and this bad season isn't his fault. How bout firing the turnover prone QB and RB and getting some people good under pressure and good in the red zone?

posted by Bernreuther at 11:54 AM on December 17, 2003

oops...I totally overlooked that, 86. Man, staying up late to see RoTK must have really killed me for today. Ah well...

posted by bcb2k2 at 12:02 PM on December 17, 2003

I wonder if Stoops will jump to the pros. Does winning the Sugar Bowl figure into his decision either way?

posted by billsaysthis at 01:34 PM on December 17, 2003

On the front page of NYTimes.com: "Giants Coach Jim Fassel informed his players today that he had been fired as their coach, adding that he would remain in his post to coach the team's final two games."

posted by billsaysthis at 02:04 PM on December 17, 2003

Bernreuther, I hear ya when you say that Fassel did a good job and that this year wasn't his fault, but I do think his time has come and change would be good for the Giants. I think the players in New York have stopped paying attention to their coach and his words are stale to them. It's just my guess, but they sure don't seem to be playing hard this season. And Fassel will be okay. He's a good coach and will catch on somewhere in the next few years.

posted by 86 at 02:37 PM on December 17, 2003

Here in Buffalo, the road has pretty much been paved for Gregg Williams and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride to get out of town. Fans are pretty furious that all the upgrading of the defense last offseason has netted no better than 8-8 and watching the playoffs on TV. I tend to agree.

posted by Jaquandor at 07:32 PM on December 17, 2003

we're just wishing here in DC, of course, but the movement to overthrow dan synder is gaining momentum.

posted by danostuporstar at 09:39 AM on December 18, 2003

LOL, dano, but it's a lot harder to fire the owner. As long-suffering Clippers and Brewers fans well know.

posted by billsaysthis at 01:09 PM on December 18, 2003

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