What scares me about Ross hiring a coach...

[CF DolFan]

I think it's common sense or even history that says it. Big name coaches either want to "order the groceries" or at least have their own man do it for them.  They don't want an unproven GM doing it and then they have to work with whatever they get. Their "big name" usually earns them at least that much.

[Spider-Dan]

I agree with Brian.  We only know that Ireland is still with the team, but we don't know in which capacity.

Sure we do.  He's the GM.

[BigDaddyFin]

Let's just hope they can hire a new coach without embarrassing the franchise publicly for the third or fourth offseason in a row.

[dolfan13]

I agree with Brian.  We only know that Ireland is still with the team, but we don't know in which capacity.

he just appeared in a press conference next to the owner of the franchise and said he fired the coach. the owner also said ireland will lead the coaching search. whatever his title is, looks like he holds the most power in this organization.

hell it seems like the only time ireland makes an appearance out of his top secret bunker is when he is sitting right next to the owner.

[BigDaddyFin]

^^^
Which means we'll get stuck with some shithead as coach who doesn't know what he's doing, IE Eric Mangini or Brian Billick.  Get ready, 2012 is gonna be a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng year.

[Spider-Dan]

Which means we'll get stuck with some shithead as coach who doesn't know what he's doing, IE Eric Mangini or Brian Billick.

Can someone please explain to me why Jon Gruden (who took over someone else's defensive powerhouse and installed a mediocre offense with a journeyman QB to win a Super Bowl, followed by years of nothing) is the amazing genius we need to hand over the franchise to, while Brian Billick (who took over someone else's defensive powerhouse and installed a mediocre offense with a journeyman QB to win a Super Bowl, followed by years of nothing) is a bumbling idiot that must be avoided at all costs?

[Dave Gray]

Sure we do.  He's the GM.

Then what does "a reduced capacity" mean.  His role was reduced.  We know that.  But reduced to what?  The title of GM is not the issue; it's the responsibility I'm concerned about.

[Landshark]

Can someone please explain to me why Jon Gruden (who took over someone else's defensive powerhouse and installed a mediocre offense with a journeyman QB to win a Super Bowl, followed by years of nothing) is the amazing genius we need to hand over the franchise to, while Brian Billick (who took over someone else's defensive powerhouse and installed a mediocre offense with a journeyman QB to win a Super Bowl, followed by years of nothing) is a bumbling idiot that must be avoided at all costs?

Billick built a powerful running game with the Baltimore offense and a defense that is one of the best of all time.  His biggest issue was the same problem that is plauging the Dolphins today.  He had no QB.  Ozzie Newsome made a huge blunder drafting Kyle Boller.  That set the team back offensively for years.

[BigDaddyFin]

Can someone please explain to me why Jon Gruden (who took over someone else's defensive powerhouse and installed a mediocre offense with a journeyman QB to win a Super Bowl, followed by years of nothing) is the amazing genius we need to hand over the franchise to, while Brian Billick (who took over someone else's defensive powerhouse and installed a mediocre offense with a journeyman QB to win a Super Bowl, followed by years of nothing) is a bumbling idiot that must be avoided at all costs?

Your point is valid, Spider.

However, the current coaching crop consists of John Gruden (Superbowl Ring)  Brian Billick (in the same boat as John Gruden, whose drawbacks you mention, has a Superbowl Ring) Tony Dungy (same points as you made but on the offensive side) and a bunch of has beens and never will bes or unproven "hot young studs."  If I have to pick between Billick and Gruden, I would pick Gruden without hesitation and here's why:  Billick's previous moves dictate his inability.

John Gruden had a couple bad years in Tampa and got fired.

Brian Billick got fired after a few bad years in Baltimore. 

Both rotated QB's every year, both had issues on one side of the ball from the time they won their ring until they were let go.

All things being equal to this point I agree.

Here's the difference.

Brian Billick hires Jim Fassel as Offensive Coordinator only to fire him a few weeks later.

"But BigDaddy BigDaddy what the hell does this have to do with anything?"

Brian Billick hired Jim Fassel because he DOESN'T know what he's doing and he was despirate for a turn around.  If you were Don Shula would you hire Bud Grant or George Allen?  No, unless you were A. Despirate and B.  Arrogant but completely clueless.  You don't turn around and hire a guy you've soundly throttled and has been out of football.  That shows me at least instinctively that Brian Billick has no clue how to coach a football team or lead one.  Why he had a job after all those years with the Ravens I don't know. 

[tepop84]

Can someone please explain to me why Jon Gruden (who took over someone else's defensive powerhouse and installed a mediocre offense with a journeyman QB to win a Super Bowl, followed by years of nothing) is the amazing genius we need to hand over the franchise to, while Brian Billick (who took over someone else's defensive powerhouse and installed a mediocre offense with a journeyman QB to win a Super Bowl, followed by years of nothing) is a bumbling idiot that must be avoided at all costs?

Years of nothing because tampa traded 2 firsts and 2 seconds to oakland for gruden.  the defense was already old with no qb, and gruden didn't have any picks to rebuild the team. and gruden beat his old team in the super bowl.  I do love how it isn't a knock on dungy that gruden came in and won the super bowl his first year after dungy kept getting knocked out in the first round year after year.  Honestly dungy is a pretty shitty coach,  he only won one super bowl with manning as his qb.

[tepop84]

Jon Gruden had a couple bad years in Tampa and got fired.

Gruden was fired after back to back 9-7 seasons.

[BigDaddyFin]

Gruden was fired after back to back 9-7 seasons.

We fired DON SHULA for less.

[Spider-Dan]

Gruden was fired after back to back 9-7 seasons.

Gruden went 0-2 in the playoffs after his Super Bowl victory.

Furthermore, you talk about how Gruden was kneecapped by the trade to get him, but at the same point, TB when Gruden arrived (three straight playoff appearances and a division title) was a hell of a lot better than BAL when Billick arrived (three straight seasons of 6 wins or less).

So why all the love for Gruden but distaste for Billick?