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Bob Glauber
FOOTBALL
February 5, 2006
By the time his general manager duties were stripped after the 2002 season, the consensus was clear: Mike Holmgren was far better off as the Seahawks' coach, not their chief personnel man.
Upon further review, Holmgren has proven to be a far better talent evaluator than he's been given credit for.
His Seahawks are in the Super Bowl, largely because of the players he brought in during his run as coach/GM from 1999-2002. Consider:
In perhaps his most important move, Holmgren took Shaun Alexander in the first round of the 2000 draft. The pick was considered somewhat risky, because Holmgren also made a move with another running back for which he was heavily criticized. He dealt Ahman Green to the Packers for cornerback Fred Vinson. Green starred almost immediately for the Packers; Vinson never got onto the field for Seattle because of knee problems. In the end, though, Holmgren was vindicated; Alexander has turned into a dominant back who was named the league's MVP this season.
Holmgren traded for Packers backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck before the 2001 season, though Hasselbeck never had started an NFL game. Holmgren was so impressed with Hasselbeck from their days together in Green Bay that he believed the quarterback projected as a legitimate starter. Hasselbeck has experienced his best season in the NFL in leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl.
The same year he traded for Hasselbeck, Holmgren selected guard Steve Hutchinson as his first-round pick. Hutchinson has become a featured member of an offensive line that might be the best in football. Lined up next to left tackle Walter Jones, a first-round pick in 1997, Hutchinson has developed into arguably the top guard in the game.
On Hutchinson's other side is center Robbie Tobeck, signed by Holmgren as a free agent from Atlanta. Tobeck's veteran savvy at this key position is another reason for the line's success.
Another of Holmgren's draft-day prizes: wide receiver Darrell Jackson, a third-round choice in 2000. Jackson has been a mostly-under-the-radar receiver compared with the likes of Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and Marvin Harrison, but he has become a reliable playmaker who has had a terrific playoff run. Holmgren beefed up the receiving corps even further in 2001 by adding free agent Bobby Engram from the Bears.
If Holmgren's run as a general manager had a weakness, it was that he didn't fix the defense fast enough. Bob Ferguson, who took over Holmgren's personnel duties in 2003 and 2004, did a good job in adding defensive end Grant Wistrom and cornerback Marcus Trufant, both of whom have been cornerstone players this season. And new president and general manager Tim Ruskell, the former Bucs and Falcons executive, brought in middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu in 2005; Tatupu has proven to be a difference-maker already as a rookie.
But Holmgren's overall body of work hasn't been as bad as it once looked. You could argue that if he hadn't made the moves, particularly on offense, during his time as GM, the Seahawks wouldn't be where they are today.
T.O.'s next stop
There appeared to be only a remote chance that the Eagles would be able to trade wide receiver Terrell Owens, especially with teams knowing that they were on the hook for $7 million in bonus money payable to Owens starting March 9.
But with multiple teams showing interest in Owens, the likelihood of Philly making a deal has increased. Here's one stumbling block, though. While Miami, Denver, Kansas City and Tampa Bay have expressed interest in trading for the 32-year-old receiver, the Cowboys' interest might trump the rest. But the Eagles certainly won't be willing to trade Owens to a divisional rival.
So what would prevent the Eagles from trading Owens to any number of suitors other than the Cowboys? Well, Owens essentially controls where he goes, because he won't be willing to report to any team unless he gets a suitable contract offer. If, for instance, the Broncos want to sign him to an incentive-laden deal to protect themselves in the event Owens blows up as he did in Philadelphia, Owens simply can refuse to report if he believes another team -- ostensibly the Cowboys -- is willing to give him the bonus money he is seeking.
Raiders up next
As expected, the Raiders will be the last team to hire a coach. One reason is team owner Al Davis is waiting for the Super Bowl to end so he can interview Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. Another reason: Davis is unwilling to spend huge dollars on a head coach; he has never paid more than $1.5 million a season for a coach. Yet another reason: Davis is said to want to gauge Whisenhunt's interest in quarterback Kerry Collins, whose contract must be restructured during the offseason because of salary- cap concerns.
If Whisenhunt doesn't believe in Collins, it's conceivable Davis will consider former Giants coach Jim Fassel, who has told friends he believes Collins still can be an effective quarterback. Fassel helped Collins and the Giants get to the Super Bowl after the 2000 season. Davis is said to prefer keeping Collins despite his struggles last season.
Extra points
Saints running back Deuce McAllister is doing well in his rehab from knee surgery and expects to be ready by the start of training camp. The Saints need to know how effective McAllister can be, especially because they have the second overall draft pick. If the Texans don't take USC running back Reggie Bush -- it's still a good bet he'll go to Houston -- the Saints will have a tough decision. Do they pass on Bush and take USC quarterback Matt Leinart or Texas quarterback Vince Young? Or do they pass on a quarterback and take Bush?
There's a chance the Vikings will file tampering charges against the Jaguars after former Vikings coach Mike Tice, now the assistant head coach in Jacksonville, said on a Jacksonville radio station that he already had contacted one of the Vikings' prospective unrestricted free agents. Because the free-agency signing period doesn't begin until March 3, team officials are technically prohibited from contacting players on other teams, although it's generally common practice that they reach out through intermediaries, usually agents . . .
The thinking among some Vikings officials is that quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who has complained about his contract situation in recent weeks, eventually will take a less hostile stance and remain with the team. Culpepper is on schedule in his rehab from a horrific knee injury in which he tore three ligaments, although he still might not be ready for the start of the regular season. If he's not, Brad Johnson will be the starter . . .
Mike Martz should have taken the Lions' offensive coordinator job. Instead, he said he'll sit out the season and hope to get back in the league next season as a head coach. He couldn't come to terms on a contract agreement with the Lions, although there is talk the Lions remain interested in hiring him. The feeling here is Martz should have taken less money and given himself an even better chance to get a head-coaching job by improving the Lions' chronically underachieving offense. Because of his frequent run-ins with Rams management, there is a belief among several teams that Martz is a liability as a head coach. Proving himself again as an offensive coordinator in a different situation would have improved his stock.
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Bob Glauber
FOOTBALL
February 5, 2006
By the time his general manager duties were stripped after the 2002 season, the consensus was clear: Mike Holmgren was far better off as the Seahawks' coach, not their chief personnel man.
Upon further review, Holmgren has proven to be a far better talent evaluator than he's been given credit for.
His Seahawks are in the Super Bowl, largely because of the players he brought in during his run as coach/GM from 1999-2002. Consider:
In perhaps his most important move, Holmgren took Shaun Alexander in the first round of the 2000 draft. The pick was considered somewhat risky, because Holmgren also made a move with another running back for which he was heavily criticized. He dealt Ahman Green to the Packers for cornerback Fred Vinson. Green starred almost immediately for the Packers; Vinson never got onto the field for Seattle because of knee problems. In the end, though, Holmgren was vindicated; Alexander has turned into a dominant back who was named the league's MVP this season.
Holmgren traded for Packers backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck before the 2001 season, though Hasselbeck never had started an NFL game. Holmgren was so impressed with Hasselbeck from their days together in Green Bay that he believed the quarterback projected as a legitimate starter. Hasselbeck has experienced his best season in the NFL in leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl.
The same year he traded for Hasselbeck, Holmgren selected guard Steve Hutchinson as his first-round pick. Hutchinson has become a featured member of an offensive line that might be the best in football. Lined up next to left tackle Walter Jones, a first-round pick in 1997, Hutchinson has developed into arguably the top guard in the game.
On Hutchinson's other side is center Robbie Tobeck, signed by Holmgren as a free agent from Atlanta. Tobeck's veteran savvy at this key position is another reason for the line's success.
Another of Holmgren's draft-day prizes: wide receiver Darrell Jackson, a third-round choice in 2000. Jackson has been a mostly-under-the-radar receiver compared with the likes of Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and Marvin Harrison, but he has become a reliable playmaker who has had a terrific playoff run. Holmgren beefed up the receiving corps even further in 2001 by adding free agent Bobby Engram from the Bears.
If Holmgren's run as a general manager had a weakness, it was that he didn't fix the defense fast enough. Bob Ferguson, who took over Holmgren's personnel duties in 2003 and 2004, did a good job in adding defensive end Grant Wistrom and cornerback Marcus Trufant, both of whom have been cornerstone players this season. And new president and general manager Tim Ruskell, the former Bucs and Falcons executive, brought in middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu in 2005; Tatupu has proven to be a difference-maker already as a rookie.
But Holmgren's overall body of work hasn't been as bad as it once looked. You could argue that if he hadn't made the moves, particularly on offense, during his time as GM, the Seahawks wouldn't be where they are today.
T.O.'s next stop
There appeared to be only a remote chance that the Eagles would be able to trade wide receiver Terrell Owens, especially with teams knowing that they were on the hook for $7 million in bonus money payable to Owens starting March 9.
But with multiple teams showing interest in Owens, the likelihood of Philly making a deal has increased. Here's one stumbling block, though. While Miami, Denver, Kansas City and Tampa Bay have expressed interest in trading for the 32-year-old receiver, the Cowboys' interest might trump the rest. But the Eagles certainly won't be willing to trade Owens to a divisional rival.
So what would prevent the Eagles from trading Owens to any number of suitors other than the Cowboys? Well, Owens essentially controls where he goes, because he won't be willing to report to any team unless he gets a suitable contract offer. If, for instance, the Broncos want to sign him to an incentive-laden deal to protect themselves in the event Owens blows up as he did in Philadelphia, Owens simply can refuse to report if he believes another team -- ostensibly the Cowboys -- is willing to give him the bonus money he is seeking.
Raiders up next
As expected, the Raiders will be the last team to hire a coach. One reason is team owner Al Davis is waiting for the Super Bowl to end so he can interview Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. Another reason: Davis is unwilling to spend huge dollars on a head coach; he has never paid more than $1.5 million a season for a coach. Yet another reason: Davis is said to want to gauge Whisenhunt's interest in quarterback Kerry Collins, whose contract must be restructured during the offseason because of salary- cap concerns.
If Whisenhunt doesn't believe in Collins, it's conceivable Davis will consider former Giants coach Jim Fassel, who has told friends he believes Collins still can be an effective quarterback. Fassel helped Collins and the Giants get to the Super Bowl after the 2000 season. Davis is said to prefer keeping Collins despite his struggles last season.
Extra points
Saints running back Deuce McAllister is doing well in his rehab from knee surgery and expects to be ready by the start of training camp. The Saints need to know how effective McAllister can be, especially because they have the second overall draft pick. If the Texans don't take USC running back Reggie Bush -- it's still a good bet he'll go to Houston -- the Saints will have a tough decision. Do they pass on Bush and take USC quarterback Matt Leinart or Texas quarterback Vince Young? Or do they pass on a quarterback and take Bush?
There's a chance the Vikings will file tampering charges against the Jaguars after former Vikings coach Mike Tice, now the assistant head coach in Jacksonville, said on a Jacksonville radio station that he already had contacted one of the Vikings' prospective unrestricted free agents. Because the free-agency signing period doesn't begin until March 3, team officials are technically prohibited from contacting players on other teams, although it's generally common practice that they reach out through intermediaries, usually agents . . .
The thinking among some Vikings officials is that quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who has complained about his contract situation in recent weeks, eventually will take a less hostile stance and remain with the team. Culpepper is on schedule in his rehab from a horrific knee injury in which he tore three ligaments, although he still might not be ready for the start of the regular season. If he's not, Brad Johnson will be the starter . . .
Mike Martz should have taken the Lions' offensive coordinator job. Instead, he said he'll sit out the season and hope to get back in the league next season as a head coach. He couldn't come to terms on a contract agreement with the Lions, although there is talk the Lions remain interested in hiring him. The feeling here is Martz should have taken less money and given himself an even better chance to get a head-coaching job by improving the Lions' chronically underachieving offense. Because of his frequent run-ins with Rams management, there is a belief among several teams that Martz is a liability as a head coach. Proving himself again as an offensive coordinator in a different situation would have improved his stock.
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