News
Pressure to win lands some coaches on hot seat
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8297008/Pressure-to-win-lands-some-coaches-on-hot-seat
It's around this time every year when a list comes out with NFL coaches on the hot seat. With competitive balance, parity and the pressure to win, it seems like more and more coaches are coming under fire.
Let's separate fact from fiction.
Here's Schein's list of coaches who shouldn't fret about their job security, regardless of how 2008 turns out.
Mike Shanahan: — Shanahan won a recent power struggle with ousted general manager Ted Sundquist. It's a pressure-packed year in Denver, but even if the Broncos win eight games or less, Shanahan's head won't roll.
Whenever you are debating whether or not to fire a coach, an owner always asks if the club can do better. Fact is, it is impossible to do better than Shanahan. He's 130-78 in 13 seasons. Shanahan has the two Super Bowl championships. That's what you call a Hall of Fame-type resume. And I don't want to hear that he had John Elway back then and it was Elway who delivered Shanahan his rings. Shanahan got Elway to realize the team went through Terrell Davis. And I don't want to hear people question what he's done since Elway. Shanahan has chalked up four of his seven double-digit win seasons since No. 7 retired. Shanahan is one of the brightest minds in all of football.
While Denver owner Pat Bowlen talked about how important 2008 was when the club axed Sundquist, Shanahan recently told me he feels no extra pressure. And he shouldn't. Shanahan will be the coach as long as Bowlen owns the team.
It isn't Shanahan's fault that Brandon Marshall continues to show immaturity. And while you can question some of his moves as the head of personnel (Maurice Clarett was a terrible idea, as was the entire Browns defensive line), make sure to also give Shanahan credit for the trades that equaled Champ Bailey and Dre Bly, plus the golden 2006 draft of franchise quarterback Jay Cutler, Elvis Dumervil, Tony Scheffler, and Marshall, who despite his off-field issues has the makings of a future Pro Bowl receiver.
Andy Reid: — Whenever I get e-mails (video style) here on FOXSports.com or phone calls on my Sirius NFL Radio show from Eagles fans who want to fire Reid, I shake my head and laugh.
Do you remember how gruesome your franchise was before Reid?
Do you honestly believe you can find someone better than this top-10 NFL coach?
I don't want to hear about Reid being distracted when his kids had personal problems. Were you in the house? You have absolutely no idea.
I don't want to hear about his play selection/time management in the Super Bowl vs. the Patriots. It wasn't great, I grant you, but let's look big picture.
Every single year you know that if the club stays healthy, you are going to be in the mix for the Super Bowl. You don't trash something like that.
He's a whopping 86-56 in his Eagles career, and that includes a 5-11 1999 season when he had to clean up a mess from a prior regime.
In his next eight seasons, he won double-digit games six times, making the NFC title game four times.
Andy Reid doesn't deserve hot-seat status. He deserves a statue erected outside the stadium.
foxsports
6/30/08
Woods on crutches, recovering from knee surgery
http://msn.foxsports.com/golf/story/8300232/Woods-on-crutches,-recovering-from-knee-surgery
BETHESDA, Md. (AP) - Tiger Woods does not know when he can play golf again, but he said Monday his rebuilt left knee has been sore his entire PGA Tour career and he looks forward to playing on two good legs
"My left knee has been sore for 10 to 12 years," Woods said during a conference call for his AT&T National tournament, his first public comments since reconstructive surgery last Tuesday. "It will be nice to finally have a healthy leg. They assured me my long-term health will be a hell of a lot better than it's been over the last decade. I'm really looking forward to that."
Woods said doctors in Utah used a tendon from his right hamstring to rebuild the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, which he said had always been weak and finally snapped while jogging on a golf course last July.
foxsports
6/30/08