The AP is reporting that Joe Gibbs is stepping down from being the head coach and team president of the Washington Redskins.
I figured this was coming as you could see the wear and tear this season took on the coach. Gregg Williams will most likely get the call as the new coach.
(edited by The King of Keith on 8.1.08 1015) Hail to the Redskins!
Before Gibbs arrived in DC, the last time the Redskins were NFL champs was in 1937 (first year in DC) and in 1942.
40 years after their last championship he coached him to the first of three Super Bowl titles.
With the way Snyder has supported Gibbs and how he is loved in DC, I always figured he's leave on his own terms.
Having said that, I figured he'd leave after his contract was up next year and try to build on this season. I am a die hard Skins fan and after the loss to the Cowboys, I thought they would be 6-10.
I'd be surprised if Gregg Williams or Al Saunders isn't promoted. Williams wasn't THAT bad in Buffalo and Saunders' system is what Collins knew and is what lead them to the playoffs.
-- 2006 Time magazine Person of the Year --
"Let me see if I can get inside his mouth." -- Michael Wilbon on PTI August 28, 2007
Originally posted by ZeruelI'd be surprised if Gregg Williams or Al Saunders isn't promoted. Williams wasn't THAT bad in Buffalo and Saunders' system is what Collins knew and is what lead them to the playoffs.
Didn't Williams sign a contract a year or so ago that guaranteed he's be Gibbs's successor? If I recall, should he not get the head coaching gig in D.C., he'd be due a huge payout.
Originally posted by MayhemDidn't Williams sign a contract a year or so ago that guaranteed he's be Gibbs's successor? If I recall, should he not get the head coaching gig in D.C., he'd be due a huge payout.
I think the deal was if they go for anyone not called Gregg Williams, then they're due to pay out the remainder of his contract (originally 3yrs for up to $8m, of which one year has now elapsed).
They could look elsewhere, but it would mean pissing away about $5-6m.
Convention dictates that Snyder will instead wait until free agency before siezing the opportunity to piss away this and more.
Originally posted by odessasteps Putting something in writing saying Williams would be the successor would likely violate the Rooney Rule and get Snyder a big, fat fine.
I've always understood it was a "wink wink" situation more than anything.
There's an exception to the Rooney Rule if you hire one of your current assistants as the new coach.
EDIT: To clarify, http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/01/the_rooney_rule.html says that the exception is if it is written into an assistant's contract that they will become the head coach, then no other interviews are required. Otherwise, you are required to interview a minority candidate, even if you later end up promoting from within. It sounds like that wouldn't apply in this case, because Williams' contract doesn't guarantee him the job, it guarantees him $1 million if he doesn't get the job.
Originally posted by odessasteps Putting something in writing saying Williams would be the successor would likely violate the Rooney Rule and get Snyder a big, fat fine.
I've always understood it was a "wink wink" situation more than anything.
There's an exception to the Rooney Rule if you hire one of your current assistants as the new coach.
I found one online source that confirms that: Click Here (aaregistry.com)
The exception would be when a team makes a commitment to promote one of its assistants.
-- 2006 Time magazine Person of the Year --
"Let me see if I can get inside his mouth." -- Michael Wilbon on PTI August 28, 2007
Originally posted by ZeruelI found one online source that confirms that: Click Here (aaregistry.com)
The exception would be when a team makes a commitment to promote one of its assistants.
What he said.
In terms of precedents, the Rams used it to promote Martz.
Haven't the Skins already indicated a willingness to consider external candidates though? That being the case, I don't know how serious these considerations would have to be before the Rooney Rule came into play again.
The only reason Gibbs was hired was to put butts in the seats to fill Dan's new stadium despite his horrible track record as an owner. I don't think the terms of that deal were ever released. I'm sure it was so huge that Joe would have had to be an idiot to turn it down but I don't think his heart was ever in it in the first place.
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