Packers Casting Couch Far From Idle » Brats & Beer

January 7, 2006
posted under: coaching carousel, Packers, Ted Thompson

Brad Childress might be out of the running, but Ted Thompson has plenty of other candidates to consider for the head coaching position in Green Bay. The Press-Gazette reports that Dallas assistant Sean Payton interviewed with the Packers on Thursday and Cleveland offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon was in town for an interview yesterday. Other NFL assistants scheduled to speak to Green Bay’s grey-haired GM include Ron Rivera (Chicago Bears), Mike McCarthy (San Francisco 49ers), Wade Phillips (San Diego Chargers), and the Packers’ own Jim Bates. The paper also says Thompson wants to talk with Steelers offensive line coach Russ Grimm and Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis next week after their teams complete their Wildcard round playoff games.

Now, I’ve never hired a head coach for an NFL franchise before, but then again neither has T. Thompson, so I’m feeling free to express my opinion on the matter (and so should you). Out of this talent pool, I would be leaning heavily towards Bates and Tim Lewis. Bates, of course, has been in Green Bay for a season, the players seem to like and respect him, and he has experience as interim head coach in Miami. Lewis, though, has a pretty good resume as defensive coach with the Steelers and now with the Giants. Both come across as tough-nosed and passionate, so either way I think would be a good new direction. Lewis also gets points here as a former Green Bay player.

Peyton is supposed to be a bright, young mind, but he got stripped of his play calling duties in New York (by Jim Fassel of all people), and Dallas had a pretty middle-of-the road offense this year. At times, in fact, they looked downright bad. You probably can’t blame it all on Peyton, but still, that’s the evidence we have. Plus, he seems a little young and possibly too short to be really taken seriously, though it’s hard to tell when he’s standing next to the Tuna.

Carthon is another Parcells disciple, having followed the Tuna from New England to the Jets and to Dallas before landing in Cleveland under Romeo Crennel. Cleveland was pretty abysmal this past season with an offense that scored a league-worst 14.5 points per game. (Though they still managed to beat the Packers.) Not the best credentials to start with, but then you look at their talent and I guess you have to give him a little slack. Still, I’m not terribly impressed.

As for the rest, McCarthy is tough to judge on numbers because his offense has been just so bad the past two years, Wade Phillips I’ve covered in another post, and Rivera works for the Bears, so he’s right out. I mean, seriously. Plus, I think Lovie Smith is going to steer his assistant towards the vacancy at his old team, the St. Louis Rams. I might be able to get excited about Grimm coming from the Steelers and all, but he’s a line coach and I think it would be asking a lot for him to jump right into the top slot.

There’s also a story out today that Brett Favre’s agent, James Cook, is starting to lobby for Steve Mariucci to get an interview. I guess we’re supposed to believe that No. 4 is putting in his two cents through his flack, but I think Cook is probably just doing a favor for Mooch’s agent, Gary O’Hagan, for keeping that plot line alive. Whatever the real story is, I swear I would go to Green Bay and steal all the pens out of the executive offices at Lambeau Field to stop Mariucci from signing any contract. I swear it.