'Head coach in waiting' a bad idea

by Ed Valentine on Jan 4, 2009 9:28 AM EST in New York Giants News

Steve Spagnuolo (Jets, Broncos) and Kevin Gilbride (Raiders) both had interviews Saturday for head coaching jobs. Adam Schefter of NFL.com speculates that the Giants would be willing to make Spagnuolo 'head coach in waiting' to keep him.

I don't think that's a good idea. I think that's somewhat disrespectful to Tom Coughlin, since it tells him he is done at the end of this contract. Also, as secure as TC is, it still changes the relationship between Coughlin and Spagnuolo, and potentially splits locker room loyalty.

As much as I don't want to lose Spags, I think 'head coach in waiting' would be a mistake.

Your thoughts?

Poll

Should the New York Giants make Steve Spagnuolo 'head coach in waiting'?

Yes

126 votes

No

129 votes

255 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Agreed

Can anyone think of an instance where this has worked? Jason Garrett’s star is falling in Dallas with players complaining about his play calling & Jones letting him talk to other teams about HC positions. Is he really that important to them if they let him talk to the Lions? I guess the jury is still out in Seattle, but they were terrible this year right before the transition. I can’t think of other examples, so if anyone can come up with an example of this working then I’d love to hear it.

Spags is a great coordinator, but do we know for sure he’d make a great HC? There’s is plenty of examples of coaches that can’t make that transition. So the Giants can do 2 things by doing this. As Ed said the locker room could be divided and TC could lose some of his stature, which is extremely important for a HC. And Spags could just be set up for failure if he’s not HC material or if he even falters at first because he’ll need to grow into a HC. Do you think we or the media will have the patience needed when the Giants are set up to be a contender & things don’t go well right away?

It’s too many question marks for my taste. If he goes it’ll hurt, but he CAN be replaced. There are other good coaches in the NFL.

by potroast on Jan 4, 2009 10:03 AM EST reply actions

Good work, pot

Youve covered all the important points.

by blue gonz on Jan 4, 2009 10:50 AM EST up reply actions

Bronco fan here

I voted no, but that is just because we would love to have him.

One other thing that bothers me though is that he is being interviewed in the middle of a playoff run. From a sportsmanship point of view that really doesn’t sit well with me. In 2005 the Broncos’ OC Gary Kubiak was interviewed prior to the AFC Championship game by the Texans, promptly announced that he would be the new head coach of the Texans in 2006, and the offense looked miserable the following week. Probably not a direct connection, as there were other problems in that game, but it was upsetting to have an important cog in the offensive machine distracted like that when he was right in the middle of something.

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Jan 4, 2009 10:11 AM EST reply actions

Interviews

Unfortunately, this is the way the system works. Many of the openings are filled before the Super Bowl, so if Spags wants any shot at these jobs — which he is entitled to — this is what he has to do. I don’t like it, but it is how it works.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 4, 2009 11:46 AM EST up reply actions

I too think that this

has the potential to to a HUGE distraction. I vote yes on keeping him though. TC is getting pretty long in the tooth and may be ready to call it quits after this anyway. I mean he has reached the epitome of coaching in the NFL and it won’t get any better. As long as TC has a say in this approach, I don’t see a problem.

by MJ20 on Jan 4, 2009 10:19 AM EST reply actions

TC

He has 3 more years left on his contract. He is at the height of his career. Why on earth would he walk away before the deal is done? Besides which, who says he won’t want to keep coaching when that deal is done?

by Ed Valentine on Jan 4, 2009 11:47 AM EST up reply actions

No

at least not officially. Of course, they could offer him a raise and a private assurance that he’ll be the next HC

by cjmulrain on Jan 4, 2009 10:49 AM EST reply actions

A lot of things can happen in three years...

Only a little more than a year ago he was dead meat…..

by giant fan since 57 on Jan 4, 2009 1:18 PM EST reply actions

Spags has to do what is best for him and his career

So he should leave if he thinks he gets the right opportunity. Any answer other than that is lunacy and wishful thinking.

by brisulph on Jan 5, 2009 7:21 AM EST reply actions

As they were saying on the FAN the other day

Spags is THE hot head coaching prospect this season, and his ability to command top dollar will likely never be what it is right now. I hate like hell to lose him, not only because he’s a damn good DC, but because it gives me great satisfaction to know that we stole him from the Iggles. But sentimentality aside, pro football is a business, and I would never criticize him for grabbing the best offer he can get…AFTER his defense goes out and wins another SB.

by django48 on Jan 5, 2009 9:48 AM EST reply actions