My plan was to open this article discussing the New York Jets’ decision to extend head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan’s contracts, but then news broke like a Looney Tunes anvil hitting Wile E Coyote, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are keeping head coach Dirk Koetter in 2018.
Not only that, but the Washington Redskins have decided to retain the services of Jay Gruden for another season.
For those two fan bases, all I can say is, I tried. I really did.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
It’s common, in politics, for someone like the President and his staff to toss out seemingly unpopular news bits on Friday night, hoping apathy, laziness and the prospect of a weekend filled with beer, cocaine and hookers will keep the news media too busy to follow up on it.
This kind of dump, in every sense of that word, is what the Buccaneers did Friday when they told the NFL Network’s Ian Rappaport that they would be keeping Dirk Koetter as their head coach for 2018.
The #Bucs are bringing back coach Dirk Koetter for a third year, source says. @NFLSTROUD on it first.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 29, 2017
For Bucs fans, that has to hit like a cinder block to the baby making parts. There were plenty of rumors swirling about that former Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden was already assembling a staff for a triumphant return to Florida’s taint. If he is contacting guys, it’s not for the Bucs job. Nope, that still belongs to Koetter, who took a team everyone thought was primed for a playoff run and made them 4-11.
Koetter was tossed the reigns two seasons ago after the team fired his boss, Lovie Smith, and elevated the offensive coordinator to head coach. The idea was he would expand the offense and further develop their young quarterback, Jameis Winston. How has he done?
“Dirk Koetter to return to @TBBuccaneers in 2018, @TBTimes_Sports ”: pic.twitter.com/pSrZcMlckP
— Xavi Pereda (@XaviPereda) December 29, 2017
In his 31 games as head coach, the Buccaneers are No. 22 in scoring and Winston has turned the ball over more (39 times) than any other player in the NFL. Koetter is 13-18 as a head coach.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
At the same time Buccaneers ownership was shitting all over their fans’s hopes and dreams, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder looked at the chaos, sadness and rending of garments and said, “Here, hold my Appletini.”
Washington has decided it too will retain its head coach in one Jay Gruden, much to the chagrin of their own fans and the Cincinnati Bengals, who really wanted to hire him as their next mediocre head coach.
One coach to take off the hot seat, if he was ever on it: #Redskins coach Jay Gruden. There is a deep understanding of the injuries they battled and how he and his staff kept it together. Heading into Week 17, no plans for major changes in Washington, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 29, 2017
Gruden is 28-34-1 with the Redskins and his team missed the playoffs for the last two seasons. It would have been every season of his head coaching career, but they accidentally slid in at 9-7 three years ago and were soundly trounced right back out again.
Gruden hasn’t done a completely terrible job in Washington, he’s just not been good. The year his team did make the playoffs was pure luck and the organization is apparently blaming missing out this year on injuries, completely ignoring the strides other teams in the division have taken. Look at the Eagles then look at the Redskins and tell me which team’s regime has been in control longer with a franchise quarterback.
It’s ridiculous.
But even more ridiculous was the fact that, if the Redskins had loaded him in the trebuchet and launched him over the Potomac, he would have safely landed with the Bengals. It’s just outrageous. All of it.
NEW YORK JETS
Here’s one coach retention I can actually get behind. The Jets have worked out new contracts for head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan and announced that early Friday, before they got their thunder stolen by the Redskins and Buccaneers.
“We are very happy to have extended both Mike and Todd. During their time here, they have worked together to help the organization build a foundation on which to grow,” Jets CEO Christopher Johnson said in a statement. “They are identifying, developing, and getting productivity out of our players. I believe we are headed in the right direction. This provides us continuity and stability as we continue to move this team towards sustained success. We still have a lot of work to do and I am excited to work closely with both of them as we move forward.”
Jets give two-year contract extensions to Todd Bowles, GM Mike Maccagnanhttps://t.co/ubl1L36USc pic.twitter.com/uaRLpLEBfL
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) December 29, 2017
The Jets are currently 5-10 and, with the New England Patriots on the horizon, are likely to finish 5-11 so why is this a good move for New York?
Because this is the worst roster in the league. Everyone, including me, assumed the Jets were tanking this season for the No. 1 pick. You know who didn’t think that? Bowles.
Winning five games with these players, more than half of which probably won’t be back with the team next season, is a coaching feat. Bowles coached his ass off for those five wins. Five of their 10 losses were by a touchdown or less. This is a head coach who knows what the hell he’s doing and knows how to prepare a team. Give him some time and a quarterback and the Jets will be fine.
TENNESSEE TITANS
I’m on record, both in print, on podcasts and on the radio saying Mike Mularkey should be fired by the Titans at the end of this season, regardless of how the team finishes. Maybe, just maybe, ownership was listening.
Titans head coach Mike Mularkey: 'There's not enough time' to think about being firedhttps://t.co/NYmfXExyxo pic.twitter.com/n09U6XVl0w
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) December 29, 2017
Mularkey’s Tennessee squad is 8-7 right now and faces a win-and-they’re-in scenario against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday. Making the playoffs is absolutely the worst thing that could happen for this franchise. Hopefully, Amy Adams Strunk will see what the rest of us see, even if the Titans manage to sneak into the postseason and immediately lose. Mularkey has to go.
Mularkey was asked about it Friday.
“There’s so much going on with this week’s game plan. There’s not enough time to think about any of that,” Mularkey said. “I can’t even talk to my family this time of year. I can’t worry about things that are out of my control. God has a plan for me. Whatever that is, I’m going to follow it.”
God obviously has a plan. Hopefully, for the Titans’ sake, Adams Stunk is listening.
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