Coaching rumors: Jeff Fisher a Redskin by 2008?

by Skin Patrol on Jul 19, 2007 10:40 AM EDT in News Comment 7 comments

This is not actually a rumor, as contact isn't even alleged to have been made between the Redskins and the Titans Head Coach, though I'm interested in where reader(s) sit on this:

Titans Coach Jeff Fisher is heading into the final year of his contract, but Wednesday he said he expects a new deal to be ironed out without problems.

There has been talk that Fisher could stall negotiations with the Titans and become a free agent after the 2007 season, when several high profile teams including the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, New York Giants and Cleveland Browns could be in the market for a new coach.

It doesn't get much more non-story than this. The Coach predicts a deal is made and the Redskins are mentioned only in virtue of them maybe-possibly-I-dunno needing a new Coach by year's end. Coach Gibbs is under contract through 2008, so that assumes he bails out after this season, which I find awfully presumptious on the part of The Tennessean. Then again, perhaps Gibbs will want to retire after his fourth Super Bowl victory.

I'm on record saying that it's doubtful Dan Snyder sends Coach Gibbs away prematurely, and whether Joe leaves the team has a lot to do with how this next season goes. I am not ready to presume a failed season and, consequently, a premature exit for Gibbs.

There's an additional issue with bringing in Coach Fisher to lead this team. How would Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams react to once again coaching under Jeff Fisher? Remember that Gregg Williams started his professional coaching career with the Oilers coaching staff in 1990, later joined by Fisher in 1995.

[Incidentally, that means Coach Williams was on the bad guys' team in our 16-13 victory over the Oilers in 1991, which Ben at The Curly R has chronicled so extensively.]

First, the Redskins would owe Coach Williams 1M dollars...

... that is allegedly stipulated in his contract should he not become the Head Coach when Gibbs departs. I cannot find a source on that claim, though. But even barring that, would Coach Williams want to be under Fisher yet again as DC, like he was from 1997-2000?

Before that gets sorted out, the better question to reader(s) is whether or not Fisher is a suitable replacement, at all?

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Fisher???

He is a good coach, but I have no idea why he allowed his offense to be decimated during this offseason-especially with the Titans being a legitmate playoff team (though you wonder now). I don't know how I really feel about that. If TN falters this year, it's in part because he's an idiot (save some behind-the-scenes garbage). If the titans manage 9-7 or better (particularly a 10-win season) he can reasonably expect a new contract. I'd still rather have The Chin, but I would rather wait to see what happens this year with our top in-house canidates.

by JustinU804 on Jul 19, 2007 6:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I also thought it was strange

how they let themselves be pillaged in the offseason. Especially offensively, given that Vince Young is still young and needs some help.

I also thought drafting Chris Henry was a stretch. Then again, I don't know the team's management structure. Maybe Fisher isn't in charge of that.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Jul 19, 2007 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll take either Bill Cowher or Jeff Foxworthy

Both would be great Redskins coaches.

Good spot, SP on the Gregg Williams heritage. I have edited part two to reflect Gregg's UH time and added it into part seven for tomorrow, with a hat tip to you.

=====Curly R: The Redskins Blog=====

by thatguyben on Jul 19, 2007 7:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thank you sir

We accept payment in the form of more detailed and multi-part posts on great Redskins games at Curly R. Get on it.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Jul 19, 2007 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Funny you should mention that

I'm just putting the finishing touches on my new 34-part series, Heath Shuler's Only Good Drive.

=====Curly R: The Redskins Blog=====

by thatguyben on Jul 19, 2007 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't imagine the Cowboys looking...

for a head coach after just signing Wade Phillips and having Jason Garrett on the staff...

Maybe it's just me.

by TexSkins on Jul 19, 2007 8:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wade is the stopgap

Jason Garrett is the future. An inexperienced, pliant catamite that will service Jerry Jones for two, maybe three summers before growing up and running off to a college team or a coordinator's job.

After Bill Parcells, Jerry won't be hiring any megastars for a while.

=====Curly R: The Redskins Blog=====

by thatguyben on Jul 19, 2007 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs