OT: NFL Black Monday
As we prepare for tonight’s CFP Championship game by F5-ing our keyboards for last minute updates/reports, I was reminded that today is “Black Monday” for NFL teams axing their coaching staffs.
As a Lions fan, it’s rather nice not to have the impending doom and gloom of going through another coaching search but the time is nigh for other team’s HC to march to the gallows.
I believe the following NFL HC positions are open:
- Falcons
- Commanders
- Chargers
- Raiders
- Panthers
And other HC jobs might soon follow, too, including the Patriots, Jets, and the Bears.
For our sanity, less assume Harbaugh stays for the time being so we don’t have to go down that rabbit hole.
- What other teams/coaching staffs make a shake-up and who do you think should fill these roles?
- Any college coaches make the leap to the NFL or assistants get scooped up quickly?
- Lastly, what do you think of the term Black Monday and have you ever been part of an impending layoff due to factors within or outside your control?
January 8th, 2024 at 11:57 AM ^
They need to go back to their logo and helmets but just change the name to warriors.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:07 PM ^
Back in the days, they had the letter R in a circle with a feather sticking out. Change the R to a W and go with Warriors and it's perfect.
But I'm sure some corporate consultant who got paid hundreds of thousands of dollars was super proud of themselves for coming up with Commanders.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:21 PM ^
No one wants to make the Potatoes joke?
I think part of why they didn't even really consider Warriors ultimately is because they wanted to get far away from anything even remotely related to Native Americans. Perhaps you can argue that "warriors" is not a word unique to Native American culture, but coming from the name Redskins, I assure you that would have been a complaint from many. People were upset with "Washington Football Team" because they believed it was a covert way of keeping the name Redskins. And if they kept the feather, as I believe you were saying, well that was definitely a nonstarter.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:27 PM ^
I didn't believe that the entire name and logo change was much more than the NFL hated Dan Snyder and rightfully so. The logo and name Warriors would have been the easiest on most acceptable by the fans. As long as the Chiefs have their "War Chant" and someone banging a big native drum before games, this entire thing was a show.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:35 PM ^
It wasn't the NFL. It was one of his minority owners, FedEx CEO Fred Smith--who also had the naming rights to the stadium. He basically was getting the ball rolling on everyone pulling advertising if there was no name change. Because he hated Snyder. As did everyone.
They were getting away from Native American imagery 100%. The time for going from very controversial to slightly less controversial was over. The time for that would have been about 2000.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:56 PM ^
Why not reinstate the feather and change the name to Savages. They could even have a Savage on a horse drive a spear into an effigy of George Armstrong Custer. How 1870s would that be?
/s
January 8th, 2024 at 1:07 PM ^
They shouldve done a tip o the cap to their old offensive lines and used "hogs" it was an already embraced name.
Fighting Hogs?
War Hogs?
Battle Hogs?
January 8th, 2024 at 12:49 PM ^
Washington Federals with colors of blue and gold. Army of the Potomac soldier as emblem.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:25 PM ^
Now that you mention it, "Army of the Potomac" would be a fantastic team name.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:53 AM ^
Commanders is fine. The next one will also be fine (probably). Washington Football Team was fine, especially as a stop-gap. People just want to shit on that franchise. And tbf, it's a shitty franchise that had a shitty owner so they deserved it.
January 8th, 2024 at 11:56 AM ^
January 8th, 2024 at 12:12 PM ^
"Washington Presidents" would have been cool and unique.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:38 PM ^
I really liked "Washington Football Team."
January 8th, 2024 at 11:49 AM ^
Is Oakland still in play?
January 8th, 2024 at 12:00 PM ^
look I want Jim to stay but it is insane that this is still a meme here when he has been actively trying to leave for three offseasons and is almost certainly gone this one if anyone wants him
January 8th, 2024 at 12:13 PM ^
Well, memes typically die off on their own when there has been some type defining action one way or another.
“Oakland or ____ still in play?” has actually evolved to a blanket meme/term used for anyone, or anything for that matter, that may have one foot out the door. Harbaugh’s coy and indecisive nature related to his future jobs prospects is part of his persona and that’s something you’ll have to live with.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:22 PM ^
And what is bananas is that, uh, yeah, it's still in play. Well, Vegas is anyway.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:13 PM ^
Last year I don't think he was trying to leave. He listened to Denver's pitch but quickly rejected it.
As for this year, we'll see.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:31 PM ^
The injury-riddled Dolphins lost to the Bills, lost 1st place in the division, and lost a nationally broadcast game: they're the Saturday night game @ KC on Peacock @ 8PM ET.
Rams @ Lions on NBC Sun @ 8 PM.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:40 PM ^
If Harbaugh leaves:
Harbaugh to Washington. A lot of cap space, #2 pick in draft, and close to John while not being in same conference.
DeBoer to Michigan. Juwan’s issues make hiring a noobie coach like Moore untenable especially with that upcoming schedule. DeBoer has connections to the state/county ane region, is a proven great coach(110-11), and would develop JJ/Jadyn Davis into elite passers. The man coached in the Big Ten. He knows that physicality is required. Lance Leipold clone.
I like Sherrone, but hiring him over a proven head coach is a risk the program can’t afford to take. Too much money is on the line to take such a risk.
That said, I hope Harbaugh stays. He has this train moving and has a chance to be a coaching legend at the college level.
January 8th, 2024 at 2:03 PM ^
I would’ve agreed prior to this year that Sherrone was a little too green behind the ears to give a full time HC position to but beating PSU, Maryland, and OSU in succession with all of the noise is pretty damn impressive.
At the very least, he should get serious consideration and probably a recommendation from JH should he leave. He’d likely leave for a HC elsewhere or follow JH wherever he goes as an assistant. Dude loves Harbaugh. Minter or Hart might also stay if the band only loses the lead singer.
Lastly, Moore would likely keep most of the major roster puzzle pieces together in an age where kid’s transfer on a whim. Not saying he needs to be grandfathered in as coach but steering a ship through a storm is much easier than building it back from scratch.
January 8th, 2024 at 2:31 PM ^
DeBoer worked with Hart. Pretty sure Hart would stay on.
Moore could also steer it into the rocks. He has never handled a program before. While he did a great job on gameday do remember that Harbaugh was there throughout the week.
Michigan needs a proven hand to keep the ship moving. DeBoer has proven to be a winner at all levels. If he is willing to come here you have to make that move. Michigan can’t risk going into the wild again.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:42 PM ^
- The Chargers and Bears are the only teams that scare me when it comes to Harbaugh.
- All of the teams will make a run at Belichick, but I can only see him going to a team that has a QB, so not Washington or Raiders. Bears or Panthers are the most likely spots.
- Any team looking for a new DC should be giving Minter a look.
January 8th, 2024 at 3:06 PM ^
He is not going to the Bears if Kevin Warren is still in charge.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:44 PM ^
Perhaps a playoff team that loses in the 1st round (Dallas, Philly, etc.) might entertain making a change, but even then you are competing for a few hot prospects (Ben Johnson, etc.).
NE is likely to find a way for Bill to leave with some pride. Not sure how they'd do that but Kraft is not going to fire a guy with 6 SB titles. And yes, Ryan Day would be an obvious choice.
Lincoln Riley seems to be the best fit for NFL (open offenses, optional D) so I'm starting to wonder if he is Chargers Plan B.
As for workplace layoffs, I've been on both ends. Having to release a person (it is one of the ugliest feelings ever) and also hoping to survive the next cuts. Happily, when Covid layoffs were being announced in 2020, I had already let my leader know I was up for being RIF (reduction in force) because the severance package was very nice. Even got to work into 2021. Never was anything inside my control, except perhaps to "choose" one of two people whose names were given to me, but one was going to leave. I understand the need for cost cutting when we have truly dire economic conditions that greatly impact demand for products and services (Great Recession 2008-09, Covid 2020) but all too often the cutbacks seem to be driven to satisfy Wall Street and meet earnings targets (set by them). I'm so glad I wasn't around to lay off people this past year. The people that I knew who got cut were not people you would ever expect to worry about their jobs.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:14 PM ^
Was watching a video about how layoffs werent really a thing until we became enslaved by shareholders. Maybe salaries were cut, hirings were frozen, etc but full layoffs because 8 months of 19% profit instead of record breaking 23% profit werent a thing.
Its very ugly and also the worst part is this tie to health insurance. You are going to get laid off and then also be on your own to pay medical bills? Brilliant.
January 8th, 2024 at 12:53 PM ^
*African American Monday
January 8th, 2024 at 12:54 PM ^
Commanders canned Rivera. Some rumors that Washington might look into Harbaugh but I just don't see it. The whole modus operandi of the Commanders is to hire a GM and then a HC, and those candidates would have to work with analytics. Harbaugh if poached would want full control so it would not make sense to pursue him in DC.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:06 PM ^
1) Belichek has probably done enough to be able to leave the organization on his own terms, but its clear that the symbiotic relationship he and had with Brady made that Pats dynasty what it was. They are a very, very ordinary team now without Brady. Saleh, in my opinion, should not be fired, and it would be foolish to do so. Their star QB went down five plays into the season and they had to adapt completely in the moment with Zach Wilson as their guy for the rest of the way. Saleh deserves to get to show what he can do with a fully healthy Aaron Rodgers.
2) Although they won't fire him this year because they made the playoffs (by default, in that godawful division), I think the Bucs should move on from Bowles. He is an absolutely fantastic DC, but that team isn't even remotely the same since Bruce Arians left. He was terrible in NY, and he ain't much better here. They're better than I thought they'd be, but they'll get trounced by the Eagles in the first round next week.
3) Even if Harbaugh stays, I bet Minter heads off to the league. He is going to be such a hot coaching commodity, he interviewed for the Eagles DC job last year, and if MacDonald gets a call to be a head coach as some are thinking he will be, I wouldn't be shocked if John Harbaugh calls and asks Minter to come back to Baltimore.
4) While I was thankfully not affected, my former company went through a massive layoff right as COVID shut everything down. 80% of my team got laid off on May 1st, 2020, including my manager and director. Out of a team of about twenty of us, four were spared and pushed into completely different temp roles that the company needed for a few months, and the hope would be that by the end of the summer, there would be an opportunity to convert that job into a full-time gig.
Thankfully that happened, and I was "re-hired" right after Labor Day, but it was for a job that essentially took my career backwards to a job I'd been doing before coming to this company. I thankfully didn't have to take a pay cut to do it, but the market was s**t, we just had our first child in July, and when you need the money, you freaking need the money. My wife is a middle school math teacher, so supporting a family just on her salary for an extended period of time was not an option.
I stuck around in that role for about eight months, and then in April 2021, I moved to the company I'm currently at, and I'm all the better for it.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:16 PM ^
Jesse Minter to the NFL as a DC with Harbaugh or not. Harbaugh 50/50 only due to the psychotic, villainous NCAA/B10 cabal. He stays for his family. Sherrone could get HC in college if he wants beside UM but he is the man if Jim leaves. Hope John H. has more grow a DC candidates from the Raven tree.
2008 auto industry. Forewarned 3 months ahead and decisions were made based on age by new owner to the point the loyal to her people HR person gave a list with ages (all over 40) of who was getting the boot. The litigious had a case, not sure if they pursued. End of the first week of December and since the recent takeover everybody was a 1 year employee getting two weeks severance and no medical past years'end. Memorable.
January 8th, 2024 at 1:20 PM ^
"Black Monday" always makes me think of Stock Market crashes, not job layoffs. The only prices crashing today are Boeing Stock Price and oil/gasoline prices.
I've been laid off twice. Once on a Monday, the other time on a Friday. Monday is preferrable to me - it's better to process the whole thing over some would-have-been-work-days as opposed to the weekend.
January 8th, 2024 at 3:07 PM ^
I think in the end Harbaugh will entertain but nobody will give him the kind of control he has at Michigan which I do believe is the sticking point or he'll need to at least have a very good working relationship like he would've had with Kwesi. Harbaugh can demand more now if he wins it tonight so I don't see him taking the first/only offer unless it fits his needs or blows him away.
End the end I think he'll decide to come back for a chance at b2b chips with JJ and a loaded defense. Teams like 144/145 don't grow on trees.
Or at least this is my hope/prayer.