Urban Meyer is said to be asking for $12 mill per year
To go pro. That (depending on where you look) would make him the highest paid coach in the NFL. Belichick makes either $11 or $12 mill per yr.
January 5th, 2021 at 11:15 AM ^
C'mon, who doesn't like to splash around with gators.
January 5th, 2021 at 7:06 AM ^
Meyer won in Florida without a recruiting advantage?? Are you serious? Did you see the recruiting classes he had at Florida?
January 5th, 2021 at 7:54 AM ^
A lot of his recruits were killers! On and off the Field
January 5th, 2021 at 8:21 AM ^
They’ll have to hang it up eventually though.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:34 AM ^
Dude, really?
January 5th, 2021 at 8:48 AM ^
Some people have strong convictions
January 5th, 2021 at 9:49 AM ^
Remember Rodney Dangerfield jokes about a team they played. After killing the QB the defense went up to the stands to get his family..
January 5th, 2021 at 7:43 AM ^
I don't remember Saban failing at MSU. His teams were good. He just had greater aspirations.
January 5th, 2021 at 9:29 AM ^
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/nick-saban-1.html
Saban's dynamic run did not really begin until 2008. At MSU he was 6-5-1, 6-6, 7-5, 6-6, 9-2 (34-24-1). At LSU he went 8-4, 10-3, 8-5, 13-1, 9-3 (48-16). Overall he ranks #17 for all time win % at .799. Meyer is the #3 all time win % at .854 behind Rockne and Leahy and he has the highest bowl win% at .800.
My conclusion is that Meyer is more an Xs and Os coach and Saban is a Jimmyies and Joes coach. Obviously you need some of each to be a successful as both men are, but on a level playing field, I take Meyer over Saban.
January 5th, 2021 at 11:12 AM ^
Pretty sure you have this backwards. Saban is absolutely an X's and O's coach. Just watch his videos where he delves into different coverages and defensive setups.
January 5th, 2021 at 12:04 PM ^
Some context is important here. MSU was on probation in Saban's first four years and only had something like 70 scholarships. Under those constraints, he did pretty well to avoid a losing season. In 1999 they got the full 85 and shot up to 10-2.
January 5th, 2021 at 12:09 PM ^
My understanding is that they are both Xs and Os guys, just on opposite sides of the ball.
Personally, I would take Saban over Meyer. Both win, both cheat, but Saban isn’t a sanctimonious ass about it and he doesn’t protect murderers and wife beaters from legal repercussions (that we know of). Meyer is a dirtbag human being whose competitiveness stresses him out to the point of being unhealthy for both him and those around him. One could argue that Saban has had more success because he doesn’t let the job overwhelm him.
January 5th, 2021 at 9:10 AM ^
If Saban failed at MSU, why did LSU poach him?
January 5th, 2021 at 5:43 AM ^
That would be wonderful.
January 5th, 2021 at 5:56 AM ^
I’m not convinced he even wants to coach in the NFL. This is a ridiculous request but his ego is all he thinks through.
January 5th, 2021 at 7:09 AM ^
Exactly right. I doubt he’s willing to take a chance on going 4-12 in the NFL even for $12M a year. That would tarnish his larger than life persona.
He’s a terrific college coach but I don’t think it would transfer over to the NFL.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:19 AM ^
The question is whether Meyer can win in a non-recruiting environment. His other worldly recruiting skills are just about useless in a league with a salary cap and a draft.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:36 AM ^
He dominated at BGSU and Utah with less than stellar recruiting classes. I honestly think he's proven to be a better coach than Saban due to his ability to win absolutely every place he has ever been.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:55 AM ^
His recruiting at BGSU and Utah was also pretty darn good - for the levels those schools were at. He out-crooted the MAC when he was winning at BGSU, and he was recruiting a step below PAC 10 level when coaching at Mountain West member Utah. Those schools are not going to regionally out-croot Michigan, OSU, USC, and UW, let alone do so nationally. He was still recruiting above his level at those schools, though...
January 5th, 2021 at 9:04 AM ^
You are making shit up. He was only at BGSU for 2 years so his recruits only made it to their sophomore year while he was there. They went 2-9 the season before he arrived and then he promptly went 8-3 his very first season.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:58 AM ^
Watching him as an analyst, I think he has a shot at being successful in the NFL. He is an incredibly talented coach. He will no longer have the "recruiting advantage," which is a big risk when you're facing similarly talented or more talented teams. But I actually think he could do well.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:51 AM ^
Ridiculous request? He might as well ask for $20M. If someone is dumb enough to pay him, why begrudge him taking it?
A lawyer buddy of mine hated doing bankruptcy cases, just hated them. But he still had former clients referring him new clients who would be asking if he could handle their case. Finally, he decided, screw it and he more than doubled his fee.
His rationale was that reference to the old analogy of life being like a shit sandwich; the more bread you got, the less you taste the shit.
Parenthetically, it didn't work. He got more referrals than ever; it seemed like these new clients were thinking that he must have been the best bankruptcy attorney ever: just LOOK at how much he charges.
January 5th, 2021 at 12:22 PM ^
You said: "Parenthetically, it didn't work"
Are you kidding :-) Sounds like he made a lot more money!
January 5th, 2021 at 9:31 AM ^
Plus the owner in Jax has said he has control over the players. Don't see Meyer going for that.
January 5th, 2021 at 11:01 AM ^
Harbaugh's contract 2015 - If that's the market price for a good coach then he'd be foolish not to take it. 2019 - Why do people bring up his salary when discussing his coaching performance?
Meyer's contract 2020 - What a rip off!!! Idiots!!
January 5th, 2021 at 6:17 AM ^
Carson Wentz makes an average of $32M per year. Kirk Cousins $33M.
I guess $12M seems like a relative bargain compared to that when you get someone who could be a game changing coach like Meyer. Plus he doesn't even count against the salary cap.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:17 AM ^
Good point that both those QBs are overpaid for their results.
We have seen that maybe the QB is worth more than the coach - Brady > Belichick.
January 5th, 2021 at 9:10 AM ^
Yeah, if Gruden is making $10mil/year and hasn't won anything since he has been back (and after not being a coach for 10 years). If he can get $10, then I certainly think it is reasonable for Urbs to argue for $12. Plus those NFL make money hand over fist with a hard salary cap on players. The owners can and will splurge.
January 5th, 2021 at 6:34 AM ^
Eh, good for him. If Gruden can make $10 mil per year, why can't a Urban ask for 11 or 12?
January 5th, 2021 at 7:09 AM ^
Gruden’s Super Bowl victory is his ex caliber. Meyer is unproven in a league where he cannot buy the best team.
January 5th, 2021 at 10:03 AM ^
Meyer's only got to prove himself to one desperate GM or owner. I'd bet he can get that kind of money
January 5th, 2021 at 3:42 PM ^
Agreed, UM should have no problem getting 10-12 million in the league. All the blather about he can't coach without this or that is just personal rancor. He can flat out coach anywhere.
January 5th, 2021 at 7:11 AM ^
Haha. He doesn’t really wanna coach then.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:24 AM ^
I doubt he does. He's already got money. And he has become a star as a studio analyst. A nice paycheck and zero stress.
January 5th, 2021 at 4:30 PM ^
ha you said it best...if he is asking for that much for never coaching a down in teh NFL, he doesnt care if he does or doesn't. Why wouldnt you ask for that much...he knows he would take a lot of losses to his stellar career so I would do the same.
I dont see it happening if this is the price, be paid more that arguably the greatest coach in history (Bill B.)...uh yeah, not sure about that.
January 5th, 2021 at 7:51 AM ^
He wants more money than any current NFL coach, despite never coaching a single down in the NFL at any level, and with a track record of prematurely leaving his last two jobs because of cheating/scandal/health reasons, meaning he's a huge flight risk if anything goes badly which is more likely than the alternative. Honestly he sounds perfect for the cowboys
January 5th, 2021 at 8:02 AM ^
He won 2 national championships at Florida before leaving "prematurely" and he won another at OSU before leaving "prematurely".
I am 100% certain that if he brings a Super Bowl win, any franchise looking for a coach would gladly pay him $12M/season and see him leave "prematurely".
January 5th, 2021 at 8:18 AM ^
Yes, I can hear Sheila Ford Hamp saying, "Hold my car keys"
January 5th, 2021 at 8:21 AM ^
Pulling out prematurely like Meyer did is preferred over climaxing prematurely, like our coach did.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:27 AM ^
Ugh. Just a nasty visual. Thanks Brutus.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:59 AM ^
Asshole.
I did not want to see Jim's 'O' face. Thanks for that. Asshole.
January 5th, 2021 at 11:13 AM ^
You've already seen it. I really miss JMFH.
January 5th, 2021 at 1:39 PM ^
Either he has really dark eyes or those are straight LSD pupils.
January 5th, 2021 at 7:52 AM ^
Good on him. Use your leverage, ask high when negotiating, bet on yourself. All things we do when getting a new job, especially when being recruited!
January 5th, 2021 at 8:28 AM ^
Well now, there's no need for me to make an original comment... LOL!! But yeah, he's proven himself at multiple locations and levels of football. If you think it translates to the NFL, then pay the money for a great coach. If you don't, he still has a cushy TV job...
Personally, I don't think his brand of football translates well, at all. His offense is fairly basic and relies on superior athleticism and talent - advantages that can be obtained via recruiting in college, but don't really exist in the NFL. His defense is mainly a backstop against a shootout - get a few stops and his offense will beat you - and also relies, to a lesser degree, on athleticism and talent. Both units run fairly simple schemes. He'll score some points in the NFL, but won't be able to out-athlete other teams. I see a mediocre performance in the NFL for him. His biggest asset as a coach, IMO, is that he is a fantastic identifier and recruiter of talent.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:11 AM ^
Jacksonville...Jacksonville???
January 5th, 2021 at 8:37 AM ^
Jacksonville has 7 playoff wins since the Loins last one despite having only 8 winning seasons so there are worse jobs open at the moment.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:19 AM ^
never hurts to ask
January 5th, 2021 at 8:23 AM ^
12 million cures a lot of "health issues".
January 5th, 2021 at 8:40 AM ^
I read this, looked at your avatar and thought of Newman as Urban Meyer's conscience. +1 to you sir.
