Mr. Scot

I'd add that Quinn is only one of the guys who has direct connections to the current edition of the Panthers that I know of (one of the others, oddly enough, is Sean Payton) The rest: - Ken Dorsey (Dan Morgan) - Ben Johnson (Joe Dailey, Luke Kuechly) - Shane Steichen (Steve Wilks) If Steichen got the job, he might want to keep Wilks on as his DC. Likewise, Johnson might ask Luke Kuechly if he wants a role on his staff.

One more breakdown (on slightly different terms) Guys who are ready right now - Don Martindale - Rich Bisaccia - Frank Reich (if he's fired) - Dan Quinn - Sean Payton Guys with current connections to the Panthers - Dan Quinn - Sean Payton - Ken Dorsey - Ben Johnson - Shane Steichen Guys I'd like to see more of in their current roles before making them a head coach - Ken Dorsey - Ben Johnson - Brian Callahan - Kellen Moore - Mike LaFleur - Mike Kafka - Frank Smith - Demeco Ryans - Jerod Mayo - Kellen Moore - Byron Leftwich - Frank Smith - Liam Coen Guys on the defensive side of the ball - Jonathan Gannon - Patrick Graham - Lou Anarumo - Jerod Mayo Guys who I'm not big fans of but who potentially could be candidates - Dan Quinn - Brian Flores - Raheem Morris - Leslie Frazier - Jim Harbaugh - Eric Bieniemy Guys we like but might not be able to get - Sean Payton (for obvious reasons) - Shane Steichen (depending on the Chargers)

Yeah, can't say I'm a fan of this idea. Have to acknowledge it's a real possibility though. (lots of already connected dots)

...and there's a reasonable possibility that it could be given that he's a hot head coaching candidate, fits the "experienced head coach" profile that David Tepper is believed to want and has connections to both Scott Fitterer and Dan Morgan from their days in Seattle. If he does get the job, the first question people are likely to ask will be who he's going to choose for his offensive coordinator. With that in mind, I took a look at some of his current and former colleagues on the offensive side of the ball who might be available. Mind you, some of what might have been his best options aren't available because they've got coordinator or head coaching jobs already (particularly those associated with Kyle Shanahan). Here are some he conceivably could get. There are some decent options, but I wouldn't necessarily find some of these choices all that exciting. Cowboys OL Coach Joe Philbin - plenty of OC experience and has been a head coach, but after his failure in Miami his career looks to be headed in the wrong direction Cowboys Coaching Analyst Brian Schottenheimer - again, plenty of OC experience but has had kind of an up and down career (currently down) Cowboys QB Coach Doug Nussmeier - played in the NFL, OC experience, but mostly at the college level, might be a better QB coach but that would be a lateral move Dolphins QB Coach Darrell Bevell - the OC for the Seahawks Super Bowl losing season, but based on more recent tevelations, not necessarily to blame for how the game ended, currently working under Mike McDaniel in Miami Seahawks Associate Head Coach Carl Smith - up there in age (74) and has more experience as a position coach than as a coordinator Browns OL Coach Bill Callahan - his son is the more popular family member these days, dad Bill is more experienced but somewhat less successful Rams Senior Offensive Assistant Greg Olson - member of the Gruden tree, well travelled but not always the most popular guy, his offenses tend to be more good than great University of Missouri Offensive Analyst Scott Linehan - interviewed here for the QB coach job that ultimately went to Sean Ryan, known to be a good offensive mind but also a bit of a prickly personality Former Titans Head Coach Mike Mularkey - another former head coach (three times) but has been out of the league for a few years after announcing his retirement in 2019 Former Seahawks OL Coach Tom Cable - also out of the league currently (since 2018), was fired from his Seahawks gig, probably a better OL coach than OC but there are better options for that position too Former Bengals / Bears OC Bill Lazor - was getting head coach buzz for a while when he was with the Bengals but ended up fired instead, went to the Bears under Matt Nagy and well, you probably know how that turned out Former Cowboys Head Coach Jason Garrett - a long shot, there's talk he wants to coach again but he definitely wouldn't be the first guy I'd call _________________________ So...yeah You're looking at a pretty WCO heavy group there, so I'd expect that to be the base offensive system. Out of that group, your best choices might be Bevell and Olson. I could see Callahan if there was some way to also get his son, but that's extremely unlikely. Ultimately, the best bet for a good OC might come from a team who fires their head coach this season. Frank Reich might be an option. Hell, Quinn's current boss Mike McCarthy could too. It's even conceivable that someone like Ben Johnson might come available if the Lions fire Dan Campbell and Johnson doesn't get a head coaching job somewhere else. Of course, none of those guys have any prior history with Quinn. What might be the most ideal and desired option would be someone from the Kyle Shanahan tree, but that tree has been picked pretty clean and the fruit that remains on it probably isn't ripe yet. I suppose he could call Papa Mike Shanahan. He's 70 and retired, but he (or Kyle, for that matter) could potentially put him in touch with someone else they may know. Bottom Line though, this would be a pretty important hire, and the prospects don't exactly take your breath away. But hey, you never know...

What Tepper thinks of the roster affects what he decides about whether Fitterer stays. Whether I agree or not doesn't matter. As far as the OL, remember we heard things shifted on the personnel fronts. That's why I'm comfortable giving Fitterer (and Morgan) credit for their work. Also again, I'm arguing for Fitterer to be given the chance to operate without Matt Rhule. You're arguing that he deserves to be fired regardless of what happened in a situation where he did not have final say. Does that really seem reasonable to you? If it does, I can't help you.

Tepper isn't viewed well around the league, but last time I checked he's still in charge of who works here. So if he thinks the roster is good, who does he credit? In your mind, our roster being bad is Fitterer's fault (Fitt's roster - your words) even though he didn't have roster control, because...you say so? If Tepper thinks the roster is good, is it still "Fitt's roster" or does that change? And despite it being stated that Rhule had control of the quarterback situation, he's to blame for that as well...why exactly? Did Fitterer also seek out the former Temple and Baylor players on our roster because...he just thought it'd be a good idea? You'rve stated more than once that it's impossible to know who did what, yet now you're ready to put all the blame on Fitterer...why? To win the argument? You're tying yourself in some major knots here...

None that I know of.

Well for one, your comparisons aren't to similar situations. Interim coaches, for example, are always in bad situations. They're part of losing teams, saddled with staffs they didn't pick, and in Wilks' case with one he may not even like. They rarely get the job, even when they arguably should (Rich Bisaccia, for example). Fitterer isn't an interim, but he's also not in a spot where he can do a whole lot. Roster building is mostly an offseason exercise. Outside of maintenance and maybe a trade or two, his work for the year would mostly be done. And no, a fire sale isn't a good idea. Especially not if they do want to genuinely give Steve Wilks a chance. (and they should)

Because he has the job. That's not difficult. Wi the regard to the comment, it was specifically describing how Tepper is viewed around the league, so ..yeah. As far as what I've seen, the offensive line would be the first thing (and in one offseason, no less). And again, Tepper himself said the roster has improved over the past few years. Do you think he's crediting the guy he just fired with that?

This kind of post is when you know you don't have anything substantive left to argue with.

Now you're dead certain his job performance is poor? How did you get there? And yes, Tepper is viewed poorly. Hence the "that job for that boss" comments.

Ryan worked under McAdoo in New York.

Never worked with Wilks

Suppose current OC Ben McAdoo continues to not be able to cut the mustard? Where could interim head coach Steve Wilks turn for help? Obviously, you can't install a new offensive system in the middle of the season. That would leave Wilks searching for an on-staff replacement, with quarterback coach Sean Ryan likely being the only viable option. But if Wilks we're to, say, reach out to someone who could come on board as a consultant to maybe call plays or assist in some other fashion, who would some of the options be? Looking back at his history, the following names present themselves... Norv Turner, Retired, Former Panthers OC Turner and Wilks have worked together twice, first in San Diego then with Carolina. Norv would be readily available (as long as his wife agrees). Jim Skipper, Retired, Former Panthers RB Coach Skipper and Wilks we're on the Panthers staff together for a bit and he's been an OC before. Freddie Kitchens, Senior Analyst, University of South Carolina Kitchens has a consultant type role already at the college level. He and Wilkes were together in Cleveland along with OL Coach James Campen. Rob Chudzinski, Special Assistant to the Head Coach, Boston College Another current college consultant, and an acquaintance of Wilks from their Charger days. Todd Haley, Head Coach, Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL) Haley was let go from the Browns and replaced with Kitchens. He's technically got a full-time job but this is his offseason. ________________________ Not a great best, but not a terrible one either. Mind you, there are other potentially better options but most of them are currently employed elsewhere in the NFL. Can't say I really expect anything like this to happen, but there are options at least.

It was actually a very fair article.

Rhule got a fair shot, especially given he had full control. If you can find someone suggesting otherwise, link em.

While we're at it, here are some potentially available assistants from staffs whose coaches are or may be on the hot seat. Frank Reich, OC or QB Coach Pep Hamilton, QB Coach Ken Zampese, QB Coach Ben McDaniels, WR Coach Juan Castillo, OL Coach Hal Hunter, OL Coach John Matsko, OL Coach Sean Kugler, OL Coach Kevin Mawae, OL Coach Jack Del Rio, DC Gus Bradley, DC Jeff Zgonina, DL Coach Matt Burke, DL Coach Richard Smith, LB Coach Billy Davis, LB Coach Vance Joseph, DB Coach Chris Harris, DB Coach Mike Mitchell, DB Coach Bubba Ventrone, ST Coach Jeff Rodgers, ST Coach

Throw in that top ten draft picks should all have to earn their jobs

Thinking you can treat people badly and still get the best people to come work for you is even dumber. Take a look at our OC candidates (including the one we ultimately hired) if you think quality people are busting down the doors to join this organization.

That's way too "all or nothing" an approach. As far as Morgan and Fitterer, look at their history. Just saying "friends" doesn't really cover it. But lemme just ask you personally, would you screw over a close friend of both you and your family (one who also helped you get where you are) for a job? If it was someone they loved, how would your family feel about it? Throw in also though that Morgan has already seen what it's like working for Tepper. All the bullsh-t and dysfunction were reading about, he's seen that and more up close and personal. Knowing how people around the league view Tepper through a negative lens, what makes you certain Morgan wants more of that at a close family friend's expense?

Pretty sure no team has ever forced a sitting coach or GM to interview for their own job. Also pretty sure that if we did, we'd quickly be even more of a laughingstock than we are already.

I get that, and I get the fan love for players who come back. I just think people have to be more realistic about it.

Correct on it being his second year as a DC, but still only his sixth year overall. That just isn't enough experience for me. To be honest, I prefer guys that have even more experience than what you see among the top candidates now. But that's the way the league is going...

It doesn't matter who did what. Fitterer had a GM job but didn't have the power. He was also tied to a head coach that he didn't choose. Do you really think other GM candidates are going to look at him being fired under their circumstances and just say 'oh yeah, that's fair"? As far as Morgan, like I said, he's not working for the Panthers. He's working for David Tepper. If you think he's sentimentally attached to the Panthers organization, then why did he interview for the Steelers GM job?

Basically because he played for the Panthers and was good. I'd honestly say anybody thinking they can just replace Fitterer with Morgan is probably dreaming. Morgan and Fitterer aren't just close friends, their families are friends too. They've actually vacationed together, so you're not just talking about Morgan agreeing to the job. His wife and kids would have to sign off as well. Add to that that Morgan considers Fitterer his mentor and the reason he is where he is now. Doesn't stop there though. You're also asking Morgan to work for the boss who not only fired his good friend, but did so unfairly. Does he then just say "Oh he wouldn't do that to me"? I wouldn't bet on that, especially given that more than has been in a position to see all the dysfunction that's gone on behind the scenes. Part of the problem why folks are a little unrealistic about this is that they see it as Dan Morgan working for the Panthers. It's not it's Dan Morgan working for David Tepper. And once David Tepper becomes the guy who fired his good friend, and did so unfairly, it doesn't become such an appealing job. Especially given that both Morgan and Fitterer could probably find jobs elsewhere without too much trouble. I get the fan appeal of wanting the star player to come back and be a coach/ executive / whatever, but these are real people, not Madden characters.