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Mike Holmgren

La Canfora’s Latest: Newton, Houston, Hoyer

October 12th, 2014 at 9:59am CST by Rory Parks

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports has a number of interesting notes this morning, including several pieces on possible contract extensions for big name stars. Let’s jump right in:

  • Although the Panthers have not talked with quarterback Cam Newton about a possible extension since this summer, and no such talks are imminent, La Canfora writes that Newton is not interested in a “pay as you go” contract like those signed by Colin Kaepernick and Andy Dalton. Joel Corry tweets that Newton’s agent, Bus Cook, will certainly not accept that type of deal for Newton given that he was able to procure $38MM in (virtually) guaranteed money for Jay Cutler.
  • La Canfora writes that the Chiefs would like to extend outside linebacker Justin Houston during the season, but unnamed sources indicate that is unlikely. After locking up quarterback Alex Smith long term, Kansas City wants to revisit negotiations with Houston, which went nowhere in the preseason. However, the two sides do not currently appear likely to bridge that preseason gap, and Houston could be slapped with the franchise tag next year, which would be worth about $13MM. Even with Kansas City’s ample cap room, Joel Corry tweets that the mega-deals signed by J.J. Watt and Robert Quinn did not make it any easier for the Chiefs to extend Houston.
  • La Canfora writes that the Browns have not yet begun contract talks with Brian Hoyer, but after his performance against the Titans last week, the time for locking him up at a reasonable rate may be running out. Joel Corry adds (via Twitter) that Cleveland may even consider an $18MM franchise tag for Hoyer for 2015, since the club has plenty of cap room to work with.
  • Although new Bills owner Terry Pegula is not planning any immediate changes to his front office, La Canfora writes that Pegula ultimately wants to “bring in an experienced football man” to oversee the team’s transition. Ernie Accorsi, Mike Holmgren, and Ron Wolf have all been named as possibilities. Pegula would also like to see an organizational restructure to separate the football side and business side of the club.
  • Many NFL owners, despite lauding commissioner Roger Goodell for his overall efforts, would like for him to allow others to handle disciplinary matters.
  • La Canfora has the the value of 2015 franchise tags for each position.

Mike Holmgren Visited Raiders

October 6th, 2014 at 8:15pm CST by Zachary Links

8:15pm: It sounds like Holmgren’s visit may not have been related to the coaching vacancy after all, as Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com writes.

“It was nice. [GM Reggie McKenzie] had him come in and have him watch some film and take a look what’s gone on,” Sparano said. “It’s all part of our self analysis. Reggie wanted to bounce some things off of him. I got a chance to talk to him, as did some of our other coaches. It’s good to get a different set of eyes on the tape, someone to give another perspective on things. Mike is a guy who has been through it before and knows how to deal with these types of things.”

12:17pm: Florio provides a partial transcript of Holmgren’s chat:

“Yeah, I did go down there,” Holmgren told KJR host Mitch Levy. “A couple of years ago, I had met with [owner] Mark [Davis] about possibly working with the Raiders, and it didn’t work out. . . . And [G.M.] Reggie McKenzie did work with me in Green Bay for many, many years. So I do have a relationship with him, those are all true. So they phoned me up, I went down there for a day and looked at some film. They had the bye after the London game. And just to float some ideas, and get another opinion of the team and what was going on. No jobs were discussed. Nothing like that, it was more just a pop in and pop out, and that’s what I did.”

11:40am: Mike Holmgren told KJR Radio in Seattle that he met with the Raiders last week, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter). Holmgren went on to say that he “probably” won’t be the team’s next coach, KJR Radio tweets.

Last week, Florio heard rumblings that Holmgren had a meeting with Oakland brass, but that was never confirmed. Interim coach Tony Sparano is said to have a chance at taking the permanent post if he is able to turn this around this season. However, if owner Mark Davis is anything like his late father, he’ll have an affinity for an even bigger name. Holmgren would fit the bill for that, especially if they can’t get their reported No. 1 target in Jon Gruden.

Back in July, the 66-year-old spoke with Greg Bishop of MMQB and he sounded like someone who wanted to get back in the game.

“I know guys who coached after 65. I thought I would. The more I’m moving away from it, it’s flattering when you get a call from somebody. It strokes your ego. Then you start to think, Hey, I could do that! I mean, I miss it. I miss the coaching. I miss it,” said the 66-year-old, before adding that he’s “semi-retired.”

For his career, Holmgren has a coaching record of 161-111 in the regular season and 13-11 in the postseason. Those numbers were hurt by his three years in Cleveland as the Browns went 14-34.

Coaching Notes: Harbaugh, Raiders, Holmgren

October 5th, 2014 at 12:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Jim Harbaugh‘s pursuit of a future Hall of Famer didn’t sit well with some of his players. The 49ers attempt to sign Peyton Manning in 2012 (and their subsequent dishonestly with then-quarterback Alex Smith) led to Harbaugh “losing” some of his players, team sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

When Smith specifically asked his former coach about the team’s interest in Manning, Harbaugh was reportedly dishonest about the team’s intent. As the source told Schefter, “that was the first big sign to the players that they couldn’t trust Jim.”

Last week, NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said that 49ers players “want [Harbaugh] out. They’re not on the same page.” Harbaugh responded, saying “that’s a bunch of crap.”

It’s uncertain who to believe right now, but one thing can be assured… this storyline will not be going away anytime soon.

Let’s check out some more notes pertaining to Harbaugh and potential coaching vacancies…

  • Appearing on Fox’s NFL pregame, reporter Jay Glazer said there is “no way” Harbaugh will be back with the 49ers next season (video link via TheBigLead.com).
  • ESPN reports that a potential Harbaugh destination could be The University of Kansas (via Twitter of New York Post’s Bart Hubbuch).
  • NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport said Harbaugh is a “name to watch” in regards to the Raiders opening (via Twitter).
  • Speaking of the Raiders, ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio reports that Mike Holmgren‘s name has quietly been emerging as a contender for the eventual opening (assuming Tony Sparano‘s “interim” tag is sincere). The connection makes plenty of sense; Holmgren and Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie previously worked together with the Packers. To add additional fuel to the fire, multiple sources tell PFT that Holmgren was actually spotted visiting the Raiders’ facilities earlier this week.

Raiders Notes: McKenzie, Sparano, Gruden

September 30th, 2014 at 8:32am CST by Luke Adams

Dennis Allen became the first NFL head coach of the 2014 season to be fired last night, after his Raiders lost all four of their games in September. Since then, rumors have been swirling about the team’s short-term solution at head coach, potential longer-term targets, and whether general manager Reggie McKenzie‘s job is safe. Here’s the latest out of Oakland:

  • After initially reporting (via Twitter) that Tony Sparano would not be taking over as the Raiders’ head coach, Fallon Smith of CSNBayArea.com clarified (via Twitter) that McKenzie was being indecisive and then Sparano is still being considered. According to Ed Werder of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Sparano still looks like the most likely replacement for Allen, but offensive coordinator Greg Olson has made it known that he wants the job.
  • While McKenzie apologists may argue that he inherited an aging, overpriced roster, and has spent the last couple years getting out from under poor cap decisions, Alex Marvez of FOX Sports doesn’t believe the Raiders GM has shown any indications that he deserves to remain a part of the team’s rebuilding process. In Marvez’s view, McKenzie should be the next to go.
  • Tim Kawakami of the Bay Area News Group points out that GMs are rarely fired in the middle of a season, but thinks that owner Mark Davis will take a long look at replacing McKenzie in the offseason. If he decides to make a change, Davis figures to “put everything he has into a basket” for Jon Gruden before exploring other candidates, according to Kawakami, who adds that the former Raiders coach has long been Davis’ top choice to take over the club’s football operations.
  • Bill Williamson of ESPN.com (Twitter link) acknowledges that Gruden could potentially be in play for the Raiders in January, but thinks it’d be an easier sell if the Raiders were headed to Los Angeles with a new stadium lined up.
  • Williamson also notes (via Twitter) that the Raiders previously made a run at Mike Holmgren, speculating that perhaps he could be part of the team’s front office picture in 2015.

Extra Points: Holmgren, Gordon, 49ers

July 17th, 2014 at 10:11pm CST by Zachary Links

Mike Holmgren indicated to Greg Bishop of MMQB that he’s leaving the door open to an NFL return. “I know guys who coached after 65. I thought I would. The more I’m moving away from it, it’s flattering when you get a call from somebody. It strokes your ego. Then you start to think, Hey, I could do that! I mean, I miss it. I miss the coaching. I miss it,” said the 66-year-old, before adding that he’s “semi-retired.” Holmgren was sacked as Browns president after a three year stint and he still has the itch to get back involved in football. Here’s more from around the league..

  • Josh Gordon‘s agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed that the appeal hearing for the Browns star regarding his drug suspension is coming up soon, tweets Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer.
  • The 49ers are set to move into Levi’s Stadium, but commissioner Roger Goodell indicated that they might not be the only tenants there. “Well, we have two pro teams in the Bay Area. Obviously, the stadium issue in Oakland’s going to have to be resolved, too,” Goodell said, writes Dan Hanzus of NFL.com. “We believe a new stadium is appropriate for the Raiders. They have to make that determination whether they’re in a new stadium in Oakland or whether they feel that it’s best to join this stadium. We’re working on that, and that’s one of the decisions they’ll have to make.”
  • There will be changes coming to the feedback system for college underclassmen, as Chase Goodbread of NFL.com explains (based off of Albert Breer’s report). Underclassmen will now be given one of three grades: first-round, second-round, or neither, which is the equivalent of “stay in school.” In the past, underclassmen had been given five grades: 1) as high as the first round, 2) as high as the second round, 3) as high as the third round, 4) not in the first three rounds, and 5) not draftable.
  • Patriots owner Bob Kraft says the NFL should “work very hard” to have a team in London before the end of the decade, tweets Marc Sessler of NFL.com.