I heard something yesterday (can't remember where) that tanking is like
fight club - the first rule of tanking is that you don't talk directly
about tanking. If you buy that, then Ross' problem here is basically that
he was overtly specific, direct, and wanted to explicitly tie losses to
money. That's why it becomes an integrity of the game thing.
On Fri, Feb 4, 2022 at 8:46 AM Joe Dies <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
First of all, as always, when you go into detail about something, it is SO
educational for me. I'm amazed at your insight into the sociology on this
side of the ocean. You could change a handful of words and names below and
be just as accurate about another topic like (say) Affirmative Action or
diversity in Hollywood.
The tanking stuff (incentivized or not) is what gets me the most. Probably
naive on my part, but I always thought shitty teams weren't intentionally
playing to lose for higher draft position. Like when it comes right down to
it, football guys just aren't wired that way. They were just... Shitty.
Oh, and... Possible power struggle between Hunt and Khan and possibly
alienating (and maybe losing) both? Heh. Sounds like Cowher and Donahoe all
over again.
Joe
On Fri, Feb 4, 2022 at 7:00 AM, David Reid
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
It’s not just about Flores or Ross, it’s about the last 30 years of black
coaches interviewing for head coaching jobs. Back in 1992 when Noll
retired, the Steelers gave an interview to Joe Greene, not because he was a
candidate with a chance of getting the job, but out of courtesy to him,
before giving the job to Bill Cowher. There are countless similar stories
and I think so many black assistant coaches who have interviewed for head
coaching jobs are now so finely tuned to what is a legitimate opportunity
and what is a sham interview that it’s plain for all the world to see and
finally, Brian Flores has had the guts to call the owners out on it.
I had a conversation with someone last Wednesday who was 100% convinced
that the Giants job was Brian Daboll’s whilst interviews were still
happening and this seemed to be common knowledge which was born out in the
Belichick-Flores text exchange and when the fix is in like that, when the
last two winning offensive co-ordinators in Super Bowls are further away
from a head coaching job than Josh McCown who has never even coached at the
college or pro level, when in Dallas all you hear about is Kellen Moore,
whilst Joe Whitt is waiting in the wings still to become a co-ordinator,
then something is seriously wrong. And black coaches who do get fired never
seem to get another opportunity either, in fact, the firing of Flores in
Miami was seen by many as so egregious, that it led to him getting
consideration for jobs that he wouldn’t get normally, which is rare. This
is a process where the qualifications, track record and experience of black
coaches are ignored routinely when compared to those attributes in white
coaches who are hired ahead of them. The Giants hiring of Joe Judge over
Eric Bieniemy being one of many examples. The firing of David Culley this
year, the blackballing of Jim Caldwell despite him having a winning record
in Detroit of all places are others. Fundamentally, black coaches are not
on the same level playing field as white coaches and that has to change.
As for the tanking stuff, it’s been happening for years, maybe not the
incentivisation aspect of it, but it’s been happening, it’s just that
people are blowing the whistle now.
Notes on the GM search…… there seems to be a split in house, Tomlin wants
Brandon Hunt as the next GM, whilst Colbert wants Omar Khan and Art Rooney
isn’t enamoured with either (according to DK Pittsburgh Sports) - but I’d
heard the job share rumours being floated as well with each man having
ultimate responsibility for their current areas of expertise and no direct
replacement for Colbert being installed. This could get very interesting,
especially if they do start looking seriously at external candidates with
no Pittsburgh ties. If someone comes in ahead of Hunt and Khan, do they
leave when Colbert leaves? The Steelers could be creating a power struggle
here….
On 3 Feb 2022, at 19:14, Joe Dies ("oldsrocket455") <
dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Not arguing with you at all, but *why* do you believe every word of it?
Something about Flores' or Ross' integrity?
Joe
On Tuesday, February 1, 2022, 05:34:10 PM EST, David Reid <
dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I’ve read it and I believe every word of it.
Flores interviewed with the Texans yesterday and napalms them for their
treatment of David Culley today. He knows his career might be over now, but
my goodness he says what needed to be said.
Steeler fans: be thankful that the last time the Steelers were in need of
a coach, they cast the net as far and wide as possible, were open minded
and curious and recognised that there was something special about the DC of
the Vikings with only one year of co-ordinate experience. They did it right
and hardly anyone has done it right since.
Sent from my iPhone
On 1 Feb 2022, at 21:04, Steve Rhoton <sprhoto@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
