“NFL-Haves & Have Nots”

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Don’t know if this weekends NFL games can top what we saw from the four games we lived thru last weekend in Divisional play.

There is no doubt the Rams-Niners-Chiefs-Bengals have tremendous talent.

No doubt too, there are some really substandard teams in the NFL.  And the big question, what happens next to fill the 9-coaching openings around the league.

A look at the Have-Nots in the NFL.

RAIDERS…They need a GM and a Coach.  Can you trust the Mark Davis will do the right things, hire the right coach, and the right General Manager.  His track record is shaky at best.  The players want Rich Bisaccia, which would mean keeping the coordinators, who were so important a year ago.  Whomever comes in gets Derek Carr as a leader  Most interesting rumor, the Raiders hire Dave Ziegler of the Patriots, and he brings with him, longtime Off Coord-Josh McDaniels.  That sounds solid to me.  The other, Davis hires Jim Harbaugh, the shiny new object there.

JAGUARS…You have the tremendous Clemson rookie Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, but you don’t have much else on the roster.  The next hire will have to deal with GM-Trent Baalke, who survived the whole Urban Meyer mess, but has a messy history of relationships with head coaches.  Ex Jags QB-Byron Leftwich seems the right choice.

HOUSTON..Part of me says the Texans need someone with experience to deal with the adversity that has been piled up.  It does not appear Deshaun Watson will be the QB when OTA workouts begin, but there probably will be a boat load of draft picks for someone to use on talent.  GM-Nic Caserio had a miserable first year, but he added into a mess and didn’t make it better.  Experience out there, how about Brian Flores fiery leadership?

GIANTS…They now have a new GM, who comes from Buffalo, so that leads to speculation that Brian Daboll of the Bills might be ready to take a head job to work with the Bills exec Joe Schoen.  If not Daboll, then impressive Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, a former head coach.  The new coach will have to fix the battered young QB-Daniel Jones and find help for RB-Saquon Barkley.

SAINTS…What a tough 24-months in the Crescent City with Drew Brees retirement and the surprise retirement of Sean Payton.  New Orleans will be starting from scratch .  But if they are going to do a full search, it may be hard to get the right guy, and that guy has a QB quandry infront of him.  Better solution would be to promote Dennis Allen from Def Coord, keep offensive play caller Pete Carmichael and build from there.  Most people think Allen will be a better head coach this time around.

CHICAGO…Ryan Poles is the new GM, coming from Kansas City.  Does he bring Eric Bienemy with him after all those great years with the Chiefs.  It has to be an offensive guy to help grow 1st round pick Justin Fields at quarterback.  Hard to believe if Bienemy gets bypassed for a head job again.  And Jim Harbaugh’s name is there too.

MIAMI…It’s really been quiet on Biscayne Bay, and many think the Dolphins will go with a veteran assistant.  Todd Bowles of the Bucs has rebuilt his resume in Tampa, and much like Frazier and Raheem Morris, seems ready for a second chance.  Who knows what they really have at QB in Tua Tagovailoa?  I’d give the job to a proven leader in Bowles.

VIKINGS..They need a new GM first and that has not happened yet, then a head coach next.  Do they go offense after all the years of the defensive leadership of Mike Zimmer.  Kevin O’Connell has been on a fast track as a coordinator and many think he is close to having his opportunity.  And Raheem Morris’ name is there too.  The wild rumor in the last 24-hours, Jim Harbaugh.

DENVER…The GM-George Paton has had some good drafts, but the Broncos haven’t done well in coaching hires in years.  They have interviewed 10-candidates already, with O’Connell-Bienemy at the head of the list.  The veteran names are Raheem Morris of the Rams and Dan Quinn, who had success in Seattle-Dallas, but failed as a head coach in Atlanta.  Bienemy sure has earned a chance.

The dominoes will start to fall shortly.  Who and where remains to be seen.

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