It’s been reported that Bill Cowher is returning to coach in the NFL next season, although there is no confirmed team yet. Some likely prospects are the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, two teams that finished at the bottom of the NFC South. Current Tampa Bay head coach Raheem Morris, however, says that Cowher can look elsewhere, because Cowher’s (probably) not going to be replacing him, and tosses in some great hyperbole!
Just hours after NFL.com reported that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had contacted former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher about possibly coaching the team in 2010, Bucs first-year head coach Raheem Morris responded by guiding his team to a 20-17 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints, who were 13-1 heading into the contest.
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The Bucs are 3-12 on the season, but have won two straight games, including Sunday’s come-from-behind overtime victory in New Orleans.After the game, Morris was asked about NFL.com’s report that suggested the Glazers were considering firing him and pursuing the retired Cowher, who won nine division championships and a Super Bowl with Pittsburgh from 1992-2006.
“I have a great relationship with my owners,” Morris said in his post-game press conference. “The thing I know about those guys is they didn’t hire me last year in a meeting. The thing I know about these guys is I’ve had a seven-year relationship with them. They interviewed me for seven years, and I’ve been around these guys. So, I’m pretty sure if I was getting popped, fired or whatever you want to call it, my owners would come tell me like men because that’s who they are and that’s what they want to be. I’m sure Bill Cowher [wants this job]. Everybody wants this job – it’s the best in football. I want it, too.”
Yes, I’m sure “Everybody” wants to be the head coach of an NFC team at the bottom of its division and conference with no real identity, a mix of aging players and inexperienced rookies thrust into bad situations in a rebuilding season for a fanbase that isn’t that big to begin with when the team actually is winning. Although your win over the New Orleans Saints this week was pretty impressive, think about the season as a whole. Who do you think the owners would like more: an experienced coach that has playoff success and a championship, or a coach with one year of experience who is younger than some of his players?
If Morris does get fired, I’m sure he’ll have great success selling ice to an Eskimo or water to a well. He’s a great talker.
If Cowher decides to come back, ole’ Raheem will be given the boot faster than you can say “high draft pick.”