Scott Pioli, center, with Patriots owner Robert Kraft, left, and safety Rodney Harrison. Jim Rogash/Getty Images

MAILBAG Peter King will answer your questions each week in Monday Morning Quarterback: Tuesday Edition. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

Atlanta was stunned by the Bobby Petrino fiasco, and the team's first reaction was to go after Bill Cowher. Didn't work. Second reaction: Go get Bill Parcells. No go. Third reaction: Pursue Marty Schottenheimer, from all indications. That may happen.

Miami was stunned by the Nick Saban fiasco 11 months ago, and owner Wayne Huizenga -- after going from Jimmy Johnson and his heirs to Dan Marino to Saban and not winning a Super Bowl -- went the lesser-light route. Coach Cam Cameron and GM Randy Mueller were going to embark on a long-term plan to rebuild the team. Huizenga gave the new plan 13 games before jetting to upstate New York for another big fish. Or Big Tuna. Parcells.

You won't find me criticizing Huizenga for hiring Parcells, who has improved every team he's inherited. Once he finds the right quarterback, Parcells will improve this team, too.

But I will criticize the NFL ethos of always looking for the star. The other day, someone said to me, "Well, the Ravens' lousy year is really going to screw Rex Ryan's chance for a job.'' My reaction: For God's sakes, why? Why should one of the two or three best defensive coordinators in the NFL, and a forceful personality too, be eliminated from consideration for a head-coaching job because his team got destroyed by injuries and a lousy offense?

A prominent GM told me the other day that college athletic directors are often concerned when they hire a new coach about "winning the press conference.'' Sometimes, he said, friends in college administration make hires they know will be popular with alums and fans rather than hiring the best men for the job. He says the same thing happens in pro football.

"People in dire straits do what is expedient to get themselves out of dire straits as quickly as possible,'' the GM said. "Hiring a name gives them hope because it gives the fans and the organization hope.''

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In baseball, youth has been served in front offices since the turn of the century. Wisely in the cases of Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, Yankees GM Brian Cashman, Indians GM Mark Shapiro and the Diamondbacks' Josh Byrnes. There's no reason why youth shouldn't have the same chance in football. The names of the young turks who should be at the top of the list for rebuilding franchises:

1. Scott Pioli, 42, New England. Smart. Ready, if he ever chooses to leave his good friend Belichick's side, which he'll likely have to do if he ever wants to have his football acumen recognized.

2. Chris Polian, 35, Indianapolis. Working under his prominent dad, Bill, Polian has risen to vice president of football operations and tried to learn lessons from top baseball execs. Tough and precocious.

3. Jeff Ireland, 38, Dallas. Thorough and ultra-prepared, with a reasoned opinion about every player he scouts. Unemotional and methodical.

Close: Philadelphia GM Tom Heckert, 40 (who might be available because Andy Reid has final authority with the Eagles); Baltimore director of pro personnel George Kokinis, 40; Green Bay personnel analyst John Schneider, 36.

Teams looking for more veteran guys could look at former Saints GM Bill Kuharich, 54, now the Chiefs' VP for player personnel, or Chris Mara, 50, the Giants' VP for player evaluation.

Those aren't the only ones, but they're a start, and they're not the usual suspects.

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