MMQB Mail: Teams will have to wait until 2010 for shot at Cowher

Bill Cowher has been off NFL sidelines since leaving the Steelers after the 2006 season. David Bergman/SI Peter King's Mailbag Peter King will answer your questions each week in Monday Morning Quarterback: Tuesday Edition. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND Follow Peter King on Twitter

You want Bill Cowher to come coach your team? Wait 'til next year.

Cowher, the hottest coach on the market in a year with multiple job openings, will stay off the sidelines in 2009, reliable NFL sources tell me. The only way Cowher will even consider one of the jobs, I'm told, is if he gets an offer he just can't refuse. What would that offer be? There probably isn't one out there, but it would have to be ridiculous money -- more than $10 million a year, almost certainly -- plus one that Cowher thinks he quickly can build a team to win.

When Cowher left the Steelers after the 2006 season, he told his family he would stay out of football until his youngest daughter, Lindsay, finished her high-school years in Raleigh, N.C. Lindsay is a senior right now. And I'm told Cowher "absolutely'' has not changed his mind.

I'm also told reliably that if there was a job out there Cowher would have loved to consider, it was the Browns job. The fact he turned down the Browns' job almost without thinking Saturday night in a face-to-face meeting with owner Randy Lerner tells you everything you need to know about his unwillingness to return in 2009. Cowher, a former Cleveland player and assistant coach, loves the tradition of the Browns and the passion of their fan base, but it just wasn't the right time for him.

This shouldn't stop the Jets from sniffing around Cowher, certainly. If there's a 1-in-100 chance, Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum needs to check it out. But he'd better get a list of good alternatives available.

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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is making it clear to college coaches and conference commissioners that the league won't have different rookie-pool rules in 2010. Thus, it's a faulty premise some agents are throwing at junior-eligible players that the 2009 draft is the last chance for rookies to hit the mother lode.

"The reality,'' Goodell tells SI.com, "is that the large majority of agents realize it's not going to change dramatically in the next year. The problem is there are a few who are encouraging some players ... A select number of agents are encouraging these young players to come out, and I don't think it's practical.''

Goodell has talked with six conference commissioners, USC coach Pete Carroll and Florida coach Urban Meyer and told them the same thing: We're going to get the word out that we're not on the verge of changing the salary structure for rookies. "They're worried,'' Goodell said. "They say they want their players to make the best decision they can, but some unscrupulous agents are trying to influence players to come out in 2009.''

Goodell told me the league is committed to changing the current system that rewards first-round rookies with big contracts and guaranteed money, but because the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement won't start until at least the middle of 2009, there's no way the deal will get done by 2010. Thus, the rules for the 2010 draft will almost certainly be the same as the 2009 draft.

"There's some resistance on new rookie rules from the union, obviously,'' said Goodell. "They like the system that's in place. But we are committed to making a change [to lessen the guaranteed money for rookies]. That's one aspect of the negotiations that has to take place. Once the new union leadership is determined, we will sit down and get those talks going, but that probably won't happen, I wouldn't think, until the summer [of 2009].''

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Now onto your e-mail:

• YES I AM. From Ben Bryant, of Santa Barbara, Calif.: "You really think an 8-8 Chargers team that came within a fumbled onside kick at Kansas City from going 7-9 should be in the playoffs over an 11-5 Pats team? No way. Since the division realignment in '02 with only four teams per division, the competitive advantage of being in a bad division (AFC and NFC West this year) is too great. Teams like the Cardinals and Chargers shouldn't be allowed to walk into a division title and playoff spots while teams in divisions like the NFC East and South are left scrapping for every last game.''

Totally disagree. Why have divisions, and why promote division rivalries if winning a division isn't going to get you a playoff berth? (I'll have more on this topic later in the week.)

• THANK YOU. From Dennis Hartmann, of Dallas: "Great story on Peyton Manning's knee. Probably one of your best pieces that you have written. It tells an extremely interesting story of just how bad that knee really was. Thank you for the insight.''

Appreciate that. The thought occurred to me when Manning was telling me his story that of all the very good players in the NFL who had good seasons in the NFL, Manning must have overcome the most to do so.

• GIVE ME THE COACH. From Josh, of Charleston, S.C.: "If you are starting an expansion team (or taking over the Lions) would you rather have a coach or a quarterback who can make the best out of what they have? In other words, would you rather start with Bill Belichick or Peyton Manning?''

I'll take Belichick, with a very good personnel staff. In other words, I'll take Belichick with Scott Pioli. Because they'll find a good quarterback.

• I ANSWERED IT ONCE, BUT HERE IT GOES AGAIN. From Jeff, of Woodmere, N.Y.: "What are the chances the Patriots keep Matt Cassel and let Tom Brady walk? Why are you so sure it's Cassel who goes? There's precedent here: In 2001 the established Drew Bledsoe gets hurt, then never regains his starting job from Brady, who goes on to win the Super Bowl. Cassel's numbers compare very favorably to Brady's in his first year starting, plus, you're looking at a guy (Cassel) who has basically no wear and tear on his body from not starting in eight years, not to mention he's not the one coming off a devastating knee injury. Is this conceivable?''

Conceivable, but highly unlikely. The difference between now and 2001 is the Patriots were ready to be rid of Bledsoe, who they thought was too much of a freelancer and didn't always follow the gameplan that had been established during the week. Tom Brady, to Belichick, is a true coach on the field. Doesn't care if he throws it 10 times or 40. That's why, assuming he's healthy, there is no question in my mind he'll be the opening-day quarterback for the Pats in 2009.