Hop on the coaching carousel

Posted: Wed January 21, 1998

Wednesday
Sheraton Torrey Pines Hotel, La Jolla, Calif.

The 10 things I think I think today:

1. I think the Mike Holmgren-to-Seattle rumors hit the Packers full-force this morning. It was the first question out of the box at his news briefing, and he did his best to deflect it—but as I wrote yesterday, Holmgren didn't deny he might be interested in becoming Seahawks GM/coach. Green Bay GM Ron Wolf said the Seahawks would need permission to speak with Holmgren, of course, and that permission hasn't been requested yet. Club president Bob Harlan would have to grant it, and I can't say whether he would. My gut feeling is if the Seahawks call next Monday, Harlan would allow Holmgren to talk to them. But I emphasize: That's a gut feeling and nothing more.

2. I think Brett Favre was the most honest guy about this today. After his news conference, standing outside this marvelous hotel overlooking a championship golf course and the Pacific Ocean, Favre said: "Mike wants to be a general manager and coach. We all know that. Will he leave? I don't know. What can I do about it? Nothing. Maybe Sherm Lewis would be the next coach.''

3. I think I wouldn't count on that. The Sherm Lewis thing, I mean.

MULTIMEDIA

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told Peter King that he has narrowed the coaching list to six candidates and that he will talk to Packers offensive coordinator Sherm Lewis Audio (384K) King says Sherm Lewis needs to go to a team where he can show his coaching mettle Audio (256K) King says that NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue will announce a raise in the salary cap to more than $50 million Audio (288K) King talks about other possibilities in coaching movements in the NFL, as Dennis Green of the Minnesota Vikings Audio (256K)

4. I think Jon Gruden will still get the Raider job.

5. I think, speaking of Lewis and Gruden, that Lewis tossed a gem about his former Packers protegé to the media here. "If Jon Gruden is a better NFL coaching candidate than I am,'' Lewis said, "then I'm a better presidential candidate than Bill Clinton.'' Will Lewis get a legitimate interview after the Super Bowl? My guess is yes. My guess is Dallas's Jerry Jones might ride in on his horse and talk to the guy.

6. I think Favre could do interviews in his sleep.

7. The nuttiest John Elway moment: The Denver QB stared out at the 100 or so people around his podium and suddenly yelled, "REX HUDLER! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?'' There he was, Rex the Wonder Dog, utility man for the Philadelphia Phillies, sniffing around the Broncos' interview area asking questions for ABC's Good Morning America. Hudler interviewed Elway, sort of, reminding him of his Class A baseball experience with the Oneonta (N.Y.) Yankees: "Wouldn't it be easier to play right field and get pelted by a Double-A battery than it would be to get hit by a 350-pound lineman?''

8. I think a lot of Packers wish they could have brought their sticks and played a round or two on the golf course they see outside their windows. Holmgren isn't the most popular coach right now, since he declined to give his team a legit day off here.

9. I think, when analyzing this game, you should remember one thing Phil Simms told me here: "What offense that Green Bay played this year is better than Denver's? Don't tell me San Francisco. The thing a lot of people are forgetting is that Green Bay's still got to stop Denver to win this game. I'm not saying they can't do it, not at all. I'm just saying Denver's got a great offense that's playing great right now.'' Simms is Madden-esque in bringing up points we sometimes overlook.

10. I think the overblown angle of the week is the win-one-for-Elway thing everybody keeps pestering Denver players with. "There are a lot of guys on our team who've been in the league 10, 12 years, and we want to win it for them too,'' Terrell Davis said today. "I want to win it for me. So I think we're trying to win it for everyone.''

• Tuesday: Will Holmgren Pack it in