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Cleaning house Martz likely to fire entire defensive staff
Updated: Sunday December 24, 2000 1:26 PM
Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King chatted with CNN/Sports Illustrated anchor Bob Lorenz about the goings-on around the league on CNN's NFL Preview: Bob Lorenz: The defending champion Rams have been living on the edge. That's certainly true for anybody on the defensive side of the ball in St. Louis anyhow.... Peter King: I think what you're going to see [head coach] Mike Martz do, as soon as a week after the season is over, is fire his entire defensive staff, led by coordinator Pete Giunta. Now this shouldn't come as a big surprise -- they're the worst defense in the NFL. Who are the logical candidates to replace Giunta? I think Martz would really like to see Ray Rhodes, who wants out of Washington, come in and be his defensive coordinator. I think Rhodes is earmarked for Denver if Mike Shanahan makes a change with his coordinator, Greg Robinson, after the season. If Martz can't get Rhodes, look for him to go after Larry Marmie, a defensive aide with the Arizona Cardinals. Lorenz: Speaking of the Broncos, what else can we expect from them beyond the playoffs? King: It's going to be very interesting in the offseason to see what the Broncos do with Terrell Davis. They'll have two other 1,000-yard players returning, Olandis Gary and Mike Anderson, and they're going to have to decide if they can afford to keep three guys at the running back position. Obviously, they'd have to take a big cap hit if they cut Terrell Davis, but here's what Shanahan must be thinking: "This guy has only completed five games of the last 32 the Broncos have played." They've got to wonder if Davis is part of their future. Lorenz: Jeff George has had another run-in with a head coach, this time with Terry Robiskie. What happened? King: It's another sad chapter in the George soap opera. Last week in the Redskins' game at Pittsburgh, Robiskie called for George to throw a 10-yard comeback route. George called the play, then, while exiting the huddle, told wideout Irving Fryar, "Go deep. Run past the corner." Fryar is 38. He's not running past linebackers these days, much less corners. George threw a bomb. Intercepted. Robiskie was livid. George told him, "You've got to let players make plays." On Monday, Robiskie yanked George as the starter, re-inserting Brad Johnson. George went ballistic, getting into a shouting match with Robiskie. George ended his tirade by snapping, "I'm going to Dan Snyder and getting you guys fired!" You know George doesn't have to tell the owner anything. The staff's already going to get fired. Here's one final Washington postscript. It's my quote of the year, from Robiskie. He told me, "Peter, I took over the Titanic -- after it hit the iceberg." Lorenz: With the win against Jacksonville on Saturday, the Giants clinched home field throughout the playoffs. But Tiki Barber got hurt -- what's his status for the postseason? King: I talked to [head coach] Jim Fassel early Sunday morning and he said Barber shouldn't have a problem, particularly with a week off. He said it's just a sprained toe, nothing serious. The real issue here is why wasn't Ron Dayne in the game with less than three minutes to go? I don't blame Fassel at all for this. He couldn't put Dayne in because Dayne cannot close out games. That is, after all, why the Giants drafted him, and to me, he's one of the most disappointing picks of the year. Lorenz: Let's talk about the Buffalo Bills' organization -- from top to bottom, what kind of shape are they in? King: It looks like John Butler, the general manager who was fired by owner Ralph Wilson earlier in the week, will resurface in San Diego. About a 90 percent shot, I'm was told by somebody in the Chargers' organization this week. Buffalo may give the general manager's job to Butler's assistant, Dwight Adams, or look outside. What does this mean long-term? I think it means Doug Flutie leaves after this season and Rob Johnson wins the job. Lorenz: And finally, who's your MVP? There are a large handful of candidates out there... King: I'm going to pick Eddie George. Very simple: he's carried the ball more than 25 times in eight games this year and the Titans are 8-0. Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL beat for the magazine and appears each Sunday on CNN's NFL Preview.
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