We Need A Decision This Week!

[RiverDog]

Alright, Jodi Allen. You were given a choice a few years ago following the untimely loss of your brother and our beloved owner to either sell the team to someone with a genuine interest in our success or to own it yourself and carry on with your brother's legacy. The time has come for you to poke your head out of that your bomb shelter you live in and tell us what you're thinking.

Now that we're mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and have assured ourselves of last place in our division, the results of our last two games are next to meaningless. They're nothing more than glorified preseason games where the main object is player evaluation. If after seeing our sickly performance yesterday isn't enough to convince you that we need a coaching change, then losing two more lame duck games in a wasted abortion of a season is not likely to provide you with more compelling evidence than you already have.

There needs to be a decision made on our head coach this week. There is no point in waiting any longer. If we advise Pete that he's not returning next season, then it allows us to talk to other team's coaches about our opening and get the best possible replacement. If you want him to stay, then saying so now puts an end to the rumors and speculation and gives Pete the moral authority with our players, coaches, and staff along with the personal assurance that he'll be returning for another shot at it next season.

So come on, Jodi! What say you?

[Hawktawk]

I feel exactly the same way starting with :00 yesterday . Do it now . This regime was amazing but it’s over . Pull the plug on all of it . Trade Russ and maybe Wags and start over .

[c_hawkbob]

No we don't. And I'll be shocked if we get one. it'll come whenever the Vulcan suits decide it's time (and the ain't necessarily sports fans).

[RiverDog]

No we don't. And I'll be shocked if we get one. it'll come whenever the Vulcan suits decide it's time (and the ain't necessarily sports fans).

The Jags and Raiders can start interviewing other teams' coaches tomorrow. Other teams may soon be terminating their head coaches this week. Granting them a two week head start could make a difference in who we hire as his replacement if we decide to let Pete go. Waiting around for the results of a couple of glorified preseason games isn't likely to provide our management with more information than they already have in order to make a decision.

This has to be like water torture for Pete Carroll, like slowly pulling off the Band-Aid. For a man that has given us our most successful decade in franchise history it's wholly unfair to leave him twisting in the wind. Additionally, the players, and particularly the staff, have legitimate questions as to where they're going to work in the coming weeks, who's their boss going to be. They hear the rumors and see the vicious tweets just like we do. The fan base is literally exploding, more so than I ever saw during the fateful Mora year.

This uncertainty is completely unnecessary.

[NorthHawk]

I would like a decision so we can get on with it.
It takes away any uncertainty and stops some or most of
the talk of whether Pete should stay or go.

[Hawktawk]

I've said for a while if its one or the other keep Russ. Im not sure anymore. Every Seattle sports beat writers is saying its on Russ, hes not owning it either. The writer for Field Gulls has been a huge supporter as has been Mike Salk, Wyman etc but they are questioning if its disinterest or steep decline or what but hes just not the guy hes been his whole career. I heard somewhere PC is not interested in a post Russ rebuild and I cant blame him. I'm not sure Russ is interested in a post PC rebuild or that Vulcan is interested in a Russ reset either. 35 million is a LOT of money for any QB and when guys making a tenth of the money outplay him why?
Its a time for reflection and respect for whats been done but great sadness how this appears to be going down. Maybe Jody will surprise us and stand pat.

[RiverDog]

Who’s in danger of getting fired by Tuesday morning?

Teams with head-coaching vacancies as of 8:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, along with teams who have told their coaches they won’t be back, can begin interviewing assistant coaches from other teams, 12 days before the conclusion of the regular season. So which other coaches could learn in the next 40 hours or so that they’re out?

Here’s a list of guys who potentially have reason to be concerned, ranging from those who should be most concerned to those who should be least concerned.

Pete Carroll, Seahawks: He wasn’t originally on this list, but Sunday’s loss to the Bears merits a mention. No one knows what owner Jody Allen will do when the dusts settles on the season, but she could decided to kick up plenty of dust by nudging Carroll aside now. If she has decided to do it after the season ends, there’s no reason to wait. Other than to show respect to Carroll by letting him finish the season.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2 ... y-morning/

Bingo!

[TriCitySam]

Said it before, and I continue to disagree with blowing it all up. We have some significant issues, but I don't feel Pete is the problem, and I don't buy into Florio although he says it bears a "mention", so he doesn't believe it either). Pete's a good coach. Does he need to make some changes? Yup. I think Norton needs to go and I think you have to take a real hard look at JS and maybe figure out where we're really at with Russ. The personnel decisions - both drafting and FA - are decisions made upon recommendations by JS and his staff (I understand Pete has final say, but he's not the one doing the evaluations). The results have been disappointing. Same goes for where we spend our $.....OL is where I would start.

[curmudgeon]

The architects who built the Super Bowl rosters are long gone. It’s been a downhill, albeit slow slide since. Carroll and Schneider are directly responsible and must be held accountable…..

[RiverDog]

Said it before, and I continue to disagree with blowing it all up. We have some significant issues, but I don't feel Pete is the problem, and I don't buy into Florio although he says it bears a "mention", so he doesn't believe it either). Pete's a good coach. Does he need to make some changes? Yup. I think Norton needs to go and I think you have to take a real hard look at JS and maybe figure out where we're really at with Russ. The personnel decisions - both drafting and FA - are decisions made upon recommendations by JS and his staff (I understand Pete has final say, but he's not the one doing the evaluations). The results have been disappointing. Same goes for where we spend our $.....OL is where I would start.

My point wasn't whether or not the team should be blown up. My point is that Jody Allen needs to make a decision now. If she's all in with Pete, then come out and publicly say that he's our man. Pete needs that shot in the arm, a boost of confidence so he doesn't have to be looking over his shoulder while waiting another two weeks to find out if the axe is going to fall on him or not. Allen needs to come out and make an emphatic statement, putting an end to the rumors and speculation so Pete can get on with his job.

There's nothing more than can be learned that we don't already know by watching our next two games, at least not as far as it applies to the head coaching dilemma and direction of the franchise. My point, and apparently Florio's, is that if she's already decided to change head coaches, the best time to pull the trigger is now.

But I don't agree with Florio that canning him with two weeks remaining in the season is necessarily being disrespectful, or at least it doesn't have to be. Pete is obviously an intelligent and highly sensitive person and strikes me as a man that can be reasoned with and view the situation from management's POV. It doesn't have to be a confrontational, "don't let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya" type of conversation, rather laying out the teams' concerns, offer to allow him to finish out the season if he so wishes, perhaps even give him some input on his replacement. At least that's how I'd handle it if I were in her shoes.

[tarlhawk]

His new contract was only signed last year...is this the cancel culture at work here? There are many factors at play here to describe the unraveling of our season. What precedent would be set firing the most successful coach of your franchise a year after winning us the difficult NFC Championship and signing a new 4 yr extension? Successful businesses don't make knee jerk responses to a losing venture when its business flourished after back to back successes with sustained coaching...8yrs under Mike Holmgren and 10 years under Pete...with Mora being the 2009 mistake. Tom Landry and Don Shula retired on their terms ...each replaced by Jimmy Johnson who boasted the game had passed them by (each of the legends he succeeded).

[NorthHawk]

I don’t think his new contract has any bearing on whether he stays or not.
When asked after signing his new contract how long he expects to coach he said he takes it year by year
and if he’s not enjoying it he will move on. I can’t imagine this year being fun for him and I don’t
think he’s interested in a multi year rebuild, and if Russ wants out then it will probably be even worse.
He’s 70 years old and he looked all of it after the game, so if the fun is gone for him he’ll probably leave.

All good things come to an end and it looks like this is it for this regime.
They tried to reset a few years ago and it has failed miserably, so maybe it’s time to move on.

[RiverDog]

I don’t think his new contract has any bearing on whether he stays or not.
When asked after signing his new contract how long he expects to coach he said he takes it year by year
and if he’s not enjoying it he will move on. I can’t imagine this year being fun for him and I don’t
think he’s interested in a multi year rebuild, and if Russ wants out then it will probably be even worse.
He’s 70 years old and he looked all of it after the game, so if the fun is gone for him he’ll probably leave.

All good things come to an end and it looks like this is it for this regime.
They tried to reset a few years ago and it has failed miserably, so maybe it’s time to move on.

I agree. I don't think the contract will prevent Pete from retiring or cause Jody to hesitate in firing him. Pete's contract was $35M for 5 years, or $7M a season with one of those already in his bank account. That's peanuts for a team whose salary cap is over $200 million. Pete is financially secure and likely has multiple other options if he so choses. He doesn't need this job.

[Hawktawk]

His new contract was only signed last year...is this the cancel culture at work here? There are many factors at play here to describe the unraveling of our season. What precedent would be set firing the most successful coach of your franchise a year after winning us the difficult NFC Championship and signing a new 4 yr extension? Successful businesses don't make knee jerk responses to a losing venture when its business flourished after back to back successes with sustained coaching...8yrs under Mike Holmgren and 10 years under Pete...with Mora being the 2009 mistake. Tom Landry and Don Shula retired on their terms ...each replaced by Jimmy Johnson who boasted the game had passed them by (each of the legends he succeeded).

Cancel culture ? Lol . And not sure where you got your information about Landry and Shula . Tom Landry was informed he was fired by a phone call. And after a pretty bad stretch to end his career Johnson promptly won 2 Super Bowls . Shula retired after getting beat 63 -7 in the divisional by Jacksonville . It was Marino’s last game as well. Shula didn’t win a single championship in Marino’s storied career. They still haven’t . These examples are a lesson to us . If it’s ok to maybe win a wild card game every now and then like the one playoff win in the last 5 years by all means I would say stay the course . But now we are 5-10 having lost to 3 backups including Foles who was far more poised despite far heavier pressure . We have a HOF mike who is getting beat to the corner on running plays and short passing . Tackles show up on the stat sheet but ten yards downfield doesn’t help . It’s rebuild time .

[Aseahawkfan]

They don't need to make a decision this week. You wait for the season to end. Take a look at what you have. Then start making decisions. This is Seattle. We're not Jacksonville. If we hire a new head coach, it hopefully won't be some obvious popular hire, but a strong move for the long run with a firm commitment to let the new coach and/or GM build the team like we've done for every coach except when Ruskell was given the reins for a year.

[Hawktawk]

If there's a specific guy in mind they fear losing I could see it. I suspect PC will finish the year. I've read he has no intention of resigning on his own so if they want him gone its a firing. Everyone talks about how bad a coach Matt Nagy is. he was far better than the HOF all time Seahawks guy yesterday just like Foles was as well. Might have saved his job and cost PC his.

[Stream Hawk]

And then the cryptic tweet from Kam.
https://twitter.com/kamchancellor/statu ... 65926?s=21

[c_hawkbob]

That ain't cryptic, cryptic would be if he were hinting at something he knew and we didn't. That's just Kam wanting to be a decision maker (or decision influencer as the case may be).

[Hawktawk]

It’s significant . Kam is one of the most respected players in team history . He’s saying something the current players can’t .

[c_hawkbob]

But he didn't say anything. He didn't say fire Pete or trade Russ or anything, other than he wanted to be in on the decision.

[NorthHawk]

I don't see his tweet as wanting to be in on any decision, rather I see it as a comment that things have to change.
For instance any one of us could tweet "Me and Joe Biden have to have a conversation about voting rights" and it wouldn't mean
literally that we want a conversation, but that we aren't pleased with the current trend.
At least that's how I see it but I could be wrong.

[Hawktawk]

But he didn't say anything. He didn't say fire Pete or trade Russ or anything, other than he wanted to be in on the decision.

Yeah good point . I think it’s tongue in cheek about actually meeting Jodi though . He’s the first legend to come out and say time for change . What did he mean by that ? He’s an LOB guy with a defender and former teammate still playing in Wags . We can speculate .

[tarlhawk]

Cancel culture ? Lol . And not sure where you got your information about Landry and Shula . Tom Landry was informed he was fired by a phone call. And after a pretty bad stretch to end his career Johnson promptly won 2 Super Bowls . Shula retired after getting beat 63 -7 in the divisional by Jacksonville . It was Marino’s last game as well.

Phone call??
Chris Fore 2017
“Okay, so here’s the backstory. Schramm wanted to get rid of him, but he couldn’t because the Clint Murchinsons (the original owner of the Cowboys), the original owner’s deal was Schramm, Landry, Brandt. That was the deal, couldn’t break them up. Two people offered more money to Bum Bright, the owner who sold to Jerry Jones. But he turned them down because they were going to keep Tom Landry. But Bum hated Tom Landry. Jerry gets the team; everybody knows that Jerry brings his own guy. Now the same people who are calling my radio show in the Fall of 1988, ‘he’s old, he’s senile, the game has passed him buy, you gotta get rid of Landry.’”

“Okay, so here comes Jerry Jones and he gets rid of Landry. Then Cowboy Nation is in an uproar: ‘How can you get rid of Landry?!’ Well, that’s fans. He’s from Arkansas, he seemed a little too pleased about the whole thing.”
“Tom Landry is a guy Tex Schramm wanted to replace. Tom Landry was a guy who, buy his own later admission, was struggling with the sociological challenges of some of the people who were playing pro football in 1987 and 1988. So, how do you replace Tom Landry?”
Peter King: “There is no right way.”
Sham: “Thank you!”

“So, Bum Bright says to Jerry Jones, ‘I’ll fire him for you.’ And Jerry says ‘No, no, I’m going to fly down and tell him face to face.’ Well, people don’t want to hear that, because that doesn’t make Jerry a villain.”
“So, Jerry goes down, flies down to Lakeway where Tom is playing golf. He flies down there with Schramm, who is incredibly uncomfortable about the whole thing, and says ‘We are making a change.’”

As for Don Shula you confused his retirement with Marino's last game. Dan Marino suffered a horrible final year in 1999( at age 38 he threw for only 2448 yds with a 55% completion rate. He threw for 12 TD yet gave up 17 Int. He started 11 games and was sacked only 9 times while his replacement Damon Huard started 5 games making spot appearances in other games while collecting 28 sacks) which was also Jimmy Johnsons final year. Jimmy Johnson had taken over in 1996.
Don Shula retired 1996 finishing the 1995 season 9-7 then losing in wildcard game to the "divisional" Buffalo Bills 24-37.

Written in LA Times Jan 5 1996 by Bill Plaschke:
Refusing to surrender power after a season that scuffed his image, Miami Dolphin Coach Don Shula has decided to retire, ending a 33-year career during which he won more games than any coach in NFL history.

According to Dolphin sources, Shula was ordered by owner Wayne Huizenga in a meeting Wednesday to make widespread changes in his coaching and personnel staffs.
In response, Shula told Huizenga he would not make others scapegoats for a season during which their collection of stars finished 9-7, leading to a first-round playoff humiliation in Buffalo.
When Huizenga would not back down on his demands, Shula decided to retire.

Shula leaves a legacy of 347 victories and an old-fashioned commitment to leadership in an era where the fingers of blame are always pointed at someone else.
“What happened just goes to show you, it was always Don’s team,” said Vern Den Herder, a defensive end for Shula’s prize group, the unbeaten 1972 Dolphins. “It doesn’t surprise me that he wouldn’t fire his staff if he was ordered to do it. This was his team, and no one else’s.”
His resignation clears the path for the return of Jimmy Johnson to the NFL sidelines.

[Hawktawk]

As i said Johnson promptly won Super Bowls after he and Jones swindled the Vikes with Hershel walker and rebuilt the roster . Tom should probably have left a few years earlier . And Shula didn’t win anything beyond a single AFC title in Marino’s long hall of fame career . Of course in the case of the Dolphins they have never got back in all these years. And imo if you’re told to fire everyone or get fired and you quit you didn’t go out on your own terms . You were presented an option the FO knew you probably would not accept . I could see the same scenario with PC. Say they take away personnel, make him fire coaches, insist on trading Russ. It’s a way to save face as an organization firing an icon . And the same goes for Russ either now or in the near future as the QB here . My example is what Belichick did to Bledsoe coming off injury. First pick , a few years removed from a Super bowl , still in his prime . Bill saw something in a skinny 6th rounder and too bad so sad . I thought it sucked at the time . But superstar QBs are spendy and brought in to win games and pretty difficult to argue it from a standpoint of results . As for Marino I was off a year . It was Holmgrens first year in Seattle . We made the playoffs backing in to the division at 9-7. Miami came in to play the last ever game In the kingdome . Kitna started and Seattle held a late lead . But we rushed 3 and Marino hit a huge 3rd down and then drove it down for a win . I’m pretty sure it was Marino’s last playoff win . I think it was the last game of Cortez Kennedy’s career . Holmgren didn’t win a playoff game in Seattle for 6 seasons.

[Hawktawk]

I read an article this morning discussing potential job openings and it was pointed out there was no black Monday after this new rule . I’ve heard a lot of the names now , Leftwich, Daboll, Dennis Allen , the Kc coordinator bienemy. So question. Do any of those guys appeal enough to Seattle to cut a guy with 117 wins ? Even after this year?

[tarlhawk]

I don’t think his new contract has any bearing on whether he stays or not.

I didn't mention his contract as bearing any decision making of his own...I mentioned it as a sign that upper management had just rewarded him with a new contract last year and left him as Executive Vice President of Football Operations.

[trents]

I read an article this morning discussing potential job openings and it was pointed out there was no black Monday after this new rule . I’ve heard a lot of the names now , Leftwich, Daboll, Dennis Allen , the Kc coordinator bienemy. So question. Do any of those guys appeal enough to Seattle to cut a guy with 117 wins ? Even after this year?

You can't live forever on the laurels of history. 117 wins but only 4 this year. And we have seen the steady deterioration of talent on the team over the past two or three years. Even with good win/loss records during the regular season, the Hawks laid an egg last year against the Rams in post season when it counted. 117 wins means nothing for now and for the future.

[RiverDog]

I read an article this morning discussing potential job openings and it was pointed out there was no black Monday after this new rule . I’ve heard a lot of the names now , Leftwich, Daboll, Dennis Allen , the Kc coordinator bienemy. So question. Do any of those guys appeal enough to Seattle to cut a guy with 117 wins ? Even after this year?

So now you're advocating that we cut Russell? And I suppose that you want to replace him with Geno?

[Hawktawk]

I thought the entire direction of the thread would make clear I meant fire Pete Carroll after 117 wins here . Why the hell anyone would cut a guy like that with a team to hopefully swindle a haul in the off-season. I’d definitely have sat him a few more weeks till he could run the whole offense . I highly doubt Geno could have been worse .

[tarlhawk]

117 wins means nothing for now and for the future.

The winning seasons do matter when you're not making changes to your head coach/GM/QB...they establish a winning pattern to get through this losing season...replace any or all... and your losing season can become the new trend.

[trents]

So now you're advocating that we cut Russell? And I suppose that you want to replace him with Geno?

I took Hawktawk's post as a reference to Pete in view of the mention of head coach options.

[trents]

The winning seasons do matter when you're not making changes to your head coach/GM/QB...they establish a winning pattern to get through this losing season...replace any or all... and your losing season can become the new trend.

Let the trend begin so we can start getting back into the high end of the draft order.

[TriCitySam]

I don't for a minute believe any owner in the NFL would fire Pete, after one losing season, and there are some owners that are not very bright. It's remotely possible he may decide to walk away, and there may be a realignment of duties, but getting fired? Almost zero chance. If your goal is to get the #1 draft pick, then hire guys like Dennis Allen, or better yet, just bring Tom Flores back.

[Hawktawk]

I don't for a minute believe any owner in the NFL would fire Pete, after one losing season, and there are some owners that are not very bright. It's remotely possible he may decide to walk away, and there may be a realignment of duties, but getting fired? Almost zero chance. If your goal is to get the #1 draft pick, then hire guys like Dennis Allen, or better yet, just bring Tom Flores back.

Belichick was a bust in Cleveland . Remember? I see Allen as possibly in that mold as a defensive mind . But I just read quotes from Pete’s last presser where he said he and Jodi have been on the same page since she took over . He revealed JS has more direct contact with her . I found that interesting . So he’s saying she agrees to reload and stand with him.

[NorthHawk]

I think there would be a number of owners that would move on from Pete.
They would just have to look at the direction this team is going and how far
they have drifted from their original plan. Add to that the poor drafting and
Cap mgmt along with one of the worst trades in team history and there are a
lot of reasons to go in a different direction.

[RiverDog]

I don't for a minute believe any owner in the NFL would fire Pete, after one losing season, and there are some owners that are not very bright. It's remotely possible he may decide to walk away, and there may be a realignment of duties, but getting fired? Almost zero chance. If your goal is to get the #1 draft pick, then hire guys like Dennis Allen, or better yet, just bring Tom Flores back.

Who ever said that they wanted him fired due to one losing season? It wasn't me. For the umpteenth time, our team has not been a SB contender for the past 7 seasons. This current season is simply the coup de grace. And for the record, I've never said he'd be fired, just simply done as a coach, whether it be through resignation, retirement, re-assignment of duties, or whatever.

And if you think it's such a preposterous proposition that we've been talking about, do a web search on "nfl coaching hot sets" and click on a link from December of 2021 and you'll see plenty of talking heads that think that Pete is, or should be, in trouble. Here's one:

Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks: While Pete Carroll is the opposite of Meyer — proof that a premier college football coach can make it in the NFL — this may be his last season with the Seahawks.

Carroll, who took over the team in 2010, has a 189-117 record in Seattle, but all good things eventually come to an end. Carroll, who turned 70 in September and is the oldest head coach in the NFL, and Wilson are on pace for their first losing season together since the quarterback took over in 2012.

Seattle is 5-8 — which means they’re still alive in the feeble race for the NFC wild card — but with Carroll’s age, reports that Wilson could want out of Seattle and the team’s poor performance, this could be his last with the team — whether that’s a mutual departure, a firing or his retirement.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/20 ... -hot-seat/

And another:

Sadly, the game seems to have passed Pete Carroll by, as this thing is so over

How did we even end up here? Pete Carroll is a hall-of-fame head coach at both levels, college and pro. He won a Super Bowl leading the Seattle Seahawks and went to another. Carroll oversaw the most successful run in franchise history. Even without a ton of talent most years, this franchise almost always saw itself in the NFC playoffs. Now at 5-10 after a Chicago Bears loss, it is so over.

As painful as it sounds, the game has passed Carroll by. This franchise is in dire need of a reboot, which would require Carroll to resign from this post and embrace retirement, as well as franchise quarterback Russell Wilson leaving the Pacific Northwest to close out the final third of his hall of fame career. Either way, Seattle has to accept its best years are behind it to move forward in 2022.

https://fansided.com/2021/12/26/nfl-hea ... carroll/2/

I could post more but I think you get the point.

[tarlhawk]

Holmgren didn’t win a playoff game in Seattle for 6 seasons.

Don Shula retired on his terms...he wasn't told he'd be fired...he retired rather than be forced into firing coaches and staff he helped assemble. Your Holmgren comment is puzzling? He was well loved and a good coach who got us to the SB in 2005. He helped fill the roster giving Pete and John a talent base to work with. A new coach would likely set us back...a good new coach (even more unlikely) would be unknown...why go down that road if we keep our real good coach?

[Hawktawk]

Lol hey Don we’re not saying you’re fired, just that if you don’t clean house you will be unemployed we just disagree on the semantics of this . It’s a forced retirement . Just like Landry . As for Holmgren he was a smart classy man , great offensive mind . Unfortunately he was a GM as well or he might have gotten us our first Lombardi . He got to the WC in 99, missed 3 years . Then we want the ball and we’re gonna score , the closest he ever came to a road win in the postseason . Then blowing a 17 point lead with 6 to play in week 4, collapsing to back in to the playoffs and lose at home to the Rams for the third time of the season . Then 2005 with the 1 year flash in the pan Ruskell Holmgren marriage. That was a beautiful team . And with apologies to my friend RD who said Seattle wasn’t the best team on the field in XL. We don’t know that and I’d go so far as to say we do and it was Seattle . 7 penalties on Seattle 6 of which could have been uncalled and at least 4 critical no calls . Critical game changing calls . Maybe more than 4. Meanwhile Pittsburgh was called for 3 penalties . 2 false starts and an opi near the end zone which still resulted in a score . It was the last penalty called on the Steelers . The refs didn’t see anything worth fouling Pittsburgh for in the last 38 plus minutes of the game. But that drive was extended on their end of the field when Heinz Ward grabbed a DB by the face mask and bent his head backwards to separate and catch a pass right in front of the ref. The fact of the matter we just don’t know what would have happened had the game been evenly officiated. I think we would have rolled them up like Carolina . We just don’t know . Certainly we could have played better but they figured out they could foul without a flag .

The era died with a whimper , 2 weak playoff teams and the 2008 debacle . Great era . Great coach but a lesson how quick it can go sideways .

[tarlhawk]

For the umpteenth time, our team has not been a SB contender for the past 7 seasons. This current season is simply the coup de grace. And for the record, I've never said he'd be fired, just simply done as a coach, whether it be through resignation, retirement, re-assignment of duties, or whatever. Now at 5-10 after a Chicago Bears loss, it is so over.

If I want to be "persuaded" my writers of choice are always talking heads...especially if they say the things I want to hear. (severe sarcasm)

Seven years since a Super Bowl...as a complaint? Two teams out of 32 ever attain this goal each year...and its seldom repeated. So many factors take out even the best of teams...that "should of won it all". Just getting to the playoffs gives a team a fighting chance...a punchers chance. How many long tenure coaches has there been in the past 20 years? Don't complain about your team...the NFL is a business and is more to blame as it continues to use its scalpel to shape its product...TV revenue is all about selling advertising...if you think politics is plagued with lobbyists...with high stakes gambling added to those who represent major ad campaigns...your commissioner would have to be above reproach...is that even possible anymore??

Your goals/desires are strong opinions but seem unattainable based on so many things are out of the control of a fan...to the point of being wishes...not reality.

[tarlhawk]

For those who love the NFL product...how can you justify taunting as something to be penalized in a sport that thrives on individuals rising to the challenge of putting out 150% of their effort in a highly competitive fashion...then flagged in their moment of exhilaration as they glare at their smack talking loser in his "defeat"??

The NFL insists on safety factors then use those safety factors to punish natural instincts...I refer to the "leading with your helmet" rule...not as a flagrant intention rule but blanketed to cover even the accidental instinctive helmeted player who has his opponent suddenly move his body ...that your guy "hits" because certain laws of physics make the situation inevitable??

With the offensive slanted rule alterations designed to allow offenses to explode even with a back-up playing...how can you not be amazed by our defense keeping points low on a consistent basis...even though they are "victims" of a severe imbalance of time of possession giving our opponents almost twice as much time to score the paltry amount our defense allows. Our defense has risen above the NFL's advantaged teams and are hero's who seldom get the respect they've earned time and again...Pete Carrol is a great motivator and his craft is defense. This year we have conquered adversity we had never encountered before and yet as fans we turn our backs on yet another disappointment of not getting to the SB...lets fire those who dare oppose the NFL's well crafted efforts to "level the field"...