Defending Steven Ross

[Phishfan]

Well, they wouldn't be coachless as they would have hired someone. Also, would it have been any worse than knowing there was a lame duck coach?

[CF DolFan]

I get that that isn't done regularly in the NFL.  But not so much that it's unprofessional.  Jobs interview for positions while people are still on staff.  That happens.  The public nature of the NFL makes it harder to do that privately, is all.

I haven't ever known anyone who has interviewed someone for a position that is already seated unless that person was already on their way out for whatever reason.  Is this something you have seen?

I for one would bail as fast as possible if they started interviewing for my job. In fact, I'm pretty sure my employees would start blowing me off as well.

[Brian Fein]

To me it sends a message to Tony:

I'm not happy with your performance but you're the best we got right now.  You're on notice - improve or you're out"

Its like a probation notice....

[suck for luck]

I wonder if I could use that technique with my wife?

[Dave Gray]

^ Plenty of people try.

[MikeO]

You don't cut your WR while working out other WR's.  Teams bring new kickers in every year in camp to try to beat out the incumbent.  Why is it any different for the coach?

You can't compare rank and file players to Management positions. Apples and Oranges.

Being a player you know that comes with the territory. With coaches it's just flat unprofessional and Ross is paying the price for it

[MikeO]

To me it sends a message to Tony:

I'm not happy with your performance but you're the best we got right now.  You're on notice - improve or you're out"

Its like a probation notice....

So why the hell did Ross give Sparano a 4 year extension? That kills your whole theory and argument.

[Brian Fein]

No, it doesn't this happens all the time.  Wannstedt got the same extension right before he was fired as well (his may have been 2 years, I think). Its to put on the "you're not a lame duck coach" face, to motivate him and pretend like he's your guy.  Contract extensions are meaningless when a guy can get fired at any time.  Its all a facade.

[MikeO]

No, it doesn't this happens all the time.  Wannstedt got the same extension right before he was fired as well (his may have been 2 years, I think). Its to put on the "you're not a lame duck coach" face, to motivate him and pretend like he's your guy.  Contract extensions are meaningless when a guy can get fired at any time.  Its all a facade.

But you said Ross was sending a messing. IF you are "sending a message" as you said of "improve or you're out", it makes zero sense about the extension. That's just not reality.

Bottom line, Ross F'd up with the Harbaugh thing. Got heat from everyone in the NFL and the media and fans. So to make nice he gave Tony a big extension. No message was being sent, just that Ross was trying to buy his way out of bad PR. Nothing more, nothing less.