Talk to a dozen football pundits and you'll get 12 different answers about who will fill Mike Sherman's vacancy as head coach of the Green Bay Packers. And here at OMC, we won't try to offer up answer no. 13.
Frankly, we have no idea who General Manager Ted Thompson will hire, though we're pretty sure it won't be Ray Rhodes or Mike Holmgren. We don't even assert to know who'd be the very best man for the job.
We may not be expert NFL analysts, but we are expert fans. And here's our take on which guys would be the most fun on the sidelines, who'd fit in best in Green Bay, and most importantly, who's presence could keep Brett Favre from retiring.
We know you'll have different opinions on the matter -- hey, we expect you to. Consider this light-hearted analysis just something to start the conversation. Discuss amongst yourselves using the talkback feature below this article.
Some potential candidates:
Jim Bates: As a rookie defensive coordinator with the Packers in 2005, Bates did a great job turning around last year's woeful defense into something respectable. And that's despite the presence of the grabby Ahmad Carroll. Bates looks like a coach, standing on the sideline wearing a headset. Studious with those wire rimmed glasses, he commands respect from his players. Stylistically, he's way better dressed than was Mike Sherman, who looked more like your uncle from Tomah in those baggy sweatshirts and bad khaki pants than a head coach of the NFL's proudest franchise. The only knock against Bates is he's a defensive guy, which means Favre could be put in an uncomfortable position, depending on who Bates would hire as the offensive coordinator. Enter Steve Mariucci.
Brad Childress: The current offensive coordinator for the Eagles is a hot commodity in the coaching search across the NFL. He worked for Andy Reid and his West Coast Offense -- and we all know that Reid was hired for the mere fact that he looked a lot like Mike Holmgren. But that means Childress has proven playoff experience, and has dealt with more than his share of spoiled megastars. He does look an awful lot like Milwaukee Wave head coach Keith Tozer, which could be a plus as the Wave know how to win and win Championships. And he does sport a mustache, which would help his popularity in Green Bay. Finally, he has Wisconsin ties as a former UW-Madison assistant coach.
Steve Mariucci: Mooch has to be the hands-down fan favorite to step in as head coach. The Iron Mountain, Mich. native grew up as a die-hard Packers fan and treasures the Packers jacket he won as a kid in the Lambeau Field Punt, Pass and Kick contest. More importantly, he's a student of Mike Holmgren's West Coast Offense and he served as Favre's quarterback coach during the Packers' salad days in the mid'90s. And even more importantly than that, he's a close personal friend of Brett. If Mariucci comes back to Green Bay, expect Favre to have second thoughts about retiring. Despite failures in San Francisco and Detroit, he never had the talent on offense that the Packers wield. And he seems like a cool guy, a young and stylish 50. As a "Yooper," fans wouldn't need to translate a New England accent. Mariucci would be right at home, as head coach or offensive coordinator.
Mike Martz: The former Rams head coach has several strikes against him. First, he looks just like Mike Sherman. Packers fans need a change, and bringing in Sherman's doppelganger won't help. Second, and perhaps more seriously, Martz runs an entirely different offense than Favre is used to. No way will Brett return if Martz takes the helm. Finally, Martz was known for two things last year: a heart ailment and infighting with the Rams' front office. Packers fans don't embrace change -- most would've preferred Mike Holmgren stayed with the team 'til the day he dies (hey, they named a street for him after less than a decade of coaching). Martz is unlikely to be a long-term coach with the Packers, and from a fan's perspective, he isn't a great choice.
Mike Tice: If the Packers hire this clown, expect many fans to renounce their allegiance. Beyond the Love Boat fiasco, the Super Bowl ticket scalping embarrassment, Tice has shown he can't win big games. He's a surly former jock who has no place in Green Bay. Yeah, he painted his house in Minnesota green and gold. But not for the right reasons. This will never happen.
Other potential coaches:
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz
Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino
Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak
San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron
Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassel
Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
