Introducing the Bills new head coach - Ken Whisenhunt... What?

by Joe P. on Dec 14, 2009 8:43 PM EST

Yeah…..it is a long shot and I don’t’ know if it is possible, but bear with me. I was watching the MNF pregame show and one of the distinguished talking heads mentioned that Whisenhunt only has one year remaining on his contract. Thus far, there has been no talk from the Cardinals front office about giving him an extension. Whisenhunt is currently making a paltry 2.5 million a year. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Whisenhunt I don’t know about you, but I have been extremely impressed with the job Whisenhut has done with the Cardinals. The Cardinals are the defending NFC champs and poised to win their division for the second straight year. I think it is safe to say he has changed the culture of losing in a historically uncompetitive small market team with a owner that has a reputation as being frugal. Sound familiar? I think you can see where I am going with this. We were/are willing to pay Shanny or Cowher 10 million a year. How about The Wiz? Whenever the Cardinals seasons ends, what is stopping Ralph from calling him up and offering him a boat load of money, which the Cardinals may not be willing to match? Answer…..that dam 1 year left on his contract. So, I have two questions. Can a NFL head coach get out of his contract? And if so, how much (if at all) would you pay to get The Wiz as the Bills next head coach?

Poll

Would you pay The Wiz 10 mil to be the Bills head coach?

Yes - He is a proven winner

63 votes

No - You're high...two years is not a good enough track record to make that kind of cash

150 votes

213 votes | Poll has closed

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.

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Comments

I would vote “no” were it not for all the stuff you put after it. Nobody is worth $10 mil a season as a coach.

And there isn’t any chance in hell that Whisenhunt leaves Arizona.

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by Brian Galliford on Dec 14, 2009 9:08 PM EST reply actions

OK, but why?

If Ken feels underpaid, does he have any options if another team wants to pay him more? Can a head coach break his contract? Can a HC pull a “Jason Peters” and hold out?

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf

by Joe P. on Dec 14, 2009 9:16 PM EST up reply actions

I’m saying the Cardinals won’t underpay him. They’ll do what it takes to keep him.

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"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott

by Brian Galliford on Dec 14, 2009 9:24 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed

I live in AZ so I get a bit more news then most of you on the Cards – and they just usually wait until the last possible minute to fork over the money. It’s what they do, and that strategy would have worked nicely in B-lo if say they had done that with DJ…

I was born in Buffalo, and NO, it's not a suburb of New York City

by Ghetts on Dec 15, 2009 10:39 AM EST up reply actions

I voted Yes, because

1. I don’t think what Ken has done is an accident, and I think he can do it again.
2. Just like FA players, if we want a proven HC we are going to have to overpay to get one.
3. Ken is young enough that he still has the energy and drive to turn a franchise around.
4. Ken doesn’t strike me as a “I want to be the GM too” kind of guy. I think he would be someone who could get alone with a new, young GM.

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf

by Joe P. on Dec 14, 2009 9:55 PM EST reply actions

Grimm

There is no way Whisenhunt becomes availabe, but give me Grimm. He is my first choice for a new head coach. I love what he brings to the table.

by billsfan69 on Dec 14, 2009 10:37 PM EST reply actions

You are probably right and Grimm is a good choice

With Ralph willing to spend money, and Ken making very little of it…..it just got me thinking…..dangerous I know :-)

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf

by Joe P. on Dec 14, 2009 10:46 PM EST up reply actions

Grimm.

He is the best choice of realistic HC hires now.

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 14, 2009 11:31 PM EST up reply actions

I would love to have Grimm as HC

I think Grimm would be a great head coach for us. We are not going to have to break the bank to bring him in. Also, he is arguably a Hall of Fame lineman. Our biggest weakness is O-line and he can bring a lot to the table to help our young guys out. Hell, he had Mike Gandy starting in the super bowl and we all know how bad he sucked. He has had a great opportunity to learn from Cowher and Whis. Lets hope we get him.

PS…Tony Sparano is a former OL coach he has done a pretty good job turning the dolphins around

by MarkyMarkO on Dec 15, 2009 9:46 AM EST up reply actions

Ok who the heck is this Grimm guy that you guys keep on talking about. I have no idea who he is, so I wouldn’t mind some info.

by CanadianBillsFan on Dec 15, 2009 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

only one of the best OL coaches in the world.....

plus a certified Hardass who believes in hard-work……lunch-pal type of guy……would fit in well with the city of Buffalo.

Yeah, I just stare at my desk, but it looks like I'm working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch too, I'd say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work. - Peter Gibbons

by norcaliangelsfan on Dec 15, 2009 11:42 AM EST up reply actions

Where is he now?

by CanadianBillsFan on Dec 15, 2009 12:02 PM EST up reply actions

He coaches with Wiz in Arizona......

by norcaliangelsfan on Dec 15, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

He coaches one of the worst OL's in the league.....

Whether that’s on him or not is very, very debatable. I tend to say no, but the results suggest otherwise.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Dec 15, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

According to MNF

Besides Gandy, that group had started 32 games together, with Gandy, they’ve been together starting forever.

My take on O-Lines is that continuity is everything. And the way that o-line got spanked by SF, I was not at all impressed. SF has a better defense than given credit for, but still, no line that experienced should get abused like that.

by Ono on Dec 15, 2009 1:54 PM EST up reply actions

He was OC for Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh, too.

"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
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by MattRichWarren on Dec 15, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions

OL coach, not OC. duh. That was Wiz.

"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.

by MattRichWarren on Dec 15, 2009 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

i like that choice . no shot at wisenhunt kinda goofy to entertain thought…. he brought the cardinals to a superbowl… the CARDINALS… no shot

by majr1282 on Dec 15, 2009 7:28 PM EST up reply actions

No way

No coach is worth that. Plus, the Cardinals are one of the most maddeningly frustrating teams in the NFL. They’ll look great for a few weeks then completely poop the bed (i.e. tonight). Also, without Kurt Warner, that team is a 6-10 mess under Leinart.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Dec 14, 2009 10:38 PM EST reply actions

I am pretty sure The Wiz didn't tell his RBs to put the ball on the carpet or Warner to have his worst game of the year,

so how can you blame Ken? I gave him credit for benching Leinart in favor of Warner. That was a gutzy call. Do you know if a coach can break a contract to got to another team?

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf

by Joe P. on Dec 14, 2009 10:44 PM EST up reply actions

I dont think they can break their contract unless they retire and sit out a year.

However they can be traded ala Jon Gruden to Tampa Bay.

by mob16151 on Dec 14, 2009 11:07 PM EST up reply actions

The only coaches you are going to pay $10 Mil for.

Better have won a Super Bowl.

I could see 4-5 Mil for Whisenhunt and I bet the Cards pay it.

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 14, 2009 11:33 PM EST up reply actions

Marv never won a SB and is in the HOF..... just sayin :)

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf

by Joe P. on Dec 14, 2009 11:36 PM EST up reply actions

I'm sick of losing Super Bowls.

I want to win one.

How one of the most profilic offenses in NFL history lost to two journeyman QBs in Hostletter and Rypien.

Says to me the difference was coaching.

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 14, 2009 11:41 PM EST up reply actions

Sick of losing SB ????

I would be happy with a SB lose at this point. Either way, Marv was voted into the HOF by people who know a hell of a lot more about coaching than I do anyway.

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations" – Dan Dierdorf

by Joe P. on Dec 14, 2009 11:49 PM EST up reply actions

What’s that? … Superbowl? Don’t talk about making a Superbowl!! Superbowl? Are you kidding me?!?! Superbowl? I just hope that we can win a game!

by CanadianBillsFan on Dec 15, 2009 6:15 AM EST up reply actions

No HC has ever won a SB with two different teams…

"Security comes from earning it--not seeking it." Marv Levy

by howedyhowe on Dec 15, 2009 5:01 AM EST up reply actions

Don't get me wrong.

I like Marv,

He coasted on his talent Polian got him. He’s from the school great players make great coaches.

Much like Dungy, and now Caldwell.

I believe great coaches, make average or slightly above average players, look better than they are.

I think Parcells coaching the glory days wins us 3 or 4 Superbowls.

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Dec 14, 2009 11:56 PM EST reply actions

Man this idea is as far fetched as me wanting Mark Trestman on our team (either HC or OC) next year. And I like it just as much.

But like I said, it’s just as far fetched. I would love it to happen, but the Cards would be insane to let him go to another team. Although I’d be all for throwing th bank at him.

by CanadianBillsFan on Dec 15, 2009 6:06 AM EST reply actions

Trestman does have the advantage of being used to Buffalo's hideous uniforms.

Of course we could make things more challenging, Lisa, but then the stupider students would be in here complaining, furrowing their brows in a vain attempt to understand the situation--Seymour Skinner

by Ron From NM on Dec 15, 2009 12:01 PM EST up reply actions

Heck our unies would be an upgrade over what his team is using now!

by CanadianBillsFan on Dec 15, 2009 12:04 PM EST up reply actions

Although the 1970’s Red and Whites and the new Black and Blues look pretty good, the other ones are crap. Especially that tacky 80’s Red and Blue uni. HI-DI-OUS!

by CanadianBillsFan on Dec 15, 2009 12:06 PM EST up reply actions

After watching the Cardinals screw my fantasy team last night...NO!

I needed 16 pts to make the playoffs last night out of the Warner, ARI D, and Rackers combo, got 12. Why does this make me say NO, not b/c I am mad, but b/c of what I stated last night during the game. “Whisenhunt looks like good ol’ Dick Jauron out there, 7 turnovers, and he isn’t saying a word to any of these jokers!” I’m sorry, but that’s poor coaching. After a couple turnovers, you pull your team together at half and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Oh, and please tell me that you think that the Cardinals would even be in the hunt, if it wasn’t for Kurt Warner. Whisenhunt success is wholy due to Warner & Fitz, and not his own competency. Let’s see him win games with Leinhart b/f I nominate him a candidate to our team, a team with arguably less talent, definitely less at the QB position.

They are hard to play but not hard to beat.
- Mike Lombardi on the Buffalo Bills

by Sluss88 on Dec 15, 2009 9:40 AM EST reply actions

Alright, so from that I got you are frustrated and have no idea what you are talking about

The Whiz has begun changing over the team into a more balanced run/pass team and has done it amazingly this year. And the reason for that is to help Leinart when he takes over after Kurt leaves. Kurt is a good QB and I like him a lot over Leinart, but please, you watch one game and make judgement?

I was born in Buffalo, and NO, it's not a suburb of New York City

by Ghetts on Dec 15, 2009 10:44 AM EST up reply actions

Dude, I watch ALL the games!

Have you seen how horrible the run game is?!? Wells consistently fumbles every game, and is soft. Hightower shouldn’t be a starting RB, or probably even a backup in the NFL! I don’t think they have any kind of decent run game.

My point is that I don’t think Whisenhunt is a great coach. I would take Fewell over him, and I’m not advocating he get the job.

They are hard to play but not hard to beat.
- Mike Lombardi on the Buffalo Bills

by Sluss88 on Dec 15, 2009 10:54 AM EST up reply actions

I don’t have the stats for last night, but the previous 5 games they were averaging 135 yards. Up from the 65 in the first 7. That is great improvement – Wells is not soft at all, he hits the whole hard. Hightower is what he is, but he is a great pass defender and is great at catching the ball. Whiz took the team from no where (and they had Kurt before they got Whiz btw) and made them a winning team. He made the decisions that have made that defense improve dramatically. Come on the offense has 7 turnovers, and the D holds them to 24 pts!

I was born in Buffalo, and NO, it's not a suburb of New York City

by Ghetts on Dec 15, 2009 12:21 PM EST up reply actions

If Whisenhunt’s contract doesn’t end after this season, then I think the Bills would have to give up draft pick compensation for Arizona to agree to allow Buffalo to sign him away. Parcells and Gruden would be the examples that come to mind. And if that’s the case, I’m not interested in giving up an early pick to get Whisenhunt.

I do like this thought process though. If Whisenhunt’s contract was up and Buffalo could give him a little wink, wink, nudge, nudge through an “intermediary” to not renew in Arizona, I’d give him a lot of money to come here. I think 10 mil is crazy for any coach this side of Belichick. But I’d happily send a message his way wondering if he’d be intersted in leaving AZ to come to Buffalo and make 6 or 7 mil if the Cardinals wouldn’t match it. Or at least, I’d do that if I didn’t have to give up a 2nd round pick to sign him.

I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute

by kaisertown on Dec 15, 2009 10:42 AM EST reply actions

Belichick doesn’t even make 7M.

"Play like hell and win." - Perry Fewell
Your daily source for Buffalo Bills information.

by MattRichWarren on Dec 15, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

What do the top guys make? Like 5 mil? Without looking into it, I’d guess that the top experienced candidates will get about 6 or 7 mil this offseason and that’s what I’d be willing to give to Whisenhunt. The fact that Belichick doesn’t make 7 mil shows how nuts 10 mil per for a head coach is.

by kaisertown on Dec 15, 2009 2:56 PM EST up reply actions