Barring a last-minute Chip Kelly hit-and-run, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hope to introduce Greg Schiano from Rutgers as their new head coach as soon as today.
Schiano had been rumored for the past few years as the eventual replacement for the late Joe Paterno at Penn State and might have ended up there had it not been for the scandals that led to the firing of the coaching icon.
Chuck Pagano, welcome to Indianapolis.
First order of business: Keep Peyton Manning.
Second order of business: Keep Peyton Manning.
Third order of business: Shave your goatee, and then keep Peyton flippin’ Manning.
You have the one thing every NFL franchise wants—an elite quarterback—so do not let him loose. Don’t fall victim to hype and prospecting and clouded strands of recency.
Peyton Manning—who is, let’s remember, one of the five greatest quarterbacks in NFL history—gives you the best team possible over the remaining four years of his contract.
That’s the most relevant piece of information in this decision.
There’s still one tiny little game left to be played, but for 30-of-32 NFL teams, the process of improving 2012 rosters already has kicked into high gear. From coaching carousels to Senior Bowl scouting, front offices are looking for an angle, while fans are concocting hare-brained schemes to make sure their teams are playing at this time next season.
Admittedly, this article is closer to the latter than the former.
Trades are rare in the NFL, and high-profile trades are virtually nonexistent. But that doesn’t mean they can’t—or shouldn’t—happen. When executed correctly, trades benefit both teams, and I believe that the trade I’m suggesting accomplishes just that: Minnesota sends the No. 3 pick to Cleveland for cornerback Joe Haden.
