The GM's, Coach's, Carousel

The Raiders have found their new General Manager.

According to multiple reports, Las Vegas is finalizing a deal to hire Buccaneers assistant G.M. John Spytek for the role.

Spytek, 44, has been with the Buccaneers since 2016. He first served as director of player personnel before being promoted to vice president of player personnel in 2021. He was promoted again to assistant G.M. in 2023.

After playing his college ball at Michigan — where he was a teammate of Raiders minority owner Tom Brady — Spytek spent time with the Lions, Eagles, Browns and Broncos before making his way to Tampa Bay.

Spytek was also in the building with Brady when the quarterback came to Tampa Bay in 2020.

Now that a G.M. is in place, the Raiders can focus all of their attention on their search for a new head coach. While Ben Johnson was their reported frontrunner, he instead accepted the Bears’ job.

 

Brian Schottenheimer set for second interview, per report with the Cowboys.

 

I think that last swing and a miss woke Khan up to what I was saying earlier!

 

That's one step in the right direction.

 

It is but they're weeks late in making it. Doesnt exactly radiate competence.


BTW Tim, what do you think about Dallas? Both the HC search in general, and Schott in particular?

 

Feels like they are waiting to interview Kellen Moore.

 

Schott? Uninspiring, and likely dead in the water within 3 seasons, IMO.

Pete Carrol should have been the hire, but that would be Dallas doing something that I think they should, but Jerry never would - Admit that they are behind two teams in their division when it comes to personnel, and possibly in an arms race to not be last if the Giants can do something solid at quarterback within the next two seasons.

Pete would have simply kept the brand relevant while they worked their way out of Dak's contract and into the future. Dak's deal is structured so that they could move him in the 26 or 27 offseason. They would probably get more on the market than what some people would envision. It would be the best thing for Prescott, and probably the best thing for the Cowboys, in the long run.

You do the deal to extend CeeDee and Parsons, locking them in on what is essentially a retooling of the roster, and draft a quarterback or make a move for a free agent. Imagine a scenario where Baker doesn't immediately sign an extension with the Bucs, making him a free agent in 2027. Suddenly, the Cowboys deal Dak and bring in Baker...

How quickly would the fans get on board? I'm sure Lamb would be more than ok with it.

Basically, I don't think the Cowboys are as close as what they believe, I think Philly's core is strong, and I think Washington is going to become one of the biggest problems in the NFC for the next decade or more. Riding out Dak's money with a guy like Carrol would have kept people hoping while the reality was future oriented.

 

Giants could be making moves too in the next couple seasons.

 

Same line of thinking I have.

The Cowboys are farther on the wrong side of the ledger than what they know, and the media has become so comfortable keeping them in the cycle that they remain relevant when not.

 

More on Pete Carroll - While I think he would have been the right hire for the Cowboys for the reasons I mentioned, I think he would be the wrong choice for the Raiders.

I think we can all agree that Las Vegas doesn’t have their quarterback of the future on the roster. If you go back and look at how he handled the situation in Seattle, it doesn’t lend any confidence to his ability to get the biggest question right for the Raiders.

Unless they have a GM that makes that decision for him, I can’t see them finally getting competitive in that division with Carroll as HC.

 

The NFC EAST is a very interesting division for sure... but I'm not holding the same enthusiasm as you guys.

I 100% agree that the Eagles are the team with the deepest core and as far as the NFL goes, they are the closest thing to the Chiefs as far as being at the top (not withstanding the amazing season the Lions turned in, but let's see them repeat before we crown them top of the heap)... the rest of the division will be at odds with each other over the coming years imho.

As for the Commanders.. I see a similar stage to CJ Stroud's launching onto the scene. The Texans are at the top of their division, hence in playoff contention as long as Stroud is healthy, but I don't think many teams "fear" the Texans. Washington is similar in makeup in my opinion. I think with a years worth of tape to study, defenses will bring them back to earth next year and they will be good, but I'm still not sold that Daniels is better than Stroud. He is going to need players to continue to step up above their expectations to hold the success they had this year.

The Cowboys, I think people are writing them off way too early. Dak is a very good QB. They have dealt with some injuries this year, which showed their vulnerability in depth, but I could easily see them vying for the division again in 2025, unless Jurrah screws up the coaching situation and/or roster terribly.

The Giants aren't a QB away from being a NFL contender... and there isn't a savior QB in this draft....

Edit- I am sincerely hoping the Commanders make the Super Bowl this year, and I wouldn't be too upset if they won it either... I don't think they will be back to the NFL Championship game in the future...

 

Joe will have to confirm, but I’m pretty sure he’s pointing towards the same direction I am, which is the idea that the Giants are a lot more talented than what some see, and the disparity between them and the Cowboys is a helluva lot less than what most perceive.

Specifically at quarterback - I didn’t put it all on this off-season.

The idea of ‘contender’ needs some context, if you don't mind me asking.

Do you mean they can’t be competitive in the East within the next 5 years if they hit on a passer in FA or the draft in the next 2?

 

Report: Cowboys closing in on deal to make Brian Schottenheimer their head coach

The Cowboys are closing in on a deal to make offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer their new head coach, Clarence Hill of All City DLLS reports.

Hill said the sides are expected to “cross the finish line” today or no later than Friday.

Schottenheimer fits everything that owner Jerry Jones covets in his head coaches. He will come inexpensive relative to other head coaches in the league, as Schottenheimer had no other interviews. Jones, who doubles as General Manager, maintains control and continues as the face of the team. And it’s someone with whom Jones is familiar.

PFT

 

Zac Taylor: We are excited to welcome back Al Golden as defensive coordinator

The Bengals have made it official with their new defensive coordinator.

Cincinnati announced that the club has hired Al Golden for the role.

“Al is a very highly regarded coach, and we are excited to welcome him back to the Bengals as defensive coordinator,” head coach Zac Taylor said in a statement released by the team. “He understands football at every level and has had great success as a coordinator, position coach, and head coach. Al has a great football mind and will bring a smart, physical, aggressive approach to our defense.”
________

They will be a good team if they come up with a stout defense...

 

If I you force me to pick one team (right now, without thinking too much on it) that I think would be the top candidate to go from no playoffs to conference championship, it would be the Bengals.

 

What i ve found so surprising about them is the apparent lack of ambition! When it ended with McCarthy i was concerned they'd throw their considerable weight around and try to land Johnson. And i know Jerry has a bit of a rep for being cheap on coaches but i could've seen that being trumped by Jerry's age and hunger for another SB. And yet here we are, watching them be linked to every low key candidate and none of the big names. Its not gonna fly, not in that division.

I'd love to know how the conversations really went with McCarthy. Cos to me they look like a team who was unprepared for this HC search, like the expected McCarthy to be back. Refusing the Bears permission to interview McCarthy supports that position. It felt like there was a presumption of McCarthy returning then he didn't. Something broke down between the two parties, contract terms of some kind probably. Either way, they seem to be barking up all the wrong tees.

 

I agree. Joe and that offense rocked. Get a defense thats stingy and they will soar.

 

Wow. My nephew will lose his shit over that heh.

 

*COUGH**COUGH*

 

for the division.. I’m not sold on this years QB crop and there is no way to know if they will have an opportunity at the top of the 2026 draft. Finding a QB in free agency would seem to be the best bet, however how many success stories can we point to for free agent QBs? If they make it to free agency, there is usually a reason and the shit storm that is the Giants doesn’t make for any better plot to reach that success. I like Malik… what else you got?