Linehan, Kiffin have been fired.

Ruud, the best defensive player?

Kerry Collins, managing the game

It took only 4 weeks, but the first two NFL coaches have walked the plank, as the St. Louis Rams fired Scott Linehan after 36 games on the job, and the Oakland Raiders have relieved Lane Kiffin of his duties after only 20 games at the helm. In the case of the St. Louis Rams, Linehan was on borrowed time as Rams players expressed their frustrations through the media when Marc Bulger stated he did not want to play for Linehan anymore after he was demoted in favour for backup, Trent Green. Also, Steven Jackson had questioned the personnel changes he (Linehan) made in the preparation for the game against the Buffalo Bills. The questions now remain, where will the Rams look to as their next head coach? For the interim they have named their defensive coordinator, former Saints head coach, Jim Haslett to run the team. However, with the pending sale of the team, and rumours the team might move back to the Los Angeles area due to the lack of improvements to the Edward Jones Dome and sagging fan attendance, will the Rams players perform to their peak potential? This has become a lost year for the Rams, even with a talented roster of Jackson, Bulger, Tory Holt, Chris Long, and Adam Carriker, what direction does this team go from here?

It took only 9 months since the Al Davis debacle of trying to force Lane Kiffin to resign, but the Lane Kiffin era is officially over in Oakland. It was reported that team owner, Al Davis, called Kiffin via phone to relieve him of his duties rather than tell him in-person. However, the sad part of this whacky story, he will not be paid for the remainder of his contract (Kiffin had 2 years left on his contract), and he was not allowed to say his goodbye to his players. The Raiders were a great franchise, not only on but off the field for the hiring’s of the first black head coach (Art Shell), the first Hispanic head coach (Tom Flores), and the first female (Amy Trask) to be president of an NFL team. But the Raiders have fallen on hard times lead by Davis’s old school mentality of signing players who are well past their prime, or players who have world class speed but their other skills does not translate well on the field. Until Al Davis cedes majority ownership, every decision runs through him. The whispers we heard from former coaches and players were validated by Kiffin who exposed the real truth behind the one-time rebel owner on how he runs his day to day operations. Who knows maybe the Raiders will move to Fresno, California to revive a sagging franchise that was once proud of its deep tradition. But for the potential this team has with JaMarcus Russell, Darren McFadden, Zach Miller, Michael Huff, Kirk Morrison, and Thomas Howard, is there any coach who in their right mind would take the head coaching job with Al Davis calling the shots from his throne?   

Barrett Rudd of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is my early nominee for defensive player of the year. Ruud, has become the new Derrick Brooks in Monte Kiffin’s Tampa-2 defense. Ruud’s play to date has been the key element in the Buccaneers success this season on defense. For example, in the week 1 loss to the Saints, he forced quarterback, Drew Brees to be uncomfortable in the pocket and holding the Saints vaunted offense in-check for most part of the game. In a week 3 win over the Bears, he covered rookie running-back, Matt Forte step for step down the sideline and was able to make an acrobatic interception to save a touchdown. In the week 4 win against the Packers, he intercepted Green Bay Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, while dropping back 15 yards in coverage to seal the Buccaneers victory. Rudd has done everything the Buccaneers have asked him to do, and he is showing why he should be an early candidate for NFL defensive player of the year.

One has to think what must be going through the minds of the Packers organization after Aaron Rodgers said he suffered a serious shoulder injury in his post-game comments, then the Packers medical staff said it was strain shoulder. With Brett Favre throwing 6 touchdowns passes against the Arizona Cardinals, after 4 games, it looks like the Jets have the slight edge in the trade. Sure, general manager, Ted Thompson in this year’s draft selected Brian Brohm (Louisville), and Matt Flynn (LSU), but he (Thompson) has to wonder if he should have acquire a veteran backup quarterback to bridge the gap of Rodgers to Brohm, and Flynn if he(Rodgers) evers suffers a serious injury? To date in Rodgers young playing career, he has beaten the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions who have a combined record of 1-6, and he has lost to the Dallas Cowboys, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers who have a combined record of 6-2. In the Packers victories, Rodgers completed 70% of his passes, while in the losses, he has completed only 54% of his passes. It is obvious that Rodgers and the Packers are a better team when his accuracy is on target. But for now, it will be more of timing issue for Rodgers to beat teams with his accuracy, than to beat teams with his arm because as everyone knows, he is no Brett Favre for the present moment.

 The Tennessee Titans must be thanking the football Gods to have Kerry Collins as their starter. Collins, who has had an up and down NFL career has found a team where he is flourishing by managing the football game. So far, Collins has completed 56% of passes, and the key to his success, he has thrown only 1 interception out of 83 passing attempts. For the Titans to be successful, their defense will remain the backbone, but they will need Collins to manage the game by making the simple throws, and handing off the ball to rookie Chris Johnson, and LenDale White to get the tough yards. Otherwise, head coach, Jeff Fisher is buying the team more time for third year player, Vince Young to get his personal issues straighten out before he(Fisher) considers putting him(Young) back on the football field.

Please send me your questions, and comments at moe.khan@team990.com

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