Carl, Herm And Division Of Responsibilities

Our friends at Pro Football Talk have uncovered this nugget of information regarding Herm, Carl and LJ.

“Edwards has wanted to clamp down on Johnson for weeks. Peterson, who pulled the trigger last year on a big-money extension for Johnson, resisted.

Peterson doesn’t want to look bad for making the investment in Johnson. Edwards doesn’t want to look bad in the eyes of an impressionable locker room made up of young players who were starting to wonder when/if the team was going to do anything about a guy who has been at times defiant in his refusal to comply with the team’s wishes.”

Usually, I am supportive of Carl. I think he is a good GM and generally makes good decisions. However, in this case I believe he is 100% wrong. He should not be interfering in how Herm handles the players. If Herm wants to suspend a player, that player is suspended. To resist undercuts Herm’s influence in the locker room. This is a young team and setting expectations early is very important. As a GM, Carl needs to stick to managing the coaches and personnel department and not telling his coaches how to manage players.

What do you think Addicts? Are you with Herm or Carl in this case?

Merlin

Double D says:

October 24, 2008 at 4:16 pm

Interesting stuff Merlin. Pretty effed up of CP to pulling that kind of bullsh*t if you ask me. Perfect occasion for Clunt to step in and bitchslap Carl.

Maine_Chief says:

October 24, 2008 at 5:30 pm

I think half of this teams problems (or more) are due to Carl and Herm not being on the same page. It was clear last year Herm wanted to start Brodie from the get go, and Carl wanted to maintain the illusion that we were a possible playoff team. Herm has made little comments saying how maybe we should have started rebuilding last year. This year, I think it killed CP not being allowed by Clark Hunt to go out and sign a bunch of veteran FA’s like usual. So it’s all conjecture but I think these two may be friendly with each other but they are on total opposite ends of the NFL spectrum with how to do things. CP was comfortable with Vermeil because they think the same way most of the time (LJ excluded). Anyway, Herm is right in this situation and I think CP should step back a little and let the man do his job.

FrankPitts says:

October 24, 2008 at 5:46 pm

Of course LJ needed to be suspended and Carl was wrong on this. Big time. I could live with Herm as coach if he wasn’t so rigid, and got a strong QB coach.

Scott says:

October 24, 2008 at 6:43 pm

An odd scenario that just occurred to me. Herm, you crafty bugger you. Here is the actual truth about why the team is being so mishandled:

*In 2006 Herm is hired and surely wants to blow the team up right then. He wants his own players, coaches, etc. Carl says no. Herm is angry and doesn’t put much effort into the team after this point to get revenge on Carl and prove his point. Herm accidentally guides the team to the playoffs. Herm wants to start Huard against Indy, Carl says no. Herm, infuriated, lets the team flail around, insuring a loss and possible dismantling of the team.

*2007 rolls around and Herm wants to blow up the team. Carl says no. Herm influences Solari, causing the offense to suck so he can blow up the team and maybe get Carl fired. The defense plays fairly well and keeps the team in games for the most part. Herm manages to have a shitty season and uses the unsuspecting Solari as a scapegoat.

*In 2008 Herm starts to get his way. He makes his own changes on the coaching staff. He cuts players left and right. He has a marvelous draft, without much interference from CP except one thing – Carl won’t let him draft a QB. Infuriated, Herm sets out to make sure that 2008 is the worst season in the history of football itself to prove that the King needs to leave shit alone and let him make the decisions. This time around he realizes that the defense must suck as well as the offense so he places restrictions on Gun to cause a breakdown.

This is the only way to get Carl out of his 20-year entrenchment in the franchise and it’s a win-win situation for Herm. Lets take a look at the brilliant strategy at work here:

*If Gun gets fired no big deal. He’s being set up right now to be the next scapegoat, if need be. Herm proceeds to handcuff him so that the defense cannot possibly overperform. He’s not Herm’s guy anyway, plus he can’t run the Tampa 2 like Herm likes it. Who needs him?

*If neither Herm or Carl is fired in the offseason just wait! You thought this team was bad? You ain’t seen nothin! There are always new lows to be achieved! Hell, we’ve already got a win this season!

*If Herm is fired who cares? He didn’t want to work for CP anyway. He’ll be happier in a coordinator/position coach/college position than this misery.

*If CP is actually fired and Herm is retained:

1. Herm’s drafting will have set him up for immediate success. He’s got talent on the team, he’s just not utilizing it.

2. Any measure of success in 2009 (especially on offense) will turn Herm into an overnight hero. It’s too easy! If the team actually starts living up to expectations and improves to .500 or better we’re talking contract extension baby! Now it’s time to play to win the game!

Herm: “Yes, yes. Everything is proceeding according to plan. Ehhxcellent! Now if I can just avoid a brutal stabbing murder by the fans before the ‘09 season…”

Genius!

OR…I’m completely off base here and Herm really is an idiot.

Adam Best says:

October 24, 2008 at 7:12 pm

Herm is really an idiot. Sorry, Scott. He reminds me of Chauncey Gardiner from Hal Ashby’s Being There. A dumb football player and now coach (hey, I played ball, too, so I can say it) who listened to enough rah-rah speeches to eventually regurgitate them at will. This is going to be a post and soon.

October 24, 2008 at 7:16 pm

He is? Really?!