NFL news: Black Monday Special Edition

Miami Dolphins:

Head Coach

Out: Joe Philbin

The Dolphins made their intentions at Head Coach known early on when they fired Joe Philbin during the BYE week.  Dan Campbell was promoted as the Interim Head Coach, and it has been confirmed that he will get an interview for the full-time job.  However, he will have a lot of competition.  Already the Dolphins have spoken with former Atlanta Head Coach, Mike Smith and Bills Asst Head Coach Anthony Lynn, and have interviews lined up with Bengals OC Hue Jackson and Jaguars OL Coach Doug Marrone.

Other Names: Matt Patricia (NE), Josh McDaniels (NE), Todd Haley (PIT), Teryl Austin (DET), Mike Shannahan, Sean Payton (NO), Adam Gase (CHI), and Dan Campbell (MIA)

General Manager

Out: Dennis Hickey

The Dolphins have promoted from within, giving veteran front office executive, Chris Grier, the title of General Manager.  However, do not be fooled.  “Football czar” Mike Tannenbaum is the man with the power in Miami.  He reluctantly gave up overseeing personnel decisions when he was promoted to Vice President of Football Operations, but now he keeps his fancy new title and gets back all of his power, plus has a convenient scapegoat in Grier when things fall apart again.

New York Giants:

Head Coach

Out: Tom Coughlin

It’s really the end of an era in Giants football.  Tom Coughlin has brought a lot of success to the G-Men, but that success often caused fans and media to overlook some glaring failures and a tendency to underachieve.  Coughlin had been faced with the hot seat before in New York.  The difference between those times in the past and now?  In the past he responded by winning a Super Bowl, but this time failed to make the playoffs despite playing in the awful NFC East.  And while it was obvious that Tom Coughlin felt he should have been allowed to leave on his own terms, the Giants management realized that they had to do something to look to the future of the organization.  Sentiment be damned, this league is about winning.

The leading candidates to replace Coughlin appear to be in house as the Giants have confirmed that both Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo and Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnoulo will be given interviews.  That’s not necessarily out of the ordinary or a bad decision.  In fact, it would show that the organization still believes in what the team is doing, but wanted to look towards the future.  In reality, that fits the scenario pretty well.  But the Giants are also one of the teams that have been connected to Chip Kelly.  That makes a lot of sense for a New York team.  Despite all the names being thrown around by the insiders and analysts, there is little doubt that Kelly is the hot name for the layperson.  That’s especially true in New York where fans have been seeing him twice a year.  It would be a splash move that would get people out of their Jets jerseys and back into their blue and reds.  Would it be the right move for success?  Well…

Other Names: Adam Gase (CHI), Doug Marrone (JAX), and Sean McDermott (CAR).

New Orleans Saints:

Head Coach

Though the rumors were rampant, it appears that Sean Payton will spend at least one more season in New Orleans as the Head Coach.  However, in his press conference, Payton confirmed that General Manager Mickey Loomis had been researching trade compensations.  That tells us that at some point, the chance of Payton being dealt to another team was a very real possibility.  Adding to the intrigue, the Dallas Cowboys official team plane was spotted at the New Orleans airport.  Jerry Jones denied that he was there for Sean Payton…but just hours before Payton officially announced he would be returning to the Saints for another year.

Sounds more like Jones was there to make his pitch but wasn’t ready to give up the compensation being asked for.  That makes sense…I mean, he’s gotta have something left to offer the Browns for Johnny Manziel, right?

Next: The Chip Kelly saga ends in Philly