I have always believed that passionate fans have a deeper understanding of their teams and players than agenda-driven sports reporters. Fans are not concerned if a player was rude to a reporter in the locker room; instead, they focus on the player’s performance and character without being swayed by personal grudges.
These dedicated fans work forty hours a week and reserve their weekends in the fall to watch their teams compete. Many attend a few games each season and often create a special viewing area in their homes to cheer for their teams.
To gather honest opinions on the players from their schools who will be eligible for the NFL Draft, I decided to reach out to my passionate friends who support various teams.
First up is lifelong Penn State fan and former season ticket holder Scott, who discusses the first players expected to be drafted on day one of the NFL Draft.
Strength: Speed to rush the passer. He switched to DE from being a linebacker. Physical and aggressive.
Weakness: He still needs more time as an edge rusher. Can over pursue at times.
What was the best game or performance you remember him having during his career at Penn State? He had an outstanding playoff run. The play I remember most is when he broke through the Notre Dame line and sacked Riley Leonard using just one arm.
Is he destined for success in the NFL, CFL, or WFL?: First-round NFL draft pick
New York Jets: The team needs to make a fresh start and ensure everyone is aligned. The Aaron Rodgers experiment has been a disappointment; it’s time to move on.
The best approach is to hire a duo from Kansas City. They should appoint Mike Borgonzi as the new front office leader. He is the assistant GM. Additionally, they should make Matt Nagy the head coach. He is the current Chiefs offensive coordinator.
Nagy meets several important criteria for the Jets. He has prior head coaching experience. He also has a successful track record as an assistant. Additionally, he brings a calming presence to a franchise that desperately needs it.
Together, he and his counterpart should form a steady partnership that helps steer the Jets in the right direction. The next key decision will be selecting a quarterback. Having these two at the helm makes that decision feel much more reassuring.
New Orleans Saints:Aaron Glenn. Teams often prefer to hire someone they are familiar with. Who is better suited for this than the defensive coordinator of the best team in the NFL?
Glenn is a former player and coach for the Saints. This makes him a strong candidate to take the helm. He will lead the franchise into the future. Hiring Glenn for the Saints seems like an ideal match.
Chicago Bears: The Bears typically avoid hiring former head coaches for leadership positions. They prefer young coordinators who can develop in the role.
Nonetheless, this time, a change in strategy is needed. Kliff Kingsbury would be the ideal choice, especially with franchise quarterback Caleb Williams in mind.
Kingsbury spent a year working with Williams at USC. Jayden Daniels likely will be the Rookie of the Year candidate. After witnessing his impressive performance under Kingsbury’s guidance, it’s clear that the Bears should consider making this hire.
Kliff had an experience as an NFL head coach in Arizona, which likely provided valuable lessons. He will definitely need a strong defensive coordinator who can take charge of the defense.
With Kingsbury’s offensive skill, this move would make perfect sense for the team.
Dallas Cowboys: The sports media scene is buzzing in Dallas, with PT Barnum Jones, aka Jerry Jones, at the helm.
On the same day, Jerry made the wise decision to part ways with Mike McCarthy. He also proposed pursuing Deion Sanders as the new head coach. I wouldn’t be shocked if that happens, but I would be surprised.
That said, the head coach of the number one sports brand in the world must have prior head coaching experience. The choice can’t be someone without this experience. The Cowboys need a coach who has at least led a Division One college team. Ideally, this person has experience in the NFL.
They must also have a proven track record of success at that level. This coach should have a strong network of potential assistants. The stage is too big for someone to learn on the job.
Finally, he must have enough confidence to deal with Jerry’s vocal presence. I often chuckle when media personalities focus on this topic. Still, any self-assured coach knows that success does not ultimately rely on Jerry’s influence.
There are many options available, but my top choice is current Denver executive David Shaw. His resume is impressive, and his former employers, including Harbaugh and Payton, are even more so.
However, I can’t see Jerry making that move. The media has discussed several great candidates, and my pick is Pete Carroll.
Carroll has a strong defensive mind and excels at developing coaching talent. He was just one bad offensive decision away (thanks to Darrell Bevell) from being a back-to-back Super Bowl-winning coach.
At 73, his options are limited. He doesn’t have the luxury of sitting out too many seasons. He needs to act quickly if he wants to get back on the sideline.
He could quickly assemble a staff. He would certainly bring in Brennan Carroll. He could even agree to add Jason Witten in some capacity.
Schu Box Sports 