Just five months after walking away from the Seattle Seahawks, Mike Holmgren says he already has the itch to get back to football, and he expects to be in the league in some capacity in 2010.
Holmgren told KJR in Seattle (via Sports Radio Interviews) that he was so excited during NFL draft weekend that he had to remind himself that he's no longer part of any NFL team.
As the Redskins go through mini-camps this spring, the most important development will be how things progress with their starting quarterback, Jason Campbell. It's no secret the Redskins pursued other options during the offseason, only to come up short and end up "stuck" with the 27-year-old Auburn product.
After three seasons, and finally one full one, under his belt, it's time for Campbell to take the next step and become a franchise quarterback. Finally getting a second season in the same offensive system -- 2009 will be the first time -- is a great start for the 6-foot-5 signal-caller. He's also getting more comfortable in his leadership role.
Last summer, as Nate Davis prepared for his junior season at Ball St., some scouts thought he had the potential to be a first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. He got off to a fast start but shaky showings against non-MAC teams -- including Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl -- raised questions about his productivity.
Then, at the NFL Combine, Davis measured only 6'1", struggled through the passing drills, and that was the beginning of a tumultuous few months. In March, only one team attended his pro day, and the news that he might suffer from a learning disability further lessened his draft value.
Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.
Mike Holmgren has long been one of the primary identities of the Seattle Seahawks. He took them to the Super Bowl and made them a perennial winner of the NFC West. Then last year happened. As Holmgren's retirement tour rolled along, more and more injuries piled up, Seneca Wallace had to start at quarterback for a few games, and the Seahawks stumbled to a 4-12 record.
Shortly after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to part ways with head coach Jon Gruden, Buccaneers players from past and present began taking a place in line for an opportunity to sound off on their former boss. The word "scumbag" was used, while several players suggested that he was, for the most part, a two-faced liar that would tell them one thing and end up doing the exact opposite.
Gruden has remained relatively silent on the matter, but opened up in an interview with Chris Harry of the Orlando Sentinel. Among the topics discussed: the spread offense, Tim Tebow and how a person responds to being called a "scumbag."
When people think of Super Bowl XL, the most common storylines involve Jerome Bettis' hometown (did you know he is from Detroit?) and the officiating. One of the plays that drew the prominent rage of Seattle fans and head coach Mike Holmgren was Ben Roethlisberger's one-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter.
If you already miss Mike Holmgren or Tony Dungy, I've got some good news for you. If you think NBC's 25-man pre-game show needs more people, I have even better news. Both Dungy and Holmgren are going to contribute to NBC's pre-game coverage for the Super Bowl February 1.
Dungy and Holmgren share a few things in common. Both stepped down from their head coaching gig recently, both have a billion playoff appearances, and both won the Super Bowl one time. It is this Super Bowl experience, I'm sure, which made these two attractive additions to the panel, especially since Tiki Barber wouldn't know anything about it.
The coaching transition in Seattle hasn't garnered much attention around the NFL this off-season, with coaching changes in places like Denver and New York making headlines while the media mostly overlooks the departure of Mike Holmgren.
The reason for that, of course, is that we've all known since last year that Jim Mora Jr. would take over for Holmgren after the season. But just because everyone in Seattle knew this change was coming, that doesn't mean there's no news coming out of Seahawks headquarters. Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Seattle requested permission today to interview Patriots special teams coach Brad Seely, who could replace the Seahawks' current special teams coach, Bruce DeHaven.
And in a sign that Mora would like his defense to model the Tampa 2 system that Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has employed over the last decade, Schefter reports that the Seahawks are also interviewing Buccaneers linebackers coach Gus Bradley and former Lions head coach Rod Marinelli.
What it all adds up to is that just because Mora was the top lieutenant on Holmgren's staff, that doesn't mean Mora is going to do things the same way Holmgren did. And really, why should he? With the Seahawks coming off a 4-12 season, they need more changes than just a new head coach.
A couple days ago ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that the Cowboys could be in the Mike Shanahan business. If not this offseason, then a year from now, when Jerry Jones will announce that he can no longer stand the sight of Wade Phillips in his puffy coat.
Last spring, the job was Jason Garrett's to lose and, well, that sounds like what he's done. Despite T.O., Witten, Williams, Barber, Romo et al, the Cowboys' offense was inconsistent and often out-schemed. And that let to ESPN's Mike & Mike having the following conversation during this morning's radio show (via DMN's Sports Media Blog):
Mike: "To me the biggest surprise and I don't mean this critically...that after the way their season ended Wade Phillips is the coach of the Cowboys."
Other Mike: "...I also thought that Jason Garrett was the heir apparent yet he was given permission to talk to the Detroit Lions. You know to give your heir apparent permission to talk to another team..."
Interrupted by Mike: "I can tell you who the heir apparent is in Dallas, it's Mike Shanahan. Mike Shanahan will be the coach of the Cowboys a year from now if not sooner."
Kurt Warner -- as he's been doing to NFC West foes all season -- torched the Seattle secondary. He ended his day early with 263 yards and four touchdown passes. Two of those scores were to Larry Fitzgerald, who concluded yet another strong season in the desert. The game itself, however, took a back seat to a few things.
First of all, Mike Holmgren coached his last game for the Seahawks. After a very strong tenure which saw Seattle become a regular in the playoffs and visit their first Super Bowl, Holmgren steps down as easily the most decorated coach in franchise history. They visited the postseason in six of his 10 seasons, and they had only done so four times in their first 23 years of existence. After the game, he was -- understandably -- quite emotional.
"I started talking to the team, and I couldn't talk," he said. "I'm an emotional coach, anyway, and I told them I'd visit with them (Monday), because if I tried to do it now, it'd be ridiculous."
Just five months after walking away from the Seattle Seahawks, Mike Holmgren says he already has the itch to get back to football, and he expects to be in the league in some capacity in 2010.
As the Redskins go through mini-camps this spring, the most important development will be how things progress with their starting quarterback, Jason Campbell. It's no secret the Redskins pursued other options during the offseason, only to come up short and end up "stuck" with the 27-year-old Auburn product.
Last summer, as Nate Davis prepared for his junior season at Ball St., some scouts thought he had the potential to be a first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. He got off to a fast start but shaky showings against non-MAC teams -- including Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl -- raised questions about his productivity. 
Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.
Shortly after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to part ways with head coach Jon Gruden, Buccaneers players from past and present began taking a place in line for an opportunity to sound off on their former boss. The word "scumbag" was used, while several players suggested that he was, for the most part, a two-faced liar that would tell them one thing and end up doing the exact opposite. 
In anticipation of Cardinals-Steelers, FanHouse takes a look back at some forgotten storylines from past Super Bowls.
If you already miss Mike Holmgren or Tony Dungy, I've got some good news for you. If you think NBC's 25-man pre-game show needs more people, I have even better news. Both Dungy and Holmgren are going to contribute to NBC's pre-game coverage for the Super Bowl February 1. 
The coaching transition in Seattle hasn't garnered much attention around the NFL this off-season, with coaching changes in places like Denver and New York making headlines while the media mostly overlooks the departure of Mike Holmgren.
A couple days ago ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that the Cowboys could be in the Mike Shanahan business. If not this offseason, then a year from now, when Jerry Jones will announce that he can no longer stand the sight of Wade Phillips in his puffy coat. 
Kurt Warner -- as he's been doing to NFC West foes all season -- torched the Seattle secondary. He ended his day early with 263 yards and four touchdown passes. Two of those scores were to Larry Fitzgerald, who concluded yet another strong season in the desert. The game itself, however, took a back seat to a few things. 
