NFL Coaching Carousel

With the Packers getting a much needed win over the Cowboys on Sunday, it certainly appears the team has saved the season and appears that McCarthy/Thompson will probably be able to save their jobs for at least another season. Anyway, even though the Pack will probably not be in the mix for a new GM/coach, the annual coaching carousel is still kind of interesting to follow. Here is what ESPN's John Clayton had to say today about a few high profile coaches who are currently not with an NFL team (note: John Gruden signed on to stay with Monday Night Football for next year this week)...

Mike Shannahan - Clayton says he will 100% for sure be a head coach next year.
Mike Holmgren - Clayton thought he'd probably be a GM or team President next year.
Tony Dungy - thought Dungy would stay in TV
Bill Cowher - about a 75% chance he would come back, but only for the right team.
Brian Billick - about a 50% chance. Billick wants to be a head coach again, but no team has gone after him.

Regarding Cowher, seems like Carolina might be his team of choice, given he lives in Charlotte. So, it will be interesting to see how the Panthers finish off the season.

Brewer's starting rotation

Current potential starters on roster...
1. Gallardo
2. Parra - could be trade-bait
3. Bush - could be non-tendered
4. Suppan - could move moved to long relief
5. McClung - but could be non-tendered

Doug Melvin has said he'd like to add 2 new starters. Here are the pitchers currently linked to the Brewers as possibilities...

Free Agents...
1. John Lackey (LAA) - biggest FA starter in market
2. Doug Davis (AZ) - former Brewer, might not mind returning
3. Jarrod Washburn (Sea/Det) - WI native son
4. Randy Wolf (LAD) - seeking 2-yr deal
5. Ben Sheets (N/A)
6. Braden Looper (MIL)

Via Trade?...
1. Javier Vazquez (ATL)
2. Edwin Jackson (DET) - Tigers firesale
3. Bronson Arroyo (CIN) - Reds firesale
4. Derek Lowe (ATL) - $45M due over next 3 yrs, Brave salary dump?

Brewers decline Looper option

Kind of surprising, given the Brewers NEED pitching and Looper at least went out there every 5th day and logged some innings. Maybe now with Cam's 10 mill coming off the books and with Loop's 6.5 mill coming off the books... they can make a run at Lackey? Otherwise, for now we have Yo, Bush, Parra, Soup. I'm guessing Mulder is an option too (but who knows what to expect out of him).

The road to March Madness begins tonight at the BC

Marquette plays their first game tonight, vs. the Centenary Gentlemans. It's the start of the annual record-padding portion of the schedule (as they fluff up the number of wins they have in hopes of impressing the selection committee in March). Centenary is 18-44 over the past 2 seasons. 'Nuff said. I'm a MU fan, but just telling it like it is. Most teams do this early in the year, so it's not just them. This year will be a big challenge without the Big 3 (James, McSteal and Matthews all graduated). Anyway... Good luck Warriors! err, Good luck Gold! err, I mean Good luck Golden Eagles!!! ;-)

The Dope Sheet (Week 10)

The Dope Sheet is the official program & publication of the Packers Football Team. Here are some of the interesting facts from this week's sheet, found at packers.com...

Teams: Dallas (6-2) v. Green Bay (4-4)
Location: Lambeau Field
Date: Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009
Time: 3:15pm CST
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver (FOX)

* The Cowboys are 1-5 all-time at Lambeau, winning for the first time in 2008.
* Dallas leads the all-time regular season series 12-10 & lead 4-2 in playoff games.
* Packers have lost 2 in a row, Cowboys have won 4 in a row.
* Tony Romo (from Burlington, WI) is 13-1 in November games during his career.
* Last week, Ahman Green became the Packer's all-time leading rusher (passing Jim Taylor).
* Cowboy's coach Wade Phillips has a 76-55 all-time regular season record (but is 0-4 in playoff games).
* The Packer's D is 4th best in yards allowed and 14th best in points given up.
* The Packers are 15-7 over their last 22 regular-season home games.
* Donald Driver is Lambeau Field's all-time leading receiver, with 4131 yds and 296 catches.

Pack haven't beat a winning team in almost 1 year!

The last time the Packers beat a team with a winning record, they beat the then 5-4 Bears at Lambeau Field 37-3 on November 16, 2008. That means, it will be 364 days since they've beaten a good team when they take the field vs. the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday.

A Chicago Bear Makes History!

Last night vs. the San Francisco 49ers, Jay Culter (Quarterback of the Chicago Bears) became the first NFL player to ever... throw for 300 yards, throw 5 interceptions, and not score a Touchdown in a game. Way to go Franchise QB!

The Bears Still Suck! :-)

JJ traded to MINN for Carlos Gomez according to Haudricort

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Way to support your team Minnesota!

From www.profootballtalk.com comes this intersting post... The Vikings have the coming weekend off. Thereafter, they host the Lions and the Seahawks. According to John Holler of VikingUpdate.com, 4,000 tickets remain for November 15 against Detroit, and 3,500 are unsold for the following Sunday against Seattle. So even with the Favre factor and a 7-1 start to the season, the Vikings will have to hustle in order to lift the local blackout for games.

P.S. For those of you wondering, I did boooo Brett on Sunday. I'll post more details in the coming days.