Somebody's Gotta Go!

"The Odd Couple"

Who should be fired, Vince Young or Jeff Fischer? That's been the water cooler conversation this week. Vince Young is the out of control "Momma's Boy" as stated in an article I wrote a few months ago. Jeff Fischer is the longest tenured head coach in the NFL that's not budging on his rules and manner of discipline. So which one should go? You can't keep both of them, right? The popular choice would be to just get rid of Vince and you've solved your problem. However, how often does a freak of nature show up on your door step? A guy that's 6' 5", runs like a gazelle, and when his head is right can lead your team to victory. If I were the owner I'd get rid Fischer. Here's why.

A friend of mine coaches at a BCS conference school and has been in the profession for more than twenty years. I asked him one day, "Why don't you want to coach in the NFL." Without blinking he said, "I can't coach anyone that makes more money than I do". I thought about it for a moment and it made all of the sense in the world.

At the professional level regardless of the sport you're no longer coaching, you're managing ego's and attitudes. How often would a kid that's half your age, that makes 10 times your salary actually  listening to what you have to say? Not very often. You aren't teaching these guys anything, you're making sure they know the game plan for Sunday (NFL) that's about it. It's about keeping heads cool and catering to major ego's so that you can get their best effort. Jeff Fischer hasn't been able to do that with Vince. Remember this is the pros, you can't rule with an iron fist at this level. Look at what happened with Shanahan and Haynesworth. Is Albert a nut? Sure, but he's the best defensive lineman in the league and he's not playing and the Skin's didn't make the playoffs. You may not like it but it is what it is.

Phil Jackson has been the best at managing ego's for years. If it hadn't been for Phil, Michael Jordan would never have become Michael Jordan. Now don't misinterpret what I'm saying here. By no means am I saying that Vince is at the same talent level as MJ. However, they are at the same jerk level. Remember how Mike used to fight at practice against his own teammates when Doug Collins was coaching the Bulls. He jumped on Steve Kerr for crying out loud! Who jumps on Steve Kerr? The Bulls got rid of Collins and Jordan flourished under Phil. They won championships with several powerful ego's like Pippen, Grant and eventually Rodman. Phil Jackson was the mastermind behind keeping those guys from imploding.

Need more proof? Magic Johnson showed up in L.A. with head coach Paul Westhead and they constantly bumped heads. It was brutal to see the tension between them. The Lakers made the decision to fire Westhead and the rest is history. Not very many people would be able to coach Kobe because he's at the same jerk level. No one sees it because Phil knows how to handle it.

Vince has always had an ego's problem. While he was a stud at the University of Texas he was able to control the ego because he was broke. He knew that by acting a fool he wouldn't get to the league. Michael Jordan was the same way. Mike wouldn't have dreamed of fighting at one of Dean Smith's practices. When the checks start rolling in it's like getting drunk.  See money is like alcohol. It doesn't change you. It just brings out what's already in you. That's why some coaches have problems managing  multi-millionaires and guys like Phil relish in it.

I'm not saying that Vince Young will become a Hall Of Famer, but what I am saying is that coaches are expendable and unbelievable talents aren't. Don't get me wrong, I think Vince is a complete idiot with no self control but what I think of him is irrelevant. Professional sports is full of jerks that don't know how to act but in order to win you've got to manage their temper's and massage their ego's. This isn't little league, high school or college. It's  professional sports and the players bring in all of the revenue not the coaches. People are wearing Vince Young's jersey not Jeff Fischer's. They are paying those ticket prices to see the "Gazelle not the coach. Therefore, the coach is expendable not the franchise quarterback. So therefore, Jeff Fischer should be the one  kicking rocks. What's your opinion?

Jay Graves