Cowboys’ Garrett In For Second Interview
If appearances mean anything, then the interviews between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys assistant coach look like they’re getting more serious. On Tuesday, Garrett arrived at the Ravens’ training complex to interview for a second time for the head coaching vacancy created 2 weeks ago when Brian Billick was fired.
Garrett met with the Ravens last Saturday for several hours; he also has some familiarity with some of the Ravens’ personnel. Garrett and one member of the Ravens’ search committee, team president Dick Cass, attended Princeton. Garrett’s father, Jim Garrett, coached current Ravens vice president of football administration Pat Moriarty when Moriarty was with the Cleveland Browns.
But folks, don’t put all of your eggs in the Garrett basket just yet. The Ravens are also interested in current Philadelphia Eagles secondary coach John Harbaugh; they have also interviewed Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell, Cowboys assistant head coach Tony Sparano – who may or may not be hired by the Miami Dophins, recently dismissed Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
I’m obviously not a handicapper, but from what I have seen thus far, Garrett has the lead in the Ravens sweepstakes. But as in life itself, anything can happen. But don’t be surprised if a hire is made by no later than this Saturday.
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January 16th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Six candidates have been interviewed for the Baltimore Ravens vacant head coach position. One of the candidates, Dallas Cowboys’ assistant HC and offensive line coach Tony Sparano, has just accepted an offer to become the Miami Dolphins HC. Now all eyes in both Baltimore and Dallas turn toward Jason Garrett who is the current offensive coordinator of the Cowboys. He has been offered the HC position of the Ravens but has not yet accepted it. In the end, I think that he will decide to stay in Dallas, thereby backfilling Sparano as the assistant HC and OC, a move that would qualify as a promotion with an increase in salary comparable to the Ravens HC offer. In addition, there will probably be an understanding between Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Garrett that he will be the next HC of the team at some future date.
So where would that leave the Ravens HC search? Presumably, that leaves four remaining candidates in the selection pool–namely, Jim Caldwell who is rumored to become the next Indianapolis Colts’ HC if Tony Dungy retires as expected next week; former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan who appears to be the leading candidate for the Atlanta Falcons HC job; NY Jets OC Brian Schottenheimer; and Philadelphia Eagles secondary coach John Harbaugh.
However, don’t be surprised if the Ravens selecting officials introduce an experienced HC in the interview mix. The most established coach that remains on the Ravens rader is former San Diego Chargers’ HC Marty Schottenheimer, father of Brian, who seems to be interested in the position but understandably does not want to appear in competition against his son for the HC job.
Once that scenario is resolved, I believe Marty will become the Ravens third HC in their franchise history for two reasons. First, given the age and experience on the Ravens roster, a veteran coach of Marty’s stature would have the respect of the team in turning the team’s fortunes around within a years’ timeframe. And second, this selection by team officials comports with the age old practice of HC jobs that you follow a players’ coach with a disciplinarian as HC or vice versa. Since the immediate past Ravens HC Brian Billick was viewed as running Camp Med, Martyball will be a necessary change of pace for the underachieving Ravens.