Indeed.
When asked
for reaction on what happened with the 49ers this week, Holmgren said, "You
know, Mike Nolan is a good guy. He's a friend of mine. I don't like the
in-season stuff. That shouldn't shock anybody. That's my profession, and it's
hard. I know his family and it's his heart. I wish him well."
Q: You obviously know Scot
McCloughan well, too. What kind of relationship do you have with him?
Holmgren: With Scotty? Or, Scot, I should say
now. He's an executive. . . . I have a good relationship with Scot, I believe.
He was really a very competent, hard-working personnel guy when he was with me.
And he's really a good guy.
Q: Did it
surprise you that Scot felt compelled to do that to the guy who hired him?
Holmgren:
You don't know what actually goes into something like that. Ownership has to be
involved, executives have to be involved. Exactly how it came down . . . I'm
sure Scot had to be the one to do it. I don't know the details, so I wouldn't
comment on it.
Q: What do
you know about Mike Singletary?
Holmgren: I
know he was a great player. He was still playing for the Bears when I was
coaching in
Q: I'm sure
you'll be flattered to find out your held in very high regard in the Bay Area.
And when all this stuff happens, a lot of people are talking about you, knowing
this is last year last in
Holmgren:
When I was at high school, at
Q: Can you
ever envision at some point coming to the 49ers in some capacity?
Holmgren:
Well, you know what, if it's OK with you guys, I'm going to refrain from
commenting on that. I think it would be unfair to a lot of people, Mike
Singletary, being one. It's too much of a hypothetical. Things in this crazy
business change on a day-to-day basis. I'm going to remain fairly consistent
with that, if it's OK. I'm not going to get into it.
Q: You may
have addressed this one 27 times, too, but how are you going to spend that year
off?
Holmgren:
Well, I'm going to ride my motorcycle a little bit. I'm going to hang out at
the beach a little bit. We're building a new home in
Q: I didn't
know they had bottled water in those days.
Holmgren:
Well, maybe it wasn't . . . maybe it was lemonade.
Q: Did it
have a cork in the top of the bottle?
Holmgren: I know this, with Bill, it was not a twist-off cap.
* * *
Holmgren said he expects Seneca Wallce to start in place of injured QB Matt Hasselbeck on Sunday at Candlestick Park. Wallace completed 12 of 23 passes for 73 yards with a TD and an interception in the Seahawks' 20-10 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.
* * *
If Nolan hadn't been such a good guy, with a professional approach, he probably would have been gone last year. No-one likes the in-season stuff--but he deserved a chance to recover from the 07 disaster. I think he got it--and I also think the last 4 games were bad enough to justify pulling the plug. Something was wrong, and it almost doesn't matter what it was or whose fault it was. It is time for a different approach, and though mid-season changes have a bad record, there is much to be gained beyond whatever happens in the win-loss column by giving a new and possibly effective coach a chance try his stuff and get some experience BEFORE the next season rolls around.
Santa Cruz, Hmmmm....... Reach out Jed, Reach out like your Uncle Did to a guy named Bill Walsh a few decades back!
JVI, those were my thoughts exactly. Hello Mike Holmgren!
I'm surprised that Holmgren went as far as he did, particularly since his team is playing the 49ers this week. Holmgren is a bright guy and chose his words intentionally. The use of the word "plan" twice with reference to next year and his dropping of the fact that he and his wife are building a house in Santa Cruz tells me that he would consider an offer from the 49ers and that the planned sabattical could be changed. None of that means that his acceptance of an offer or the changing of the planned sabattical is probable or likely - only that he would be open to discussion once the Seahawks year is complete. And, today, it doesn't get better than that.
Holmgren wants a year off, so let him have it. Baring a total disaster, Singletary probably deserves more than half a season to show his worth as a HC, so let him have it.
Regardless of the state of the 49ers following next season, Holmgren could and should be brought in to the organization in some capacity. Maybe “Grand Poobah of all Things Football” – like Parcels in Miami….?
A guy like Holmgren is football to the core. I'm sure he would love to help turn the Niners around next year, but he probably made a pretty important promise to his family. Was his son in some kind of trouble and he had to take some time off to be with him? Thats pretty serious. I would love to have Holmgren too, but there shouldn't be and there isn't anything more important than family. I hope he takes next year off.
Hey Mark- I couldn't have written anything better myself.
Hey Oakland-Niner
Holmgren has three daughters, one of who is an M.D. It's Andy Reid, Eagles Head Coach, who is having problems with his sons.
I think Holmgren wants to spend time with his family - hang out in the SF Bay Area during Oct - the best time of the year.
LOL! I'm diggin' the title, I would bust a gut laughin' if I saw that name plate.
Mike Nolan will hit the airwaves this Sunday at 7 a.m. Here’s the alert released by the NFL Network:
“In his first national television interview since being released as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, Mike Nolan joins the NFL GameDay Morning crew of Marshall Faulk, Warren Sapp and host Spero Dedes to discuss his departure, newly named head coach Mike Singletary and his thoughts on the potential of the 49ers for the remaining 2008 season. Nolan will also serve as a guest analyst to break down the key Week 8 matchups.”
Why in the hell would you put Mike Nolan on a pregame show??? Did the NFL Network not catch any of his press conferences???? The pickin's must be getting THIN for TV Pregame Talent!
You guys should go to KNBR website and listen to Ralph drill Scotty on the state of the 49ers. I give Scotty credit for not hanging up the phone but Ralph laid into him like a 9er fan probably would. It was pretty good. I will say this, all NFL coaches are politically correct. They have to be. Do not read into what any NFL coach says. Look at Nick Saban. They say the right things in public. Holmgren is chomping at the bit right now that a job can be open for him with the 49ers. He said, "Things in this crazy business change on a day-to-day basis." Read between the lines people. And to Scoty again. He has to say the right things too. He knows and so does everyone that this team is not a good football team. He knows that Alex Smith was a bad pick. Jonas Jennings was a bad signing and a lot of picks he made this year so far have not paid dividens. How can we see talent yet a guy who does it for a living cant and sits there and defends his 2-5 football team. I wish these guys were realistic. We NEEDED A WR at the begining of the season. WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR ONE NOW!! We drafted Josh Morgan who might, might be good. Eddie Royal (39 rec 392yds 2tds) or DeSean Jackson (29 rec 433 yds 2tds, 1 on a punt). Both of these guys had made an impact and both have better numbers than any 49er WR. Yet we pick Ketwan Balmer and Chilo Rachal in the first 2 rounds, They could very well be good, but both have yet to pass anyone on the depth chart. They have made ZERO IMPACT!!! The problem is the scouting. We pick bad players, we sign bad players, value draft picks too high and we are not bold trying to get guys that are available in trade. Shaun Rogers was available in trade. Perfect 3-4 nose tackle. Corey williams was traded from Green Bay, Roy Williams was availble, Jared allen etc. Marcus Stroud 6'6" 310 lbs traded for 3rd and 5th round pick. Who are our 3rd and 5th rounders. Reggie Smith (who hasnt played, no fifth rounder but our 4th rounder was cody wallace NO IMPACT!) Our scotting stinks. We trade for guys like Darrell Jackson and Trent Dilfer. Give me a break.
To: Kelvin. Amen, brother. Nolan was not good enough, but we'll never contend until the quality of players is upgraded and we get some real game changers in here - some impact guys.
Holmgren is a retread. If we have to get a new coach at the end of the year. Give me Urban Myer. The next Bill Walsh in the NFL
holmgren isnt stupid...sign to an President of Operations role and tell him he only needs to work 8hrs instead of 16hrs and he'll change his mind about the sabatical.
John I don't know much about Urban, but I am intrigued about that loyalty Pete Carrol might foster for his hometown team?
Anyone know the status of Pete's current deal? Is he holding some sort of lifetime contract now?
I agree with Holmgren, it's rude to discuss an opening that Mike Singletary just filled, so I'll stand proudly beside his promotion and hope that his dreams are fulfilled with this opportunity and he brings the franchise to the next level.
Pete Carroll is the best. He wouldn't come here without total control. I doubt he would get it. Right now the new hot name is down at the farm. Jim Harbaugh has turned around Stanford. Mid Forties, offensive minded, and a real bright mind. He would be perfect!
Hello? What about giving Mike Singletary a chance?
We're pulling for him NYLA 9er guy.
I am very hopeful that he can take the reigns and shock the doubters. I've called for him to get this chance for quite some time and am glad the Yorks felt compelled to to do the proper thing.
Mike was a fiery player, well respected and has the centerpiece of our defense in the palm is his hand now.
If we are to return to the glory days of NFC West dominance, the Defense has to arrive and run the show.
Offenses like AZ and Seattle test every level of the scheme and we are too soft in coverage.
I'm praying that Mike Singletary will pressure the WRs and QB more and take more chances to blow up plays instead of keeping everything in front of them.
yap, let's give coach Singletary a chance - I am
confident that he can do the job. Listen to Steve
Young on today's KNBR show, he knows football and
he tried very hard to get his message across to the
listener and the hosts. Steve Young is a true
professional football person and he has confident
in Coach Singletary.
Hey everybody.... I'll put money on the fact that Andy Reid WILL be available to entertain HC job offers!
It's been 10 years and it's about time for him to set sights on new opportunities. Quality guy. Good coach and tone setter.
A comment from the teams' site suggested that some guys were puking after the session today?
Perhaps our 4th Qtr fizzles are conditioning related?
2 things I'm most looking for under Singletary is WR and QB pressure.
I'm hoping for more aggressive play from the defense and more ball control, Frank Gore Ground Pounding to take pressure off the passing game.
Force them to respect Frank as a RB first.
Our most glaring shortcoming has been predictability.
We are more aggressive under Martz, taking deep shots, but teams know it, they pin their ears back and bomb the backfield.
How about Dump offs; Hot Reads and Draw Plays?
Look for the Defense to play a little faster this weekend heading into the BYE.
Be nice to see less read and react hopefully, and maybe a defensive score or 2?
It’s an attitude check first, the 2 weeks to regroup for the stretch run.
A good friend of mine, a Bears fan found a very interesting piece on Mike Singletary;
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-081019-mike-singletary-chicago-bears-1985,0,526431.column
Jed...reach out to Mike H. and put him in charge much like The Tuna in Miami. You need someone who can show you the way. What better mentor than Mike H? Make him an offer he can't refuse. Let him hire a coach and have all reporting to Mike H. I remember Mike from his Lincoln High Mustang days....should have gone to Cal instead.
Pete Carrol is not an NFL HC, he has proven it. He is a feeb, compared to Urban Myer
NFL players run over Pete Carrol He needs to stay in the NCAA at USC and keep dominating there.
You don't even breath wrong around Urban Myer, he will cut ya!!
College coaches don't make good NFL coaches... just look at the history.
That said, I have full confidence in Singletary. He was, as they say, the 'quarterback' of the most dominant defense in NFL history. One thing that struck me from Eric Davis' last entry on the 9ers website was that players had bad technique. Anyone who has seen Singletary work with his LBs knows that he's all about proper technique, being in the right spot, taking the right angles, etc. He should know what EVERYONE on the defense should be doing. I'd venture to say he may pressure Martz to feed Gore more often and possibly implement more short plays, but that should be all he touches on that side of the ball.
If he can put this defense in the top half of the league, wins WILL come. I doubt JTO will be able to COMPLETELY eliminate his turnovers, but even if he limits them to one or two a game, a strong defense (particularly one that forces TOs themselves) will be enough to win games.
NO COLLEGE COACHES PLEASE, THERE IS A REASON THEY ARE IN COLLEGE, NOT READY FOR THE BIG TIME!!! Holmgren GM, with Josh McDaniels as Coach
Kelvin,
Listened to it live that night, Ralph KILLED HIM with questions that Scotty Mac should be able to answer and he couldn't and failed miserably. Never seen a group of people absorb wealth off a past that they had nothing to do with to create, only DESTROY, like the 49ers current front office! I think Jed has potential, but he needs to clean house, and bring in Holmgren as GM and sit back and LEARN!
Leave me the stream address, I got to hear that. Can anybody leave me the stream address of KNBR beating on Scotty?
If the 49ers want to remain in the Bay Area, ownership MUST commit to introducing a good team and commit themselves to running a good team. Here are my plans:
1) Fire Nolan, check
2) Go over the talent, IE Oline coach, WR, etc. So far, Warhop dumped. Sullivan needs to be next. I'd dump Manusky if I do not see defense pressure.
3) Go over who stays, who goes. JTO, gone in 09. HE's GONE as Eddie would say. Alex SMith, if he takes a pay cut as I feel he will because of Nolan gone, he stays. Keep Hill. Draft a QB in the draft as a priority.
4) Get Holmgren the hands on guy in a GM role. I'd dump McCloughan for he's a Nolan associate.
5) See if Singletary can coach. I'd be leery of any big contract.
We need to do this to save our team in the Bay Area. If we can get Holmgren, that can inspire voters to keep our team in the Bay Area altogether.
http://media.knbr.com/knbr/1021mccloughan.mp3
Matt, any reports on the intensity of the practices? Please report as soon as you can. Thanks.
Matt, have you heard anything about the 49ers possibly being interested in Dante Culpepper? I understand any QB coming in will have to learn Martz's offense, but once learned i think a QB like him will be a great asset to our team that is in need for a upgrade at the QB position
Don't know if it's been mentioned here at all, but multiple sources are saying that Hasselbeck is out for this Sunday's game and that it will be a less-than-100% Seneca Wallace starting for the Seahawks.
Julius Jones ran ragged over the Niners last go around. The Seahawk offense has been horrid against every other defense that they've faced. If the Niners D can't stop these guys the team is in big trouble.
Just listened to the KNBR interview, and I’m not hearing McCloughan failing. The questions were really loaded and Scot did a good job answering them where he could reasonably be expected to answer.
He’s not going to go on the air and bash the ownership.
He’s not going to answer questions about events that happened prior to his arrival.
He can’t speak for other members of the organization, or explain what they might have meant when they said something.
He’s not going to single out in public individual players that need to “pick it up”.
He’s not going to “agree” that bad personnel moves have been made. Duh.
sheesh...this story is really getting old...
It's so old it's starting to stink!!
I guess MSM has to write about something.
Holmgren wants sometime off, he wants to live with the pinkos in Santa Cruz. He is a retread, it takes his teams 5 years to get into the playoffs any way...
He is over rated, got worked in two superbowls
I don't want the blubber butt pinko running the team any way..Boy do I feel better
Yeah, let's not forget all the back-to-back false starts, and all those personal fouls. Those types of penalties happen when players are frustrated or undisciplined. Maybe Nolan got a raw deal inheriting all the problems with the front office, but we just couldn't seem to win with him. It took me a long time to admit it, but it was time for a change.
The only capacity I'd like to see Holmgren in with the Niners is as the GM. I want to see Singletary get a full shot as HC. I want to see him go through a draft. I want his intensity...leadership...preparation. This team needs all those things.