Bill Cowher's Legacy?
Just saw a good bit in the Flem File on Bill Cowher. (Scroll down a bit.)
What the Steelers did under Cowher to capture Super Bowl XL -- catch fire in the final month of the season and ride that emotional wave to four road wins in the playoffs -- was truly amazing. But does anyone else remember how Cowher did in the five other biggest games of his coaching career? Well, he went 1-4 at home in four AFC Championship Games against lesser opponents and was so utterly flummoxed by the Pats in the last two that I'm convinced Bill Belichick could have won with either roster. Then there was the Super Bowl against Dallas when Cowher was outfoxed by the slightly less than brilliant Barry Switzer. Let's face it, Cowher was a great beneficiary of the Steelers' magnificent organization. And if he was ever an elite coach, it was, at best, in a bygone era when you could do the same thing every week and just do it better than anyone else.
A year ago, a sentiment like this would have been blasphemy. Cowher was a great coach who led the Steelers and they were somewhere between good and great for his entire lengthy tenure. His legacy was solid, and he walked out on top as all the great ones wish they could.
I wanted him to be the next coach of the Vikings.
Then he made the mistake of joining CBS. Maybe he's just not made for TV. Maybe he's just not wired for analysis. But he sure doesn't seem very sharp. After watching him try to make even the simplest point, I've come to doubt Bill Cowher. It's almost to the point where I wonder if he'd be much of an upgrade over Childress.
I certainly don't think he's anywhere near as good as Mike Tomlin (who should be coaching the Vikings right now).
That said, I think I have some advice for Tomlin: When you retire from football, don't go into TV. You can't win. And I don't want to be saying this about you in fifteen years.
Posted by Sean Schulte at 2008-12-18 09:40:00
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