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**HarveyWallbangers** · 01-20-2007, 03:06 PM

That could be a blow to the Vikings. I'm sure the Vikings will run the same scheme. Sometimes that works out. Sometimes it doesn't. The Packer optimist thought losing Jim Bates last year wouldn't hurt that much because they'd run the same scheme, but Sanders proved not to be as good as Bates--although statistically the defense probably wasn't much worse this year compared to 2005. When you look at turnovers force and sacks, the defense was better. When looking at yards, it was worse. The points agains stats were hurt by an offense that wasn't quite as good as usual and poor special teams coverage teams. Overall, the defense didn't play as well in 2005 for the Packers, but it probably wasn't a huge dropoff. Will be interesting to see how the Vikings respond.

I liked what I saw from Tomlin, but I'm surprised he got the job over Grimm. I thought he might have been a token interview.

**MJZiggy** · 01-20-2007, 03:17 PM

I was hoping Rivera would get it.

**Rastak** · 01-20-2007, 03:20 PM

Originally posted by MJZiggy

I was hoping Rivera would get it.

So was I......I agree with Harvey, it's a blow....

**ND72** · 01-20-2007, 03:23 PM

espn.com, and fox sports radio both have Tomlin dening he's been offered any job with the steelers.

**Rastak** · 01-20-2007, 05:52 PM

Originally posted by ND72

espn.com, and fox sports radio both have Tomlin dening he's been offered any job with the steelers.

That works for me.....

**esoxx** · 01-20-2007, 06:03 PM

This is good news for the Packers.

**Rastak** · 01-20-2007, 06:22 PM

Originally posted by esoxx

This is good news for the Packers.

That ESPN and Sporting news are denying he's been hired....?

THAT'S bad news for the Pack..... :P

**Rastak** · 01-20-2007, 06:23 PM

PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers have narrowed their wish list of candidates to replace Bill Cowher to three names -- Russ Grimm, Ron Rivera and Mike Tomlin -- but have not yet made a decision on their next head coach.

The Steelers declined Saturday to confirm they have chosen a coach to replace Cowher, who resigned less than a year after leading the team to its first Super Bowl victory in 26 years.

A report on Sports Illustrated's Web site, SI.com, on Saturday indicated that Tomlin had been chosen as the successor to Cowher, but the Vikings' defensive coordinator told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that no decision had been made.

"It is untrue," Tomlin said of the report. "I have no idea where it's coming from."

Sources also told ESPN.com's John Clayton that the report was incorrect, and the Steelers are not expected to make a decision until Monday at the earliest.

A person with knowledge of the search told The Associated Press that not only has the job not been offered but there have been no contract negotiations. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Steelers do not want details of the search made public until they have made their choice.

When reached by AP, Steelers owner Dan Rooney had no comment. Team president Art Rooney II, leaving the team's practice complex Saturday, also said he had nothing to say.

"We have heard all the rumors, and we have nothing to confirm at this point," Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett added, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Tomlin and Grimm, the Steelers' offensive line coach and only remaining in-house candidate, both had their second interviews earlier this week. The Steelers can't talk to Rivera again until the Bears are eliminated from the playoffs. Chicago plays New Orleans in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.

If the Bears win, the Steelers must decide whether they could afford to wait another two weeks to talk to Rivera, or if they should hire Tomlin or Grimm so they can start to reassemble their coaching staff and begin planning for the 2007 season. Rivera's first interview with the team went well and the Steelers have strongly hinted they would like to talk with him again.

The Steelers' diligence in finding Cowher's successor cost them offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, a move that leaves Grimm as the possible front-runner.

"We are pleased with the progress of our search to date,'' Art Rooney II said Monday in a statement issued by the team. "We now will move into the second interview phase and we are confident that each of the candidates on our short list will be excellent head coaches in the NFL. It is our task to determine which one is the best candidate for the Pittsburgh Steelers at this point in time.

"Our time frame remains as it was in the beginning. We will conclude the search when we have found the best coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers."

Whisenhunt, one of the NFL's top offensive coaches, took the Arizona Cardinals' job Sunday rather than waiting to see if he would be promoted by Pittsburgh. He will be officially introduced by the Cardinals at a news conference Tuesday.

While Whisenhunt was widely considered around the NFL to be Cowher's heir apparent, the Steelers gave no such indication after Cowher resigned Jan. 5. Also, they apparently didn't make a counteroffer to persuade Whisenhunt to stay.

Grimm also interviewed with the Cardinals, but unlike Whisenhunt, didn't get a second interview.

Tomlin had an excellent interview with the Steelers and, like Cowher in 1992, is an on-the-rise candidate despite being only 34 and having minimal experience as an NFL coordinator. Tomlin took over the Vikings' defense this season.

Hiring Grimm, however, would provide the Steelers continuity from one coaching regime to another and would allow them to keep most of their assistant coaches. All are under contract for next season, but a coach hired from outside the organization would likely want to choose his own staff.

Even if Grimm takes over, Whisenhunt's departure is expected to create some changes in the Steelers' offense.

Whisenhunt may take quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple with him as offensive coordinator, meaning the two coaches who have closely worked with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger the last three seasons would be gone.

The 47-year-old Grimm, a Pittsburgh-area native and former Pitt star, won three Super Bowls as a Redskins offensive lineman. He is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and has clearly had the respect of the Steelers in his six seasons as an assistant. He was also a Redskins assistant from 1992-2000.

**Rastak** · 01-20-2007, 08:31 PM

From PFT.com

TOMLIN HIRE STILL EXPECTED

Based on our dicussions with league and industry sources, we're now confident that, although Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin has said that he wasn't offered the head-coaching job with the Steelers, the team has indeed settled on Tomlin as the next head coach of the team.

Per one source, the hiring might now be delayed by virtue of Michael Silver's report that Tomlin had been chosen as the successor to Bill Cowher. But the thinking is that it still will happen.

And though we've been pushing Tomlin for the job since before he even was named by the Steelers as a candidate, we're thinking that his decision to speak on the record to ESPN's Chris Mortensen wasn't the wisest decision he's ever made. It would have been wiser for Tomlin to say nothing at all until he had a chance to investigate the situation on his own.

**Lurker64** · 01-20-2007, 08:41 PM

The Vikings should hurry up and offer Tomlin their head coaching job to snag him before the Steelers do. Chilli can just concentrate on the offense then.

But in all seriousness, it looks like Tomlin is the best coach Minnesota has and if he's not gone this year he'll almost certainly be gone in the next two years.

**Rastak** · 01-20-2007, 08:47 PM

Originally posted by Lurker64

The Vikings should hurry up and offer Tomlin their head coaching job to snag him before the Steelers do. Chilli can just concentrate on the offense then.

But in all seriousness, it looks like Tomlin is the best coach Minnesota has and if he's not gone this year he'll almost certainly be gone in the next two years.

I think he's gone. They can't cut ties with Chilly yet....it's very similar to when Dungy left and Denny Green stayed.......

**ND72** · 01-20-2007, 09:39 PM

yeah, just saw it is "official"...that's really surprising to me....I know Tomlin is an "up and comer"...but to surpass someone like Rivera for a head coaching position is surprising to me. I honestly never heard of the guy until he was hired to be the DC for Minny.

**MacCool606** · 01-20-2007, 09:52 PM

I used to be impressed by the number of Holmgren's Assistant coaches that made it to Head Coaching jobs. I think that the staff Dungy had in Tampa was as good or better. Off the top of my head I can think of:
Herm Edwards
Lovie Smith
Mike Tomlin
Marinelli? (Detroit HC)
Holmgrens guys were all due to the West Coast Offense, Dungy's guys are all due to the Tampa 2 Defense

**HarveyWallbangers** · 01-20-2007, 10:14 PM

Originally posted by MacCool606

I used to be impressed by the number of Holmgren's Assistant coaches that made it to Head Coaching jobs. I think that the staff Dungy had in Tampa was as good or better. Off the top of my head I can think of:
Herm Edwards
Lovie Smith
Mike Tomlin
Marinelli? (Detroit HC)
Holmgrens guys were all due to the West Coast Offense, Dungy's guys are all due to the Tampa 2 Defense

I'd still take Andy Reid, Steve Mariucci, Mike Sherman, and Jon Gruden.

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Steelers hire Tomlin

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