WR Coach Scott Montgomery Leaving

[Oviedo]

NFL coaching jobs are strictly business. Assistants tend to coach at one place for a couple of years, then move on to a new place for a couple of years, and so on. Rarely does a coach develop a "love" for a particular NFL team or NFL city, since those jobs tend to be so temporary...you are merely a hired gun.

However, a guy's alma mater will always be his alma mater. There will always be a meaningful relationship with one's alma mater no matter what. Even if it's not the pinnacle of the profession, you can make a comfortable salary while "going home" and being happy. It's hard to put a dollar value on something like that.

Keep in mind that the "grind" of the NFL isn't that great a life for coaches. The college ranks many times offer more security and "quality of life."

[Slapstick]

It isn't like Montgomery left for a high school job or something...he is going to work at his alma mater, which happens to be in a BCS conference, and assuming duties with a greater level of responsibility...

[BigRob]

Wexell is speculating (pure speculation) that Montgomery was told he should take the job because he wasn't going to be retained.

[thor75]

This is great news to me!! I thought the WRs underperformed this year (as most of us did) and with that talent that is unacceptable. Ward is gone and the WR corp goes in the downslide...correlation or reaction?? I don't know, I love the shake-up. Doesn't seem like the coaches presence was there. Something needs to light a fire under those guys. I am genuinely ecstatic right now, I am looking forward to someone who can develope the WRs better. A great FO move that never was imo.

[feltdizz]

The coaching tree plays a big part in who stays and who goes... if this coach was mentored by BA he probably knew his days were numbered. I have a friend who has a brother who is a coach. He bounced around from Youngstown St. to Stanford, Maryland and ended up on the Ravens. When Harbaugh was hired he was also let go when the OC or DC was fired. He was really close to getting a promotion before the caoching chqnge.

He's a HS head coach now and he loves it. Most of these coaches have a desire to lead or be in the drivers seat. Its also grindijg oj the family and my friend told me his wife is much happier now that they have some stability and the kids arent starting over every 3 years at a new school.

[steelmann58]

lets hope Mike does not hire another crony. I not sure Ward is the ansewer as Wr coach but they need a coach who the young recievers can learn from.

[Oviedo]

lets hope Mike does not hire another crony. I not sure Ward is the ansewer as Wr coach but they need a coach who the young recievers can learn from.

What "crony" has Tomlin hired? Haley? No. LeBeau? Given to him. Carnell Lake? No. Bicknell? No.

Guess I don't see the cronies you do.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

What "crony" has Tomlin hired? Haley? No. LeBeau? Given to him. Carnell Lake? No. Bicknell? No.

Guess I don't see the cronies you do.

Amos Jones
Kirby Wilson
Garrett Giemont

^^^^ Tomlin cronies

[Slapstick]

Amos Jones
Kirby Wilson
Garrett Giemont

^^^^ Tomlin cronies

If that's the case, then every head coach in the NFL hires "cronies", if the only qualification is that they previously worked together...

Rob Chudzinski hired Norv Turner = crony

John Harbaugh hired Juan Castillo = crony

Jim Harbaugh hired Greg Roman and Vic Fangio = cronies

The list goes on and on...

[flippy]

Swanny and Stallworth might be too old, but wonder if Lipps or Thigpen would be interested in coaching?

[phillyesq]

Swanny and Stallworth might be too old, but wonder if Lipps or Thigpen would be interested in coaching?

If you were going to look for a former player to be a coach, I would try to find somebody who got the job done without great physical tools, and instead somebody who outperformed their measurables. An offensive equivalent of Deshea Townsend.

The nostalgia of the old stars is great, and they certainly have some gravitas, but it is rare that you have a really good play become a really good coach. I think Carnell Lake is more the exception than the rule.

[Slapstick]

If you were going to look for a former player to be a coach, I would try to find somebody who got the job done without great physical tools, and instead somebody who outperformed their measurables. An offensive equivalent of Deshea Townsend.

The nostalgia of the old stars is great, and they certainly have some gravitas, but it is rare that you have a really good play become a really good coach. I think Carnell Lake is more the exception than the rule.

I agree. There are more Cowhers, Grudens and Jeff Fishers in the NFL than there are Jim Harbaughs...

[Oviedo]

If that's the case, then every head coach in the NFL hires "cronies", if the only qualification is that they previously worked together...

Rob Chudzinski hired Norv Turner = crony

John Harbaugh hired Juan Castillo = crony

Jim Harbaugh hired Greg Roman and Vic Fangio = cronies

The list goes on and on...

Exactly. Every coach in the league hires people they know but when Tomlin does it somehow it becomes insidious.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I agree. There are more Cowhers, Grudens and Jeff Fishers in the NFL than there are Jim Harbaughs...

129 TDs
117 INTs
77.6 Career QBR

I hope that this is not the measuring stick for a "really good" player

[Oviedo]

Amos Jones
Kirby Wilson
Garrett Giemont

^^^^ Tomlin cronies

So two out of the 10 coaches (20%) on the staff (Jones is gone) have a previous relationship with Tomlin and that is rabid cronyism. None are in key positions like being a coordinator but somehow Tomlin has got it wrong? Wow!