The Dilemma
By now, everybody has joined ESPNTV's Ed Werder in reporting Baltimore is asking Jason Garrett to choose.
Here or there.
Them or us.
Right now or possibly later.
Of course, by doing so, your friendly, underachieving Ravens also have forced Owner Jones to choose as well. He responded resolutely when I talked to him Sunday in an emotionally charged aftermath of another Cowboys playoff failure. Coach Wade stays, he said, and to suggest otherwise was foolish. He provided himself with zero wiggle room, no caveats, no reminders that opinions change.
And no he has a choice, too:
Option 1: Keep Coach Wade. Let JG walk. And possibly be coach-less if Coach Wade fails again in playoff time next season.
Option 2: Fire Coach Wade. Hire JG.
Option 3: Keep Coach Wade. And hope like hell a truckload of cash, a wink-wink, nod-nod promise that he replaces Coach Wade and The Star keep JG in Texas.
I am torn between Options 1 and 2.
Just a brief explainer on why Option 3 is no-go in my mind. I hate "The Promise" to a coach on so many levels, namely what happens if Dallas gags again next season and JG has another "ish" play-calling day? Do you go back on your word? Or do you keep a guy who faith has been lost in? Nor does this even talk about what a joke this kind of deal makes of The Rooney Rule. And, of course, this sets up an almost weekly game of how long until JG replaces Coach Wade. After an ugly loss in Week 1? After a four-game losing streak? After a Super Bowl victory?
No, Owner Jones needs to decide and, if he's anything like me, he's torn.
Letting the redheaded genius go is the height of stupidity. Dallas has a young, up-and-coming coach who is a big reason why this team was 13-3. Owner Jones was smart enough to pry him from Miami and to let him go now, to watch another team benefit from him seems like such a gamble.
As I type this, though, I see Coach Wade and he's asking "What about me?"
Do I really deserve Cam Cameron treatment? After 13 victories?
And so as many questions as I have about whether he's capable of winning a Super Bowl for this team, whether he has enough butt kicker in him, firing his butt after this season seems a little unfair.
Of course, I will not rip Owner Jones too much if he does. I'm just glad I am not him. This is a very difficult decision with every Option having flaws.
Your turn: Advise Jerry. Which option do you think is the right one?
Look, Jerry's gonna have to pay JG head coach money anyway, so dump the Cupcake and move forward.
Posted by: Don | January 15, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Jones can't fire Wade because he would have to admit to making a mistake last year and his ego just can't stomach doing that. Fading toward the end of the season is a classic sign of poor coaching--well coached teams get better and better over time. My question is whether the offensive game plan and play calling was completely JG's or did Wade intervene? If JG was responsible for the mess of the last five games, perhaps we ought to just fire them both.
Posted by: Pk | January 15, 2008 at 11:43 PM
It comes down to who Jerry would rather lose. Since he's already losing Sparano and likely a couple others to Miami, there's already going to be a significantly different staff in place. Who will run the defense if Wade leaves -- is Brian Stewart ready? Who will run the offense if Garrett and Sparano leave? Please don't tell me Wade Wilson -- how many general managers are courting him this offseason?
Posted by: Kevin | January 16, 2008 at 12:58 AM