Thread: Schefter reports Raiders fire Dennis Allen

Lindsay Jones @bylindsayhjones · 16h 16 hours ago

Hate to see jokes about Dennis Allen being fired by Raiders. He's a good man, a good coach, and was in an impossible situation.

The Oakland Raiders haven't won many games over the last decade, but they lead the league in head coach speculation. After Dennis Allen's firing Monday night, we begin anew.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport says the Raiders are looking for a "superstar" coach who can not just win on the field, but in "every single aspect." There are roughly 25 other teams that would also like one of those, but you can't exactly pick them up at Rite Aid.

"Of course, all eyes turn to Jon Gruden. We know he is close with Raiders owner Mark Davis," Rapoport said Monday night. "That would be, from what I understand, the first look from the Oakland Raiders."

rest - http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...raiders-search

Originally Posted by Denver Native (Carol)

Lindsay Jones @bylindsayhjones · 16h 16 hours ago

Hate to see jokes about Dennis Allen being fired by Raiders. He's a good man, a good coach, and was in an impossible situation.

One that he walked into with eyes wide open. It's hard not to joke, IMO.

Originally Posted by wayninja

One that he walked into with eyes wide open. It's hard not to joke, IMO.

I would imagine many young assistant coaches would grab the chance to become a HC. 99.9% of teams firing/hiring new coaches are not the great football teams.

Originally Posted by wayninja

One that he walked into with eyes wide open. It's hard not to joke, IMO.

I can't really fault him for taking it though. There are 32 NFL HC jobs in the entire world. It's a pretty prestigious position. And imagine being the coach who finally turns the Raiders around. Whoever does that will be a legend. I'm not gonna blame anyone for taking a stab at it.

Originally Posted by Denver Native (Carol)

I would imagine many young assistant coaches would grab the chance to become a HC. 99.9% of teams firing/hiring new coaches are not the great football teams.

That's true, but that's part of the risk assessment you have to do. By that same token, there's a very good reason why many 'established' coaches won't go near Oakland with a biohazard suit.

He made a desperate gamble and lost. I'm not sure every young assistant would have done that.

Originally Posted by wayninja

That's true, but that's part of the risk assessment you have to do. By that same token, there's a very good reason why many 'established' coaches won't go near Oakland with a biohazard suit.

He made a desperate gamble and lost. I'm not sure every young assistant would have done that.

By the same token, I don't think it will hurt him in his future prospects. I don't think teams will hold being fired by Oakland against anyone.

I think we should bring Allen back into the fold. IIRC another team can hire him and pay him whatever and the Raiders are on the hook for the difference. We should bring him in as an unpaid intern and let the Raiders pay his full salary.

Originally Posted by BroncoWave

By the same token, I don't think it will hurt him in his future prospects. I don't think teams will hold being fired by Oakland against anyone.

Maybe. I don't see McDaniels getting a lot of calls.

Originally Posted by wayninja

Maybe. I don't see McDaniels getting a lot of calls.

I must have missed where McDaniels was fired by Oakland?

Originally Posted by BroncoWave

I must have missed where McDaniels was fired by Oakland?

Did you miss where he was fired by Denver? It was an analogy.

Originally Posted by wayninja

Did you miss where he was fired by Denver? It was an analogy.

Has nothing to do with my point though. I said that being fired BY OAKLAND is something that probably wouldn't be held against anyone, since no one can succeed there. Being fired by a franchise like Denver is a completely different scenario.

Originally Posted by BroncoWave

Has nothing to do with my point though. I said that being fired BY OAKLAND is something that probably wouldn't be held against anyone, since no one can succeed there. Being fired by a franchise like Denver is a completely different scenario.

I do see your point. Your emphasis was on OAKLAND, while mine was on BEING FIRED. However, I don't think it's as completely different a scenario as you make it out to be. Allen had several years there to turn things around, and instead they got (somehow) even worse. It's probably not all his fault, but it's also not something you just walk cleanly away from either. The stigma of failure will stay with him for a while.

Josh McDaniels name was being thrown around a lot last season as an option.

Originally Posted by wayninja

I do see your point. Your emphasis was on OAKLAND, while mine was on BEING FIRED. However, I don't think it's as completely different a scenario as you make it out to be. Allen had several years there to turn things around, and instead they got (somehow) even worse. It's probably not all his fault, but it's also not something you just walk cleanly away from either. The stigma of failure will stay with him for a while.

I think most football people will put the blame on McKenzie, where it belongs. I think the narrative on Allen is basically "He wasn't ready and never had a chance to succeed with Oakland." He'll be running somebody's defense next year.

That said, none of Oakland's coaches post-Gruden have gone on to success anywhere else.