Worse move, firing Shanahan or firing Gruden?

Looking back the answer looks black and white. Shanahan took the fall for Cutler crumbling against SD now Cutler is gone and Marshall will be following, Denver has a very bad looking QB and the defense hasn't really improved.

Not that things are looking much better in Tampa. The QB situation is a joke, the running back commitee looks decidelysecond tier and a once vaunted defense is a fading memory. I think that Gruden could have turned this around, where as now who knows? Public perception always gave Tony Dungy too much credit for the Bucaneers only Super Bowl win, in the end I think misconception may be what ended Gruden's tenure.

Which of these firings was the worse decision?

Firing Gruden was the worse move. Raheem Morris looks more and more in over his head each week. Shanahan needed to get canned, but to replace him with McDaniels? Really? Last I checked the Belichick coaching tree wasn't producing a whole lot.

Shanahan failed to bring a defense to Denver, I mean over the last 3 seasons the Broncos have given up 24 points a game. Last season they gave up on average 28 points a game

Think about that, you need to score 4 touchdowns per game just to keep the game close

I think it justified that he was let go

Gruden on the other hand took Tony Dungy's team and won a Superbowl. The proof of this has been shown as he's torn down that team piece by piece. They had a stellar defense that needed an offense but Gruden was too busy having 5 different QB's and never once trying to find the outlet player who could help out the running game. What was the first thing the Bucs did when Gruden left? They grabbed a TE that knows how to catch the ball in the middle and take pressure off the line

It's really hard to go against either firing but if I had to I'd go with Shanny. I think the owner could have forced him to do something on defense. That might have caused probolems with their relationship though.

Firing Shanahan.

I like Morris for the Bucs: has has made some tough decisions that Gruden was reluctant or incapable of making, like reducing the amount of QB's and cutting the increasingly ineffective Derrick Brooks. I think Morris will be fine: the Bucs are going to be bad because they have to rebuild an old and tired football team, and if anything Morris is ahead of schedule IMO.

Shanahan is one of my favorite coaches, ever, so I would have to say firing him is the worse decision.

They both needed to go. Shanahan has nothing to show for so many years, and Gruden was wearing thin on his players and that situation was going to get worse with him there.

Firing Shanahan, and it's not even close. The Broncos had the pieces for one of the best offenses in football -- if they got a little help on defense they could have been a really dangerous team. Then McDaniels comes in and alienates his two best offensive players (causing one of them to be traded) and now they'll probably win something like 5 games this year. Even though firing Gruden might have been a mistake, the Bucs weren't going to be a dangerous team no matter who the coach was. JML897

I agree with this. Taking McDaniels and Morris out of the equation, Shanahan won two Super Bowls, took his team to the playoffs consistently, and frankly is a pretty damn good coach. His offense was not a problem last season, his defense, which was being run into the ground by an incompetent cordinator, was the problem. Maybe that's his fault for not firing the guy after his defense sagged two seasons in a row, but I don't see how hiring a young hothead who insists on focusing all his energy on dismantling a perfectly competent offense while the defense remains shaky is any better. While I don't think Gruden's firing is justified, Shanahan at least kept his team at a respectable level, just out of the playoffs. Gruden's Bucs haven't even been close for a while.

I think the better question, though, is which team has less of an excuse for going after one of them, the Browns, Lions, or Raiders? The fact that Mangini, Cable, and Schwartz have jobs while Gruden and Shanahan don't is more of a tragedy to me than the actual firings.

Both were good moves, IMO. If Shanny could handle just being the coach he would be all right but he wasn't getting done as GM. It was time for both teams to rebuild.

Gruden on the other hand took Tony Dungy's team and won a Superbowl.

Firing Shanahan, I never seen Gruden that good of a coach, he won that Super Bowl off of Dungy's team.CajunCeltic

I think the better question, though, is which team has less of an excuse for going after one of them, the Browns, Lions, or Raiders? The fact that Mangini, Cable, and Schwartz have jobs while Gruden and Shanahan don't is more of a tragedy to me than the actual firings.

theone86

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"] [QUOTE="CajunCeltic"]Firing Shanahan, I never seen Gruden that good of a coach, he won that Super Bowl off of Dungy's team.Second_Rook

I think the better question, though, is which team has less of an excuse for going after one of them, the Browns, Lions, or Raiders? The fact that Mangini, Cable, and Schwartz have jobs while Gruden and Shanahan don't is more of a tragedy to me than the actual firings.

theone86

I thought Cowher didn't want to coach anymore? But yeah, there are a few positions that could be up for grabs pretty soon. And Charlie Weis getting fired, are you high? That man gets more second chances than, um, I can't think of a good similie right now, but yeah I'm starting to think he's never going to get fired. Shanahan might be pretty good taking that position, though. If he gets signed to the Raiders he's going to be expected to make the playoffs within two years. If he takes a college position it's a little less pressure, a little more control to be able to shape the team.

I thought Cowher didn't want to coach anymore? But yeah, there are a few positions that could be up for grabs pretty soon. And Charlie Weis getting fired, are you high? That man gets more second chances than, um, I can't think of a good similie right now, but yeah I'm starting to think he's never going to get fired. Shanahan might be pretty good taking that position, though. If he gets signed to the Raiders he's going to be expected to make the playoffs within two years. If he takes a college position it's a little less pressure, a little more control to be able to shape the team.

theone86

Defiantly Shanhan. There are few coaches i'd rather have than Shanhan in the league right now. There are few coaches i'd take under (if any) i'd take under McDaniels. As I said in previous posts I don't think he's an innocent victim in either the Cutler or Marshall cae (I think both Marshall and Cutler are a huge part of it but there must be something about this guy his players evidently don't respect him enough to want to play for him). Gruden is a decent coach but nothing like Shanahan

[QUOTE="theone86"]I thought Cowher didn't want to coach anymore? But yeah, there are a few positions that could be up for grabs pretty soon. And Charlie Weis getting fired, are you high? That man gets more second chances than, um, I can't think of a good similie right now, but yeah I'm starting to think he's never going to get fired. Shanahan might be pretty good taking that position, though. If he gets signed to the Raiders he's going to be expected to make the playoffs within two years. If he takes a college position it's a little less pressure, a little more control to be able to shape the team.

Second_Rook

I agree about Weis, I just don't know if he hasn't been fired yet that there's anything he can do to lose that job. Perhaps he's more valuable for the publicity he brings. he also might get saved this season by having some REALLY good players. His offense killed in their debut.

firing shanahan

Both were smart moves...Shanahan could not handle things anymore, he was stale and was making overly conservative calls in recent years.

Reminds me of Tom Cable.

There was a time when he had the gambling spirit and poker face necessary to run a contending team in the NFL.

not any more.

Gruden....always belonged right where he returned, at the college level.

It was just annoying to have to see him blathering on the sidelines of a team and although he did wellll one season

big deal it was the Raiders on the big game.:P

his ability and ability at handling the players soon took care of that.

One can make an arguement that firing Shanahan was a bad move, but Gruden is on of the worst coaches to hold the position for as long as he did.

Firing Shanahan.

Definitly after all the offseason drama the broncos have been through.

Firing Shanahan is the worst move, not only that but you replace him with a McD? It was a sad day in Denver when that happened.

Firing shanahan brought cutler to my bears.. so i am okay with it.. but i think denver made a mistake.. gruden well i think it was fine..