Ranking all 32 NFL head coaches

[catlover79]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=tsn-166944

There isn’t a single rookie head coach in the NFL this season, so it’s an ideal time to rank ’em, 1-32. Sporting News' NFL writers and editors factored in championships, won-lost record, creativity, motivational skills, ability to limit turnovers/penalties and hiring and maintaining a quality staff. Then it was time to see what the players working for the top 10 coaches thought.

1. Bill Belichick, Patriots

QB Tom Brady: “I’ve always been privileged to play for Coach Belichick, who I’ve always said is the best coach in the history of the league. In terms of his work ethic and his preparation, he’s as diligent as he’s ever been. ”

2. Sean Payton, Saints

QB Drew Brees: “ (Payton’s ranking is) well deserved. I mean, it’s hard to say who’s No. 1. But you certainly can’t argue with what Bill Belichick has done in his tenure there. … With the exception of training camp, guys have fun here. So I would say, more than anything, the way that Sean Payton is able to complement and combine that very disciplined, fair but stern attitude, with, ‘Hey, we’re going to have fun, and we’re going to enjoy what we do,’ (is what makes him a great coach).”

3. Jeff Fisher, Titans

DB Vincent Fuller: “Once he gets that Super Bowl title, which I hope we can bring him in the next couple of years, then he’ll be higher on the list. … He is the longest-tenured coach, so he has the respect there. And he takes care of his players. I don’t have another coach to base things off of, but I always hear horror stories from players who’ve left who complain and say it wasn’t like it was in Tennessee, coachingwise.”

4. Mike Shanahan, Redskins

MLB London Fletcher: “ Coach Shanahan should be the No. 1-rated coach in the league. He’s won back-to-back Super Bowls. He’s a proven winner. His approach to the game, the way he handles this team, is great. … He treats us like men.”

5. Mike Tomlin, Steelers

ILB James Farrior: “ He might even need to be higher. What he’s done since he’s been here has been phenomenal. His first year, he was a little hard on us, but he learned from that and the next year he changed a couple things and we were very successful. ”

6. Andy Reid, Eagles

FB Leonard Weaver: “Obviously, Coach Reid hasn’t won (a Super Bowl) yet. … (But) if you’re going to base (the ranking) on wins and success—not just Super Bowls— then definitely Coach Reid is top two, top three.”

7. Tom Coughlin, Giants

TE Kevin Boss: “ He could bump up over those guys who haven’t won Super Bowls because he’s obviously done that just recently. I think that pretty much says it right there: He’s got a Super Bowl and they don’t. I think he deserves to be ahead of them .”

8. Ken Whisenhunt, Cardinals

QB Matt Leinart: “ Just looking back at my rookie year, what we were as a team until now — it’s night and day. That’s due a lot to his philosophy and the attitude and discipline he’s brought to us. He’s been extremely hard on me, but I think it’s helped me to be mentally tougher and I think all that will pay off for both of us.”

9. John Harbaugh, Ravens

NT Kelly Gregg: “ The first five picks in the poll are excellent choices, but after that, I would put John Harbaugh around sixth or seventh. Some of those guys above him have won Super Bowls, but he has also gone to the playoffs in his first two seasons as head coach here. ”

10. Rex Ryan, Jets

SS Jim Leonhard: “ He’s one of those personalities that people either love or hate. Look past that and look at the X’s and O’s. He’s as good a coach as there is in this league.”

11. Mike McCarthy, Packers

12. Jim Caldwell, Colts

13. John Fox, Panthers

14. Brad Childress, Vikings

15. Wade Phillips, Cowboys

16. Mike Smith, Falcons

17. Tony Sparano, Dolphins

18. Marvin Lewis, Bengals

19. Norv Turner, Chargers

20. Lovie Smith, Bears

21. Mike Singletary, 49ers

22. Jack Del Rio, Jaguars

23. Pete Carroll, Seahawks

24. Gary Kubiak, Texans

25. Eric Mangini, Browns

26. Josh McDaniels, Broncos

27. Todd Haley, Chiefs

28. Chan Gailey, Bills

29. Tom Cable, Raiders

30. Jim Schwartz, Lions

31. Raheem Morris, Buccaneers

32. Steve Spagnuolo, Rams

[MrCleveland]

Yay...Cleveland's #25!

I'm just boycotting Cleveland Sports right now!

[Mr. Television]

Phillips below Brad Childress is a joke. The only reason Childress has had any success last year was because of Brett Favre. He sold his soul to him. Before that he was a mediocre coach with a great RB and no QB. That will be the same thing he has after Farve leaves only his RB will be older. On the other hand, I still don't think Phillips is a great coach and I'm sure I'll be on him again this year. I hope I'm not. I hope he wins the SB.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by MrCleveland

Yay...Cleveland's #25!

I'm just boycotting Cleveland Sports right now!

And of course, guess who ranks #1? Where was his genius when he coached here?

[MrCleveland]

Originally Posted by catlover79

And of course, guess who ranks #1? Where was his genius when he coached here?

Trying to cheat a way to Victory by dumping Kosar.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by catlover79

And of course, guess who ranks #1? Where was his genius when he coached here?

I guess one of their factors is learning from one's mistakes

Look at it this way...first you had the genius, now you've got the Mangenius.

There are a lot of things I admire about the Patriots, and one of them is their foresight in releasing guys that are still both popular and effective...and replacing them without losing a beat.

Also, not many coaches could have gone 11-5 after losing Tom Brady in the first quarter of week one. Matt Cassell had never started at QB in the NFL, and never even really played at all in college, having been a backup to both Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC. The Patriots still drafted him though.

This whole business of "ranking" coaches is stupid anyway. It depends on what factors are included in their study and how much weight to give each item. It all depends on who makes up the ranking system. How do they decide how much weight to give winning a Super Bowl vs simply winning a certain number of games in a season?

I'm sure if you asked the coaches to rank themselves, they'd say that the guy who won the Super Bowl is #1, and the other 31 coaches are tied for last.

[Mr. Television]

and Shanahan has had one playoff win since Elway retired. Other than his 2 SB years and the one where they were upset by Jacksonville in the playoffs the year before, he's only been a mediocre coach.

[browneyes106]

I think Lovie Smith needs to be ranked lower.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by MrCleveland

Trying to cheat a way to Victory by dumping Kosar.

I remember that day in November 1993 so well. After that, my Girl Scout leader's son and I were singing "Bill Belichick got run over by a reindeer" and trying to invent new lyrics to that "classic" song to fit the situation. All that said, I think we were all happy that Bernie got a ring in the end, even if it was with Dallas.