Josh McDaniels has addressed the big rumor surrounding his decision to stay in NE
Josh McDaniels caused quite a stir when he first appeared to accept the head coaching job with the Indianapolis Colts before turning on his heels and running in the other direction back to his comfortable position as offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots.
The chatter was that McDaniels was guaranteed the Patriots job after Bill Belichick retires, bringing to mind the situation at general manager with the Baltimore Ravens.
For New England, it would be a great way not only to guarantee coaching continuity for the next iteration of the team after the all-good-things moment when Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady ride off into the sunset, but to do that while also getting a guy with head coaching experience, thanks to McDaniels’ days in Denver.
It’s a great story, one that might fill New England fans with hope.
Too bad it’s not true, according to a former Patriot.
Willie McGinest, appearing on the NFL Network, said he’d spoken to McDaniels and the coach’s response to whether a guarantee was in place was “absolutely not.”
McGinest also said there was no “handshake deal,” nothing that would indicate that there was any quid pro quo involved in the move, or lack of move; McDaniels just changed his mind.
Said McGinest, “At some point Belichick may retire, but it’s not gonna be in the contract and you’re not gonna tell him when he’s gonna retire.”
That remark stands in direct contrast with the Ravens situation, where Ozzie Newsome had decided as far back as 2013 that he was going to give up the reins “in five years,” allowing Eric DeCosta not only to step into the role but to do so after having been groomed for it over the course of five seasons.
McDaniels, on the other hand?
“He wanted stability,” McGinest said. “The best place for him, where he wanted to be, where he wanted to stay, was in New England. …
“He’s very at peace. He doesn’t like the fact of the timing of how it all went down as far as Indianapolis and the Colts and all that, but he does not regret his decision. He wanted to do what what was best for his family, what was best for him long-term. He felt that was the best place for him. He really doesn’t want to coach anywhere else.”
Colts General Manager Chris Ballard was none too pleased about McDaniels’ change of heart, saying his team’s rivalry with the Patriots was now “back on.”
But not everyone in Indianapolis was crying in their Sun King beer over it.
Gregg Doyel, writing in the Indianapolis Star, said outright “Thank God” when McDaniels changed his mind, calling him a “rat” and pointing to McDaniels’ lack of success in Denver as an example of the bullet that Colts fans dodged.
Others, of course, found humor in McDaniels’ move:
https://twitter.com/CrossoverReport/status/961036901120729088
"After further review, the Colts did not have complete possession of Josh McDaniels with two feet inbounds. Possession reverts to the New England Patriots, automatic first down." pic.twitter.com/PvHRS9197s
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) February 7, 2018
While many Patriots fans no doubt welcomed the continuity brought by McDaniels’ decision to stay with the team, it might not be the best news over the long term, considering the reputation he has built outside of Foxborough.
As heirs apparent go, McDaniels, guarantee or no guarantee, might just be more like Commodus following Marcus Aurelius in Rome.
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