NFL Chat Wrap

I hunt manatees · Jan 3, 2006

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=10338

Chat with NFL writer Len Pasquarelli




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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Welcome to The Show! On Tuesday, ESPN.com senior NFL writer Len Pasquarelli will be in the house to talk about an interesting Week 15 and what news is circulating around the league's hallways and offices.
Send your questions now and join Len in The Show on Tuesday at noon ET!
Pasquarelli Archive: Chats | Columns

len: (12:02 PM ET ) good afternoon, hope everyone had a great new years, looking forward to this weekend, so let's get to it

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Kmac (NH): Where does Mike Martz coach next year> OC or Head coach?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:04 PM ET ) i think, given all the openings, mike will definitely have head coach opoortunities . . . the one misgiving some teams have is how much his quarterbacks get hit, but that's just his offense and it won't change . . . but the guy has a graet mind and i expect he'll be a head coach at the nfl level in '06

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Eric (NJ): What odds would you put on Edwards jetting off to KC?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:06 PM ET ) probably better than most people think. . . herm's situation definitely bears watching . . . the chiefs could seek, as early as today, permission to talk to herm . . .from what i'm hearing out of new york, woody johnson might be willin to let herm go, provided the compensation is satisfactory . . . one guy told me last night he was pretty certain herm would end up in KC, but that it would take a couple weeks to get done

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Jim (LA): Will Fassel get a head coaching job this season?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:08 PM ET ) his name has been linked in some reports to oakland . . . but i've got to be honest, he's not getting as much buzz on the rumor mill as i thought he might

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Lou(Rochester, NY): What are the chances both Donatell, Knapp are back in Atlanta? Any chance Mora Jr isn't back? The West Coast offense with it's short slant routes seems to cut off running lanes for Vick and limit his effectiveness.

Len Pasquarelli: (12:12 PM ET ) there has to be some change in atlanta, but i don't know if anyone will order mora to make big overhauls to his staff . . . he's very loyal to both his coordinators and, if you remember, when the falcons hired mora, they announced the hiring of knapp in tandem with him . . . in the games i've seen atlanta, the offense just seems to lack a big-poicture design and any kind of in-game rhythm . . .seems to me they need to scrap the west coast stuff and craft something that works better with the strengths of an athletic QB who only ocmpletes 55 percent of his passes

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Ben (Atkins, AR): Can you explain the appeal of Kirk Ferentz? For a couple of years, I have heard his name attached to several job openings but I have never heard an explanation of why he's so appealing.

Len Pasquarelli: (12:13 PM ET ) for openrs, he's been in the league before, on bill belichick's cleveland staff . . . and nfl people think he does a great job developing players . . . he doesn't always get the top recruits, but his teams are well-coached and competittive every season

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Greg (Indy): Having a debate with a coworker. Will the colts player the winners of cincy-pitt or jax-pats? Thanks

Len Pasquarelli: (12:16 PM ET ) the colts will play the lowest-seeded winner from this weekend

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Stacie (DC): Len, how surprising was the Mike Sherman firing?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:18 PM ET ) a little surprising . . . i don't know sherman at all and, when i looked at his record yesterday after he was fired, its' pretty darned good . . . counting playoff games, he aveaged just shy of six wins per year, went to the postseason four times in six seasons, won three straight division titles . . . he's a lot better coach, it seems, than some of the so-called "hot names" in the market

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Eric(DC): Do you think the Titans and Jets will be looking to draft a QB at 3 and 4 with Young and Cutler possibly being available?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:19 PM ET ) while i like cutler, and have written that he is really rising in scouts' estimation, he is not a top 10 pick . . and i'm now hearing young plans to stay in school, no matter the outcome of the rose bowl

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Sikander (Brooklyn, NY): Which coach has a greater chance of leaving their teams, Parcells or Herm Edwards??

Len Pasquarelli: (12:20 PM ET ) herm

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Spelly (NJ): Happy New Year Len! Not sure of his situation, but will Jeff Fischer be in the mix for any of the HC vacancies this year?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:22 PM ET ) there are teams that would love to have jeff fisher, but i doubt they can get him out of his contract . . . i think jeff has one or two years left and, while there have been some rumblings the last couple years of him perhaps wanting out, there's never been anything substantial reported about that . . . plus, i just don't see bud adams letting him go

Len Pasquarelli: (12:22 PM ET )

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Betsy (New York): Happy New Year Len! What are the odds of Ron Rivera landing a HC position? I'd love to see him stay with the Bears......thanks!

Len Pasquarelli: (12:24 PM ET ) ron is really going to be a sought-after candidate . . . because of the nfl rules about interviewing coaches who are on teams with a first-round playoff bye, i would think he'll get some action this week

Len Pasquarelli: (12:24 PM ET )

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Frox ((Hanover, PA)): Larry Johnson - a great runner, or the beneficiary of an outstanding line/scheme?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:25 PM ET ) no doubt that's a great line, but what johnson did this year really was special . . . a terrific downhill-running back

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Christopher (Phoenix): With a new QB, Is Martz a good fit in Oak with all those other offensive weapons Al Davis has put together?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:26 PM ET ) i would think mike would be salivating at the thought of designing plays for those wide receivers

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Darin - Geneseo: Gary Kubiak has been getting a lot of press again recently and landing a HC job - most have him going to the Texans. Why such the surge in him again, and will he get a job?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:27 PM ET ) kubiak has long been on the radar screen and the only reason he's not a HC by by now is because he didn;t want to be . . . apparently, he's decided it's time for him to make the move

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Frox (Hanover): Why is there not more talk about jeff Tedford coming to the NFL? By getting Akili Smith, Boller, Dilfer, Carr, et al, into the first round, he looks like a guy who can make chicken salad out of, chicken...well, you know.

Len Pasquarelli: (12:28 PM ET ) unfortunately, all those guys turned back into chicken-feathers in the nfl . . . his name has been floated in the past (most recently in chicago when the bears hired lovie smith), but i've not herd it yet this year

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Rich (White Plains, NY): Len- I can only hope Tim Lewis gets a job somewhere in 2006. That being said, what could Dom Capers bring to the Giants as a D-coordinator? Obviously he has to rebuild his reputation in the league and being a successful D-Coordinator may be the best path back.

Len Pasquarelli: (12:30 PM ET ) dom will definitley have to step back into a DC role and he worked with coughlin before in jacksonville . . . it''s fathomable they could be reunited if tim lewis lands a head coaching gig . . . i've been disappointed at dom's defensive performance the last few years in houston, but he is still highly regarded

Len Pasquarelli: (12:31 PM ET )

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>John(Buffalo): When will we hear the fate of Tom Donahoe?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:31 PM ET ) thie timeline, as i hear it, points to wednesday

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>james (niagara falls): Can you please clarifly the practice of sending draft picks in exchange for coaches. After the Gruden deal, did the league send a memo banning this or did it only apply to assisants. I ask of course with Herm in mind.

Len Pasquarelli: (12:35 PM ET ) there's been a lot of confusion about this in recent days .. . you can stil use draft picks as compensation for a head coach, and we may see it in the case of herm edwards

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Brad (Albuquerque): Chances of Marv Levy replacing Donohoe if he's let go?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:36 PM ET ) i think marv levy will have some role in the buffalo front office . . .don't know if it will be GM or not, but there's plenty of buzz about it

Len Pasquarelli: (12:37 PM ET )

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Michael (Atlanta): Any chance of Dan Reeves coaching the Texans?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:37 PM ET ) the chances of that seem diminished, which isn't to say dan wouldn't consider some sort of front office job

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Justin (Virginia Beach, VA): Len - Any chance George Seifert resurfaces or is he retired for good?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:38 PM ET ) haven't heard his name anywhere

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Elwood (Atlanta): Len, how much of a role did fan backlash have in the ousting Browns President John Collins and not GM Phil Savage?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:38 PM ET ) a lot

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>chase greenwood sc: With Foster being a hit or miss back, how do you like his chances vs. NY?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:40 PM ET ) if the panthers can convince the giants to dress in falcons uniforms, foster might go for 300 yards . . .seriously, he's a home-run threat, but not a pounder like stephen davis was for the panthers . . . giants LBs are pretty beat up, so maybe foster can have a good day

Len Pasquarelli: (12:41 PM ET )

Len Pasquarelli: (12:41 PM ET )

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Yeti ( NYC): Len, not too familiar with Carolina's secondary, is there anyone that can matchup with the Plexico and Toomer? Is Shockey going to play?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:42 PM ET ) haven't checked injuries . . .the panthers three CB's -- ken lucas, chris gamble and ricky manning jr -- are one of the top trios in the nfl . . . lucas is really good and he's going to be on the espn.com all-pro team, i think

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Snoop (Columbia, SC): Who starting at QB for Jax and is Fred Taylor healthy.

Len Pasquarelli: (12:43 PM ET ) i don't think fred is 100 percent . . . and i think leftwich starts

Len Pasquarelli: (12:44 PM ET )

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Todd (Denver, CO): Len, do you think McNair will play next year?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:45 PM ET ) yes, i do . . .he really seems re-energized by the norm chow offense . . . of course, there are huge salary cap issues that need to be resolved

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Tom (Bismarck, ND): Who do you pick in the SB and eventual winner?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:45 PM ET ) staying with the chalk, indy over seattle

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Jason (MN): Now that Heckert was named Eagles GM, who will the Vikings go after to fill the Player Personnel vacancy?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:46 PM ET ) rick smith of denver, or they could stay in-house

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Bryan (Phoenix): What do you think the chances are for the Broncos getting past Indy

Len Pasquarelli: (12:47 PM ET ) they are the one team, i think, that could beat the colts

Len Pasquarelli: (12:47 PM ET )

Len Pasquarelli: (12:48 PM ET )

<HR width="80%" noShade SIZE=1>Rob (Charlotte NC): It seems like the Panthers have not found a starting spot for 1st round pick Thomas Davis yet. Where do you see him in the Panthers future?

Len Pasquarelli: (12:50 PM ET ) davis will end up playing linebakcer . . .he just doesn't have enough instinct for safety . . . sorry, folks, but i've got to cut this short to chase some news . . .enjoy the games this weekend, some great matchups for the first round . . . thanks for your time and interest

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NFL Chat Wrap

I hunt manatees

in the 'glades with propeller blades