The Scores Report - The National Sports Blog » Pete Carroll

Seahawks’ to pass on trading for Marshall?

Anthony Stalter — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:00:28 +0000

FOXSports.com’s John Czarnecki writes that there’s no way that Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll will part with the sixth overall pick for Brandon Marshall.

Remember when Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall flew to Seattle once free agency began? Well, the Seahawks checked him out, but still haven’t made an offer. Yes, Marshall is available, but the asking price is steep. At minimum a first-round draft choice and there’s no way that Pete Carroll is parting with the sixth overall pick for a disgruntled receiver who really can’t stretch the field. The Seahawks already have enough of those types of receivers: overpaid route runners!

Is it just me or does Czarnecki’s reports usually leave a little something to be desired? He has the access to provide good information but the follow through usually comes up short. It’s almost like he fails to look at all the information before formulating his opinions.

Even though the Seahawks brought Marshall in for a visit a couple weeks ago, it makes no sense for them to put together an offer sheet when no other team has shown interest yet. Why would they compete against themselves in a trade like that? Plus, Czarnecki fails to mention that Seattle also has the 14th overall pick, which allows them to keep their selection at No. 6 and still attempt to work out a trade for Marshall. If they could get another team involved, the Seahawks could trade the No. 14 selection for a later first round pick, get more compensation (whether it be another second or third rounder) and then trade whatever first round pick they acquire from the third team to Denver for Marshall.

So while I agree with the sentiment that Carroll won’t give up the No. 6 overall pick for Marshall, he could still do a lot with No. 14.

Lastly, I wouldn’t call Marshall a true speedster but he can certainly stretch the field. I think what Czarnecki is confused about is the fact that Marshall isn’t explosive off the ball, which gives people the impression that he’s not a true deep threat. But he has more than enough speed and once he gets into full stride, his long legs allow him to create separation from defensive backs. So to insinuate that Marshall would just be another “overpaid route runner” is absolutely ridiculous.

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Report: Seahawks interested in McNabb, Kolb

Anthony Stalter — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:20:32 +0000

Despite Andy Reid and the rest of the Eagles’ front office’s best efforts to downplay the situation, the Donovan McNabb trade rumors just won’t die in Philadelphia.

ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio reports that the Seahawks have been calling the Eagles “non-stop” about McNabb and Kevin Kolb. Paolantonio says that Pete Carroll is in “win-now” mode and apparently doesn’t think that Matt Hasselbeck can make the Hawks competitive next season. Either that, or Carroll has plans to trade Hasselbeck if he can land one of the two Philadelphia QBs. Maybe Hasselbeck’s former head coach, Mike Holmgren, would take him in Cleveland. (The Browns just acquired Seneca Wallace earlier in the week, so it could be a regular ol’ Seattle quarterback reunion in Cleveland.)

Of course, there’s still a strong possibility that the Eagles will hang onto both McNabb and Kolb this season. I get the feeling that Philly wants to make one more run with McNabb as its starter before transitioning to Kolb in 2011. That’s just speculation on my part, but seeing as how Reid and the Eagles haven’t given anyone a reason to believe that they’re ready to deal McNabb, this still seems like the most likely scenario.

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Blogging the Bloggers: Kaeding, McGwire and Twitter

John Paulsen — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:50:21 +0000

- KISSING SUZY KOLBER has a great post comparing Nate Kaeding’s blank stare to that of the cupcake dog. Don’t know what I’m talking about? It’s worth a look.

- SPORTSbyBROOKS lists a few sports personalities that should be tweeting.

- JAKE’S TAKE ON SPORTS analyzes what Pac-10 football coaches might be thinking.

- JOE SPORTS FAN laments that, according to Mark McGwire, we only had a week to talk about the past. His past, anyway.

USC hires Lane Kiffin to replace Pete Carroll

Anthony Stalter — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:01:15 +0000

In rather surprising news, USC has tabbed former Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin to fill the position vacated by Pete Carroll, who signed a contract over the weekend to coach the Seattle Seahawks.

From ESPN.com:

“We are really excited to welcome Lane Kiffin back to USC,” Garrett said in a statement. “I was able to watch him closely when he was an assistant with us and what I saw was a bright, creative young coach who I thought would make an excellent head coach here if the opportunity ever arose. I’m confident he and his staff will keep USC football performing at the high level that we expect.”

He was a member of the USC coaching staff from 2001 to ‘06, first as wide receivers coach and then as offensive coordinator under Carroll.

Kiffin will bring his father and defensive coordinator, Monte Kiffin, and assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron to Southern California with him.

The hiring is surprising, but what isn’t surprising is the way Kiffin left Tennessee after just one season. The fact of the matter is that college coaches come and go as they please. As long as there is more money and a bigger opportunity to be had, coaches will always be a threat to leave.

That said, it never ceases to amaze me that coaches can walk into a recruit’s home and talk about commitment, loyalty and family, and then leave a program at the drop of a hat. There is something incredible wrong with the process, but it has become such a norm that nobody is surprised by it anymore. As the clichéd response goes: It is what it is.

I wonder if some in Knoxville are secretly glad to see Kiffin go. He rubbed a lot of people the wrong way and never seemed like a great fit for UT. Considering he helped Carroll make USC’s program a success earlier this decade, it stands to reason that he will be a much better fit in Southern Cal, but we’ll see. It’ll also be exciting to see what Monte Kiffin can do with the talent he’ll have on the defensive side of the ball at SC.

This is pure conjecture on my part, but if I’m venturing a guess as to whom will replace Kiffin at Tennessee, I’d say Jon Gruden might be a great fit. He was a graduate assistant there from 1986 to 1987 and also met his wife at UT as well. If he wanted to take a crack at the collegiate level, Knoxville might just be a solid fit.

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Report: USC offers Jags’ Del Rio a contract

Anthony Stalter — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:22:03 +0000

According to the Los Angeles Daily News, USC has sent Jaguars’ head coach Jack Del Rio a contract and if signed, he would replace Pete Carroll on the sidelines for the Trojans.

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio was sent a contract by USC tonight to become the next football coach.

Now comes the tricky part: If Del Rio takes the job, he forfeits more than $15 million in salary from the Jaguars. If Jacksonville fires him, they must pay him the money. Why would Jacksonville fire him if they know USC wants him? Should make Tuesday interesting.

Interesting choice. The general consensus was that USC was going to target a head coach with pro experience because Carroll had spent the decade running the program as if it were a NFL team. Del Rio is a good motivator and I would have to imagine that his style of coaching would suit college football.

In the end, I doubt that money would be that much of an issue. USC has money; the real question is whether or not Del Rio wants to leave the NFL to coach in the college ranks.

Update: Del Rio said on Tuesday that he will return to Jacksonville in 2010.

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Carroll says move to Seattle not a result of USC probe

Anthony Stalter — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:45:31 +0000

The Seahawks officially named Pete Carroll as their next head coach on Monday. While speaking to the media about his decision to leave USC, Carroll said that his pending move wasn’t in reaction to a possible probe that the Trojans’ program faces.

From ESPN.com:

“Not in any way,” Carroll told the newspaper. “Because I know where we stand. It’s just a process we have to go through. We know we’ve fought hard to do right.”

Carroll, a longtime coach and coordinator in the NFL before joining USC in 2000, said he had for a while “given up” on a return to the pro ranks.

“But it came out of nowhere,” he told the Times.

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter first reported Saturday morning the Seahawks and Carroll had reached an agreement in principle.

“I’ve given everything I’ve had,” he said. “There was never going to be a good time.”

Carroll’s former quarterback and current Jet signal caller Mark Sanchez took a funny shot at his old head coach in the wake of Carroll leaving USC:

Report: Pete Carroll resigns at USC

Anthony Stalter — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:53:39 +0000

According to ESPN.com, Pete Carroll resigned as the head coach of the USC Trojans on Sunday so he can take over the same position for the Seattle Seahawks. ESPN.com is also reporting that Carroll will take offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates with him to Seattle.

A source said Bates was tempted to be reunited with Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, but the long-term security with Carroll was a major factor in his decision to join the Seahawks rather than the Bears. Bates was Cutler’s offensive coordinator with the Broncos in 2008.

Current Trojans said they had not heard the decision yet from Carroll, but heard about the Daily News report.

“Wow. Well, I’m not surprised,” junior running back Marc Tyler said to ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Ramona Shelburne. “I think by now most guys wanted it to hurry up and happen so we can see who is going to coach us next.”

Sophomore defensive end Malik Jackson said while he was a little surprised, he understands why Carroll is leaving.

“Wow, I can’t believe we’re one of those teams looking for a new coach,” Jackson told Shelburne. “I’d heard about it all weekend, but I’m still kind of surprised.

“I don’t blame him though. We all have to make decisions in our lives. If I could’ve said something that’d make him come back, I would’ve. But I’m not mad at him. He has to do what he thinks is best for himself. Everybody does.”

It must be rather jarring for USC players and those associated with the program that Carroll is leaving. He’s been a mainstay there since 2001 and I’m sure that people grew accustomed to him shooting down offers to re-join the NFL and figured he would never leave.

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