I intended to comment yesterday on the Urban Meyer saga in Jacksonville, before a storm came through and caused technical difficulties. As it turns out, after a long train of missteps, Meyer was fired overnight, just 13 games into the job and with a 2-11 record.
When Meyer was hired, I had no idea if he would succeed. I assumed he was an intelligent, quick learner who would adjust his approach in the pros after an extremely successful career coaching college athletes. He had said as much. Not long after the embarrassing bar video came out, the Jaguars actually won two of three games and I thought he was correcting mistakes and adapting. It was not to be.
I recall something Jimmy Johnson has said. Like Meyer, Johnson was also a college coach who hadn't worked in the NFL before taking over the Dallas Cowboys in 1989, but he said coaching in the League was always his dream. Was it Urban's? It doesn't sound like it. In his own words last winter:
"Ten years ago I would say I started getting some phone calls [about coaching in the NFL] and it made you wonder, and it made you think… I’ve always considered it, always thought about it, but not until the last 12, 13 months now has it been a [real consideration]."
If Meyer really wanted to be known as a Super Bowl-winning coach, he'd have made the leap many years earlier. I suspect he was lured from the Fox studio to the NFL sidelines not just for the money and power he'd have in the Jaguars organization, but for a place in history. Decades from now, Bill Belichick and Nick Saban will be the best-remembered football coaches of the early 21st Century...For Meyer to join them, he would have to succeed where Saban didn't: in the NFL.
In other words, I think he accepted the challenge only because it could earn him a place in history, and not because he really wanted to coach in the NFL. I suspect that was the root cause of his failure.
WEEK 15 NFL PICKS
In Week 14, I went 4-10 for the 2nd week in a row against the spread, and my record to date (which began in Week 6) has fallen below .500 at 62-66. I did pick 10 of 14 winners, and am 81-47 straight-up.
Here are this week's picks:
Chiefs @ Chargers: Chiefs by 4
Raiders @ Browns: Browns by 6
Patriots @ Colts: Patriots by 2
Cowboys @ Giants: Cowboys by 6
Texans @ Jaguars: Texans by 1
Titans @ Steelers: Titans by 3
Jets @ Dolphins: Dolphins by 10
Washington @ Eagles: Eagles by 1
Cardinals @ Lions: Cardinals by 3
Panthers @ Bills; Bills by 5
Bengals @ Broncos: Broncos by 3
Falcons @ 49ers: 49ers by 5
Seahawks @ Rams: Seahawks by 1
Packers @ Ravens: Packers by 2
Saints @ Buccaneers: Buccaneers by 5
Vikings @ Bears: Vikings by 4
NFL MVP CHASE
To receive an MVP point, a player must have a 97.0 passer rating or 70 yards from scrimmage in a victory or a tie. Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford have been in the lead all year even with their mid-season slump. Leonard Fournette, an otherwise unlikely MVP candidate, has been the most productive of Tom Brady's offensive weapons as the Buccaneers lead the league in yards and scoring, and are tied for most wins at ten.
With four games left, I have listed all the players who could theoretically overtake the current leaders. I do believe a player who finishes first or tied for first will be awarded the MVP.
NINE MVP POINTS
Leonard Fournette, RB, Buccaneers (10-3)
Cooper Kupp, WR, Rams (9-4)
Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams (9-4)
EIGHT MVP POINTS
Davante Adams, WR, Packers (10-3)
SEVEN MVP POINTS
Tom Brady, QB, Buccaneers (10-3)
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Broncos (7-6)
Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers (10-3)
Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers (8-5)
Aaron Jones, RB, Packers (10-3)
Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals (10-3)
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers (10-3)
SIX MVP POINTS
A.J. Dillon, RB, Packers (10-3)
Austin Ekeler, RB, Chargers (8-5)
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys (9-4)
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ers (7-6)
Chris Godwin, WR, Buccaneers (10-3)
Najee Harris, RB, Steelers (6-6-1)
Tyreek Hill, WR, Chiefs (9-4)
Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints (6-7)
CeeDee Lamb, WR, Cowboys (9-4)
Deebo Samuel, WR, 49ers (7-6)
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts (7-6)
James Leroy Wilson writes from Nebraska. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter. If you find value in his articles, subscribe and exchange value for value. You may contact him for your writing, editing, and research needs: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.
For Wilson's insights into the news, society, and spirituality, subscribe to JLCells.