At a time when a current head coach with a Belichickian style could have his first head coaching job last only two years, another head coach with a Belichickian style whose career lasted only two years is drawing more flak.
In a recent interview with 750 The Game in Portland, former NFL punter Mitch Berger unloaded on former Broncos coach Josh McDaniels.
“It felt like I was playing for an equipment manager or something, he was like a little punk,” Berger said of McDaniels, who is now the offensive coordinator in New England again. “He came in there and said that he wanted to hear a lot from me, he wanted to know what I thought about situations. He wanted to take advantage of my veteran leadership . . . . He said all that. But as soon as I had a game that wasn’t up to his standards, he wouldn’t talk to you or look at you.”
Berger also said that he “threw players under the bus in meetings,” specifically mentioning receiver Brandon Marshall.
“I never played for a guy in my life who guys wanted to play for less,” Berger said. “He was just a guy you didn’t care about.”
The problem for coaches with that kind of style, as Peter King and I were discussing earlier today, is that if you don’t win, you won’t last. Coaches can be jerks as long as they produce. If they don’t, they get run out the door quickly.
It happened to Belichick in Cleveland. It happened to McDaniels in Denver. It happened to Eric Mangini in Cleveland. It happened to Todd Haley in Kansas City. And it could be happening to Greg Schiano in Tampa.
Future hard-line coaches need to realize the risk they’re taking. Win and a rough style will be forgiven, if not celebrated. Lose, and it’ll quickly be time to go elsewhere.