The story of the Phoenix goes a little like this - there is this magnificent, legendary bird that lives for 500 years. As it nears the end of it’s life, it builds itself a funeral pyre stacked high with wood. As it starts to die, it lays down on the pyre and when it touches the pyre, the stacked wood bursts into flames and the bird dies. When the flames have subsided, the bird emerges from the ashes, reborn, and lives another 500 years.
Like the story of that legendary bird, Mike Sherman built himself a coaching funeral pyre by stacking wood and pouring gas all over Lambeau field. In the true Barry Switzer tradition, Sherman took a really strong team and slowly let it down and parted it out until there were barely enough pieces to field a team. Through terrible personnel choices (from his coaching staff to every player he picked or traded for) and sub-mediocre coaching, Mike Sherman made sure he burned the Packers to the ground before he left.
His coaching career clearly dying, he went to the Houston Texans to serve as Dom Capers assistant coffee-fetcher and die. (Seriously, his title is Assistant Head Coach/Offense - what the hell is that? Yes-man to the head coach?)
And now?
In a strange twist of irony and turn of phrase, he’s in Phoenix. Interviewing with the Arizona Cardinals. Looking to rise from the ashes.
Like the Detroit Lions, Arizona has had decades of losing seasons, coach after coach, GM after GM. Clearly Arizona Cardinal ownership is no better at evaluating talent than Sherman is. They may just deserve each other.
I say what the hell. Give him the job. It’ll mean one less team anyone has to worry about in the NFC. A good warmer-upper team. Like an NFL fluffer.
Technorati Tags: NFL, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, Mike Sherman, head coach, off-camera talent
Hey, if you’re in Wisconsin, make some time to catch Milwaukee concerts. *
*I was paid to say that.