Schooled!

This is the tale of two head coaches.  One, the coach of a winless team; the other, the coach of a one-win team.  Both teams are brutally bad for varying reasons, as judged by on-field performance.  With that, one has leadership that makes decisions that undermine their head coach’s philosophy; the other has leadership that publicly supports their head coach.

One had their bye week. The other played this past Sunday, and lost.

So, which is which?  And why is this relevant to the blog?

One of those two leadership groups is winner of this week’s Idiot of the Week.

It must be the leadership of the winless team.

Nope.  Try again.

Of the one-win team?

You are the master of the obvious.  Good job.

But why?

I’m getting there.  But it definitely has to do with the team that played yesterday.  Our winless team had an excellent opportunity to beat their opponent.  Ultimately, it didn’t happen, but I learned a lot about the head coach.  And, by contrast, I learned a lot – or shall I say my thoughts were confirmed – about the one-loss coach.

This winless team had just scored a touchdown to bring them within three points of tying the game or taking the lead in the fourth quarter.  To everyone’s surprise, including the announcers and the opponent, this winless team kicked on onside kick and successfully recovered it.  They were fifty-five yards away from the end zone, and about thirty yards away from attempting a game-tying field goal.

The team did not score, and ultimately lost the game.  However, their head coach took a chance.  He didn’t play to lose.  He didn’t play for respectability.  He played to win.  Even though his leadership undermined his principles earlier in the season.  Even though he has malcontents and show-offs playing for him.

By contrast, the other head coach plays to, well, I don’t know what he plays for.  The love of the game, maybe?  Certainly not to win.  I often doubt it’s even to be respected.  Most often it seems that he play to make it through all sixty grueling minutes.  If his team wins, it’s a good day.  If they lose, well, um, then that’s just the way it is and we have to get better.

Stop teasing.  Tell me which teams you are discussing!

Fine!  Be that way!

The winless team: the Cincinnati Bengals.  With goofball ownership and a coach who may not be a good coach (Marvin Lewis), but at least he plays to win.

The one-win team: the Cleveland Browns.  With ownership that supports their head coach (Romeo Crennel), and even extended his contract after last season, the coach does not know how to play to win.  It’s a mentality thing, you know, and Crennel just doesn’t have it.

And for that, and because of the contract extension, Cleveland Browns leadership gets the Idiot of the Week award.  Congratulations, at least you’ll win something this year.  And by the way, how’s that Steelers rivalry thing going for you?