The Bill Cowher Sweepstakes: Three Potential Landing Spots for The Chin

Ever since he retired a year after winning a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers, football fans have wondered when the coach-turned-analyst would make his triumphant return to the field.

Although Bill Cowher's final season with Pittsburgh was spent in a Super Bowl slump—with the team finishing 8-8—he still managed to walk away from the NFL on a high note, and with a sought-after reputation.

Winning his division eight times and building a reputation for an organization is the kind of stability every fan and NFL owner wants.

Cowher is a rare breed of coach. He doesn't only lead his team to winning seasons—he builds an identity for the entire organization.

And as the 2008 season approaches the end, plenty of teams are beginning to feel pangs of desperation for a true identity. Teams are hoping they can lure Cowher away from the comfort of the television studio.

But not every team with money to burn—and a coach to fire—can be considered a legitimate landing spot for Cowher.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Looks like Romeo Crennel is involved in another tragedy. Unfortunately, it's not of the noble Shakespearean variety this time around.

Crennel is likely on his way out of Cleveland, and many believe his replacement should be Bill Cowher.

With history as the backdrop, the move makes sense for Cowher. He spent time in Cleveland as a player, and it would be an opportunity to bring his career full circle after getting his feet wet for the first time as a coach with the Browns.

It's poetic.

Cleveland already has some of the tools in place to make life easier for Cowher. The Browns are already fitted with a potential franchise QB in Brady Quinn, a power runner in Jamal Lewis, and a talented 3-4 defense that needs molding and discipline.

Cowher could be the man to right the ship.

His familiarity with the organization, the fans, and the conference all feel like the perfect fit for Cowher.

He'd be returning to the game to coach a team so desperate for any glimmer of hope that he'd be given a real opportunity to bring his ways to the organization.

What would the expectations for Cowher be from a major market team with impatient fans and a high demand for immediate results?

It took Cowher 14 seasons to bring Super Bowl glory to the Pittsburgh Steelers after multiple years of consistency.

Could that kind of long-term plan pan out somewhere like New York?

But then again...

 

NEW YORK JETS

New York Jets fans' love-hate relationship with Eric Mangini continues.

When the team wins, Mangini comes out looking like the Mangenius Tony Soprano anointed him as on HBO.

But when New York loses, he barely manages to look like Man-G.E.D.

That's not only a testament to Jets fans' inability to handle losses. It's that when New York does lose, they look unprepared, confused, and lack any kind of aggression.

Watching a team with so much talent fall behind inexplicably could only speak of their preparation and leadership.

"Attitude reflects leadership," right, Julius Campbell?

When the Jets went on a spending spree during the 2008 offseason, many pundits believed the signings were made out of desperation. Others saw it as a business plan concocted to increase fan excitement heading into the team's new era of personal seat licenses for the new state-of-the-art football field in Jersey.

If the latter is true, then letting Eric Mangini go in order to bring in an exciting new coach would fall right in line with that business model. After all, it's probably the same plan that brought Brett Favre to New York in August.

Aside from the money game, the team would benefit greatly from having Cowher on the sidelines.

If the Jets manage to miss the playoffs after being so heavily favored, bringing in Cowher could provide Favre with enough incentive to stay unretired for one more season.

The potential for big name free agents wanting to play for Cowher would also be a strong benefit.

But for the fans, it provides a unique opportunity to turn the Jets into more than the other team in their own town. It'd also be a testament to improving the team's long-term future after so many years of disappointment and "same old Jets" rants.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

It's looking like the Andy Reid regime could be coming to an end in Philadelphia. But with the end of his career in Philly follows a daunting rebuilding process.

Eagles' fans are beginning to embrace a future without Donovan McNabb. His inconsistent play, ridiculous comments after the tied game with the Bengals, and large salary in 2009 all point to a possibility of an Eagles offense without him.

No one knows if Kevin Kolb is going to be that guy for Philadelphia—and his situation becomes even more uncertain if Andy Reid isn't the head coach.

On the trivial side, Cowher would return to his home state and restore prominence to another Pennsylvania team. It'd be an opportunity to return to the sidelines of a team where he once played.

And it could be done with an organization that isn't against letting a coach stick around and bring in his values.

Andy Reid has 10 seasons under his belt with the Eagles, and he's experienced highs and lows throughout those years.

Bringing Cowher to Philadelphia would trigger complete change in the City of Brotherly Love. Aside from a new quarterback, Cowher's affinity for the 3-4 defensive alignment could cause a massive shift in personnel.

The question revolves around Cowher's willingness to commit to another organization for an extended amount of time.

If he does want to return to football, does he want to do it with a team that would want him to coach in their city for another 15 seasons?

Aside from that, how much could be reasonably expected of him in a conference with so many strong teams?

 

But is it worth it?

The coaching carousel continues to spin around the NFL. Not every team is patient enough for a Jeff Fisher or a Jon Gruden.

Most teams subscribe to three- or four-year plans. It's of the Bill Parcells model:

1. Come to town
2. Clean house
3. Get a new quarterback
4. Draft linemen
5. Turn a losing season around
6. Maybe playoffs?
7. Pass it down three years later

That's the formula owners and fans want. If it results in contention for a championship within those years, then even better!

That's not the mold that produced Cowher. He's the rare breed of coach that will become the face of the organization—the man on the sidelines who is more important than the man behind the center.

But is there any situation as ideal for Cowher as the Steelers were in 1992? Is the NFL still a league of patience?

He looks very happy on CBS as an analyst. If he does return to coaching, will it be to build a new team from the bottom, or will he want to go somewhere with the talent but no direction?

He has his ring, reputation, and legacy. It's everyone else that needs him.

Angel Navedo covers the New York Jets for Examiner.com. His work can also be found on NYJetsFan.com, where he is the Head Writer, and on MyGridironSpace.com—a premier social networking site built exclusively for NFL fans.

He is also a Senior Writer at the Bleacher Report, where he is one of the New York Jets Community Leaders.