In his 36-year NFL career, Pat Kirwan has hired Pete Carroll, been fired by Bill Parcells and spent countless hours with the likes of Al Davis, Bill Belichick and Dan Marino.
The cohost of SIRIUS satellite radio’s “Moving the Chains” and a contributor to both NFL.com and CBS Sports’ “NFL Today,” Kirwan is well versed on the business of running a franchise in today’s NFL. From 1989-97, he worked for the New York Jets as a defensive assistant and, eventually, the team’s director of player administration and salary cap manager.
Kirwan is never at a loss for insight on a host of NFL business issues, including how the Giants have dealt with the Plaxico Burress shooting incident. Says Kirwan, “Maybe it would have been a better plan to put him on indefinite suspension. Now, they’ve shown their hand as to what they will do.
“If you’re going to release him, you have to replace that talent with talent. His production has surpassed the issues, but when I saw him in training camp this summer on that exercise bike, I knew this was a guy who did not want to play. He says he was injured, but did not show up to have it worked on all spring. They still gave him the big contract.”
Kirwan says that management needs to weigh all options in making a decision regarding Burress. “The Mara family and Tom Coughlin have to evaluate their roster. If they feel they have the young talent to replace Burress, they might have some leverage. Maybe they could offer him a chance to stay, but at a reduced contract. If he refuses, they might be forced to release him. They also have to look at the free agent pool.”
Before joining the Jets, Kirwan served as an area scout for the Cardinals and Buccaneers. He has seen a major economic shift that affects whether a franchise stays with a troubled player. “It all started with the increase in guaranteed money,” says Kirwan. “Prior to the early 1990s collective bargaining agreement, there was no guaranteed money. Now, even rookies are getting 60% to 70% of their money guaranteed. Teams have lost their parachute because of the investments they are making in these players.”
When deciding whether to take on a player with some baggage, Kirwan says it is essential to know your coach and your quarterback. “Bill Belichick knew the culture of his locker room. He knew he had a quarterback that was not going to be bullied. That’s why they went after Randy Moss.
“Eli Manning flourished when Jeremy Shockey was out of the picture in New York. Shockey was a politician in the huddle and could be malicious on the sidelines. In New England, the best players are character guys, so you can take a risk here and there. Belichick is undervalued in his ability to communicate with players.
“He runs that tape of who (screwed) up in games and everyone gets a turn to have their balls busted. The players enjoy that.”
Kirwan is a strong proponent of New England’s business model in terms of personnel. He states, “Bill has signed key veterans for 50 cents on the dollar. They can bail on him and it doesn’t matter. Rodney Harrison did not sign with the Patriots for All-Pro money. Bill Parcells also takes more risks than people think. We haven’t heard a negative thing from Ricky Williams all year.”
Speaking of negative, that word does not even begin to describe the situation in Detroit. Kirwan says that the Lions organization has already made a key business blunder. “When they fired Matt Millen, they should have given $1 million each to (former NFL GM and personnel wizard) Ron Wolf and (ex-NFL coach) Dan Reeves as consultants. This is what most companies do.
“Wolf could have evaluated the scouting and player personnel end of things and Reeves could have attended practice and evaluated the players and coaches. Look, Dan Reeves worked with Houston. I know he helped them get (Gary) Kubiak as head coach.”
“Now, the Ford family is doing it, and nothing in their past hirings indicate they are qualified. You have to break the cycle of behavior or you’ll repeat it. What they should have done is ask New England for permission to talk to Scott Pioli. They need a guy who has done it at the highest level. Say, ‘Scott, what is wrong with this team? Tell us how to spend our money.’”
Kirwan’s business model in rebuilding a franchise is one that goes from top to bottom. He relates, “You have to evaluate everyone from the trainers to the doctors to the equipment guys. In 1997 when Bill (Parcells) came to the Jets, I knew I was qualified, but I also knew that Bill would let me go. We are good friends now, but he did not have time to teach me his way of doing things.”
The Patriots corporate brain trust will have a major issue facing them this off-season, namely, what to do with one Mr. Matt Cassel.
“You have to ask yourself about Tom Brady’s health, the fact that he is over 30, and that you have his replacement in Cassel. Are you willing to pay for that?” asks Kirwan, who cohosts his SIRIUS radio show with ex-Chicago Bears defender Tim Ryan.
“Once they decided to go with Matt in Week 1, they should have signed him to a three-year deal at maybe $2 million a year. They obviously knew he was going to be good, why not sign him? You have to sign players before THEY know they’re good. Matt had no idea that he’d be this good.”
Kirwan gives a glimpse into how the rest of the NFL, and prospective suitors, have followed Cassel’s progress. “After a couple of games, he was seen as a good backup which means he is worth about $2 million per year.
“After his first 400-yard passing game, GM’s said that he was looking at Matt Schaub money (6 years, $48 million from the Texans). After the second 400-yard game, they were comparing him to Aaron Rodgers (6 years, $65 million from Green Bay).”
“If you lay the franchise tag on him and try to trade him, Matt controls the trade. Let’s say the Lions call and New England wants a second round pick in exchange. That’s great, but if Matt doesn’t want to sign a long-term deal with Detroit, the deal’s off. No team is going to take Cassel short term. Also, if the college quarterback talent pool is weak, Matt has more leverage.”
Kirwan offers a possible solution to keep Cassel in New England. “I would go to Matt and offer him a two-year deal for say $10 million, and back end the deal with incentives should he start. After two years, if Brady’s health is an issue, you can keep Matt and let Brady go.”
While Kirwan praises the New England ownership, he is candid in discussing another NFL owner. Specifically, will Al Davis ever bring in a qualified football person to help rebuild the Raiders?
“I know Al on a personal level,” explains Kirwan who has spent time with Davis the past two summers. “At no time did I feel comfortable asking him that question. He is going to fly this ship by himself until the end. He had personnel guys like Ron Wolf and Bruce Allen, and coaches like Lane Kiffin, Mike Shanahan and Jon Gruden, but he wore them out.
“Al might be the greatest owner/coach ever, but he has never built a system of trust with anyone. His legacy is such that it cannot be carried on.”
Kirwan sees a potentially similar situation developing in Dallas. “Jerry Jones is impulsive and likes to do things the fast way,” says Kirwan. “He counts on his personality to work with players. Jerry has had the opportunity to observe Al and he has to know that if he is not careful, that could be him. He now has the added pressure of turning that new stadium into a profit. Who knows how much he has leveraged himself on that?”
Kirwan was part of the Jets front office that hired Pete Carroll as head coach in 1994, and was consulted when Bob Kraft considered and eventually hired Carroll in 1997. He relates, “I told Bob that Pete was my best friend. Bob told me he wanted to hire Belichick instead of Pete, but Belichick was too close to Parcells at the time.
“Pete always tells me that several owners have asked him to return to the NFL. I respond, ‘Look knucklehead, you have the best job in the world. Stay put.’ I could see Pete returning to the NFL, but it would have to be on the west coast for the right owner.”
And just what makes such an owner? “Look, Bob Kraft came to New England after Parcells was already there, then brought in Pete Carroll and it was a disaster. Bob learned that lesson. I’ll leave you with this. (Eagles’ owner) Jeff Lurie realizes how to operate a team. He lets the football people run it and gets out of the way.”
John Molori writes for Patriots Football Weekly, Boston Baseball Magazine and is a contributor to the “Papa Joe Chevalier Show” at KLAV AM 1230 in Las Vegas and papajoetalk.com. He hosts the “J-Team Radio Show” at AM 980 WCAP and jteamradio.com. Email John at MoloriMedia@aol.com.
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