Was it JR?

he did a phoner from Houston--He flew out this afternoon, and didn't know we were getting him until 9:45pm tonight. I used a cut from the interview in my AM update though.

 

Werd. Nice snag.

 

I understood.

 

I know you did...the clarification was for those that didn't.

 

I thought it was cool when he said he had a bad phone line when you tried to push him if more firings (i assume you were fishing for Crossman) were coming or if that was that.

 

your use of adverbs sucks

 

Makes your example ironic.

 

I am surprised so many are concerned with who made the decision as many on this board that called for Hennings head. Personaly I thought the whole Henning will be fired thing was far fetched when it was rumored simply because I had realized that he did bring some stability to the "O" at least initially and the players seemed to understand it, they just didnt execute it well. Also, while I disagreed with some of the playcalling and lack of using a TE more ect ect, it didnt really matter what I thought or wanted. I wasnt sold on him per say, but I kind of knew what to expect and have grown used to it. The draw plays on 3rd and a mile seldom bothered me since I felt his theory was right in that it was a much higher turnover down, but it was probably time for a change and this past season provided a solid reason to make a change.

The fireing of the O-Line coach raised my eyebrow more than Henning simply because of the injury situation I don't think their performance or lack of it was all his doing. Naturaly though, as I was typing that, I know the other side of the coin is that the line play has been poor for at least 2 years and maybe he should have gotten more out of what he had healthy.

 

Okay, Mags...

Granted this is from a Tom Sorensen article, but this kind of backs up what I was saying:

Fans happier, but Henning got a raw deal
TOM SORENSEN
[email protected]

An offensive coordinator ought to have a nickname. After five seasons, Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Dan Henning finally earned one. It's Scapegoat.

The firing of Henning, offensive line coach Mike Maser and defensive backs coach Rod Perry had more to do with perception than performance. Fans demanded change, and ownership capitulated.

If coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney had canned the assistants, they almost certainly would have canned them Jan. 1, the day after the season ended. To leave the assistants dangling an extra two weeks suggests pressure developed incrementally until Jerry Richardson finally swooped in to make the call.

Although Richardson owns the Panthers, he has help, and his partners include familiar names such as Belk, Bissell, Bowles, Levine and Harris. Let's assume they heard -- at the bistros and back nines and other places Carolina's rich and famous gather -- the same talk we did.

Henning runs too many draw plays. The offensive line doesn't give the quarterback time or the running backs room. And who is Rod Perry?

Anger and resentment built, and action was demanded. The action came Monday when Fox was told to dump his assistants.

If this is what happened -- and I strongly believe it is -- it sets a dangerous precedent. Remember the old days when the Panthers would overreact in the offseason and throw big bucks at big names other teams no longer wanted?

When Fox came, and when Hurney ascended to general manager, Carolina stopped treating every season as if it had nothing to do with the previous. They developed a winning program, a structure that worked -- until this season.

This season was a waste. Although the Panthers were supposed to win the Super Bowl, there was never a moment when they were as good as everybody said they would be. Somebody had to be blamed.

So blame Perry, a quiet guy whose stars underachieved and whose supplemental players got hurt or left.

Blame Maser, the man with the loudest voice at training camp. Forced to build a line out of damaged starters, castoffs and Silly Putty, he did a fine job.

Blame Henning, the least appreciated coach in Panthers history. Based on his body of work, work that includes two trips to the NFC Championship and one to the Super Bowl, there is no justification for dumping him.

So he had a bad season. So did his employers. They had every right to tell him to adjust. And he would have. At 65, Henning is bright and creative and has run every offense imaginable.

You think his replacement suddenly is going to install the run-and-shoot and throw 50 passes a game? Fox's philosophy always has been to minimize turnovers and maximize runs between the tackles, and it will be next season.

And if the Panthers struggle in '07, and the talk at the country clubs and catered luncheons turns from Mercedes and Mickelson to the no-playoff Panthers, whom do they fire then?

 

Sorensen's an opinion columnist. He's usually the antagonistic "other side of the coin" guy.

Henning wasn't a scapegoat. He earned his.

Very few firings happened Jan.1, so that has no bearing.