I agree. Make a rash decision and make it as quickly as possible. That is the way to be successful in life. Especially when it comes down to a life altering decision that could effect the rest of your life. Do not explore your options. Do not consider all that is out there. If you do not act quickly, you are indecisive and weak.

Perhaps Jason wants to coach the Cowboys eventually, eh?

And since when is it a mistake to agree to an interview but not take it?

Sounds bitter to me

Do you mean guys who say what they mean, like Brian Billick , who no one ever knew what he meant beacause he would never give a stright answer to any question. However, you are right , we need a coach who is a no nonsense straight shooter, a coach who will whip this team into shape both physically and mentally with a good atti8tude for a change instead of the thug mentally everyone overlooked here for so many years due to the lack of disciplined. I have no onjection to treating men like men, as we heard so often comong from Owings mills , but first you should have to prove that you deserve to be treated like a man, by accepting the responsibilty of your privelage of playing a professional sport. To bad the days of the 1 year contract are long gone and next years salary was predicated on what you did this year.

agreed. how unusual.

come on Mike, RELAX. This is not that big a deal. If not Garrett they will chose someone else and life will go on. we lost 3 kids in Iraq today. Now that is something to worry about.

Several assumptions are being made.

1). That Garrett is the one who wanted to think on it.

In Steve Bisciotti's world, it is common to allow a candidate time to digest the offer and to make a decision.

Bisciotti made his offer and now he will observe how Garrett handles this.

Remember, Bisciotti said in his news conference that he would prefer that his head coach stay until he retires. I am sure he is looking at this as he is offering a potentially lifetime job to Garrett. If that is so, than it would make sense for Garrett to take a little time to evaluate his options and his family's concerns.

Ozzie is out of town to "find players" a a college all-star game. I am positive that Garrett has until Ozzie gets back to make up his mind. Then it becomes "Next man up".

2). You are assuming Steve Bisciotti will engage in a bidding war.

I seriously doubt that. Brian Billick had a 5 million dollar contract because, in the owner's mind, he earned it through time with the company and a 13-3 season. And, Mr. Bisciotti ended up eating that.

No way he will offer a first time coach Billick money.

He will make his offer and say, "It's yours if you want it." And, he will say privately, "If Jerry Jones offers him equal money to continue OC, then let hm have him. Next man up."

Mike that was a great article, you are not only 100% you are 1000% right. The thing that i am most disappointed about and still am is that fact that the ravens haven't told him to stick it up us a**. You know coaching in the NFL is a prevlidge and when you have a chance to become a head coach in a organization like the ravens with the front office and facilities that we have you should jump at the chance. I am really disappointed in STEVE B for making this guy out like he is the next coming a VINCE LOMBARDI. If he is such a hot commidity then why didn't bill parcells jump at the chance to grab him for the Miami job, instead going after the other assistant on his staff. Who has a better opinion of a guy's coaching talent then he.These owners especially steve have become victims of the new in vogue thing in the NFL and that is hiring so called hot shot coaches that haven't even payed there dues yet. What does this say for poor REX RYAN. he isn't even in the ravens plan. They want to completly distant themselves from anybody even remotely close to BRIAN BILLICK. You know during the summer there was another team in town that got embarassed when they wanted to hire a coach and he turned them done. Never thought that i would ever draw any comparisons to the ORIOLES but this sure reminds me of the same thing. Steve please for all the fans sake don't turn out like PETER A and be a guy who made millions doing something he knew about and tries to do something that he will turn into a laughing stock.

Mike, you are definitely reading too much into this. The NFL is a business, first and foremost. Ask any player, coach, owner, etc. It is why the players take huge contracts rather than staying with one team (See AD for example). As much as everyone talks about brotherhood, fraternity, it is all secondary to the money. Since I am no longer in elementary school, this mentality does not bother me. I have allowed myself to see it for what it is and I still enjoy the game and I still stick to my team, for better or worse. If a player were asking for more money and thus delaying signing a contract, we wouldn't hesistate to understand his situation.

A coach like Garrett, that has options for head coaching spots and has the option of remaining in Dallas where he has a pretty good deal already, has the privilege of weighing his options. He is a hot commodity right now. If Garrett takes this position, at 41 years of age, and turns in a junk performance, his chances of another HC job in the NFL dwindles. The smart thing is to put yourself in the best position to succeed, but at the very least, make sure you are compensated as much as possible to insure against the possibility that you might never make this kind of money again.

I agree 210%! At this point I think Bisciotti should pull the offer and send the message that you do not toy with the organization. At this point you are giving a 41 year old infant coach a bigger head than he deserves. He is telling the football world that he does not really want the Baltimore job and that he is holding out for the cowgirl job. Save him the time and pull the offer and let him sink or swim in big D. Hell his offense could implode next year and his stock could plummet.

I am curious where Garrett will wind up. I keep hearing he could be Wade Phillips´ successor in Big Dud. Maybe you gotta play Jerry Jones and Arthur Blank that way. Meanwhile there is a kick%&$ former coordinator working out off his former ofc, waiting to become our next head coach. You think he´s gonna try and pimp Bisciotti for an additional 500 K ? Guess again. Also, what people forget about our 'thug' D identity, those 'The U' dudes are two years removed from Sayonara, and I cant think of a better man to take on the transition than Ryan. Bisciotti´s first hire should be someone this city embraces(d), not someone who took three pairs of handshakes to find Owings Mills Mall Texas size enough to stay. Git!

All I know is, listening to one and a half minutes of Garrett dance around the question of whether the job was offered to him or not was enough for me. Especially after nine years of Billick-speak.

Harbaugh will most likely be the next head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.

Garrett aside I think that Jack Del Rio would be good for the Ravens and wanted to know your thoughts Mike. Isn' t he at the end of his contract with the Jaguars?

Agreed, cchhilllll dog. I dont think this is a big deal. Whats wrong with a guy exploring his options??

I agree with the points but I don't think it was time for these kind of words just yet. If I feel this way I know enough to keep it to myself until I give a man a chance to show me what his intentions are. If he's good enough to warrant a second interview and a job offer, he's good enough to deserve the opportunity to walk away and think about it. Respect is a two way street. Now he's getting ripped in the paper before the process is complete? Until I see a press release or something official stating his intentions, I'll at least give him the benefit of the doubt. I'd like to see him here and even if he doesn't come, I'm not going to hate the man for doing what's best for him. Mike, you shouldn't either - it's business, never personal.

I don't have a problem with how he played this scenario because I believe he has no idea what he wants to do. I do not think he should have granted the media any comments since he basically had nothing to say anyway. I think he wants to stay in Dallas but also wants to be a head coach. The Atlanta visit was just out of courtesy to a good man in Mr. Blank and to see a different organization, there is no way he is going there unless they offer way more money than the Ravens. His choice is the Cowboys or the Ravens and personally I could care less if he comes here or not. I like Harbaugh's attitude and demeanor way better than Garrett anyway. Hell, let them both decline and maybe Rex is the next man up. We'll have a new coach soon, I just can't begin to speculate which person it might be.

Did Garrett realize he was interviewing for a position as Ravens head coach and not the Orioles manager?

You can always tell a Princeton man, you just can't tell him much.

You people sound like jillted lovers.

No doubt if he is reading your comments, he most likely will think not coming to Baltimore is the right choice.

Not everyone is 'hell bent for leather', some actually consider their options.

Then again, maybe Baltimore just comes up short in areas other than money or coaching position. Some people (from Texas) think about family first.

He has been coaching in nfc and there are not many teams of same quality as afc by the way you could see how good tony romo really is

Every time someone mentions how the Ravens are a first-class organization because their "facilities" are great, it embarrasses me. There are many, many NFP franchises who have "great facilities" but take it for granted. It's like a "little-man's" complex. The Ravens are a good (not a great) NFL organization because they have a solid personnel department and won't require more than a year or two of rebuilding, if that. Their weaknesses are small city size, not a particularly exciting place live (though one is just down the road), and passionate fan base who expect a winner.

Ok, look. Maybe everyone saying Garrett was in it for the money is right. The fact of the matter is that no one actually knows what Jason thinks. I am really getting annoyed of everyone automatically assuming Garrett was trying to play the Ravens and milk more money out of Dallas. I agree with Jimmy D. Maybe Garrett actually wants to weigh his options. He is making a decision that is going to affect him for the rest of his life after all.

Basically, I would rather hear speculation of why he doesn't take the Ravens job after he actually doesn't take it and not before

Seriously. You guys make it sound like coaching the Ravens is the best situation in the world. There's a lot of egos to deal with on this overrated underproducing football team, not to mention a quarterback-less offense that is terrible on it's best day.

I wouldn't blame the man or begrudge him one bit if he wants to think it out on top of taking advantage of his situation of being in high demand.

Good article Mike, however, I believe Mr. Garrett manipulated the situation very well yesterday. Here are a few questions and answers to consider:

Is Garrett over his head? Yeah, A little.
Is the job a too big for him with only 3 yrs as an asst? Maybe.
Does he really want the future Dallas head coaching job? Oh yeah.
Did he just accelerate the possibility that he will get the Dallas job much sooner than if had he not interviewed? Very good possibility.
Did he at the very least drive up Bisciotti's offer and Jones' counter? Of course. Well played.
If he ends up taking the job after a tough negotiation with the Ravens front office, what message has he sent to his owner/players? 'I am no pushover', ' Things are going to be my way' or perhaps he just ensured that if Bisciotti chases him the players will see that this is his guy.
Have you ever walked out of a car dealership when the deal was not right for you - even though it's a nice car and you really want it? I have. It works very well. By the way, I still got the car.
Does anyone really believe that Harbaugh - a third tier position coach - is the alternative. If so, maybe the job ain't all that.
Did he get what he came to Baltimore for? Whether it was to pressure Jones, get a bidding war going or raise his profile - I believe he did.


You wrote that Ravens coaching position was a great opportunity. On the surface most would agree. It is a good organization with great Owner, GM and front office staff and has the dedication to win. Here is the real question though, Is it appealing to every head coaching candidate at this time? Answer - No. Why not? Answer - the owner's philosophy of the team's immediate future and status of existing coaches and players may not jive with the potential coach's. Where does the owner think this team is right now? Where does Garrett? Last time I checked the inmates were running the asylum at the end of the season and Billick, Ryan, Newsome and Bisciotti knew it. The so called leaders of this team couldn't even lead their team to victory against the welcome mat that was the Miami Dolphins. How good does the Ravens coaching opportunity sound if a major tear down and rebuild is not in the offing and a young coach gets stuck with old problems?

To believe Jason has no other obvious choices besides the Ravens is naive. Even If Garrett sits and waits two years for the Dallas job he gains more coaching experience, cements his system in Dallas, builds his team, gets paid by Jerry in the meantime AND he gets his dream job at 43. Call me crazy but this guy is no dummy. Bisciotti has to make his deal more attractive than that last scenario. Even if he signs a deal here, who's to say that he doesn't jump in 2 years for the job he really wants in Dallas. Matter of fact I would bet he would jump in a heart beat to go back to a new stadium and proven winner in big D. Happens all the time.

More questions:
Can he get another great opportunity next year somewhere else? Happens every year. May even happen with better opportunities in Seattle and Indy yet this year.
Does a 41 year old first time coach want to enter a situation where key veterans have endorsed an existing coach? Not particularly.
Are many of those same unchecked, overexposed, egotistical and counter productive veterans likely to say something incredibly stupid about the coaching situation in the near future through with their overly abundant public platforms (i.e.- too many radio show comments/controversies,etc.)? Yes - would be an understatement.
Does one get a sense that the players were actually calling shots at the end of the '07 season? Yeah. That's dangerous if you are going to keep them around.
Can that culture be changed? Not without a serious rebuild.
Think Bisciotti wants a serious rebuild? NO. he and the entire town of Baltimore thinks the team is 'close'.

I am not a Ravens or Dallas fan so I have no dog in this fight. Like many I just enjoy the drama and jockeying that happens around free agents and coaches this time of year. Baltimore is a passionate football town again and that means crazy, exuberant, cheering fans and an intense microcosm of reporting, editorializing and speculation. It also means that so many in this town (including the press) have unrealistic expectations, impressions and some may even place an unreasonable value on the current head coaching opportunity. No loyal sports fan wants to believe that the guy they want doesn't want them.

Sadly, unrealistic expectations for the Ravens have become the norm because there are no other important professional sports happenings in Baltimore. The Orioles once mattered and used to take some of the attention away from the goings on in Owings Mills. Only a few really still believe in Oriole Magic despite over 10 years of proof to the contrary. The Orioles organization has failed to matter in MLB and in Baltimore. As the Orioles continue their slow slide into irrelevance, all the fan focus has shifted to the Ravens. Baltimore sports fans are living in a sports vacuum of sorts. That vacuum will continue to foster passionate but many times unrealistic perceptions and expectations. The Ravens will get a good coach and eventually return to winning ways but I think many in Owings Mills & Baltimore need a reality check about just how good their football team is right now and how the organization is perceived outside of Baltimore.

Bri, write a book next time.

Garrett is probably a great coach, with a hot name due to his single season of success in Dallas. One could say he should take the head coaching job, because next year, who knows. One could also say, he's got a great head coaching job lined up in big D. Why not make great $$$ as a coordinator, while waiting a year or so for that job. I've got no problem with his decision, one way or the other.

Coaches come and go. Hopefully you get lucky and land a good one. It's a story right now, and is relevant right now. Jason Garrett had a good year and is a hot name. Maybe he's the next Belichick, maybe the next (insert name of any unsuccessful coach). I'm not gonna lose any sleep when we hire John Harbaugh. Good for him. Give him a shot.

For the last comment, Apparently your long on words and short sited. 2 things, the Ravens have no more of a discipline problem than the other 31 franchises. Thats media hype what they have is a mix of young, and old players. The veterans are opinionated, and want to win now. As far as I know, everyone I can think of thats been on there job for a while thinks they know better than management how the company should be run. Is that lack of discipline or human nature? I say our discipline problem left with Coach Billick........

The second problem is we had so many injuries this year it would have been hard for anyone to compete. if you paid attention when we played New England (the best team in the league by far) we actually outplayed them. And what was the differance for that game? We had almost everybody(most notable Mcallister and Rolle) back. I say we can go from a poor record this year, to a super bowl next. With our current Defensive Cordinator and a few additions on O and D.........

I agree with Mike's comment about keeping things in perspective. Not only is Jason Garrett not Bill Belichick, he hasn't even coached his first NFL game yet. Granted, he has potential, but he is yet unproven. He appears to be a fairly intelligent guy.....I just wondwr if this bidding war will create another intelligent young coach who is touted as an offensive genius with an inflated ego......sound familiar?

Sounds like the Raven fans are a little bitter. I never new that someone weighing all of their options was a bad thing.

You just don't know what you're talking about. Everyone knows he is the heir to the throne in Big D. And if he's Jason Garrett, for goodness sake, then what's with all the complaining. You all are acting like a bunch of girls because he made a decision for himself. I'm sure he'll show why he's head coaching material when you guys come to Dallas next season.

Whewwww; sure glad we didn't end up with Mr. Process. I counted 57 times he used the word in an interview. Have you ever been part of any organization where the leader is a "process" oriented individual? If you have, then you know it's all about the PROCESS and not about RESULTS.

In the NFL, a process oriented coach usually ends up in a robotic team that performs well until passion enters into the equation. That's why the CowPokes will never win a playoff game with Mr. Process at the controls.

Besides, Garrett has no integrity. I never agree with Preston except this one time. Garrett played the Ravens and Atlanta like an old guitar. He got his money in the end at everyone else's expense.

I don't think Lombardi or Gibbs had a slick Princeton vocabulary; just integrity. Next!