If you were Jack Del Rio, would you really want to coach the Oakland Raiders? If you were Adam Gase, would you want to coach the New York Jets?
Trick question: Gase hasn’t interviewed with the Jets. But Del Rio did talk to Raiders owner Mark Davis, who .
The Broncos’ top assistant coaches are in hot demand for new jobs after 20 teams failed the cutoff for the NFL’s second season. Of those 20 teams, so far six either decided they’re such a mess they need to start over with a new coach; or the old coach thought the team was such a wreck, he bailed (‘sup, Buffalo).
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And, based on their adept handling of the Broncos defense (Del Rio) and offense (Gase) in recent seasons, they seem a fine choice to be head coaches in the NFL.
But not all head coaching jobs are created equal. And some teams should have to sell themselves to a Del Rio or Gase as much as vice versa. So perhaps it’s up to us to help out the two candidates in making their decision.
First, here are the six head coaching jobs posted on the bulletin board at NFL HQ. And, for the sake of helpfulness, they are handicapped from 1 (“that could maybe not be a disaster”) through 6 (“pit of despair”).
1. San Francisco 49ers
Former coach: Jim Harbaugh
Broncos connection: Gase will interview. So will Josh McDaniels. And some former players are pushing for Mike and Kyle Shanahan.
Handicapped: Great job. They qualified for the NFC title game in three of the past four seasons. Athletic, skilled, young QB with plenty of remaining potential. Fancy new digs.
2. Atlanta Falcons
Former coach: Mike Smith
Broncos connection: They want to interview Gase. McDaniels too.
Handicapped: Winnable division. Eager owner. Good QB. General manager might not be long for the Falcons though. So some flux.
3. Buffalo Bills
Former coach: Doug Marrone
Broncos connection: Gase, McDaniels, the Shanahans all drawing interest.
Handicapped: Great defensive base. But they’re in an ownership changeover (it’s why Marrone bolted). And that screams a lack of focus.
4. Chicago Bears
Former coach: Marc Trestman
Broncos connection: Gase has their eye.
Handicapped: On the surface, this seems like a tar pit of trouble waiting to suck in a victim. Their $126 million QB fell into a QB controversy, c’mon. But their biggest red flag? They thought a Canadian Football League coach could solve their problems (good dude, Trestman. But c’mon).
5. New York Jets
Former coach: Rex Ryan
Broncos connection: They want Gary Kubiak.
Handicapped: Fancy new stadium. And no immediate prospect for success. Good luck.
6. Oakland Raiders
Former coach: Dennis Allen
Broncos connection: Del Rio interviewed, so did Mike Shanahan.
Handicapped: It’s really amazing that the Raiders are a bigger mess without Al Davis than with. Some poor Raiders fan will yell, “We’ve got one of the best defensive secondaries in football.” OK, maybe. But what about the other, like, eight units on the field?
It’s possible the Broncos will need to hire two new coordinators before next season. But most of the options for an NFL step-up for Del Rio and Gase are very likely steps down. Is being able to say you’re a head coach really worth the trouble? Somebody ask Dennis Allen.
For Broncos fans, here are the two best options for how the coaching carousel might spin:
1. The Returns
The hires: Gase goes to San Francisco. Del Rio stays. Mike Shanahan returns to Oakland. And the Broncos replace Gase with Gary Kubiak.
Why: The Broncos will need a new head coach at some point in the less-than-distant future to replace John Fox, maybe after Peyton Manning retires. Why not bring back Kubiak as coach-in-waiting? Gase can go have fun by the Bay. And the Broncos playing Shanahan in Oakland would be just too much fun twice a year.
2. Matchups
The hires: Del Rio and Gase stay in Denver (Gase gets a raise as coach-in-waiting to replace Fox). Shanahan goes to Oakland and McDaniels goes to Chicago.
Why: Del Rio’s and Gase’s best chance for a Super Bowl remains in Denver. And, for the fun of it, McHoodie teams up with Jay Cutler to host the Broncos next season (they’re on the schedule) and Shanny goes back to the place he left so he can play two games every year against the Broncos.
All just spitballing. It’ll probably unfold even weirder than that.
Chew on this
• He’s officially listed at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds. But Wimbledon striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, who became all the rage Monday in the Dons’ third round FA Cup game against Liverpool, might be a bit bigger.
Akinfenwa scored an equalizing goal in the 36th minute for Wimbledon, a team that plays in England’s fourth division. The Dons had their eyes on an upset of Liverpool. And Akinfenwa was momentarily bigger than life.
ICYMI: Wimbledon’s 5-11, 220-pound Akinfenwa almost steamrolled Liverpool today. WATCH:
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer)
But Liverpool, a juggernaut, went on to win 2-1 at tiny Kingsmeadow in London behind two Steven Gerrard goals.
Adebayo Akinfenwa: “I will hit my teammates If I see them trying to take Gerrard’s shirt, I want Gerrard’s shirt.”
— Football__Tweet (@Football__Tweet)
• Bad news for Nuggets fans: in a three-team trade Monday night. The Nuggets have already played LeBron James’ Cavs twice this season. But they have one left against the Knicks.
Alas, though, Nugs fans won’t get to watch Smith jack up long-range jumpers against the Nuggets. Gotta get a cable package for the J.R. Show.
• Speaking of the hall of fame, a happy 56th birthday to Kapil Dev, hero of India’s 1983 run to the Cricket World Cup. He was an outstanding all-arounder, they say, with a wicked outswinger as a bowler and a monster striker. He made it to the ICC Hall of Fame in 2010 (voters looked past how much the altitude swayed his stats). Here he is reaching the party deck.
Nick Groke: ngroke@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickgroke
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