Bedard's Daily Briefing 11.28.18: Is Josh McDaniels' future in New England?

Good morning! 

A few random thoughts while I wonder if Gronk was back and Sony Michel dominated, why did it take the Patriots almost three quarters to get past 13 points against the Jets?

• Tis the season ... for coaching speculation. With each passing week, it will become more clear which teams are bound for the postseason, and which are not, which will lead to rumors about firings and hirings.


• And you can expect Josh McDaniels' name to be tossed about with just about every opening.


• Of course, he's probably kicking himself right now because of the way the Colts are playing, Andrew Luck being healthy and the Colts having over $100 million in cap space for next season. Pretty good situation there.


• Many people thought McDaniels ended any hope of coaching elsewhere when he left the Colts and GM Chris Ballard. Almost immediately that was false. There is a shortage of good candidates and no one has a better resume than McDaniels, especially with today's focus on QBs and offenses.


• And I was told shortly after McDaniels decided to stay that he would be open to coaching elsewhere after 2018.


• A lot of Patriots fans point out the "bad" ownership of the Colts. Jim Irsay may be a circus, but he's a pretty good owner from a coach's perspective. He doesn't really get involved, usually has a long leash, and isn't afraid of big decisions. Remember, he allowed the Colts to move on from Peyton Manning. Not all owners would do that (cough, cough).


• Why wouldn't McDaniels want to stay here? Following Bill Belichick, an aging (if not declining) Tom Brady who may or may not be a year-round QB anymore, no QB succession plan, an aging and thin roster ... not exactly a no-doubt situation. Ownership and structure is obviously off the charts right now.


• I'm not saying McDaniels is definitely out the door — he's the type that always listens and isn't afraid to use leverage — but he's available.


• Could I see a situation where the Krafts (who orchestrated McDaniels' return to be covered in case of an unexpected Belichick departure) try to lock up an ironclad succession plan with Belichick's blessing? Yes.


• Isn't it ironic, though ... Belichick gets Brady's successor ready but he's jettisoned because Brady plays better and won't leave. Now the Krafts secure Belichick's successor and he might bolt because Belichick won't leave ... funny how it might work out that way.


• Browns would be the best place for McDaniels, but nobody should go there unless they get an ironclad buyout that keeps them in place for multiple years. Jimmy Haslam makes Irsay look like Art Rooney.


• Packers would absolutely be a great landing spot, but you can't run the Packers like the Patriots. Those fans, who think Super Bowl titles are their birthright, want answers from their head coach when you even lose one game. "We need to coach better, play better, practice better," won't last very long. Then the fans/stockholders start flooding the phone lines, the executive committee gets in Mark Murphy's ears and it gets messy. To say nothing of the fact that the organization is like one big family and if McDaniels goes in there and starts treating people poorly (like reportedly happened in Denver), word is going to get out and it won't be pretty.


• I can't see McDaniels going to Denver (duh), Cincinnati (owner is GM) or Jets (too close). Bucs are possible — and delivering McDaniels could be the only thing to save Jason Licht's job — but not likely. Cardinals ... maybe but don't see it. Ravens would be a great spot (great owner, structure) and McDaniels likes Lamar Jackson, but you'd have to go through the Patriots every year and there are hard feelings between Ravens and Patriots.


• So, basically, it's Browns, Packers or bust (we'll have to wait to see the surprise openings). So I'd say the odds are stronger McDaniels stays.