Cowboys Unpopular Move: 'No One Loves' Dan Quinn Hire, Claims Peter King
LAS VEGAS - Dan Quinn is not a shiny new toy. He's a defensive mind and he's a been-there/done-that guy, which is why some Washington Commanders watchers - and maybe some NFL watchers - are less than enthralled with his hire as their new head coach.
In fact, NBC Sports' Peter King puts an even sharper point on his perception of the reaction.
"No one loves this hire,'' King said.
"No one'' constitutes an awful lot of people, and is obviously hyperbolic. But we get King's point. Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was the anticipated "sexy hire.'' But somebody screwed that up, somehow.
"Most people in the game think he was the consolation prize after Ben Johnson either bombed out or overplayed his monetary hand in his contacts with the Commanders," King wrote on Monday.
Johnson opted to return to the Lions for the 2024 season, citing his desire to win a Super Bowl as soon as possible. Along the way, back-biting ensued. The offensive coordinator was reportedly "turned off" by Washington's ownership because they're "basketball people.'' An angle put forth by sources inside Washington HQ is that Johnson "didn't interview well.'' It's also been suggested by some of those same sources that Johnson's salary request was excessive.
Factually ...
*The Commanders' hiring committee did include Bob Myers and Magic Johnson, "basketball people.'' But it also included plenty of "football people.''
*As to "not interviewing well,'' that's weird because Commanders brass was en route to Detroit for a second visit with Johnson before it all feel apart. Why interview him a second time if he blew it the first time?
*And we believe the leaked salary story is bogus. ... and our proof is that Johnson didn't even get a raise to stay in Detroit. (Oh, that and the idea that new billionaire owner Josh Harris would refuse to write the right check for the right guy seems idiotic.)
Also factually ...
You will struggle to find "football people'' who have negative views of Quinn. He was a Super Bowl coordinator and a Super Bowl head coach. He oversaw a complete turnaround of Dallas' awful defense, in the last three years making it one of the top play-making units in the era.
Yes, the Commanders wanted "sexy.'' And they fell short of that. ... leaving Quinn's challenge an obvious one: Win games. Get loved.
