Jan. 01--Which NFL head coaching opening is the best?
Before the surprise resignation of the Bills' Doug Marrone on Wednesday evening, the Tribune contacted 16 front-office employees and coaches across the league and asked them to rank the five other teams with coaching vacancies in terms of which destination is most attractive. (Five points were awarded for each first-place vote, four for each second-place vote, etc.)
Team, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, Total
49ers, 9, 5, 1, 1, 0, 70
Falcons, 6, 9, 1, 0, 0, 69
Bears, 1, 0, 5, 8, 2, 38
Raiders, 0, 2, 4, 5, 5, 35
Jets, 0, 0, 5, 2, 9, 28
Key comments (made on condition of anonymity)
On ranking 49ers first: "Before this year they went to three straight NFC title games and a Super Bowl, and they've got a lot of injured players coming back. Plus, the quarterback is under contract long-term."
On ranking 49ers third: "Winning pieces are in place, but there is very little cap space for 2015."
On ranking Falcons first: "Ranking teams, not cities or quality of life."
On ranking Falcons second: "Great owner. They've got a quarterback that has been productive and successful, but they've got to get the defense squared away."
On ranking Bears fourth behind Raiders: "It comes down to the quarterback."
On ranking Bears fifth: "(Jay) Cutler is a negative because of the contract, and they're strapped with the contracts of some older guys."
On ranking Raiders second: "Derek Carr showed positive signs, and they have $63 million in cap room. Lot of potential."
On ranking Raiders third: "A lot of people talk about the job (GM) Reggie McKenzie has done, but they're set up with cap room and that quarterback came on."
On ranking Jets third: "They need two cornerbacks, but other than that there is great defensive talent. You've got to fix the offense, but you'd be coming in with a new GM and you both answer directly to the owner. You're going to get a couple years for rebuilding. This is better than people think."
On ranking Jets fifth: "There's a lot of cap room -- $54 million -- and a lot of needs."
