In San Jose, Dieter Kurtenbach wrote this is not Raiders Owner Mark Davis’ "first pursuit" of Jon Gruden, but this time around, he is "going to seal the deal." Kurtenbach: "How? Cold hard cash." It was "always going to take a lot of money to convince Gruden to return to coaching." Perhaps "even a record amount of money," and he "looks poised to get just that." Multiple reports say that the Raiders offered Gruden "a package" that will pay him $10M a season, which would "make him the highest paid coach in the NFL and set a new league-wide coaching pay record." Having Gruden setting a new record would "create a ripple effect around the league" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 1/3). ESPN's Adam Schefter said Gruden getting a stake in ownership is not something owners would "want introduced into any coach's contract because the precedent that would be set would be incredible" ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 1/4).
ONE BIG MOMENT: In Indianapolis, Stephen Holder notes there are "few bigger moments for an NFL GM than the day he makes a decision on the team's new coach." After firing coach Chuck Pagano, that moment "is nigh" for Colts GM Chris Ballard. A source said that Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh’s name was "recently discussed internally, but the curiosity came" from Colts Owner Jim Irsay, not Ballard. Notably, there has been "no credible link between the Colts and Harbaugh as the search gets underway." This indicates Ballard’s preferences are "taking precedent here." In short, he is "doing what Irsay hired him to do" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/4).
ADULT SUPERVISION: In Chicago, Steve Rosenbloom wrote Bears Chair George McCaskey and President & CEO Ted Phillips "will accompany" GM Ryan Pace in searching for a new coach "like he's some kind of teenage son." Rosenbloom: "Good luck looking like you're in charge, kid." McCaskey and Phillips have "overseen a death spiral the last five years." That is "reason enough to keep them quiet and out of the way until absolutely necessary" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 1/3).
CAN'T QUIT YOU: The Bengals this week extended coach Marvin Lewis' contract, and ESPN's Schefter said both Gruden and Owner Mike Brown "decided they were better off with each other." The plan was for Lewis to "leave the organization" with his contract being up. But when Lewis and Brown "both considered what was out there ... this was something that they were both better off doing" ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 1/4).
