Jetheelz Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 TEMPE, Ariz. (Jan. 1, 2007) -- Dennis Green was fired as coach of the Arizona Cardinals on Monday after he failed to turn the downtrodden franchise into a winner in three seasons on the job. Green was dismissed one day after the Cardinals concluded a 5-11 season with a 27-20 loss at San Diego. He finished with a 16-32 record at Arizona. The Cardinals will pay $2.5 million to buy out the final year of his contract. He was the seventh coach the Cardinals have had since the franchise moved to Arizona in 1988. Green's three teams in Arizona went 6-10, 5-11 and 5-11. He has a career NFL coaching record of 124-115. Green's mission was to turn around the perpetually losing Cardinals, who have had one winning season since 1984, and put a winner into the new stadium when it opened this season. The stadium, the signing of running back Edgerrin James and the drafting of quarterback Matt Leinart stirred up interest in the team, which sold out every home game this year. But after a season-opening home victory over San Francisco, the Cardinals lost eight in a row and quickly fell out of the playoff hunt. The skid included close home losses to St. Louis, Kansas City and, most memorably on a Monday night, to Chicago. Green demoted offensive coordinator Keith Rowen after six games and replaced him with Mike Kruczek, one of many shakeups on his staff during his time with the Cardinals. Leinart replaced Kurt Warner after five games and showed great promise. However, the team's fortunes didn't turn around until the coach finally settled on who should play on the offensive line. Arizona won four of its last seven, but it was too little, too late. Green was out of coaching after his decade with the Minnesota Vikings ended in 2001. He was lured back by a four-year, $10 million contract and the belief that Arizona was on the brink of becoming a successful team. He made several moves that seemed to backfire, beginning with the abrupt release of offensive lineman Pete Kendall on the eve of his first training camp. In his first season, Green benched quarterback Josh McCown for Shaun King even though the team had won three of its last four. By the time McCown got the job back, the Cardinals had lost three straight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
124 Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Not a big surprise. Should be interesting to see who they hire as his replacement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackout Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Mike Martz will replace him and they'll become the Greatest Show On Grass other than a Wu Tang concert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanDoug Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Not a big surprise. Should be interesting to see who they hire as his replacement. Wonder if Mike Martz could be next in AZ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanDoug Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Mike Martz will replace him and they'll become the Greatest Show On Grass other than a Wu Tang concert We posted this about the same time. The Warner as a backup connection might work with Martz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernJet Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Pete Carrol. You heard it here first. Put it in the bank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetheelz Posted January 1, 2007 Author Share Posted January 1, 2007 Pete Carrol. You heard it here first. Put it in the bank. Not John Bunting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJ Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Amazing. Another in the long list of fish that Denny couldn't bring to the boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanDoug Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Pete Carrol. You heard it here first. Put it in the bank. USC is a cherry gig. Carroll's got rocks in his head if he leaves that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strange_andy Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Rich Kotite resurface? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernJet Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 USC is a cherry gig. Carroll's got rocks in his head if he leaves that. Could be , but its afact. carrol and Stoops are main targets. Carrol has quietly said 'lets talk'. Stoops also. Fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preston Howley III Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Dennis Green was fired. I know it's not funny, but... THE BEARS ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsMan57 Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Just read on JC that Jim MOra got the boot too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernJet Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Just read on JC that Jim MOra got the boot too. ya, obviuosly thats bad news for Ty Willingham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormshadow19 Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Heh... I, for one, did not see this coming. Who would have guessed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 He made several moves that seemed to backfire, beginning with the abrupt release of offensive lineman Pete Kendall on the eve of his first training camp. Thanks Denny! Happy trails! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugg Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Pete Carroll. You heard it here first. Put it in the bank. Think the Bidwills are writing him a really big check as I type this. Speaking of cold-Coughlin fires the Jints OC, Hufhnagel, during Week 17. You and Mrs. James Brown-get your sheet and get the eff out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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