Posted on Wed, May. 03, 2006email thisprint thisreprint or license this Cottrell isn't ready to retire Former Vikings assistant looking for work BY DON SEEHOLZER / Pioneer Press For 22 years, this was one of the busiest times of the NFL offseason for Ted Cottrell, but times have changed. Fired Jan. 8 by new Vikings coach Brad Childress, the team's former defensive coordinator is nearly four months into a forced retirement that he hopes won't be permanent. "It's a little different," Cottrell said Tuesday. "Right now, we'd be getting ready for minicamp. You'd be in a normal routine. Not this year."Unable to find a job, Cottrell, 58, filed retirement papers with the NFL in February, but he hasn't given up hope of catching on with another team."I'm not retired," he said. "That was just to make sure I had some money coming in come August. I still want to work for a few more years."Cottrell, who interviewed for the Vikings' head coaching vacancy before Childress was hired, said he has no real leads at this time but remains hopeful. "Something may happen during training camp where some team decides it needs some help," he said.In addition to his courtesy interview with the Vikings, Cottrell talked to Buffalo and New Orleans about assistant coaching positions after being fired, and he still can't believe his 22 years of NFL experience weren't enough to land him some job . "It hasn't gotten any easier because you know you've done a good job over the years," he said. > http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/sports/14485483.htm
I didn't watch any Vike's games last year, so I don't know what sort of job he did. My opinion on him was he got a raw deal here. Herm hung his coaches out to dry all the time. We had some pretty good defenses the past few years, and we all know Herm couldn't call a successful play against Pop Warner teams. Who knows? Maybe Teddy should take a look at the college ranks. He could work on his resume, and clean up his image, then make another push to break back into the "bigs" in 3 or 4 more years. No, he isn't young, but there are more than enough guys in their 60's who have coached in the NFL over the years. If he does have the ability he believes he has, then he will be back.
I am not a fan of Teddy C. But in his defense when he was here he had the worst defensive talent in the league by far in 2002 and 2003. Thanks to the Parcellain type cap hell we were in 2002 we had to gut our defense before the 2002 season. Cotrell ended up paying the bill for Parcells overspending. Cottrell arguably had only had 3 defensive players in 2002 and 2003 that would have stood much of a chance of competing for a starting job on real NFL team. Most of the Jets defensive players would have been hard pressed to not have been forced into retirement themselves if it wasn't for the Jets employing them.
Geezus, Teddy, what sort of hunter-gatherer would YOU have made. "<Sigh>. . . Oh dear. . . I've been waiting for a water buffalo to wander by my cave, but I have no luck . . . " Fool. There must be 300+ college football teams out there, so sitting around feeling sorry for yourself won't cut it. Pete Carroll was at the bottom of the frigging coaching food chain, and was hired by USC almost as an afterthought. Now look at the guy. Recent issues with player misconduct aside, he's riding high, and could probably pick his head coaching job next year. Get off your ass, Teddy. Watching Jerry Springer all day and hoping the phone will ring isn't the proper way to support your family!
Too bad for him, he never got the chance either here or with the vikings to turn things around. To think that he was a head coaching candidate just a couple of years ago.. now he's in forced retirement.
Looking at Heimerdinger, made Hackett's blocking schemes look very good. But Cotrell is absolutely terrible at every coaching aspect he tries. He's better off as a defensive lineman coach,
The idea that Cotrell didn't get a fair shot here or got "thrown under the bus" is totally insane. The front office gave him old, slow players but that doesn't excuse him for putting one of the 5 worst defenses in the NFL on the field. Herm doesn't get a pass for having his entire starting lineup get injured last season, Hackett doesn't get a pass for never having any offensive weapons, Brien doesn't get a pass for Heinz Field being windy and Cottrell doesn't get a pass for having a slow defense. You do the job you get paid for, and if you can't get it done you at least look respectable in failure.
Teddy Cottrel STUNK. I'll never forget watching the game at Indy where the Colts did whatever they wanted to us. The guy never blitzed. HORRIBLE!!!
When Cotrell left and Henderson took over-every single category improved on the defensive side-enough said
