Todd Haley doesn’t back down from anyone … even the Big Tuna

[DaWolf]

Todd Haley doesn’t back down from anyone … even the Big Tuna

By Edgar Thompson | Thursday, January 29, 2009, 06:25 PM

Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley doesn’t confine his sideline dust-ups to diva wide receivers.

Haley routinely went at it with Keyshawn Johnson with the Jets, once took on T.O. on national TV in Dallas and had a blow-up in the NFC Championship with Cardinals’ Pro Bowler Anquan Boldin that made national headlines.

This is nothing new between coaches and players.

But Haley said he has no defense for a sideline argument with Bill Parcells that nearly got ugly.

“I don’t want to bring that one back up,” Haley said Thursday before adding, “that’s the one where he took a mini-swing at me in Seattle.”

Haley, 41, recalled Parcells had enough of his young assistant screaming and yelling at officials during the Cowboys 34-9 win against the Seahawks in 2005.

“He told me to shut up, which I needed to do - that was it,” Haley said. “He was right, 100 percent. I was wrong.”

Haley may have gone too far, but Parcells had appreciated his fire from three seasons (1997-99) as Parcells’ wide receivers coach with the Jets.

Following the 1998 draft, a 30-year-old Haley didn’t back down from Parcells, who had been to three Super Bowls and was considered one of NFL’s best talent evaluators.

In the draft war room, Haley pushed for a wide receiver Chris Brazzell out of tiny Angelos State in Texas. Parcells didn’t want any part of Brazzell.

“He wanted to have nothing to do with him,” Haley said. “I kept pushing. It got to the point where he was doing a lot more shouting than I was, but we ended up taking Chris Brazzell in the (sixth) round.”

Haley wondered if Brazzell might last longer than he did. “I thought I was getting fired,” Haley recalled.

Haley remembered Brazzell, the No. 174 pick, sticking around for a couple of seasons. But he ended up in Dallas after one season and caught seven passes in 14 appearances in 1999 and 2000.

But in his two most memorable showdowns with Parcells, Haley doesn’t concede going 0-for-2.

Haley noted Brazzell “has had a very productive career in the Canadian Football League, for sure … I have to add that.”

Haley’s self-belief is one reason he’s viewed as one of the NFL’s up-and-coming coaches, with a shot at becoming the Kansas City Chiefs head coach after the season.

It’s also why Haley could become the next branch of Parcells’ impressive coaching tree.

“I think coach appreciated that I stood up for what I believed in,” Haley said. “That’s a common thing with him. He doesn’t want a lot of yes men around telling him what he wants to hear.

“He wants guys who stay strong on their beliefs.”

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/c..._fro.html#jump

Uhh, I guess this is either reason to like the guy or not like the guy, depending on how you view it.

On the bright side he and Pioli can butt heads and push each other, on the down side his temper worries me. Still, if anyone can get Dwayne Bowe to get his head out of his ass, it's probably this guy. But what about the rest of the team? At least it'll be a full 180 from DV and Herm...

[Iowanian]

I wonder if he'll tear his sleeves off for his interview? Maybe he'll fart some thunder and crap lightening too!

[reiko57]

i know herm took losing hard.. but he didn't show it on the sideline which i think pisses people off, im ready to see someone with some fire

[ChiefMojo]

I mean crap guys we just had Herm sit there like a effing statue with that smirk on his face. Haley would be the polar opposite. I know Haley has been called the Mini-Tuna by many.

[FAX]

The more I learn of Haley's comet-like temper, the nervouser I become.

FAX

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by FAX

The more I learn of Haley's comet-like temper, the nervouser I become.

FAX

But he's an offensive genius, Mr. FAX. You know, that offense with the HOF QB and the 2 All-World WR's? The job he's had for one year?

He has to be a good HC.

[jAZ]

Originally Posted by DaWolf

Uhh, I guess this is either reason to like the guy or not like the guy, depending on (whether he wins).

Fixed.

[DaWolf]

Here's another reason Pioli might be considering him for this job, outside of the fact he was there for the Cardinals turnaround:

I was there in New York when we went from 1-15 to 9-7 in 1996 to '97, so if that can be done, anything can be done.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/f...,7976137.story

[Crush]

Originally Posted by FAX

The more I learn of Haley's comet-like temper, the nervouser I become.

FAX

For some reason, Mr. FAX, I feel the exact opposite. The more I hear about Haley's temper, the more I like the guy. This entire team needs someone to repeatedly kick them in the balls.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Crush

For some reason, Mr. FAX, I feel the exact opposite. The more I hear about Haley's temper, the more I like the guy. This entire team needs someone to repeatedly kick them in the balls.

Passion and holding players accountable is different than screaming and losing your cool. Which seems to be something that occurs everywhere he goes.

[frank58]

I'd like to see a head coach on the sidelines that shows some emotions too. I think a team can feed off of that and will play with more intensity because of it. Only thing that concerns me about this is that it doesn't seem to fit the type of working relationship that Pioli had in N.E. with Belicheck. He has stated that if both of them didn't agree on a player to acquire, they just stayed away from them. Doesn't sound like Haley has been able to do that in the past. Maybe that would be different with him as a head coach working with Pioli?

[FAX]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

But he's an offensive genius, Mr. FAX. You know, that offense with the HOF QB and the 2 All-World WR's? The job he's had for one year?

He has to be a good HC.

We must trust in Pioli, Mr. OnTheWarpath58. I'm certain that Scotty will beam us up the best possible HC he can find under the circumstances. We can, I think, also rest assured that Pioli is taking the peculiarities of the Arizona situation into account ... as well as Haley's anger issues.

... I hope.

FAX

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Crush

For some reason, Mr. FAX, I feel the exact opposite. The more I hear about Haley's temper, the more I like the guy. This entire team needs someone to repeatedly kick them in the balls.

I'm all for a head coach with fire and enthusiasm, Mr. Crush. Someone who demands the best out of his players. It's just that these stories seem to describe a guy who tries to solve his problems by screaming at them. Sometimes, that doesn't actually work.

Think Gunther.

FAX

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by FAX

We must trust in Pioli, Mr. OnTheWarpath58. I'm certain that Scotty will beam us up the best possible HC he can find under the circumstances. We can, I think, also rest assured that Pioli is taking the peculiarities of the Arizona situation into account ... as well as Haley's anger issues.

... I hope.

FAX

I trust him Mr. FAX.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again now:

If Pioli DOES hire Haley, I'll support him, and hope like hell I'm served a large plate of crow in the near future. Unlike others here, I'll be happy to eat it.

[JBucc]

He's gonna choke Pioli to death on draft day.