Addition by Subtraction?

by FarvaForTheVikings on Jan 21, 2009 1:33 PM CST Comment 6 comments

This was, as far as I know, an unexpected turn of events. The St. Loius Rams, who passed over Leslie Frazier in their search for a head coach, are now interested in... Paul Ferraro!

No, this is not a joke, and yes, I am just as shocked by this development as everyone else. Many of us have been calling for his head all season, and now, out of nowhere, the Rams show up and offer to take it. While he is by no means gone yet, if he does leave us, Vikings fans all over the nation will be overjoyed.

From Kevin Seifert at ESPN.com:

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcnorth/0-7-126/Rams-seeking-Vikings--special-teams-coach.html?post=true

Rams seeking Vikings' special teams coach

Minnesota coach Brad Childress said earlier this month that he had no plans to fire special teams coordinator Paul Ferraro, even after the Vikings set an NFL record by giving up seven touchdowns in 2008. But we'll soon find out if he's willing to let Ferraro out of his contract to make a lateral move.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday that new Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo has requested permission to interview Ferraro. The two were teammates at Springfield (Mass.) College, and it's fair to say that Spagnuolo wouldn't have requested permission if he didn't have Ferraro high on his list. Childress can decide whether to grant permission or keep Ferraro under contract.

As Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune points out, Vikings assistant special teams coach Brian Murphy would be a candidate to replace Ferraro if he departs.

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.

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Can we send Chilly and T-Jax with him?

No loss there. Special teams were a sham. What a break as chill man wasn’t going to do anything.

by CitrusFLViking on Jan 21, 2009 1:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

yes! can we

by vikefansd on Jan 21, 2009 1:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So does anyone know anything about Brian Murphy??

It wouldn’t take much to improve after Ferraro, assuming Chilly let’s him leave.

by cutlassbob on Jan 21, 2009 5:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

None of you are putting any stock into the terrible performances by players.

I’m quite sure that Paul Ferraro would have been fired by now if our triangle of authority honestly thought it was poor coaching that was the problem on special teams.

Was it Paul Ferraro who didn’t punt the ball out of bounds to Reggie Bush? Or did he not catch a snap versus Chicago that lead to a little ferry kick in a last ditch effort that lead to a touchdown.

Was it Paul Ferraro who was named the Viking’s Special Teams MVP a few years ago who tore his ACL early in this past season?

I think we can expect a number of special teams signings this off-season.

by drew10 on Jan 21, 2009 5:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, I am not going to let him get off that easily.

If Ferraro didn’t have the talent to put together a half-decent unit we could have easily gone out and gotten some people at the beginning of the season after Farwell got hurt. Farwell, as good as he is, will probably only command 1 Mil a year so it’s not like they couldn’t afford to get some decent special teamers.

When EJ got hurt we went out and got Harris and Thomas to fill in on MLB. Neither of those guys are great but we didn’t look like a complete joke on defense just because we lost our stud MLB.

It was Ferraro’s job to either coach what he has to a higher level, get some better talent or at the very least tell kluwe to quit over-punting the coverage team.

He can’t even get players to tackle for a few plays a game so I am amused by the fact he is now a linebackers coach.

by BeardedAxe on Jan 22, 2009 5:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs