ESPN analyst thinks one team should make Ben Johnson a huge head coaching offer
Around a year ago, some flimsy reporting regarding how much Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson wanted to become a team's head coach surfaced. Of course he ultimately stayed in Detroit again, as if anyone could blame him for that.
New but not particularly revolutionary reporting has come as the new hiring cycle approaches. Johnson will of course be intentional with head coaching interviews, and what he's looking for in a new organization is out there.
If all other things are equal in head coaching jobs he interviews for, and they probably won't be, money may be a differentiator for Johnson. Let's not lament or try to moralize that, it's a fact of human nature. There have been reports and rumors about big offers or "blank checks" coming Johnson's way to convince him to leave the Lions.
Analyst thinks a team should make Ben Johnson a 'Godfather' offer
ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently proposed some offseason moves to fix four NFL teams: the Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals.
On the list of five moves to fix the Cowboys, Barnwell suggested giving Johnson a five-year, $125 million contract to become the head coach.
"The Cowboys can't subvert the salary cap, and they can't buy first-round picks, but spending on coaches is uncapped. Paying Johnson this much would represent a significant investment and probably make every other team in the league angry, but coaches as a whole are underpaid. This franchise is valued as being worth more than $10 billion by Forbes. If this move succeeds, Johnson would be a bargain. If it fails, the Cowboys won't miss the money."
Johnson gave Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones a close look at his play-calling prowess at AT&T Stadium back in Week 6. SI.com reported more recently that Jones may be willing to meet Johnson's asking price.
The bigger question is how the Cowboys fit with Johnson's reported desire for "organizational alignment between the GM and the head coach" as well as "recognition from the organization of things that've gone wrong, and a willingness to fix them."
In Dallas the GM is also the owner. Jones also carries a reputation that he has all the answers, such as he'd even acknowledge anything's wrong with his team.
So it may take a "Godfather" offer for the Cowboys to get Johnson as their next head coach. But would that be enough to get him to take the job?