Obviously a lot has been made about Jeff Fisher putting on a Peyton Manning jersey yesterday at a charity event here in Nashville. Personally, I believe anyone that wears a Peyton jersey should be struck down right where they are standing, but that has more to do with my personal feelings about Peyton than anything else.
Let me start off by saying that I don't think what Fisher did yesterday in and of itself is a reason he should be fired. A lot of people are saying that the thing Titans' fans should be the most upset about is the 59-0 beatdown the Pats put on our team on Sunday. You will get no arguments about that from me, but that also doesn't mean I can't be upset about what he did yesterday. And honestly, when I first saw this yesterday I wasn't all that upset about it. I thought it was a stupid thing for him to do, but who really cares. It was his reaction last night on his shows that really got me upset.
The biggest reason that made me so angry was because I hate apologies with a "but" in them because it isn't a true apology. He's not sorry he did it, and that is his business, but he should care that it upset a large portion of the fanbase and he doesn't. That helps prove to me that he has gotten a little too big for his britches.
All of that brings me to the point of this post. He said at the event yesterday that he wore the jersey because he "wanted to feel like a winner." (I guess that was funny because this team that he pretty much hand put together sucks.) Here are some thoughts that I think will help him feel more like a winner:
- Be man enough to admit when you have made a mistake. I know everyone loves loyalty, but the NFL is about getting results. You don't have to publicly throw Chuck Cecil under the bus, but you dang better be doing something behind the scenes to strip him of his playcalling duties because it is painfully obvious that he is not up to the challenge. You are a defensive coach. Take the reigns or give them to someone like Dave McGinnis who can handle them.
- Be all over Mike Heimerdinger until he gets back to what this team was built to do. RUNNING THE FOOTBALL. Use Chris Johnson and LenDale White early and often in games. That is the only way this team is going to have a shot at winning games.
- Install some checks and balances in the organization because you need them. You, by all reports, have been given pretty much total control on all personnel decisions. He proved that he isn't up to that challenge by failing to provide this team with anything that even resembles a back up corner back or a return man for the first 3 weeks of the season. That is on you and you alone.
- Start coaching like your job is on the line. I know you are too proud to say that it is, but if you don't so something to light a fire under these players you will be fired. You may not care because you will get another job in .52 seconds, but we do care. Your players quit on you in New England. Find a way to make sure that doesn't happen again.
Again, those are just some ideas that will help you, Jeff, be able to one day put on a Titans jersey and "feel like a winner."