Father Figure Coaches Needed on the Sidelines

Father & Son

As many of you already know, father figures are so important in the lives of boys and girls.  Too often in society we see men who father children but decide to walk away from the responsibility of being an actual father.  Men and women constantly love to make love or have one-night relations that produce millions of children every year. 

According to American Pregnancy.org, over 4 million children are born every year.  I wonder what the statistics are for children who have seen their fathers on a consistent basis after 5 years?  The problem is most men give up on seeing the child if they have to fight with the woman they had relations with to produce the child.  We can go through so many different scenarios of why men do not see their children, but the point I am trying to make is this…..these young boys need and want father figures in their lives.

I believe the same holds true for players in pro football.  Yes, you may have heard NFL fans say,
“…these guys get paid millions of dollars; no one should have to hold their hands...” or “… I could play better than that with my eyes closed...” You could take either one of those lines or any other line that you have heard.  The point is, no matter how much money a man makes he still needs a father figure, a role model, or a mentor in his life.

Lets take a look at the leadership position in the NFL.  Most sports fans know the quarterback (QB) position is the one that makes the team click.  Old coaches say defense wins championships.  I say not having a good QB can lead a team to the great ends of nowhere.

QB # 8 - Trent Dilfer

QB # 9 - Jim McMahon

According to NFL.com, the NFL has had 45 Super Bowls.  Out of the 45 Super Bowls, I can only remember 2 games where there were sub-par QB winners.  Those 2 were Jim McMahon for the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX (20) and Trent Dilfer for the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV (35).  Those statistics tell me 43 of 45 teams had leaders at the QB position translating to a 95% ratio where teams need a QB as a leader.

Of the 32 starting QB’s in the NFL today, only 6 have Super Bowl rings.  Those 6 QB’s are the following:

1. Tom Brady - New England Patriots (3 rings)
2. Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers (2 rings)
3. Eli Manning – New York Giants (2 rings)
4. Peyton Manning - Denver Broncos (1 ring with Indianapolis Colts)
5. Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints (1 ring)
6. Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers (1 ring)

One the highest profile teams in all of sports is the Dallas Cowboys.  Win or lose the media will always keep the Cowboys in the spot light.  The Boys draw big ratings every year whenever they play in primetime games, partially because fans either love or hate the Cowboys.  When there is love and hate everyone tunes in to see one rise or one fall. 

QB # 9 - Tony Romo

The Dallas Cowboys have fallen tremendously over the past few years.  Tony Romo is a veteran who has played long enough to know how to win.  He just continues to find ways to lose.  I do not blame the year after year failures solely on Romo, but there are enough losses to say he needs a father figure.

Tony Romo was an undrafted QB discovered by previous Cowboys coach Bill Parcells in 2003, according to NFL.com.  I once heard a commentator say Parcells saw Romo over to the side at the NFL combine making every throw.  I guess Parcells saw Romo and decided he could make a project out of him.

Parcells took care of Tony Romo like he was his own son.  Why would Bill Parcells do that?  I have never been a coach, but I would assume as a head coach of a football team you would want to see your players be the best they can be.  The best person he could be on and off the football field. 

 Coaches - Bill Parcells & Sean Payton

Parcells also had Sean Payton as an Offensive Coordinator for the Cowboys from 2003 – 2006, accordingto ESPN.com.  In 2006, Payton went on to become the head coach of the New Orleans Saints.  Under the father figure of Parcells and the guidance of a Sean Payton, Tony Romo became a pro bowl player.  Romo’s mistakes were minimal the few years under Parcells and Payton. 

After those two coaches moved on, the Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett era began.  Since that time, Romo was given his freedom and been very successful statistically.  Romo has broken franchise records creating statistics with some of the greatest in history. 

The problem is Tony Romo was like a teenager sent off to college far away from home with no supervision.  He can perform when there is no pressure, but when adversity rises he has no one to turn to.  Wade Phillips became the head coach and could not help because he was like a friend.  Then Wade Phillips was fired.  Jason Garrett took over as head coach mid-season of 2010 and it looks like Garrett is more like Romo’s younger brother.  It just doesn’t seem as though Romo has anyone he can truly turn to so he continues to be a football accident waiting to happen.  If Romo spoke to a psychologist, he would find that he is unconsciously yearning for a coaching father figure. 

Of the 32 teams, 6 QB’s have a ring as I mentioned previously.  This leaves 26 QB’s including Romo.  Removing Romo, I would guess to say the other 25 QB’s without a Super Bowl ring need some type father figure coach.  Maybe 3 or 4 QB's are diamonds in rough, but all players need to be coached.

QB # 9 - Drew Brees

According to the New Orleans Saints team profile on NFL.com, the Saints current record for 2012 is 2 wins with 5 losses as of October 28, 2012.  Due a yearlong suspension of head coach Sean Payton, Saints have struggled almost halfway through the season.   Drew Brees is a Super Bowl winning QB and a leader, but the New Orleans Saints still need their head coach and father figure.  

Fans need to understand, there are not too many leaders like Ray Lewis, Tom Brady, or Peyton Manning.  Even though they are true leaders, I guarantee they have or had father figures, role models, or mentors on or off the field allowing them to be the men they are today.