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POSTED 10:18 a.m. EDT, October 6, 2002 (SUNDAY)
A NEW STANDARD FOR COACHES?
The buzz among league insiders is that Buffalo coach Gregg Williams and Carolina coach John Fox are the early favorites for coach of the year honors, with San Diego's Marty Schottenheimer also getting mentioned for the honor.
Folks around the league also are considering whether Williams and Fox are the new prototype for head-coaching candidates -- former defensive coordinators with high (but not too much) energy who are obsessed with detail, but who don't take themselves too seriously. League execs like the fact that guys like Fox and Williams relate to players, but don't go overboard with the "rah-rah" stuff (see Mike Tice).
The fact that both of these guys are white shouldn't put drool on Johnnie Cochran's collar, however. These are traits that can manifest themselves regardless of skin tone, and the attention that the issue is getting most likely will prompt teams to give full consideration to black candidates.
Regardless, Williams and Fox are providing owners and general manager with evidence of traits that will be in demand when this year's coming vacancies are filled in January.
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