View Full Version : Fassel on 'Sports Junkies' regarding Billick....
Jim Fassel was on the Junkies in DC and mentioned that he "left" the Ravens, that he wasn't fired. He basically said Brian was worried when they were at 4-2 and Jim told him to relax and that McNair just got there.
They then asked him whether or not he talks to Brian anymore and he said "No, we don't talk". Seems like Brian screwed that relationship up!?!
The Junkies said they'll probably replay it tomorrow (2/12) at 7am, if anyone wants to hear it here: http://cbsplayer.streamtheworld.com/index.php?CALLSIGN=WJFKFM
Its around a 30 minute interview and its toward the end. Its a really good interview because he talks about what happened in the Redskins interview process....
AZRAVEN
02-11-2008, 09:54 AM
Well, that's his version of events. Did he perhaps address the issue of his poor work ethic? As far as screwing up a relationship I would guess that is the natural result of a parting of the ways. Just as I don't for one moment believe that Billick and Mr Whimsey will be having dinner together anytime soon.
Fassel talked about this on Sirus about a month ago. He basically said the two are not friends any longer and the rigors of working together put a strain on their friendship.
Losac
02-11-2008, 10:14 AM
They have something in common now. They're both out-of-work former head coaches. Maybe Fassel can take a ride on Captain Arrogant's new boat on the Eastern Shore and they can kiss and make up.
HoustonRaven
02-11-2008, 10:24 AM
Fassell is a .500 coach who lucked into the SB and got his ass handed to him. I take Brian's (and others) account over anything Fassell has to say. I podcast the show so I will give it a listen tomorrow.
Well, that's his version of events. Did he perhaps address the issue of his poor work ethic? As far as screwing up a relationship I would guess that is the natural result of a parting of the ways. Just as I don't for one moment believe that Billick and Mr Whimsey will be having dinner together anytime soon.
I agree...there's his version, Brian's, and the truth. But in his defense, Brian is a control freak and didn't want to relinquish control. Who's to say he didn't put Fassel's ideas to work when making our run last year after the break?
festivus
02-11-2008, 10:36 AM
They then asked him whether or not he talks to Brian anymore and he said "No, we don't talk". Seems like Brian screwed that relationship up!?!
Brian sacrificed his relationship with his friend for the betterment of the team. One of his many sacrifices over the years on the altar of winning.
Saying he "screwed that relationship up" is like saying he screwed up his relationship with the media on the tarmac before the SB, or saying he screwed up his relationship with the fans of Baltimore by letting us think he's blind or stupid rather than frankly critical of any of his players. He did these things on purpose, or let these things happen willfully, for the *team*.
We were lucky to have him as long as he was here, and he is 10x the better coach than his alienated friend Jim Fassel.
Anyway, on with Harbaugh, for whom I have high hopes.
Rochardrik
02-11-2008, 10:44 AM
Brian sacrificed his relationship with his friend for the betterment of the team. One of his many sacrifices over the years on the altar of winning.
Saying he "screwed that relationship up" is like saying he screwed up his relationship with the media on the tarmac before the SB, or saying he screwed up his relationship with the fans of Baltimore by letting us think he's blind or stupid rather than frankly critical of any of his players. He did these things on purpose, or let these things happen willfully, for the *team*.
We were lucky to have him as long as he was here, and he is 10x the better coach than his alienated friend Jim Fassel.
Anyway, on with Harbaugh, for whom I have high hopes.
Hear, Hear!
AZRAVEN
02-11-2008, 01:15 PM
I agree...there's his version, Brian's, and the truth. But in his defense, Brian is a control freak and didn't want to relinquish control. Who's to say he didn't put Fassel's ideas to work when making our run last year after the break?
Perhaps Billick is a control freak, then again, perhaps he was just doing his job the way he saw it. How many freakin "chiefs" can any team stand? As far as putting Fassel's idea's to work after he left, I'm sorry that doesn't make sense to me. If he was going to implement Fassel's ideas why fire/part ways with a friend and then implement them. I do kind of get where you're coming from, Billick has been fired and is no longer with the Ravens so, therefore, he's everything evil deserves nothing but condemnation. It's funny how he was ok when we won the SB with him and even when we went 13-3 last season.
festivus
02-11-2008, 01:43 PM
I agree...there's his version, Brian's, and the truth.
"Brian's version" was that it pained him but he had to fire his long time friend for the betterment of the team. The team immediately improved after Fassel's departure.
"Fassel's version" was that, contrary to published reports, he *quit* mid season, and the fact that the team did better after his departure means Billick finally implemented his ideas. After he was gone.
Perhaps the "truth" is somewhere in between. But looking at those side by side, I see no reason to give any credit to Fassel's version, which is contrary to common sense, and contrary to published reports at the time. So put the "truth" wherever you want, common sense and reported facts will guide my own reading.
But in his defense, Brian is a control freak and didn't want to relinquish control.
Relinquish control? The HC did not want to relinquish control to an OC so he *fired* him??? This makes no sense. How would the OC, even if the offense is *successful*, be a threat to the HC? I'm sorry this point is stupid.
Who's to say he didn't put Fassel's ideas to work when making our run last year after the break?
Fire him so he can implement the system without his friend and OC? :grbac:
Why is it so hard to accept that the team was not meeting expectations, so Brian selflessly fired his friend, and the reward was better performance on the field? Is it that freaking hard to give Billick any credit? :brickwall:
"Brian's version" was that it pained him but he had to fire his long time friend for the betterment of the team. The team immediately improved after Fassel's departure.
You're taking this waaaaaay too personal! I merely reiterated what he said on air, but I will defend my statements.....
Why hire "a friend" if firing them may end your relationship? If he's an OC, then let him be one. They were 4-2 at that point and, listening to his comments, he knew Billick was upset with how things were going. Whether that was Fassel's fault or not, we'll never know....
Relinquish control? The HC did not want to relinquish control to an OC so he *fired* him??? This makes no sense. How would the OC, even if the offense is *successful*, be a threat to the HC? I'm sorry this point is stupid.
You missed it obviously.....Billick, to me, has always wanted to run the offense since he was here. Being an OC means, to me, that you RUN THE OFFENSE. You don't bring "a friend" in as an OC when he really isn't the OC....if you were to hear Fassel tell it, he was happy where the team was at at that point. He thought we could have been 5 and 1 at that point.....
Why is it so hard to accept that the team was not meeting expectations, so Brian selflessly fired his friend, and the reward was better performance on the field? Is it that freaking hard to give Billick any credit? :brickwall:
I never said I didn't give Billick credit. We were 13-3 for the year and 9-1 after the break. Something happened at the bye week. I'm just saying, if I were in the NFL coaching business, I wouldn't bring friends into a position that may cause "friction"
My whole point from this thread was to give personal insight from Jim Fassel himself. Period. Nothing more. We played great after the bye and for whatever reason, Fassel was no longer in position as OC. Find the podcast of it or listen tomorrow at 7am on WJFK and you'll see what I'm getting at.....
festivus
02-11-2008, 02:49 PM
I'm just saying, if I were in the NFL coaching business, I wouldn't bring friends into a position that may cause "friction"
Unless you have a secret plan to handicap them, then fire them, then implement their scheme, then steal credit for their work.
I'm not taking this personal at all. Just replying to what I read.
highwater
02-11-2008, 02:55 PM
My whole point from this thread was to give personal insight from Jim Fassel himself. Period. Nothing more.
Understood, but as someone else pointed out earlier in this thread, that's his version of events. Having him say that he quit seems to be a bit of a stretch. I suspect there is a little rationalization going on here. I'm willing to think that it was a mutual parting, but I"m pretty sure Billick was the one to bring it up, not Fassel saying "I quit."
braven98
02-11-2008, 03:13 PM
How can I get some sleep now knowing that they are not friends anymore
RAVENOUS52
02-11-2008, 04:47 PM
The end of the friendship was bound to happen.
After Billick whooped his ass during SB XXXV and then booted him off the team midway through our most successful regular season ever, the friendship couldn't stand the strain and fell apart like the Patriot's O-line.
A shame since from what I could tell, their families were pretty close too.
purplepoe
02-11-2008, 05:01 PM
Fassel is full of shit.
Period.
PP
HoustonRaven
02-11-2008, 05:18 PM
Fassel is full of shit.
Period.
PP
Dude, you really need to speak your mind more and not be so vague! ;)
highwater
02-11-2008, 05:55 PM
Dude, you really need to speak your mind more and not be so vague! ;)
I'm reading between the lines in PP's mysterious post -- I think he is suspicious of Fassel's statements and perhaps questions the authenticity of his general tone. It could be that PP isn't entirely convinced that Fassel is being totally up front with his comments.
And I agree. The "I didn't get fired, I quit" argument pretty much did it for me.
21xxxv
02-11-2008, 07:13 PM
Fassel was fired because he had a drinking problem. True story.
RavensNTerps
02-11-2008, 07:15 PM
Fassel was fired because he had a drinking problem. True story.
and rob schneider kidnaps migrant workers and pays them to choke him in the bathtub...
highwater
02-11-2008, 08:49 PM
Fassel was fired because he had a drinking problem. True story.
True story? According to who?
purplepoe
02-11-2008, 08:58 PM
Let's just say 21 is on to something.
There's a reason he was fired and hadn't sniffed a job until the Skins.
Jim Fassel did not quit his job with the Ravens.
PP
purplepoe
02-11-2008, 08:59 PM
and rob schneider kidnaps migrant workers and pays them to choke him in the bathtub...
Don't you post info and not reveal or say how you got the info?
Irony.
PP
pyite32
02-11-2008, 09:44 PM
and rob schneider kidnaps migrant workers and pays them to choke him in the bathtub...
"I'd buy that, that sounds like something he'd do"
"Yeah we started a rumor"
Nice Family Guy quote.
festivus
02-12-2008, 06:22 AM
Here (http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/blog/2008/02/fassel_coaching_with_ravens_a.html) is a Baltimore Sun blog summarizing the interview.
:grbac:
21xxxv
02-12-2008, 06:56 AM
This is a true story. I wouldn't waste time with an unproven rumor. Do some research.
camdenyard
02-12-2008, 07:09 AM
One time when he walked up the steps I asked when was he going to get Boller to stop telegraphing his throws. He said, Boller's not doing that. What makes you think so. I said everyone in the entire stadium can see him lock on to his receiver. What do you think the Ds are doing. He said well, he's not.
That told me he didn't know what was going on or he didn't want to admit Boller was locking on to his receivers.
You are correct about Boller, but Fassell would have never in a million years confirmed it to a fan. Can you imagine the potential fallout?
This is a true story. I wouldn't waste time with an unproven rumor. Do some research.
I tend to believe it. Dude does have a bright red nose.
HoustonRaven
02-12-2008, 10:14 AM
Here (http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/blog/2008/02/fassel_coaching_with_ravens_a.html) is a Baltimore Sun blog summarizing the interview.
:grbac:
Poor Jim.
Goes to show how the ego can distort the truth. I hate to break it to Jim, but he was a .500 coach. Numbers dont lie. The league is filled with re-tread coaches who finally make it big, but they all have shown potential. Jim does not show any real potential as a HC.
If he was smart and really wanted another HC gig, he should take a step back, get a nice OC or DC position and work his way back up.
Ravenswarrior19
02-12-2008, 10:39 AM
Poor Jim.
If he was smart and really wanted another HC gig, he should take a step back, get a nice OC or DC position and work his way back up.
I believe that's what he was trying to do here in Bmore. I don't think it went exactly according to plan.
psuasskicker
02-12-2008, 12:11 PM
What's he complaining about? Good coaches fix problems, they don't maintain status quo and then whine about being stuck in a bad situation later.
If there was something fundamentally preventing him from being capable of fixing the problem, then it's not on him. But his fingerprints were all over this offense and Boller, and it and he still sucked. He's got nothing to complain about regarding his time here except himself.
- C -
Fanman
02-12-2008, 03:25 PM
Anybody hear what happened after Spags turned down the Skins? Was Fassel out of the picture by then? I was shocked to see Zorn get the HC job.
FM