Jim Mora Jr. is now a coach at Bellevue High School

So what does a head coach do after he gets canned for a poor season at the helm of the Seattle Seahawks? He ends up coaching high school football.

After one year in his dream job -- head coach of the Seattle Seahawks -- longtime Pacific Northwest resident Jim Mora was dumped on the heels of a 5-11 season in which the team looked much worse than their record. There didn't seem to be a lot of buzz for Mora as the league's coaching carousel turned, and quite possibly for good reason -- he frequently looked overmatched and seemed to lack impulse control, which is a problem when you're dealing with 53 finely-tuned athletes at the height of the sport. Mora did some local radio, spent some time on the NFL Network crew, and now it seems that he's found another coaching job -- with Bellevue High School.

Strangely enough though, I'm sure Mora will find the offensive line situation much more favorable at Bellevue. And his backup quarterback is probably a whole lot better too.

The end of the Jim Mora Era

Jim Mora Jr. will not be back as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, and that's fine with me. Not only did his teams this year seem to lack any sort of urgency but the play-calling was about as conservative as a Rush Limbaugh zealot with Sarah Palin bedsheets.

Mora was told this morning he was fired, news of the decision coming out because the Seahawks have already requested permission to speak with Leslie Frazier, the Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinator, about the head-coaching position.

At 11:30 a.m., the Seahawks released a statement.

"We've made a tough decision today," CEO Tod Leiweke said in the team's announcement. "It became apparent after conducting an extensive internal audit, that a new direction was needed to provide an opportunity for the organization to be successful. Today's decision, while difficult, is part of the process in building a franchise with a new vision in 2010.

"Jim is truly a stand-up man, who gave his full effort to our franchise. We thank Jim and his family for their commitment to our community and for their contribution to the Seahawks."

Is he going to blame the offensive line for this too? I'm sure he'll be fine though, I hear that Washington State is going to be hiring in a year or so.

Is the pressure on Jim Mora Jr.?

Another lackluster performance by the Seahawks yesterday, but this 34- 7 road loss to the Texans was particularly insulting to fans around the state of Washington. A quick look at the online forums, facebook status updates and sports radio talk shows us that some people aren't happy with head coach Jim Mora Jr.

Now while I agree his approach seems to be a bit lackluster, and I'm not expecting huge things out of him - the man did inherit a mess from Holmgren. Old quarterback, piecemeal O-line, a defense with more holes in it than swiss cheese. So the Seahawks aren't built for the Super Bowl, but it would be nice to see signs of improvement as opposed to more decline and suckage.

He might be the sacrificial lamb in all of this, because they're not going to be able to turn this around in one off-season, the team is bad across the board and its time to blow things up and rebuild. However, will ownership and the fans have enough patience with Mora? Especially when his team appears inconsistent and wildly incompetent on offense - once the bread and butter of the Seahawks.

There's plenty of blame to throw at Mora, but I don't think he deserves to lose his job. Yet.

The Wildcat works, the 2-minute drill doesn't

There's been a lot of hype around the Wildcat offense that the Dolphins use and there's also been a lot of detractors. Even though Miami lost last night 27-23 to Indianapolis, NFL coaches should look at the following...

Time of Possession

COLTS
14:53

DOLPHINS
45:07

If Peyton Manning is not involved in this game, the Dolphins win it. The Wildcat works, Tony Sparano's two minute offense doesn't. But everyone tomorrow is going to say "See! The Dolphins' offense doesn't work," which is completely wrong.

Peyton Manning was on the field in the third quarter for THREE PLAYS. That essentially takes him out of the game. This is what Bill Parcells (who's not coaching, but watching from a high perch in Land Shark Stadium) use to do with his Giants teams - eat up the clock and not let the other offense out on the field (hence, they can't score).

The genius of the Dolphins offense is that they don't use the Wildcat every play, they mix in mostly traditional plays and then occasionally have somebody other than Chad Pennington take the snap. They have the right personnel for the system (a stable of good running backs and West Virginia's former QB Pat White to also take snaps) and they implement it right. It's a very efficient system and had Manning not connecting on some long passes, we're looking at a different outcome.

Since this is a copy-cat league I'd like to see other teams implement it as well and have the right people in place. Jim Mora Jr. from Seattle should be taking notes right now since it seems Seneca Wallace may have to take more snaps for the Seahawks this season.

Goodbye Mo. Hello Housh?

It didn't take long into the NFL free agency for one of the Seattle Seahawks higher profile unrestricted free agents to be swept away.

Maurice Morris is no longer a Hawk. He now will be suiting up for the Detroit Lions after signing a three year $7 million dollar contract.

I am sad to see Morris go. While he never was the feature back, thanks to Shaun "if you get near me I fall down" Alexander, he was a local product in a way. I know he was from South Carolina, but he played college ball just south of Seattle at the University of Oregon.

Morris was chosen in the second round of the 2002 draft by the Hawks, but with new Head Coach Jim Mora Jr, it looks like he just didn't fit into the plans. This leaves the Hawks with last year's free agent signees Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett.

Morris always seemed like a team player and did whatever was asked of him. I really don't think the Lions will turn around in one season, but for his sake I hope they at least block for him and he doesn't get killed. Thanks for the memories Mo. Good luck to you.

In happier news for Seahawk fans T.J. Houshmandzadeh has said that there are four teams that he would be happy playing for next year. Those are:

Seahawks, Giants, Eagles and Vikings.

That's right, the Seahawks are on the list.

Most of the experts are saying that Philadelphia is the most likely place he'll go. Followed closely by the Giants. I have yet to hear one say the Hawks.

But for some reason Houshmandzadeh put them on his top four. I'm sure he knows the team was hurting last year at receiver, and perhaps he likes the direction Mora is taking the team. I guess only time will tell. But it would be nice to give Matt Hasselbeck a 6-1, 199 target. Very nice.

Around the World of Sports (and what we think about it)

Here's some top headlines floating around the sports world...

Roger Clemens is screwed. Again. Thanks McNamee.

Shaq may be headed to the Phoenix Suns. Does this mean we'll get a Kazaam Two?

Nolan Ryan becomes president of the Rangers, unclear whether or not he'll suit up this season.

Seahawks name Jim Mora Jr. to replace Holmgren after next year. Meaning that Seattle fans could get a "Playoffs? Playoffs? rant in the near future if they're lucky.

High School Football National Signing Day. I don't about you but I simply don't care about 17-year old kids. It reminds me what a sad individual I've become.

Duke vs. UNC tonight. Rumor has it that the collective nerdiness of both team's student sections may make the Dean Dome this year's largest Star Trek convention.