clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Do the Arizona Cardinals really not want Ray Horton as their head coach?

Just when it seemed he was going to be the guy, the team looks for another candidate

Christian Petersen

Tuesday morning, it looked like the path was cleared for the Arizona Cardinals to make an announcement about their vacant head coaching position. Mike McCoy picked the San Diego Chargers, Todd Haley sounds like he wants the moon to leave the Steelers and that would leave Ray Horton.

Tuesday was also supposedly a target date to give Horton a decision by the team.

What happened? Whether a decision was communicated, there was a message sent. At least it sort of looks like that.

With the addition of Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell as a candidate late Tuesday and Colts OC Bruce Arians, it gives the appearance that the team really would rather not promote Horton to head coach, for whatever reason.

Maybe it is the fear of a decline in the defense if he were to step away from the day-to-day handling of the unit. Maybe the team doesn't feel he is quite ready. Maybe there are concerns about the offensive staff he would be able to put together.

Then again, it may simply be that the team knows that Horton isn't going anywhere, they are simply exhausting other options when looking to see if there are offensive guys that might offer something better. Since Horton is locked up for the next year in any case and he is not connected to any other jobs around the league, they know that there is no need to get him signed today.

However, the longer it goes on without Horton being promoted, the more it looks like the organization just does not want to go in that direction.

I have held firm to the belief that the team likes Horton and that he is still in the mix, but that if they had a choice, they would go with a guy experienced on offense.

However, with that being said, the sudden addition of Bevell and Arians to the candidate list is making me wonder just a bit.

Keep up with Cardinals news and opinions when you are not on the site. Follow Revenge of the Birds on Twitter at @revengeofbirds and "like" us on Facebook. You can follow me individually at @senorjessroot.