Todd Grantham needs to worry about coaching, not contract
Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham shouldn't be making an issue of his contract in November. (Jason Getz)
If there is one thing that we have learned this season at Georgia, it’s that Todd Grantham is a pretty good coach. The Bulldogs’ defense has improved almost every week this season, and is miles ahead of what it was a year ago.
But we’ve witnessed, courtesy of YouTube, that sometimes Grantham just does dumb things – and here he goes again.
If you missed the stories earlier this week from our Chip Towers, Grantham’s agent is publicly pushing for a raise and contract extension for Georgia’s defensive coordinator. Never mind that the contract still has 14 months to run.
Agent Michael Harrison has been rebuffed by athletic director Greg McGarity, who says he won’t address coaches’ contracts until after the season. And sorry, but Mark Richt’s contract is a slightly higher priority.
Grantham is a coach. It would be a good idea to stick to that for possibly four more games and worry about his finances in January.
I’ve covered player and coach negotiations for nearly 30 years. Let me tell you how this works. Agents generally don’t go rogue. When they talk to the media, it’s at their clients’ urging and/or approval.
Harrison told Chip that he has gotten “inquiries” from NFL teams about Grantham returning to the league as an assistant. He claims he has gotten “feelers” from college teams about being a head coach.
These soundbites are all orchestrated. I understand Harrison is just doing his job for his client. But the client – Grantham – needs to understand bringing this up now is counterproductive. Seriously. Grantham expects the Bulldogs to make a commitment to a defensive coordinator less than two full years into a three-year contract when they haven’t even finalized the head coach’s future yet?
Consider the importance of Georgia’s potential four remaining games: 1) Kentucky, the potential SEC East-clincher; 2) Georgia Tech, the local rival; 3) LSU (probably), the SEC championship; 4) Bowl game opponent, which finalizes rankings and stature.
Should this really be an issue right now?
I’m guessing somebody said something to Grantham follow Monday’s initial story because by Tuesday Grantham was trying to say the right things. Following practice Tuesday night, he maintained that his focus was on the Kentucky game and not his contract.
But when he alluded to Harrison and said, “You hire people to do a job for you and I let him handle that part of it,” it missed the point. Agents work for their clients, not the other way around. This is a public issue now because of Grantham, not his agent.
One more thing: While it wouldn’t stun me if Grantham winds up returning to the NFL, I don’t buy Harrison’s claim of legitimate head coaching offers, certainly not at a major college. Any coordinator who has a head coaching offer would jump at it rather than worrying about using it as leverage.
In other words, this is all drivel we could’ve done without.
By Jeff Schultz
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424 comments Add your comment
JB
November 16th, 2011
12:18 pm
Jeff, I just got back from lunch…and I spent 999,685.75…………I’m full and broke………..And I don’t think you have used the word “fire’, but I do believe you have danced around certain parameters of certain outcomes if Richt would last in Athens. But, that is your job, to create a conversation of an event or outcome that may or may not happen.
True Dawg
November 16th, 2011
12:19 pm
Schultz Grantham is showing his medal and letting UGA and Richt know they will have to pay for his services- Richt has been twice as good with Granthams personaility-and for the record I dont think the Vandy thing was stupid- those defense boys know they have a man that will stand up for them REGARDLESS- why dont you write an article on the insects and their punching special teams- you dont think Johnson team is getting out of hand?
Mike
November 16th, 2011
12:21 pm
Jeff, dont think Grantham’s agent isnt acting on his own. Sure Grantham might want to talk contracts at some point, but agents are more than known for doing things without consulting their clients. Grantham has said he is only focused on Kentucky right now. Why make a story out of nothing?
5150 UOAD
November 16th, 2011
12:21 pm
Showing his MEDAL? you meant Showing his Metal?
Fair and Balanced
November 16th, 2011
12:23 pm
Slow day in sports world? This is not a story. Not yet.
Silly Bloggers
November 16th, 2011
12:24 pm
Someone already alluded to this, but this is an opinion column. Disagree to your heart’s content (as you obviously will), but slandering Schultzie isn’t going to lend any credibility to your differing opinion. Don’t be so sensitive…and remember, the AJC gets hits when you rant and rave which is what the AJC wants.
As far as Schultz being a UGA hater, he is going to write more about the Dawgs than any other school as we are in the middle of UGA country. I have seen him take pot shots at every single team over the years and I find them all to be funny, though some do hit a little too close to home on UGA, but it is what it is.
As for GTBob and all of his ridiculous postings on anything Georgia, even if Grantham were negotiating right now for a contract, it wouldn’t be finalized before GT and LSU so that argument, like so many of your others, goes out the window. Seriously, UGA could cure cancer and GTBob would state that the University backed into it, they were fortunate that other medical research led to it, and somehow the opposing cancer strains led to the scientists being considered more intelligent than they really are.
Grow up and grow a set.
Silly Bloggers
November 16th, 2011
12:25 pm
Someone already alluded to this, but this is an opinion column. Disagree to your heart’s content (as you obviously will), but slandering Schultzie isn’t going to lend any credibility to your differing opinion. Don’t be so sensitive…and remember, the AJC gets hits when you rant and rave which is what the AJC wants.
As far as Schultz being a UGA hater, he is going to write more about the Dawgs than any other school as we are in the middle of UGA country. I have seen him take pot shots at every single team over the years and I find them all to be funny, though some do hit a little too close to home on UGA, but it is what it is.
5 Time National Champs Nebraska
November 16th, 2011
12:27 pm
It’s mettle.
Typical UGA fans.
Silly Bloggers
November 16th, 2011
12:28 pm
And GTBob, UGA could cure cancer and you would someone come up with some theory that UGA scientists backed into it or the opposing cancer strains were weaker than what other scientsist had to compete with and therefore our scientists are not nearly as intelligent as they are made out to be.
Seriously, you make a comment, another comment, and then another ten on anything remotely UGA. Grow up and grow a pair.
5150 UOAD
November 16th, 2011
12:30 pm
What is METTLE? TG was showing his metal ballz and his 6-7 medal from last years bowl loss.
Big Albany Dawg
November 16th, 2011
12:30 pm
Hey Jeff, way to discredit your cohorts…
http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2011/11/15/grantham-focusing-on-kentucky-not-contract-extension/?cxntfid=blogs_uga_sports_blog
Dodger Dawg
November 16th, 2011
12:32 pm
The truest words Jeff has as ever typed are ” In other words, this is all drivel we could’ve done without”. So Jeff do us all a favor and stop the drivel.
ToccoaDawg
November 16th, 2011
12:32 pm
Schultzie is just afraid UGA will pay Coach Grantham what he is worth and keep him. Schultzi how’s that great GT D doing?
5150 UOAD
November 16th, 2011
12:36 pm
ToccoaDawg and what is Bobo worth?
Erk
November 16th, 2011
12:41 pm
This Grantham is my kind of kid!!! It’s not about the money, it’s about the FREAKING MONEY! Love it too.
Schultzie and Bradley are GREAT too. Love em! I hope they hire this agent because we need them around as much as we need this DC.
And that’s saying we need them a lot.
ToccoaDawg
November 16th, 2011
12:43 pm
UOAD, Evidently Bobo is worth more than Johnson
Troy
November 16th, 2011
12:43 pm
THE BEST POSTING YET ON THIS BLOG….IT BEARS REPEATING….ALWAYS DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA WITH THE SO CALLED SPORTWRITERS AT AJC……AND NARY A WORD FROM BRADLEY AFTER THE BARNYARD BIRDIES BEATDOWN…..
This Schutlz idiot is the biggest douche to ever grace the AJC. Hey idiot, your own newspaper had an article where Grantham clearly says he is not worrying about his contract right now. According to the article, Grantham says he hired a guy (and agent) to worry about his contract so he can focus on football. No one would even know about his contract if you didn’t write about it. Parents of young kids, if you want your kid to be a total loser in life, tell them to study Schultz. It will get them there as fast as humanly possible.
J Bo
November 16th, 2011
12:46 pm
Jeff you know the Easter Bunny will not come if you are not asleep. Grantham’s agent most likely asked for a Christmas bonus and Todd replyed “get me a raise”.
Paul in NH
November 16th, 2011
12:48 pm
Jeff – I agree with your post. When I read the news about Grantham being interested in a contract extension I wondered whether Drew Rosenhaus was his agent and whether Grantham was chanelling his inner TO – they were with the Cowboys at the same time.
Some of the postings supporting Grantham are amusing – when there have been stories about professional athletes looking to renegotiate during the season there are usually plenty of posts about how they need to focus on winning games and being loyal to the team.
5150 UOAD
November 16th, 2011
12:49 pm
Troy and Clinton Said he never had sex with that girl. OJ said he didn’t kill Nicole would would look for her killer too. AD’s have said they are not looking for a new coach only to announce a few weeks later their team has a new coach. Do you think Grantham would really say what is on his mind or be politically correct? Sandusky said he is not a pedophile do you believe him too?
1eyedJack
November 16th, 2011
12:49 pm
Jeff, dangit, quit being an Energy Vampire. You and the Count.
Coach Grantham, hey big man, let me hold a dollar.
Coach Johnson's Paul
November 16th, 2011
12:52 pm
After you wrote this article did you have your agent contact AJC Management and send out “feelers” for a raise??? I hope not.
No Dog in this Fight-Their names are Muschamp and Trooper Taylor FYI
Paul in NH
November 16th, 2011
12:52 pm
“Grantham clearly says he is not worrying about his contract right now. According to the article, Grantham says he hired a guy (and agent) to worry about his contract so he can focus on football.”
Grantham is so not worried about his contract that he hired a guy (and presumably paid him money) to handle it.
5150 UOAD
November 16th, 2011
12:53 pm
Will CROWELL want to renegotiate his contract before the Tech game, if he gets over a Thousand yards for the year against Kentucky? he better do it before the SEC CG against LSU.
Mark Bradley
November 16th, 2011
12:53 pm
Jeff Schulz,
Your bringing this up right now is counterproductive. Leave it alone. You have more power to make this a big issue than Grantham. Georgia finally has something going and you have to stir the pot. If you think he shouldn’t be bringing it up then why don’t you leave it alone? Oh I guess you see that as your job. I ask you to consider taking the log out of your own eye instead of criticizing the speck in others. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Usually enjoy your articles but this one doesn’t serve any purpose other than to rile up rileable people. Time to recognize your own place in the system rather than thinking you stand outside of it all.
Honky Talkin
November 16th, 2011
12:56 pm
@ Wallyworld: No other SEC team avoided LSU, Alabama and Arkansas.
OkieDawg
November 16th, 2011
12:57 pm
I would imagine CTG is still angry about that early Monday morning meeting McGarity called him into following the Vandy game. There were plenty of UGA people upset about not only the game but CTG’s juvenile behavior. McGarity gave him another reprimand. Now, CTG’s stock is much higher than McGarity’s and maybe he is just getting even. CTG probably thought he was standing up for his players against a Vandy bully head coach as opposed to demonstrating juvenile behavior.
Andy
November 16th, 2011
12:57 pm
Of course you are right Jeff. This agent is Grantham’s employee. He only does what Grantham tells him to do or Grantham would fire him. If this talk had come up in January after the bowl game I wouldn’t have a problem with it. I don’t blame Grantham for wanting to get an extention but the timing is wrong.
Seriously?!?!
November 16th, 2011
12:59 pm
If you would of read the story from dawgs247 (where Towers prob gets his info from) you would of read that CTG is not worried about an ext. that he said all he is worried about is coaching defense. Stop gettin 2nd hand info, or well in this case, 3rd hand info. His agent is the one pushing for the extention, as a good agent should do when you are about to enter your last year of the contract. GATA!!!!
Biff Pocaroba Fan Club
November 16th, 2011
12:59 pm
Of course his agent is doing this contract thing now. Timing is everything.
Following a string of weak opponents, the defense looks great.
Look at the remainder of the schedule. UGA may beat Tech, but Tech will still score 28 plus points. LSU will steam roll UGA. UGA could lose the bowl game again.
What a better time after UGA plays all these weak opponents to bring up contract negotiations.
go dawgs
November 16th, 2011
1:00 pm
you just hate it when things are going good for the dawgs dont you? why would you try and cause problems?? im glad nobody in the football facilities take you seriously, as this MIGHT, kind of sorta, bother them just a little bit.
Roaddawg80
November 16th, 2011
1:02 pm
@silly 5150
College kids don’t get paid! (unless your Auburn)
Roaddawg80
November 16th, 2011
1:03 pm
Biff Pocaroba Fan Club
Tech won’t score 28! They can’t throw the football and you won’t run against our D!
Sorry 10 out of 11.
oldfart
November 16th, 2011
1:03 pm
I truly am becoming an oldfart. A college defensive coach under Paterno of all people is “alleged” to have been diddling little boys while other assistant coaches have agents. A year left in a 3 year contract that pays 3/4 of a million a year for an assistant coach isn’t enough and on top of that asinine conduct unbecoming of a college level coach is not only condoned but admired.
Roaddawg80
November 16th, 2011
1:04 pm
Biff Pocaroba Fan Club
And by the way if Alabama held them to 9 UGA will hold them under 17. Our D line is better than Alabama’s!
Troll Power Ratings
November 16th, 2011
1:06 pm
Shultz makes some very valid points, get over it. Also, it is amusing to watch the fan base go back and forth with Dawg fans going nuts over articles in the AJC last winter (justifiably) questioning the direction of the football program and Richt’s future. Then UGA starts to win this year and all the Yech whiners come out of the woodwork complaining about Shultz and Bradley being UGA homers.
Grantham came to UGA because of the talent level and what could be done with that talent. If he leaves there will be a very long line of qualified candidates to take his place. I doubt he leaves and I bet he gets a raise and some sort of extension.
Let’s beat KY and Yech, then represent well in the SEC championship game and whatever bowl that happens. That result will exceed all but the wildest expectations coming into this year.
Chip Towers
November 16th, 2011
1:06 pm
I felt compelled to weigh in since my name keeps coming up so often here today. . . .
To be perfectly clear: Grantham’s agent, attorney Michael Harrison of Stevenson Ranch, Calif., sent me an email last week out of the blue asking me to call him. I’d never heard of him before and did not have his number until he provided it. I called and asked him what he wanted. The stories you’ve seen since are a result of those conversations.
david
November 16th, 2011
1:09 pm
Um, read one article below yours. Grantham is only worried about coaching.
This is dumb. Slow wednesday I guess.
oldfart
November 16th, 2011
1:11 pm
Thank you for clearing that up Chip. Crystal clear.
beast of the east
November 16th, 2011
1:11 pm
So Jeff, you’re basing this article on one Chip Towers did? Why didn’t you write a column about the ignorant question he asked Coach Richt last week about suspensions. That would actually be a good read.
a man of character and dignity with free advice
November 16th, 2011
1:13 pm
I wish you dawgtards would just shut up…all this grantham is a dgd bs is stupid…grantham could care less about uga, georgia, or anything you idiots think about him…this ain’t his last job, just his latest…why would he stay at georgia???…uga gets little respect nationally…no one north of Rossville, south of Valdosta, east of Augusta, or west of Villa Rica could give a rats rear-end about uga…only you bib-overall wearin, pbr drinkin rednecks who wait in line to use the community pc at the county library care about this program that has little history and no class…why would he want to stay in athens and play 12:30 games on CSS while Lsu and Bama play prime time games, seen nationally…what a joke…you people are pathetic…losers…
This is a man of character and dignity with free advice…have a pleasant afternoon…
5 Time National Champs Nebraska
November 16th, 2011
1:13 pm
You can’t ban me here Chip Towers.
Roaddawg80
November 16th, 2011
1:13 pm
Jeff and Chip
I know numerous of people who does not come to the AJC site anymore becuase of all the negativity. I do know that you are not here to just write about Tech nor UGA. However, it just seems like there is always a tail spin on every article written from this paper. It seems this paper, whomever writes it, sheds so much negativity in it!
UGA fans strive to talk about college football. For gods sake we are in the south, in the best conference in America but no real place to blog. So this is why so many come on here. You would keep so much more of a fan base if it wasn’t always so freakin negative. It gets old!
North ave. faithful
November 16th, 2011
1:15 pm
Jeff you keep pissing in their cereal, they keep posting, that has made Boortz a very rich man. People just love to hate him.
Roaddawg80
November 16th, 2011
1:17 pm
While we are at it, the recruiting now sucks. It was pretty good with Chip in charge but it is not terrible. I am NOT looking forward to this recruiting year and thinking about paying a site to follow. (that’s how bad it is)!
a man of character and dignity with free advice
November 16th, 2011
1:17 pm
this is a no-crybaby zone…the AJC calls it down the middle…deal with it or subscribe to” georgia fishin an huntin an 4 wheeler fixin magazine”…
This is a man of character and dignity with free advice…have a pleasant afternoon…
Delbert D.
November 16th, 2011
1:19 pm
That “medal” comment prompted me to update and post my Worst Comments list:
Worst comments
“Grantham is showing his medal and letting UGA and Richt know they will have to pay for his services”
“he can billed a winning program”
“We have gotten wores and wores week in and week out.”
“Because they dug their own hole and they should be burried in it. ”
“Epic. Like the Kubla Khan and the Mongrol hoard invasions”
“Flat out doucher: you need are sorry human being!!!!!!!!”
“I almost pitty Miami’s coach.”
“A rouge fan gets half the team suspended…”
david
November 16th, 2011
1:20 pm
This is classic. I’ve copied and pasted the layouut from the columns on the sports page. Nice work, AJC. Are yall arguing with each other?
Jeff Schultz >
Todd Grantham needs to worry about coaching, not contract Georgia Bulldogs
Chip Towers>
Georgia’s Todd Grantham focusing on Kentucky, not contract extension
a man of character and dignity with free advice
November 16th, 2011
1:21 pm
@ Delbert D…that was great…I really was laughing out loud reading that list of gems…thanks…
This is a man of character and dignity with free advice…have a pleasant afternoon…
Jeff Schultz
November 16th, 2011
1:23 pm
So for all of you who wondered whether this story was an AJC creation or whether it was the agent who contacted Chip Towers — not the other way around — you’ve got your answer. Check Chip’s comment above.