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
Darkdawg
November 16th, 2011
9:44 pm
I think schultz is just trying to stir up the pot since his predictions or so bad.
5150 UOAD
November 16th, 2011
9:49 pm
Hemorrhoids ad above this blog. now that is damn funny.
Finebalm
November 16th, 2011
9:51 pm
jeez Schultz : what is your hard on for this guy.
JSS
November 16th, 2011
9:59 pm
Because you interjected yourself in to this… “I’m on hiatus” (meaning I’m monogamous), and I just spent 3 straight weeks in Mexico with my (gasp) girlfriend) thus I don’t need to treat the stimulus region in order to remember the good stuff until I see her again for another 3 weeks when I go back to Mexico where she works for Daimler and lives… And as long there is Previcid and the Dali Lama, I’ll never do anything that gives me heartburn other than eating the roasted chilies that are in every meal in Coahuila….
As previously noted, I don’t support teams, colleges, or players… I like sports track, pro football, pro basketball, pro hockey (I’ll outlive Bettman), real futbol, and I support my girlfriend’s Mexican soccer team Club Atlas de Guadalajara because I’m smart enough to keep peace in our home… They are the Chicago Cubs of Mexican futbol… It has been 60 years since they won a league title… The rest of organized sports I tolerate except for D-1 football and basketball because they are closed cartels that restrain true competition… That is my story…
A person SMART enough to know......
November 16th, 2011
9:59 pm
I would fer for Uga IX to be on the sidelines if Todd Grantham lost and was really mad. He might kick Uga IX.
Could it be Pat Dye
November 16th, 2011
10:02 pm
…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
Univ. of Georgia number 11 in all time college football wins.Your the idiot who says UGA has no history.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)(Richt fan for life)
November 16th, 2011
10:07 pm
JSS: Thanks dude. Good luck in your future.
PS: You ain’t seen my blowup doll have you? It was a Linda Lovelace blowup doll. Cost me $69.95 not counting tax.
A person SMART enough to know......
November 16th, 2011
10:11 pm
This blog is mental masturbation for short Richard males.
AJC Scooped Again
November 16th, 2011
10:14 pm
Hey Jeff,
Have you been scooped lately by Yahoo Sports lately on anymore GTech probation news?? How incredibly embarrassing for you and your AJC colleagues that Yahoo broke this news before the hometown AJC. You should be ashamed. Perhaps you should be fired. Funny how you never write about this incident. At least Grantham can coach well. What do you do well other than obsess about smoking pot all the time?
JSS
November 16th, 2011
10:32 pm
Can’t help with that doll… You missed out on making some money on E-bay… She was very talented woman woman the late Ms. Lovelace…
Ga Blogger
November 16th, 2011
10:35 pm
I have never said this on any blog here, but this article is pure crap. Nothing to write about I guess, nice try Shultz, trying to stir the pot. Try again!
ClinchPanther
November 16th, 2011
10:49 pm
You say your guessing? I thought reporters were suppose to report facts!
So now you have everyone think that CTG sent his agent out to get him a raise in the media but you just admitted you made it up? And you don’t believe his agent about the coaching offers? Why, did you ever catch him in a lie? I have to wonder about your agenda with CTG since you were so ready to get him in trouble when he went thru the incident with the vandy coach earlier. Just don’t understand why you have it out for him when you admit you don’t have any evidence.
Delbert D.
November 16th, 2011
11:02 pm
“Grantham stated he wants an extension only b/c you meat-heads in the media first starting talking about his current contract. ”
Pray that this doesn’t leak to the folks at Ohio State. Also, Arizona was turned down by Meyer. SEC offensive coordinator may be leader for North Carolina job; how about a DC for that job? Bowden and now Mason deny interest in the University of New Mexico job. Ron Zook is in trouble at Illinois after a great start to the season. Rich Rod is the frontrunner at Tulane, but not the only option (big $50 million facility upgrade there).
Does anyone in the NFL see Grantham as HC potential? I think they would like to see DC one more time.
Dawg48
November 16th, 2011
11:10 pm
Has any one heard the rumor about Gus malhzon leaving auburn to be HC at north Carolina?
Bali
November 16th, 2011
11:20 pm
I think that at the beginning of every year, all coach’s salaries should be at $0.00. Then, they should tell us……er…..dam……wrong debate.
Dr. Morpheus
November 16th, 2011
11:41 pm
I love Grantham and the Dawgs but I have to say I was thinking the same thing about the agent embellishing the facts to stir up pro-Grantham sentiment in the fan base (McGarity is wise to those tactics, of course). The move seems to have worked just fine, though. And I agree that it wasn’t necessary because Grantham has proven his worth on the field. And I’m completely in favor of the extension and a raise over his already fat contract. Let’s keep the guy as long as we can.
Big Dawg
November 16th, 2011
11:47 pm
No major college in their right mind will ever hire TG as a head coach. He’s a lifelong DC plain and simple. He needs to tell his agent to shut the h@## up until he finishes the season. He’s already the third highest paid assistant in college. Beat Florida a couple more times and we may talk. Greedy b@@#####.
Someone needs to negotiate the AJC Sports Columnist contract.
November 16th, 2011
11:47 pm
Dawgs and Dawg fans –
The haters are out trying hard to find something to hate on.
AJC Sports Columnists (Schultz, Moore and the other one):
The ULTIMATE UGA “HATERS”
Even the pretense of fairness is gone.
Someone needs to renegiotate the AJC Sports Columnist contract.
So, Hate on… And Be Gone – Schultz
Seven Pages of comments -- on a Non-Story: The new definition of Yellow Journalism - Let's Bolt to ESPN.com's DAWGNATION
November 17th, 2011
12:06 am
Schultz Sucks And This Borders on Yellow Journalism.
I am losing respect for AJC.com Sports. The rest of the site is still good though.
If you seek fair UGA Sports news, scroll ESPN.com’s “DAWGNATION”. Even when UGA was down, they made the facts the focus, not seemingly personal issues.
AJC – Note: GT just surrendered wins and is probably going to be on major probation. Maybe someone (But Not Me) wants to know the latest on that. If that was UGA, Every column would be filled with a daily dose – up to the minute – blow by blow – every NCAA email – account of the events.
I suppose it works though: Seven Pages of comments — on a Non-Story:
The new definition of Yellow Journalism.
1962 DAWG
November 17th, 2011
12:49 am
Jeff, as you know college football is powered by the Alumni whose pocket is the deepest. If these Alumni belly up to the bar and say pay the man, then that’s what Mcgarity will do.
As far as Grantham taking up for his players at Vandy, 1 out of 10,000 fans would probably have a problem with Grantham’s handling of this incident, the other 9999 would more than likely approve. I know I sure approved of the way he handled it.
hoot
November 17th, 2011
12:49 am
Come on Schultz, how does an agent get paid? By a percentage of what their client gets-right? I’m just saying. Although I am a Bulldog fan, I fail to see that “somethings rotten in the cotton”.
TGT
November 17th, 2011
1:14 am
To all Tech fans and/or graduates: Generalizing makes you seem bitter and ignorant. You choose Tech, I choose Georgia. I am neither redneck nor hillbilly. Just like you’re not all geeks that still live at home with mom and dad. Make a point related to said article or go back to third grade and learn how to get along with others. By the way, I think the article is right on. Grantham needs to focus on UK and then Tech, and let the chips fall where they may.
THE REAL PHIL
November 17th, 2011
1:21 am
Grantham has done some stupid things? Have you beat that horse to death yet. How about writing an article that is about that punch int he back of the head the VaTech QB got from that brain surgeon down on North Ave? What do you think is worse , Jeff a Coach yelling at another coach for yelling at his player or a player actually PUNCHING the other teams QB in the back of the head after the whistle had blown? Why don’t you find out why he is serving a suspension. Why is there no uproar over this? Because you’re afraid CPJ might punch you in the nose?
You're Right ESPN's "DAWGNATION" is good
November 17th, 2011
2:04 am
ESPN.com DAWGNATION = Real Sports.
And guess what:
“They are actually talking about College Football.”
http://espn.go.com/colleges/georgia/index
They even have the latest on upcoming UGA Recruits.
AJC Sports – It’s not looking good for yall, man.
Dear AJC Sports: Here are some Real UGA Stories To Write About
November 17th, 2011
2:37 am
Since AJC can not find ANYTHING worthy to write about;
Here are some suggestions: And guess where I got them: (Ten minutes on ESPN’s DAWGNATION) In case yall have not figured it out yet, AJC Sports endless UGA negativity is beginning to piss me off.
At any rate, here are Real UGA Sports Stories:
Jones is leading the race for SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Murray is currently 2nd for SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
Richt is currently likely 2nd for Coach of the Year.
(No Asst Coach Update – But I have a funny feeling – I know who’s in the running…. Sorry Schultz….)
Oh there is more REAL NEWS to write about…
#1 RB Recruit names his final six schools: “My finals schools are UGA, Clemson, Florida, Notre Dame, UNC, and South Carolina, in no particular order.” K. Marshall.
An article about how stellar the UGA Receivers have been all this year, with and without Freshman sensation Mitchell.
Ohh here’s a good one: LB J. Jones is listed as #23 in the uncoming NFL Draft (That might be bad news for us; but definitely good news for JJ)
Here here is a Really good one: An article about how dismal the LSU offense is and a bit about how the LSU defense can be beat.
You know – “Actual football”
Shall I continue… it’s not hard…
unless you’re reading AJCSPORTS.com.
TheAntiMe
November 17th, 2011
2:46 am
It’s all a grand conspiracy. Jeff Schultz and his buddy Mark Bradley are in cahoots to blaspheme the Georgia Bulldogs. Jeff Schultz specifically is looking to totally discredit the always calm, cool, and collected Todd Grantham, who is so understated that, by comparison, Coach Mark Richt looks like a total heck-raiser.
People are going to get mad, Jeff, if you insist on forming an impartial opinion instead of saying wonderful things about the Bulldogs and their coaching deity. The Uga’s would just die, if they all hadn’t already done so.
If truth be known, all Grantham’s agent is trying to do is gain his client leverage for the one thing in life that his client wants more than anything else. That would be, of course, his own Ford truck commercial.
Bus Drivers Dawg
November 17th, 2011
3:20 am
Schultz: your whole program is drivel ! — and by the way; where in the hell would you get $1,000,000 anyway? You are a bummer man.
clay
November 17th, 2011
3:51 am
Hey schultz, all this stuff is something we could do without right now, then why are you writing a big piece about it?
JOHN LITTLE
November 17th, 2011
4:32 am
Jeff Schultz needs to worry about writing, not coaches.
bigeasy830
November 17th, 2011
4:38 am
Todd Grantham saved Mark Richt’s job. The improvement of that defense have brought the pride back to UGA football. UGA needs to be concerned with locking him in for a few more years. Shultz you must be a GT fan hoping UGA lose the best coach on their staff.
bigeasy830
November 17th, 2011
4:40 am
If UGA don’t lock Granthan into a new contract we will lose him. The what rehire Willie Martinez. UGA AD, do the right thing and make sure you pay Grantham before or at least the same time you pay Richt
bigeasy830
November 17th, 2011
4:44 am
@Dear AJC Sports: Here are some Real UGA Stories To Write About
Great post, earlier this week Chip Towers was insinuating tha Crowell was AWOL. COme on AJC, get it together.
My name is Earl
November 17th, 2011
5:48 am
I think that TG would look pretty cool with extensions. Especially if they were cornrow braids. It would give him that “keepin’ it real” look the next time he throws a tantrum on the sidelines.
But seriously… McGarity should call his bluff and tell him to go ahead and take his HC job offer.
legionaire
November 17th, 2011
6:17 am
Nothing surprises me about assistants trying to get a new job ir contract. Ray Goff got the UGA job by having coaches he knew as a recruiter to write letters to President Knapp( Dooley was running for political office and was out of the picture) Damned if he didn’t get the job. Grantham is slimy and there are other D coordinators that are as good if not better.
77Dog
November 17th, 2011
6:19 am
“In other words, this is all drivel we could’ve done without.”
Much like your column!
Mark Bradley
November 17th, 2011
6:41 am
Enter your comments here
Dawg
November 17th, 2011
7:30 am
I think theres a whole lot more out there to write about than Granthams salary. Why don’t you write about the whiny, spoiled ego maniac Pro Basketball players wanting more more money when they can’t even count what they already have. There is nothing wrong with a man exploring the possibilites of making more money. I think you are a DAWG hater AND you a little bit jealous of his salary.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
November 17th, 2011
8:23 am
The form over substance obsession many have with the Dawgs is why Richt has been allowed to sleep walk through the last three seasons (previous to this year) and still retain employment at what should be one of the top football programs in the country year in and year out.
Grantham is just as important to UGA’s relative success this year as is their stud recruiting class, Florida’s sudden mediocrity and a schedule that spared them Alabama, LSU and Arkansas.
In fact, I’ll argue that each is a far more important component to UGA’s competitive resurgence in 2011 than any voodoo CMR worked on the sideline or in the locker room.
If Dawg Nation’s country club contingent cringes when Grantham gives the choke sign to the UF kicker or goes WWF on Vandy’s coach in a post game confrontation, big deal. The guy’s got heart. CMR’s got gentility oozing out his every pore. What advantage does that buy UGA on Fall Saturday afternoons?
In the eyes of many I guess it’s just so plebian for Grantham to consider filthy lucre at a time like this.
Get over it. If UGA expects the good times to park in Athens for an extended stay, they better join CMR and Grantham and the hip (contractually speaking).
Look at the record – what are CMR’s Bulldogs without a good Defensive Coordinator? They’re Kentucky, that’s what they are.
Richt (and Dawg Nation) need Grantham more than Grantham needs them.
yadda, yadda, yadda.....
November 17th, 2011
8:40 am
Wow, on Tuesday Chip writes a post that says Grantham is focused on Kentucky and not a contract extension. Two days later Jeff comes back with “Todd Grantham needs to worry about coaching, not contract”.
Two words: bo ring.
buckheaddawg
November 17th, 2011
8:50 am
D coordinators like him are a dime a dozen. UGA could go pick a DC from ANY conference in the country and pay him like Grantham and they could do as good or equal of a job. Hell, UGA could pay them a FRACTION of what he makes and get the same results; the guy is the 3rd highest paid DC in the land. Other top 10, top 15 DC’s are making less.
To me this is strike 3. Dude’s basically a mercenary, and he couldn’t get it done in the NFL, so the first sniff of success in NCAA he’s bitching about money. Take a hike CTG.
dawgfan
November 17th, 2011
8:54 am
Remember Schultz’s doom and gloom column just a few weeks ago about how UGA didn’t need those running back suspensions and what awful timing it was? Well, we’ve scored like a bagillion points since then, Murray broke a few school records, and we’re one game away from winning the SEC East. That was a great column Schultzie.
I look forward to Schultz’s next column lecturing UGA fans how we should feel about something. Please enlighten us oh wise one.
What a joke.
Escaped from Email Purgatory
November 17th, 2011
9:09 am
@buckheaddawg
Who cares how much money Grantham makes – or aspires to make? You claiming poverty for UGA?
Speaking of three strikes, seems CMR’s been granted more than his fair share of mulligans by Dawg Nation the last three or four years. The guy’s been collecting multi-million dollar paychecks for years while the program he honchos circled the toilet bowl.
It took CMR three years to find Grantham (after Van Gorder had the nerve to bolt Athens for a raise in pay). Even if DC’s are a dime a dozen as you claim, they seem to evade Richt’s notice – until Grantham.
Pay him. If UGA could afford to keep CMR on the payroll – based on his paltry return on investment, they can sure keep a guy who’s proven a productive employee.
The Alpha Male
November 17th, 2011
9:12 am
Schultz…. how would you know anything regarding this subject that you weren’t told? You haven’t been welcome in the Butts-Mehre building in years due to crap reporting like this, so let Chip Towers report and you stick to bad football picks.
The Alpha Male
November 17th, 2011
9:13 am
Buckheaddawg…. I don’t think you meet the minimum IQ requirements to post messages.
Simeon Rice N Gravy
November 17th, 2011
9:32 am
Dawgnation.com it is. In my opinion, this site is better than Schultz’s rag tag columns.
Scott Case
November 17th, 2011
9:40 am
This dude is such a moron.. yeah, he appears to be doing a decent job, but I would be fine if they fired this clown. DCs should not be distractions. Pipe down Todd, you ain’t the only game in town
savdawg
November 17th, 2011
9:53 am
You just have to rake up muck about UGA someway, right ? Do you not read your own paper ? How many times does Grantham have to say he’ll worry about his contract AFTER the season !!! Please, get a job in another state !!!!
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
November 17th, 2011
10:26 am
Todd needs to show a little class and handle the contract and pay once the SECCG is over. He will get an offer from UGA because those in the know understand they need him to get better as well as supply some much needed discipline not provided by Richt. The NFL doesn’t hire coaches during the season so his agent needs to STFU and stop making a fool out of himseld and Todd. Once you lose your credibility then life is a piece of cake! Know what I mean.
dancin
November 17th, 2011
10:34 am
We’ll (UK) take him. A Coach with any fire in his belly would be better than the jokester we have now. Send him north.
Dap01
November 17th, 2011
10:56 am
The AJC can’t feel good about these replys (except they are blog hits).