Question Re: Pettibone & Gibbs

[Mountdrago]

I was looking throught the Redskins database here on Extremeskins (fantastic resource by the way) and was reminded that Petitbon was on Pardee's staff as D Backs coach before Gibbs was hired. Petitbon was then retained as given the position of D Cordinator and eventually Asst H Coach. Of course, he was hired as H Coach after Gibbs left.

I was wondering if Petitbon was retained by Gibbs on his own accord when he came in or if the front office forced Gibbs to keep him on the staff? I do not recall any rumors about it at the time. If Petitbon's position on Gibb's staff was forced on Gibbs, it may say something about why Gibbs never even called Petitbon about coming back (or so it seems) for the Gibbs II era. I am sure Gibbs respected Peitbon's talents but he may never had the same closeness with him as he did with the rest of the staff. I know Petitbon says he would not have come back even if Gibbs did call, but it seems a bit unusual for Gibbs to not even touch base with him - of course the current front offfice seems to have played a pretty large role in getting Gibbs to hire Williams (not that he would not have done so anyway, it just sounds like the front office had already set thier sites on Williams before Gibbs came back).

Just curioous

[Mania]

Gibb's chose Petitbon on his own accord there was no forcing of anyone's hand. However, he still keeps in touch with Petitbon and he is too happy with the restaurants in the area to want to go back and work. He said it himself.

[Mountdrago]

Originally posted by SkinsFanMania

Gibb's chose Petitbon on his own accord there was no forcing of anyone's hand. However, he still keeps in touch with Petitbon and he is too happy with the restaurants in the area to want to go back and work. He said it himself.

If he still keeps in touch so much, why did Petitbon say he had not heard from Gibbs about his return to coaching?

Anyway, may have answered part of my own question in this old WP article about Gibb's hiring:

Gibbs Hired as Redskins Coach After Meeting With Cooke

By Paul Attner and Dave Kindred

Washington Post Staff Writers

Jan. 13, 1981

Joe Gibbs, San Diego Charger offensive coordinator, was hired as the new head coach of the Washington Redskins after a 3½-hour meeting last night in New York with owner Jack Kent Cooke and General Manager Bobby Beathard.

"Joe appeals to me because of his obvious dedication to the game," Cooke said of Gibbs after the meeting, which marked the first time he had talked to him. "I have confidence that Joe will provide the Redskins fans with a team that will stir the imagination, win or lose.

"And I believe his abilities match his ambitions. He's a pioneer in the game in as much as he recognized before others the perceptible change in the character of the game."

Cooke's reference was to the sophisticated San Diego passing attack the set NFL records the last two seasons with Gibbs calling the two plays.

Gibbs, 40, will replace Jack Pardee, who was fired by Cooke eight days ago after the owner decided to end a front office controversy by siding with Beathard and sacking his coach.

Cooke said Gibbs signed a multi-year contract, but refused to reveal its terms. But sources said it is a three-year contract starting at $100,000 a season.

It was reported yesterday that Cook's final approval was the only things between Gibbs and the Redskin job. Gibbs became the leading candidate after being recommended strongly by Beathard.

The Redskins had been prevented from talking to Gibbs by the Chargers' participation in the playoffs. That ended Sunday when San Diego lost to Oakland in the AFC championship game.

Gibbs said he "felt a number of things. I'm thankful to God for the body and mind to get a job like this. I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility and gratitude to Mr. Cooke. I want him to look back on this and say it was the best decision he ever made. I have a sense of urgency. I am ready and fired up."

After a morning press conference today, Gibbs and Beathard will go to Mobile, Ala., to scout college seniors participating in the North-South All-Star Game. They also will interview candidates for positions on the Redskin coaching staff.

"My first priorities are to get a staff together and talk to the Redskin players individually," Gibbs said. Sources have said Cooke is willing to spend "top dollar" to put together a top-notch staff.

Beathard had strongly recommended that Richie Petitbon, secondary coach under Pardee, be the new defensive coordinator and that move is expected to be made by Gibbs.

Beathard said he had known Gibbs for years and that he had "closely followed his career and I feel that he has prepared himself for this position as well or better than any coach in the NFL. He has a track record that speaks for itself. Besides being bright and a terrific Xs and Os man, Joe has demonstrated leadership.

"You can find a lot of fine assistant coaches but there are few assistants who can lead." Joe has an unusual talent to get along with players."

Gibbs, one of the most highly regarded offensive minds in the league, has been an assistant coach on the college and pro level for 17 years but has no head coach experience. The last two years, he served as the Chargers' offensive coordinator under Don Coryell.

Gibbs becomes the 17th head coach of the Redskins. He is inheriting a club that compiled a 6-10 record last season, its worst in 17 years. Washington has not been in the playoffs since 1976.

His hiring ends a short courtship by the Redskins, who first were attracted to him because of his work with the San Diego offense and his innovative reputation within the league.

But Cooke and Beathard didn't decide to sign Gibbs until they were convinced he has the motivational and teaching skills they believe are essential for improving the club. They also were impressed with his enthusiasm, his outgoing personality and his desire to work long hours. Cooke was openly critical of the Redskins' lack of emotion this season.

Cooke was determined to hire someone who not only could add life to an inconsistent offense but who could develop the young players Beathard wants to add to the roster the next few seasons

Cooke wants to make the Redskin games "fun for the fans" and he wants to see more passing and more progressive thinking on offense. Cooke was very impressed with the Chargers this season, especially because they were entertaining even when they lost.

Gibbs has felt the last five years that he was qualified to become a head coach in the NFL. His position was straightened especially this year, when the Chargers were the first team in league history to average 400 yards in offense and have three ends gain at least 1,000 yards receiving. Quarterback Dan Fouts also set league marks in three major passing categories.

While Coryell is credited with devising the Charger offense, which capitalizes on more stringent defensive rules, Gibbs has been responsible for refining and directing that attack. Fouts called him a genius.

Gibbs played tight end, linebacker and guard for Coryell at San Diego State from 1961-63 before starting his coaching career. He has coached under Coryell at San Diego State, under John McKay at Southern California and under Frank Broyles at Arkansas.

His first pro job was with St. Louis in 1973. He later moved to Tampa Bay before joining the Chargers in 1979.

Gibbs says he is excited about working with quarterback Joe Theismann, who has the rollout abilities that Fouts lacks. The Redskin offense had difficulty scoring last season and the club was the second-most penalized in the NFL although it passes for the most yards since 1967. Theismann had personal bests in passes, completions and yards gained.

Under Pardee, the Redskins attempted to develop a balanced attack, with emphasis on establishing a running game. The Chargers passed first and ran as an after thought. Gibbs said he anticipated using this offensive approach here next year.

Washington's defense is in better shape. The Redskins led the NFL in pass defense and were fourth in the NFC in total defense. They held down the Chargers in a 40-17 victory in December, their only defeat of a team with a winning record this season.

Although Beathard thinks his team can have a winning record next season, the Redskins still are going through a transition period. They had 16 players this year 30 or older, making them one of the league's oldest teams. Beathard anticipates having a much younger squad next season.

"That's why we need a teacher like Joe," he said. "We are going to have to bring along young players and help them get better very quickly. I'm very impressed with Joe's abilities in this area. He really knows how to bring the best out of the guys he's worked with."

[redman]

I have yet to see you support your initial premise that Gibbs doesn't communicate with Petitbone, much less that there's bad blood between them.

Gibbs didn't hire Rich because Rich is done with coaching by all accounts and because he, as someone who's been out of football for 12 years, doesn't need to hire a D-coordinator who's been gone for 11 years.

[Mountdrago]

Originally posted by redman

I have yet to see you support your initial premise that Gibbs doesn't communicate with Petitbone, much less that there's bad blood between them.

Gibbs didn't hire Rich because Rich is done with coaching by all accounts and because he, as someone who's been out of football for 12 years, doesn't need to hire a D-coordinator who's been gone for 11 years.

Goodness, cool off. I never said that Gibbs does not communicate with Petitbon nor did I ever say, imply or otherwise insinuate that there was anything like "bad blood between them." All I did was ask the question whether Gibbs was not as close to Petitbon as he was to many others on his staff, e.g., those that he did contact when he came back.

As far as my "support[ing] [my] initial premise that Gibbs doesn't communicate with Petitbone", first of all, I never had any premise just a question. Second, I never questioned whether Gibbs communicates with Petitbon, but I did say that from all reports Gibbs did not tell Petitbon he was coming back or contact him after he took the job. That statement of fact came from the following article from the Post on Jan. 8, 04, and includes a statement to that effect from Petitbon.

Again, I am not trying to start rumours or even remotely imply that Gibbs and Petitbon do not get along or that Gibbs would not want Petitbon on his staff. I know of no such thing nor do I know of anyone who has ever said such a thing. But I've found it unusual that Gibbs did not call Petitbon when he took the job.

There are a million possible reasons why Gibbs did not hire Petitbon: Petitbon certainly has said that he would never coach again; maybe Petitbon would never work for the Redskins again after he was dumped so quickly as HC, and maybe your suggestion that Gibbs thought Petitbon was out of football too long is on point, and there are millions more possibiliites as well. But, these only point to why he was not HIRED not as to why Gibbs never called Petitbon to discuss it. Which led to my original question. Again, all I stated was it was possible that Petitbon and Gibbs never had the bond that Gibbs had with some of his other coaches and perhaps, and maybe that lack of bond played some very small role in Gibbs not inquiring whether Petitbon would join his staff.

Not an overly important discussion but it beats rehashing whether Ramsey will be traded.

The Return of the King

Gibbs Hiring His Former Redskins Assistants

By Leonard Shapiro and Mark Maske

Washington Post Staff Writers

Thursday, January 8, 2004; Page D01

[i cut the rest of the article and just pasted the last paragraph]

That was Petitbon's reaction yesterday when he learned Gibbs was coming back to town.

"It was a huge surprise, a total shock, unbelievable," said Petitbon, who succeeded Gibbs as head coach for one year before being fired after the '93 season. "To the owner's credit, it's a stroke of genius. Right now, everyone is fed up with everything. It buys him some time, and it just might work out."

Petitbon said Gibbs had not contacted him about coming back to coach and "my answer would be 'not interested.' I like what I'm doing. I'm retired. I'm happy. Why put yourself through that aggravation again? I've done that. Can Joe do it again? Can he spend as much time as he used to? It's been 11 years, and that's a long time between dances."

[>>Spearhead>>]

I don't think there is bad blood either, but there were rumours that Petitbon didn't want to HC and took Gibb's unexpected retirement personally. I never really thought was true, but...?