Ex-player Fox: Cowher was a "bonehead" as coach

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher was a "bonehead" as a Cleveland Browns assistant coach in the 1980s and knew nothing about coaching defensive backs, former NFL safety Tim Fox said on a weekly TV show in Boston.

While previewing Sunday's Patriots-Steelers game in Pittsburgh on a NESN sports channel show, Fox said he wasn't impressed with his brief association with Cowher when the Steelers' coach was in the early years of his NFL coaching career and Fox was ending his playing career.

"Yes, I am," Fox said when asked if he is surprised by Cowher's success as a head coach. "Because when I had him, he was a bonehead. He knew nothing. He knew a little bit about special teams and a little bit about playing linebacker, because that is what he did, but he knew nothing about the rest of the scheme involved."

Cowher, a former NFL linebacker, joined Browns coach Marty Schottenheimer's staff at age 28 in 1985 as special teams coach and held that job for two seasons before becoming the secondary coach in 1987. Schottenheimer made that move after hiring his brother, Kurt, as the special teams coach.

"Marty wanted to hire his brother, and the only place they could hire him was as special teams coach, so they moved Cowher into being the defensive backs coach," Fox said.

During the brief time Fox had Cowher as a coach, he said Cowher coached by motivation rather than by knowledge of his craft.

"He does have that charisma, he gets his players fired up — he starts spitting on you and blowing snot bubbles and all that kind of stuff, but when it comes to Xs and Os, putting him and (Bill) Belichick in the same room, Belichick should be coaching him and Cowher should be playing," Fox said.

Hey Jimbob,

Where you been? hows your godfather, has he got any cash left to buy his dopey godson some sweeties? or maybe some more monopoly money so you can start posting bollocks again. Thought you had enough of the RX, certainly we have had enough of your trivial persuit:drink:

JimFiestSux said:

lol my best friend was drafted by the Browns in 83 and he said that COWHER used to get bashed bout when he was a player. The other guys would literally beat the shit out of him in practice and he would cry tears all the time. He laughs when he sees COWHER on the sidelines with that phony face. He can't believe hes a successful coach. How can anyone play for that BABY he says all the time,lol.

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The guy played in the NFL. He had a scholarship to play in college. He was an outstanding player.

and YOU call him a baby? Geez.

That is like calling some Harvard professor "stupid" because he's not as respected as some MIT professor

or calling Michael Jordan "poor" because Bill Gates had more money

I am a Pats fan and don't like Cowher, but for some guy that hasn't even stepped foot on the football field to question the toughness of an ex-NFL player is kinda ... (insert anything here)

(and if you're not going to identify your "imaginary friend", your post has no credibility - and if you want to say that your friend not willing to reveal his name, it says more about your friend's toughness than Cowher's)

cincy_ said:

The guy played in the NFL. He had a scholarship to play in college. He was an outstanding player.

and YOU call him a baby? Geez.

That is like calling some Harvard professor "stupid" because he's not as respected as some MIT professor

or calling Michael Jordan "poor" because Bill Gates had more money

I am a Pats fan and don't like Cowher, but for some guy that hasn't even stepped foot on the football field to question the toughness of an ex-NFL player is kinda ... (insert anything here)

(and if you're not going to identify your "imaginary friend", your post has no credibility - and if you want to say that your friend not willing to reveal his name, it says more about your friend's toughness than Cowher's)

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Post of the Year

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