Pompei: As the game became more complex and the stakes became higher, the 100-hour work week became the norm for today's NFL coaches. And they can blame Jon Gruden for setting the standard.
Article Source: NBC Sports
from:NBC SportsNothing normal for NFL coaches - 'it's all ball'
Seeded on Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:28 PM EST (NBC Sports)
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This article is insensitive to the millions of Americans who are out of work and/or struggling financially. I work 75 - 80 hours every week and I assure you, I do not earn the pay of an NFL coach.
How is it insensitive?
Aren't you insensitive? You get to work not just 40, but 80 hours in a week--the equivalent of TWO jobs when lots of Americans would be happy just to have ONE job.
Would an article describing the work of astronauts be "insensitive" to people who don't get to fly into space, in your opinion?
Hey Carl W - The insensitivity has to do with the fact that the article attempts to garner sympathy for NFL coached from it's readers. Again, there are plenty of people working those kinds of hours, for not nearly the amount of pay earned by NFL coaches. I'm not saying the job of an NFL coach is easy but they are very well compensated for their efforts. According to Forbes magazine, the average NFL coach makes $3 million per year. How long would it take the average American to each that salary???
These poor guys. Pulling down tons of money as they try to make a "game"seem like rocket science. They'd faint if they had to work in the real world-if they could find a job.
No, they'd probably find a job pretty quickly--and outperform all of their coworkers.
These coaches are insanely driven and very smart. Yeah, the pay is great, and so are the challenges, that's why they're coaching in the NFL, but that doesn't say anything bad about the work ethic of these guys.
It's not a schedule that I could do, but if these guys do it--if they're putting 100 hours a week into something that they love and thrive on, good for them.
Correct,they are driven and that's a personality trait. Only they can judge when they reach the law of diminishing returns or whether their effort is worth it. Giving 100 hours a week to any career choice seems like it would be very difficult on your family relationships. As an example and no telling if it would make any difference, I think Andy Reid of the Eagles may have spent some of his 100 hours a week with his two sons who got into several difficulties rather than seeking perfection breaking down film. Only an opinion. We all make our choices, some good,some not so good.
What really stinks for them is that half the coaches on any given Sunday, after having worked 100-hour week, still lose. Now imagine working a 100-hour week in a regular job and still facing the possibility of being fired.
Maybe Gruden had to put in that much time to connect the dots?
Everything is bound by the law of diminishing returns. Everything is judged by a reasonable shape called the bell curve. You can push extra hard for an infinitesimal return for the effort, and if you push too hard you actually degrade what you are trying to do. Running around manically afraid you'll miss that golden piece of tape that will win the next game and wearing yourself out in the process perhaps making you less able to manage than more.
But then on the other hand, I suspect a lot of the time spent going over tape becomes routine. I'm sure there's some downtime for the coach and the assistants during those 17.5 hour days. It's not like they're laying asphalt 17.5 hours everyday. Sitting back with a mug of coffee and a danish watching the 30 plays the cornerbacks ran last Sunday isn't backbreaking by any means. Mental labor can be more exhausting than manual labor, sure, but it depends how much you put into it. If you're twitchy and can't turn the mind off, or keep it focused correctly, you'll wear yourself out. Being sharp minded and orderly, with plenty of B.S.ing around you can put in such days.
Also, I assume that most of these guys don't have to lift a finger as far as their home lives during this time - calling the plumber, raising the kids, snowblowing the sidewalk etc etc etc etc etc etc. The rest of us get up at 6:00 @!$%#, shower and shave, battle the traffic, work a 9.5+ hour day, battle the traffic home then - pay bills, give baths to the kids, help with homework, fix the sink, mow the lawn, rake the leaves, the list goes on. If we get to watch a couple of Seinfelds on DVD we're lucky, then turn in about 10:30-11:00 and start the process over again. Whose life is more exhausting then?
Pretty ridiculous hours for what is only a stupid, violent game. And I bet they can't prove that the harder working coaches have a substantive success rate better than the slackers. And as we have found out, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy (and makes his wife and kids feel unloved.)
I think it's an exciting, exhilarating, violent game, not a "stupid" one. But I guess that means I'm a fan and you're not.
You're right that it's a sacrifice though. Some people are hardwired to put their whole life into pursuing excellence at something, while other people would rather pursue balance. It's a person's choice, I guess.
As a Bears fan if Lovie is doing 100 hours a week please, please, cut back to 50 per week will you. The same advice for some other NFL coaches as well.