ESPN’s Clayton: Firing Whisenhunt would be a mistake
Dec 6, 2012, 10:16 PM | Updated: 10:34 pm
Ken Whisenhunt is the most successful coach in Arizona Cardinals history, having led the team to Super Bowl XLIII as well as two NFC West championships.
However, with his team mired in an eight-game losing streak, many think it’s time for the Cardinals to part with their head coach.
ESPN NFL insider John Clayton is not of that school of thought.
“The mistake would be to let him go,” Clayton told Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf Thursday.
Clayton said Whisenhunt has proven to be a successful coach when given a quality quarterback, which he has not had since Kurt Warner retired following the 2009 season.
Arizona’s post-Warner struggles have led Whisenhunt’s record as head coach to dip to 44-48, and after three straight years of missing the playoffs, it’s possible the coach’s best times in the desert are behind him.
And while Clayton admitted he does not understand why Whisenhunt replaced John Skelton with Ryan Lindley a few weeks ago in Atlanta, he remains steadfast with his belief a coaching change would be one of the worst things the Cardinals could do.
“The mistake would be letting this coach go,” he said. “He’s too good of a coach, he knows offense, players play for him.”
