[BostonCard]

Conflict between players and coaches is almost inevitable. Coaches are there to support, motivate, and encourage players, but also to coax, cajole, and otherwise extract as much out of the player as possible. They are not necessarily there to make friends. There will always be players who believe they deserve a more prominent role on the team than the coach. Good coaches learn to manage these conflicts and keep players buying into the team concept. That's easier when the team is winning than when it is losing, and I think a number of players held their tongues during the Harbaugh era because it is hard to argue with success.

I suspect discontent with Harbaugh was not uncommon (and leaked out a bit when he left to coach the 49ers), but I think there is a brobdingnagian gap between discontent and issuing a threat. I have a feeling that is more related to having the wrong player becoming discontented at the wrong time.

BC

[BostonCard]

Conflict between players and coaches is almost inevitable. Coaches are there to support, motivate, and encourage players, but also to coax, cajole, and otherwise extract as much out of the player as possible. They are not necessarily there to make friends. There will always be players who believe they deserve a more prominent role on the team than the coach. Good coaches learn to manage these conflicts and keep players buying into the team concept. That's easier when the team is winning than when it is losing, and I think a number of players held their tongues during the Harbaugh era because it is hard to argue with success.

I suspect discontent with Harbaugh was not uncommon (and leaked out a bit when he left to coach the 49ers), but I think there is a brobdingnagian gap between discontent and issuing a threat. I have a feeling that is more related to having the wrong player becoming discontented at the wrong time.

BC