You may have heard Chris Russell call Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson “Boy Wonder,” many of those times in mockery after the Detroit offense sputtered, in his random appearances on our airwaves, but he might have to come up with a new nickname: “Overpriced?”
Yes, well, according to Josina Anderson citing league sources, Johnson, who will be a hot name for probably every coaching vacancy over the offseason, is asking for $15 million a year as a head coach – but even as his agent denies it on Twitter, just think about this from Grant Paulsen:
“He's a rising star and many teams are going to want to talk to him, and the top of the market with proven winners is $20 million plus...so this sounds crazier than it is, but he can dangle this number,” Grant said on Twitter and on Thursday’s show. “There’s no salary cap on coaches, either, so this is where he's starting negotiations, but it doesn't mean it's where they'll end.”
Here’s the thing at that number, or around it, though:
“The question becomes, if that’s the ask, would he also be asking for the ability to sign off on who the GM might be, or some control over player personnel?” Grant asked. “Where do you draw the line on your interest, and your desperation, on trying to land Ben Johnson in this process?”
We know Danny is, to an extent, a "I need a hierarchy" guy, so he's against that latter notion happening, but maybe not the former.
Of course you should have an opinion on guys be taken into consideration, that’s very reasonable, but a guy controlling his boss? I don’t like it,” Danny said. “I’m happy to pay whatever it costs, market value, for a great head coach, the next superstar, but he has to understand that the coach coaches, and the general manager will generally manage.”
Take a listen to their entire discussion on Johnson above!
