NFL owners and general managers over the past few years have always been intrigued by LSU coach Les Miles, but something about Miles always made them hesitant: They thought he was a goofball. The wacky, Mad Hatter rep made some NFL executives who considered hiring him nervous, Mike Freeman of CBS Sports is told. They weren't certain if he had the maturity to be an NFL head coach, so in the end, they stayed away. After interviews with several team executives, it has become clear Miles has vaulted near the top of some lists as the next hottest NFL coaching candidate, and most now see Miles as someone who can lead an NFL franchise and will definitely be pursued by teams in need of a head coach at the end of the season. "He's the most intriguing coaching prospect I've seen in a long time," said one team executive. "I think he has a great deal of talent and can deal with the modern athlete." And that is what Freeman has heard repeatedly about Miles from team executives, with their belief is that Miles is, as one told Freeman, the next Jimmy Johnson in terms of knowing how to coach the 21st-century player. Source: CBS Sports
