This may be relevant again given the outcome of the Super Bowl. Let me preface by saying that I am NOT insinuating that Carroll is a bad coach or has lost his Seahawks, but I figure this memory might be a little more relevant now........
We all remember the thrilling Monday Night comeback the Patriots completed against Miami in 1998 right? Bledsoe broke his finger in two places on the drive and yet still hit Shawn Jefferson for the game winner?
Well, there was another key part of that drive. On Third and Ten from around the Miami 40 yard line or so Bledsoe hit Ben Coates for a short gain (three yards I think). So now the clock is running and camera cuts to Carroll on the sideline pleading for a timeout. Keep in mind during this era ONLY players on the field could call time out. Apparently the team saw Carroll calling for a time out but still flat out ignored him and proceeded with a play anyway. The Pats converted the fourth down play and Carroll had a wide, happy grin following the Jefferson conversion, but it was still one of the most peculiar things I saw. The accouncers even made reference to "Terry Glenn is looking right at him. I don't know why he isn't calling a time out". I've never seen a team disrespect their coach in this manner. Fast forward to this year, and Carroll's players again are showing disrespect by publicly questioning the playcalling.
This has come up in this forum in the past, and yes, you are absolutely correct.
Bledsoe himself I'm sure looked over at the sidelines, saw his coach calling time out, ignored him, and made the 1st down.
It was clear to me at that point - and I believe I even remarked in a story or on a forum at the time, that Carroll was done as coach as he'd lost the respect of the players. I'd say I was right.
And I had exactly the same thought as you that the Seahawks may no longer respect Carroll's playcalling
When a bad call by a coach costs you a Super Bowl and a chance to say you were a dynasty, that's pretty huge to a player. I question how much credit the Seahawks even gave Carroll prior to this as I credit the big play execution of the players last year much more so than any fantastic coaching scheme
Now, like you, I happen to think that Carroll has grown as a coach since the Patriots (and certainly the Jets) - but at USC and now back in the NFL his success has come more from having the best players and less than great coaching. Obviously Brady is a big reason why Belichick is successfull as well, but there is no doubt that Belichick is a mastermind of a coach and his players all respect him - and if he told them he wanted them to fumble, they would do so and not ask why - knowing Belichick had a reason.
I think Carroll may have lost his team on that play, just as he did with the Patriots.
The problem is, the only way he's getting fired, is if the team tanks. And in my opinion, players have effectively gotten their coaches fired in the past when they think doing so serves the long time good.
It will be interesting to see how the players respond.