Bill Cowher would be an excellent choice. Can't argue with it.
Tony Sparano is the master of a sinking ship. A football guy--he can't be satisfied with the offense. He can't be happy with his players giving up during the last two minutes of Bill's game. All that you see that fails is on his shoulders. If it's Henning that is directing the use of time outs, and is calling every lame play during the 2-minute drill, the fault is with Sparano, not Henning. With a change in HC there will be a change in assistants. Should a deal be struck with Bill Cowher, it is likely that the offensive assistants will all be looking for work elsewhere.
While it is great to have hope in another coaches' arrival to put the team on the winning path, Cowher has a soft job with TV. If there's less pressure involved, and I'm pretty sure there is, and the salary is good, he may just stay the course and not ever return to coaching. He may follow John Madden in that regard.
Gruden on the other hand, is a young guy. He's ambitious and I wouldn't be surprised if he returns to coaching next year with some team. He's a little older and perhaps wiser and may prove out to be a better coach because of the lay off. My preference would be Bill Cowher, if my vote could make it happen.