NFL: Hot Seat Coaches
By Bruce Marshall
We're getting to the point of the season where several NFL c oaches are going to be looking over their shoulders as they worry about holding onto their jobs. Although the trend in recent years has been for pro football teams to refrain from hitting the eject button during the regular season, that is hardly an absolute, as Buffalo's Dick Jauron found out last season. Following are the NFL coaches who seem to be in the most trouble as Halloween and midseason approach...
John Fox, Carolina...Fox, his staff, and GM Marty Hurney were all on notice entering the season, as none had their contracts extended beyond 2010. And not much has happened to make anyone think Fox is safer than he was in the offseason, with the Panthers struggling to score points and sitting at a humbling 0-5. Moreover, Fox is slated to make another change at QB, going back to original starter Matt Moore for this week's game vs. the 49ers after benching him following the first two games and opting for Notre Dame rookie Jimmy Clausen. Fox, however has come under some fire for throwing Clausen to the wolves at the controls of a punchless offense that has yet to uncover a suitable complement to WR Steve Smith, who himself has been out with an ankle injury since the October 3 loss at New Orleans. Smith is listed as probable to return for this week's game vs. the 49ers, but it is looking less probable that Fox is going to be around next season, and might not make it to Thanksgiving if the Panthers continue to chase the 2008 Lions and their 0-16 mark. Meanwhile, Hurney is in deep water too, and will be held responsible for not providing Carolina with sufficient options at QB. Whatever happens before the regular season concludes, expect a major housecleaning in the offseason.
Chan Gailey, Buffalo...Could Gailey be a one-and-done coach in Buffalo? Perhaps not, but owner Ralph Wilson is on record as being very disappointed with the team's continuing lack of progress, and Gailey is unlikely to steward any turnaround this season, having already jettisoned QB Trent Edwards and turning to Harvard's Ryan Fitzpatrick to revive the season. So far, it hasn't worked, and Bills fans are furious at the enduring incompetence of the franchise, which has spe nt most of the past decade grooming young QBs such as Edwards and J.P. Losman, only to eventually jettison each. Although it's unlikely Gailey gets run after just one season, he might not survive a 1-15 or 0-16 campaign, which looks possible. Some AFC East observers are already comparing this to the one-year run of Rod Rust as Patriots HC in 1990, a year New England ended 1-15 and caused the quick ouster of Rust, who was replaced by ex-Syracuse HC Dick MacPherson.
Lovie Smith, Chicago...The 4-2 Bears have enjoyed a mostly-encouraging start to the season, but Lovie and his staff have little margin for error. With the team having missed the postseason three years running, it's playoffs or bust for Lovie and perhaps GM Jerry Angelo as well. And Lovie Smith has to be concerned that his offense, masterminded by new o.c. Mike Martz, is still having trouble gaining traction, with QB Jay Cutler blowing hot and cold and even KO'd for one start after enduring a frightening beating in the October 4 loss at the Giants when he was sacked nine times. Last week's home loss to Seattle might be a warning sign, and the offense has to shift gears or else to deal with a challenging slate after next week's bye. Miami, Philadelphia, New England, the Jets, and two more vs. Minnesota still on tap the second half of the campaign.
Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati...The well-respected Lewis could nonetheless end up being the fall guy in Cincy if the Bengals continue to display the bipolar tendencies that have marked his seven previous season in charge at Paul Brown Stadium. The potential disruptions on the ros ter caused by the self-serving agendas of Chad Ochocinco and offseason addition Terrell Owens threaten to implode the clubhouse at any time, while the presence of a noted troublemaker Pacman Jones is another potential banana peel for Lewis. An injury to QB Carson Palmer could really send the Cincy season spinning out of control, and recent losses at Cleveland (23-20) and at home vs. Tampa Bay (24-21) were obvious red flags. Things could really unravel in Cincy as soon as it appears the team is out of playoff contention.
Eric Mangini, Cleveland...Mangini looked even money to be dismissed for much of last season, his first in Cleveland, before the Browns rallied down the stretch. Given a reprieve, and with new team prez Mike Holmgren deciding that Mangini deserved another chance, Mangini hung around into 2010, but the jury remains out with the Browns already out of the playoff discussion at 1-5. What might spare Mangini is a rash of injuries at QB that have already sidelined starter Jake Delhomme and backup Seneca Wallace with ankle problems, thrusting Texas rookie QB Colt McCoy into the starting lineup a lot earlier than Mangini or Holmgren envisioned. But it has been a very bumpy ride in the early going, with last year's rushing hero Jerome Harrison also recently dealt to Philadelphia after complaining about lack of playing time. The defense has kept the team in most of its games, but if the Browns come in at 4-12 or 3-13, Holmgren could decide to go in another direction at season's end despite the QB injuries.
Wade Phillips, Dallas...That Phillips has managed to hang in there into his fourth season has surprised a lot of observers in Big D who suspect some of the strange dynamics unique only to owner Jerry Jones might be conspiring to keep Phillips around. Jones likes the fact that the low-key Phillips does not compete with him for visibility in Big D, granting Jerry the publicity stage he craves. And Jones apparently values Phillips' defensive acumen, saying on multiple occasions that Bum's son is a tremendous defensive coordinator while stopping short of saying the same about him as a head coach. There seemed to be a few occasions in the past when Jones would have been justified moving out Phillips (such as after the conclusion of the last two seasons), but since Jerry has unofficially deemed o.c. Jason Garrett as the heir apparent, it was just too awkward to promote Garrett after Cowboy offensive meltdowns, and Jones' ego was not ready to concede that he might have been wrong about Garrett's capabilities. Regardless, one wonders how much more rope Jones is going to give Phillips with Dall as off to an immensely disappointing 1-4 start. Some believe a loss in Monday's game could prompt a change, with Jones perhaps deciding to give Garrett a shot regardless. Or could Jerry pull a Ted Turner, who managed his Atlanta Braves for one game in 1977, and decide he could do a better job himself? Stay tuned.
Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville...There was speculation in Jacksonville that Del Rio faced a playoffs-or-else scenario from owner Wayne Weaver after a pair of disappointing seasons in 2008 and 2009. An encouraging October 3 win over Indianapolis and subsequent success at Buffalo suggested that Del Rio might be able to salvage himself, but last Monday's 30-3 home loss to Tennessee was ominous, especially because QBs David Garrard and recently-acquired Trent Edwards were hurt in the process. Del Rio has brought in journeymen Patrick Ramsey and Todd Bauman for this week's game at Kansas City and has said that any of the four might end up starting at Arrowhead. If this is a prelude to an unraveling of the Jacksonville season, it could also be a prelude to the unraveling of Del Rio's tenure after being in the saddle for the Jags since 2003.
Tom Cable, Oakland...One can never tell what is going through Al Davis' mind. And Cable has seemed to be on the chopping block after each of the last two seasons. But he seems to have done just enough to not get fired in the past. The Raiders have hinted that they might be upgraded, although ongoing QB issues (we're not sure if Bruce Gradkowski, Jason Campbell, or maybe even Mr. Carrie Prejean, Kyle Boller, gets the start this week in Denver) could send the Raiders to another season like last year's 5-11. Could Cable survive another year being so far under .500? Remember, Davis has jettisoned coach es for less. Moreover, do any name coaches really want to work for Davis these days?
Norv Turner, San Diego...The thought persists in the AFC that the Chargers have underachieved for Norv despite winning the West and a few playoff games the past three seasons since Marty Schottenheimer was sent packing. The division has been easy to top in those years, but it might be a bit tougher in 2010, with the Chiefs and Raiders having already beaten the Chargers. And this is hardly the same San Diego team, with key components such as L.T. and Shawne Merriman now out of the equation, and the distractions caused by WR Vincent Jackson's holdout (he's now supposed to return in late November) all combining to conspire for another slow Charger break from the gate. Only this year, observers aren't so sure the Chargers will rally for the introverted Norv, not exactly a rah-rah type, instead relaying on internal motivators within the clubhouse to emerge, which Norv has relied upon to rally the troops the past three years. Despite his stats and mouthiness, Philip Rivers' cockiness is not necessary the stuff of real leadership, and sort of vacuum seems to exist these days in San Diego with L.T., and other now departed. Some wonder if Norv could survive a sub-.500 finish.
Mike Singletary, San Francisco...Despite the 49ers' 1-5 start, it doesn't seem as if Singletary is in any immediate danger now that the 49ers are in the win column and looking forward to a very favorable slate over the next month that could put them right back into the thick of the NFC West race in a few weeks. But if the 49ers can't pull themselves up to the .500 level and win what seemed to be a very soft division that looked to be theirs for the taking, "Samurai Mike" might be in trouble at the end of the season. Especially since the early-season confusion on his staff that resulted in o.c. Jimmy Raye's dismissal and Singletary's obvious shortcomings in offensive strategy that have so far impeded the progress of the team.