Next up is Chiefs coach Herman Edwards. Mr. “You play to win the game!” couldn’t do just that in KC. The Chiefs are 15-33 under Edwards, but worse yet, they have progressively gotten worse each year under Edwards. KC was 9-7 in 2006, 4-12 in 2007, and finished 2008 at 2-14. The Chiefs have had troubles at quarterback, but so has Minnesota and they’re NFC North Champs.
Let’s move onto who could get the ax. Let’s start in Detroit where the Lions finished 0-16. Rod Miranelli said he expects to be back. Let’s face it the Lions have been terrible under Miranelli. Three seasons and a combined 10-38 record. Which average’s out to be just over a 3-13 record per year. Plus, how can you keep a guy who went 0-16? The answer is simple, you’re the Lions and held onto Matt Millen until he not only ran your team into the ground, he ran them six feet under.
Another coach who could be on the way out is Eric Mangini. Mangini is 23-25 as the coach of the Jets, but five games is what could cost Mangini his job. Those five games are the last five of this 2008 season. After beating the then-undefeated Titans 34-13 in Tennessee, the Jets were 8-3, and many were picking them to go to the Super Bowl. Oops. Denver came to town the following week and the wheels began to fall off the Jets bus with that contest. The Jets not only lost that game, but lost four of its last five, and truly should’ve lost the game they won. They had to return a J.P. Losman fumble for a touchdown in order to avert that loss. So from 8-3 and on top of the world to 9-7 and out of the playoffs, all of this with Brett Favre, and a healthy Thomas Jones, and Leon Washington, it could spell the end for Mangini.
Moving along we head back to Ohio for Marvin Lewis. You can probably go back to the 2005 Wild Card Playoff game versus the Steelers to find the beginning of the end for Lewis. That day Steelers nose tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen laid a hit on Carson Plamer that tore two ligaments in Palmer’s knee. The Bengals lost that game. Since then Cincy has seen Palmer try to battle through several injuries, several arrests, including a couple for Chris Henry, too much talk and not enough plays by Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson, a disgruntled Rudi Johnson whom was let go in the middle of this season, and a combined 46-49-1 under Lewis. Cincy saw 11-5 in 2005. But since then it’s been 8-8 in 2006, 7-9 in 2007, and 4-11-1 in 2008.
Let’s swing down to Florida and Jack Del Rio. Go ahead call me a rumor starter, but let’s be honest with ourselves. How many of us picked Jacksonville to be in the playoffs, or the Super Bowl even. Well after a 5-11 season the Jags are about as far from the playoffs as you can get, I would’ve said the Super Bowl but that’s in Tampa so it’s not too far from Jacksonville. Anyway you had a full season from David Garrard, was Maurice Jones-Drew healthy all season? No, but neither was Joseph Addai in Indy. The Jags season was defined by inconsistent play in both sides of the ball. Injuries? Sure, but everyone has to deal with injuries. Del-Rio pretty much had the same team from last season which went to the playoffs, and laid an egg this year. Del-Rio probably won’t be fired, but he’ll be the leading candidate to be fired if the Jags stumble out of the blocks next season.
Ok now who will be kept? The Cowboys will keep Wade Phillips. However note this, Phillips will have the title of head coach but will probably be doing no more than defensive coordinator duties and post game news conferences. Jason Garrett will be the offensive coordinator and pretty much has to wait out the 2009 season before he’ll be the ‘Boys new HC.
Buffalo will keep Dick Jauron. The Bills need someone to back up Trent Edwards, J.P. Losman just didn’t get it done. If I were the Bills I’d try to snatch up Rex Grossman. As bad as it sounds Grossman is a better backup than starter, and he might fit in quite well under Jauron’s system. This team already has two great running backs in Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch, they have Lee Evans, and Roscoe Parrish at receiver they just need to add a decent backup quarterback and a little more help on the defense and this team could be tough.
Washington will keep Jim Zorn. I know, I know, 6-2 in the first eight and 2-6 in the last but let’s face it, 8-8 with a rookie coach isn’t too bad. Honestly, I’m a Skins fan and at the beginning of the season I said I would be happy with an 8-8 record, and you know what? I am happy with an 8-8 record. The organization just needs to keep this team together, and maybe get the ball a few more times to Antwaan Randle-El, and this team is heading down the right track. Yes they didn’t score 30 or more points in a game this season, but one more season together and the offense could be explosive.
For Rams fans, the players are petitioning to keep Jim Haslett, but a 2-10 finish under Haslett might not be enough to keep him. Though I think with the players help Haslett will be the man in Saint Louis. He needs another shot at being the head man somewhere after being the Saints scapegoat during the 2005 season. The Rams need to look into getting another receiver opposite of Torry Holt. The defense is young and will come around with the more experience they get.
Does it really matter in Oakland? Just kidding Raider fans. Tom Cable will probably have the head coach title for 2009, but just like the gentlemen Cable was preceeded by, he will be on a short leash sort to speak. The team does have talent. They might want to look at adding a receiver, and look into getting a linebacker, specifically a run stopper.
Well that’s your “Black Monday” predictions.