The Raiders lost. This is already a miserable New Year. I am in mourning on NFL Black Monday. This column will be updated as various coaches are fired.
Back to sobbing uncontrollably. Come back tomorrow.
eric
While still sobbing, here is the NFL coaching carousel.
Rams: Coach Steve Spagnuolo is out and so is General Manager Bill Devaney. Last year the Rams improved from 1-15 to 7-9. This is what happened to the Dallas Cowboys under Jimmy Johnson in 1989 and 1990. In 1991 they improved to 11-5 and the rest is history.
This year the Rams regressed back to 2-14. Spagnuolo is a respected defensive coordinator. Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels was not fired, but right now there are no leading candidates to take over.
Analysis: There could have been justification for keeping him despite the record. Sam Bradford was injured, and the NFL lockout hurt significantly. This one would have been acceptable either way.
Updated: The Rams are one of at least two teams that want Jeff Fisher.
Buccaneers: Coach Raheem Morris was fired. There are no leading candidates to replace him at this point.
The Bucs jumped last year from 3-13 to 10-6, and this year after a 4-2 start lost 10 straight to end up 4-12.
Analysis: This one had to happen. It it one thing to lose. It is another not to even compete. The Bucs trailed 42-0 in the second quarter of their last game. They quit. Morris was a young hire, and some young hires pan out and some do not. He could have been fired after the first 3-13 season since he inherited a 9-7 team from Jon Gruden.
Colts: Jim Caldwell is still in the building. 2 years after starting 14-0 and going to a Super Bowl, the Colts began 0-13 and ended up 2-14.
Analysis: Despite the record, a strong case can be made for keeping Caldwell. The Colts never quit on him, fighting hard in winning 2 of their last 3. Peyton Manning is all world, and having him back and reinvigorating the team may be better than blowing it up altogether. Nobody is in or out in Indy, as Owner Jim Irsay will decide on Caldwell.
Normally President and Vice Chairman Bill Polian makes all the decisions, but in a stunning move, Irsay fired Polian today. All the other 31 teams should consider hiring him. He is one of the greatest NFL executives of all time, building the Buffalo Bills in the early 1990s, the Carolina Panthers in the mid-1990s, and these Colts. This is a shocker, and an entire housecleaning could be in order so a new General Manager can bring in his own people.
Chargers: Norvelous Norv Turner is still in the building, after an 8-8 season out of the playoffs.
Norv Turner is one of those coaching retreads like Dave Wannstedt and Ray Rhodes who wins just enough games to hang around far too long. Turner inherited a 14-2 from Marty Schottenheimer and drove it downward to mediocrity. The Chargers have an offense every bit as good as Air Coryell, and are sitting home anyway. General Manager AJ Smith is also on the hot seat.
Analysis: Of course Turner should be fired. Raider fans are praying he stays. Turner has lost everywhere he has gone.
Update: Norv Turner and AJ Smith are staying.
Cowboys: They missed the playoffs at 8-8, but Jerry Jones stated that Jason Garrett is safe. Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan is on the hot seat.
The Cowboys have blown some fourth quarter leads this year, including a 24 point lead over Detroit and a 14 point lead to the Jets.
Analysis: Dallas has talent, and Jones likes continuity. He should give Ryan one more year to improve the defense.
Jets: Coach Rex Ryan is not going anywhere, but Offensive Coordinator Schottenheimer is on the hot seat.
The offense malfunctioned in crucial stretches and Mark Sanchez has regressed after two years in the AFC Title Game.
Analysis: Somebody has to take the fall, and Ryan may have to shove Schottenheimer under the bus.
Dolphins/Jaguars: They fired their coaches midseason, and nobody even knows the names of the interim coaches. They will most likely not be retained. Nobody in Florida had a good NFL year in coaching.
Updated: Owner Stephen Ross wants a big name, and flew Jeff Fisher in on his private plane.
Chiefs: Romeo Crennel went 2-1 as an interim coach, including the win over Green Bay. The defense looks solid. The players fought hard for Crennel, and he absolutely should be brought back.
Vikings: Leslie Frazier saw the Vikings go 2-14 this year, but he is still in the building.
One year removed from the Brett Favre circus saw the team slide even further. A lone bright spot was Jared Allen with 22 sacks, and the Vikings did fight hard at the end. Christian Ponder has not looked good, but Joe Webb has. Losing Adrian Peterson did not help.
Analysis: Frazier took over a team in turmoil and needs another year to turn it around. Retaining him is justified.
Updated: While awaiting word on Frazier, Rick Spielman was promoted to General Manager.
Eagles: Walrus Lite Andy Reid is safe, especially after going 4-0 down the stretch to finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs. Defensive Coordinator Juan Castillo is on the hot seat.
Analysis:Castillo was an offensive line coach and Reid flipped him to the defense. Reid should flip him back to the offense. Castillo has to be out as the Defensive Coordinator but should stay with the team on the offense where he belongs.
Update: Owner Jeffrey Lurie confirmed that Andy Reid is staying, and that any decisions regarding the coaching staff will be up to Reid.
Bears: Lovie Smith appeared safe since they made the NFC Title Game last year. The team was injury riddled, and Lovie should be given another year after this 8-8 campaign.
Analysis: A healthy Bears team is competitive, and should not be blown up.
Update: Smith is being retained, but in a surprise move General Manager Jerry Angelo was fired after 11 years with the organization. Also, Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz resigned.
Raiders: Coach Hue Jackson is not going anywhere, and he lit into his underachieving team yesterday after the Raiders missed the playoffs to go 8-8. Defensive Coordinator Chuck Bresnahan is on the hot seat.
Twice in 3 weeks the Raiders gave up critical 99 yard drives. Injuries devastated this team, but that was mostly on offense.
Analysis: This could go either way. Jackson is not afraid to make bold changes, but nobody knows whether Owner Mark Davis or Executive Amy Trask will continue to give him wide latitude. They should, and the Bresnahan decision is a close call.
Update: Bresnahan was fired. More changes on the defensive side of the ball are expected.
eric