Ten NFL coaches on the hot seat

[BengalszoneBilly]

I believe this to be the truth. Marvin Lewis HAS to return the team to contention at the very least to save his job IMHO. That being said, I think he can do it.

Ten NFL coaches on the hot seat

by Mike Florio

Sporting News

As NFL players enjoy a few weeks of freedom before venturing into the oppressive heat of training camp, more than a few head coaches are already feeling the heat on their backsides. Here are the coaches most likely to get burned:

1. Wade Phillips, Cowboys. Coaches from playoff teams aren't usually on the hot seat. Then again, not many coaches preside over teams that haven't won a playoff game since 1996, are expected to go to the Super Bowl in 2008 and have the next head coach, Jason Garrett, ready to step in at a moment's notice.

Wade Phillips has the temperament to withstand the pressure. Besides, he's no stranger to being fired. But it doesn't make the pressure any less real.

So if the Cowboys don't make the postseason, or if they don't win a game or two once they get there, Wade won't be back in 2009.

2. Lane Kiffin, Raiders. If the rumors are accurate, Kiffin could be pushed out -- even before training camp. Such a move would be highly unusual, but Oakland owner Al Davis supposedly views the offensive and defensive coordinators as the two keys to the coaching staff, and he believes the head coach is an easily replaced game-day manager.

Even if Kiffin coaches the Raiders in Week 1 against the Broncos -- and he probably will -- he needs to have a big year. Whether that includes a playoff appearance remains to be seen. If the Raiders are on the wrong side of .500 again, it's a safe bet that Kiffin will be the latest in a line of Oakland coaches who didn't survive more than two seasons on the job.

3. Herm Edwards, Chiefs. If Edwards could go back in time and opt to stay with the Jets instead of heading to Kansas City, would he? For now, he'd swear that he made the right decision in muscling his way out of New York.

In January, he might feel differently.

The Chiefs had a solid draft, and the expectations are generally consistent with this team's status as a work in progress. But a certain number of losses could be enough to prompt owner Clark Hunt to clean house.

If Edwards goes, he'd likely end up a collegiate head coach. He has never been an NFL defensive coordinator, and after eight years as a head coach, he probably wouldn't be interested in becoming a position coach again.

4. Marvin Lewis, Bengals. The Bengals have won the stare-down with receiver Chad Johnson for now, but this team needs to turn things around in 2008, or Lewis' job will be in jeopardy.

Johnson's bizarre antics in the offseason were arguably the result of the head coach's incessant coddling of the star wideout. Such coddling has prompted locker-room resentment and whispers of a double standard for much of the past several seasons.

Then there's the defense -- or, more accurately, the eleven-man, orange-and-black sieve. Like former Ravens boss Brian Billick, a supposed offensive guru who presided over woeful offenses as a head coach, Lewis is a defensive specialist whose team can't play defense.

Things could change in 2008 with the arrival of coordinator Mike Zimmer. If they don't, someone will be hiring Lewis as a defensive coordinator in 2009.

5. Mike Nolan, 49ers. Nolan spent a few days after the 2007 season twisting in the wind while the powers-that-be decided whether to fire him. In the end, Nolan essentially had his wings clipped; he kept the head-coaching job but lost final say over the roster.

It was a shot across the bow, and it took out one of the masts. Moving forward, Nolan is on notice. Another disappointing season, and he's likely done.

6. John Fox, Panthers. Sure, Carolina owner Jerry Richardson claims that he wants to emulate the Rooneys, who change key personnel less frequently than Cuba changes leaders. While that mindset might give GM Marty Hurney another shot if the team doesn't deliver in 2008, a poor showing could be the end of the road for Fox.

The knock on the Panthers lately has been that they have talent, but they can't deliver on it. In other words, Hurney has done his job, and Fox hasn't.

If the wheels fall off in 2008, we've got a feeling that Hurney will remind Richardson of this reality.

7. Scott Linehan, Rams. There was some talk in 2007 that Linehan was cracking under the pressure of a season that began with some Super Bowl expectations and ended with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. But Linehan got a pass, probably because a rash of injuries derailed the Rams' chances.

If the players are healthy in 2008, there's no reason to believe the Rams won't contend for the NFC West title. Though it's not playoffs-or-else for Linehan this season, another train wreck will get him run out of town on a rail.

8. Andy Reid, Eagles. Many Eagles fans blame the team's poor performance in 2007 on Reid's familial distractions. Though an 8-8 or 7-9 mark with no playoffs likely wouldn't be enough to end Reid's decade-long run in Philly, Reid is one 5-11 or worse season away from losing his job.

That said, the Eagles will probably be better this year than most expect. But in a division in which three of four teams made the postseason in 2007 -- and the team that didn't make it was Philly -- Reid surely is feeling at least a little heat as the season approaches.

9. Eric Mangini, Jets. The Jets' coach likely has a warm rear for three reasons. First, the team didn't do very well in Mangini's second season on the job. Second, the Jets pale in comparison to their AFC East rivals in New England and to the team with which they share a stadium. Third, Mangini surely knows that his role in the Spygate scandal will require -- at a minimum -- some serious tap-dancing if and when he's ever looking for a job with another NFL team.

The team's offseason moves smack more of desperation than of a surgical effort to tweak a roster that's already close to the top of the mountain. Plus, with an unsettled quarterback race and an undercurrent of mistrust between the players and the front office, Mangini will have a hard time duplicating the unlikely playoff appearance that capped his first year on the job in 2006. If he can't return to the postseason, he'll have a hard time keeping his job.

10. Norv Turner, Chargers. The window of opportunity for the Chargers to win a Super Bowl will get narrower before it gets wider. As a result, Turner could be dropped if the team doesn't match or exceed its 2007 success.

The chances of Turner being terminated would rise significantly if the Chargers end up jockeying for the division basement with the Chiefs and the Raiders. That's an unlikely outcome, but the thought has to be in the back of Turner's mind, especially in light of the rampant calls for his head when the team limped out of the gates in 2007.

[kevinc1129]

Hopefully he can turn it around. I think the Zimmer hire is going to be the key. I love some of the stuff I was hearing coming out of the OTA's about the defense, and I do think a lot of the pieces needed are there and will fit into his schemes, especially in the secondary.

[Orange and black fanatic]

Marvin is on the hot seat but not to lose his job. Hell, Mikey held onto Shula how long? Lewis' job is not in danger unless he forces the Bengals' hand through bad behavior.

Hopefully he can turn it around. I think the Zimmer hire is going to be the key. I love some of the stuff I was hearing coming out of the OTA's about the defense, and I do think a lot of the pieces needed are there and will fit into his schemes, especially in the secondary.

I feel the same way. But the offense has got to do a better job of putting away games with time consuming drives at the end of the half and at the end of the game. I got so sick of the other team scoring right before half and the offense going 3 and out late in the 4th qtr. to give the ball back to other team after the defense had stopped just them, especially later in the season when the defense was playing better.

[Ickey44]

I don't know. Hasn't Marvin gotten a couple extensions since he's gotten here? I don't think Mikey will change anything as long as games keep selling out.

[COB]

I understand the "hot seat" tag being applied to Kiffen, Phillips, and Nolan. Ownership tried to get Kiffen to leave, Nolan almost got fired but instead lost some authority, and Phillips was pretty much hired to be fired as soon as Jerra's fair haired boy is potty trained or whatever the hell he's waiting for to put Garrett in the top spot.

But I can't see one move or statement by the Bengals' front office that would indicate Lewis is in trouble. I don't remember one thing that someone, looking through anti-Marvin lenses, could spin as indicative of Marvin being on the hot seat.

And that writer saying Marvin's handling of Chad could be the root of his eventual ouster? Complete fantasy. If anything, Marvin would have liked to have been rid of Chad some time ago. But as he said early in the season last year, Chad is the owner's favorite player, so he's not going anywhere. The huge money the Browns gave Chad after the '05 season, when his contract status in no way justified it, supports the favorite player theory.

Marvin was doing the owner's bidding by appeasing Chad, and there is no evidence that the front office is anything but 100% behind their head coach.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Marvin was doing the owner's bidding by appeasing Chad, and there is no evidence that the front office is anything but 100% behind their head coach.

Yup, too often the writers of these types of lists don't understand the front-office dynamics. On other teams, yes, Marvin would definitely be on the hot seat now. Not in Cincinnati, though.

I blame Marvin for the poor D, but not Chad. I'd bet $100 that Marvin would have loved to have gotten rid of Chad if he could have.

[membengal]

...

[ArmyBengal]

Totally disagree and I'll leave it at that...

WHODEY !!!

[Wraith]

My position on Marvin is as follows.

No other team in the NFL is saddled with an owner who refuses to hire a general manager, that has a scouting department of 3 people, and refuses to look at creative ways to bend the cap and manage their draft picks.

We do not do business like any other team in professional sports, our draft analysis should start with scouts flying out to watch practices and college football games during the season, we should be speaking with coaches during the season and developing relationships with various college coaches around the league but that is not what happens with the Bengals who don't even start the evaluation process until after the season is over where we send our assistant coaches out to Pro Day workouts and the various combines and all-star games. We start with much less information than the other 31 teams, thus we take guys on the basis of high-light reels and workouts rather than years of data gathered over three or four seasons in college football. The draft room should be devoid of assistant coaches, instead our draft room is full of guy squabbling to get their guy.

In short, this team is run like a small family business rather than a mult-million dollar (billion dollar) company and Mike Brown's inflexibility to change with time has kept this team doomed since the late eighties. I love this team, god help me, but that doesn't make me blind to inherent disadvantages that a coach accepts when he comes to head up this team. Marvin Lewis has taken these disadvantages and made a competitive team despite. I sincerely doubt there is anyone available (including Mister Cowher) that could get more out of what he has than Marvin has.

[PhunkE1]

Finally a voice of reason. I've been screaming these same sentiments for years. This orginization isn't going to change as long as old Mikey's around.

My position on Marvin is as follows.

No other team in the NFL is saddled with an owner who refuses to hire a general manager, that has a scouting department of 3 people, and refuses to look at creative ways to bend the cap and manage their draft picks.

We do not do business like any other team in professional sports, our draft analysis should start with scouts flying out to watch practices and college football games during the season, we should be speaking with coaches during the season and developing relationships with various college coaches around the league but that is not what happens with the Bengals who don't even start the evaluation process until after the season is over where we send our assistant coaches out to Pro Day workouts and the various combines and all-star games. We start with much less information than the other 31 teams, thus we take guys on the basis of high-light reels and workouts rather than years of data gathered over three or four seasons in college football. The draft room should be devoid of assistant coaches, instead our draft room is full of guy squabbling to get their guy.

In short, this team is run like a small family business rather than a mult-million dollar (billion dollar) company and Mike Brown's inflexibility to change with time has kept this team doomed since the late eighties. I love this team, god help me, but that doesn't make me blind to inherent disadvantages that a coach accepts when he comes to head up this team. Marvin Lewis has taken these disadvantages and made a competitive team despite. I sincerely doubt there is anyone available (including Mister Cowher) that could get more out of what he has than Marvin has.

[HAPPYJAQ]

I can't think of one coach out there who I think would make more of an impact than Marv. Truthfully, in recent years the only coach I was intrigued by in wondering how he would do as HC of the Bengals is Mike Tomlin but only based on the fact they he was an exciting, younger, firey, first-time coach coming off a record season....all credentials that Lewis also had at the time (minus a successful season at Washington in between his historical season in Baltimore). I am one to tell you that, for what he's done with less in a more difficult era, in a difficult situation, he might have been one of the top 3 coaches in Bengals history.

[BengalszoneBilly]

We do not do business like any other team in professional sports

You've never heard of the Arizona Cardinals then.

[Wraith]

Arizona's GM is Rod Graves who, at last check, is not related to the Bidwells in any way.

Arizona, for all their inepitude, has 10 full time scouts and 38 total people in their front office not devoted to sales (including 5 Trainers and 9 team doctors, including a team dentist and a team nutritionist). Cincinnati has 3 full time scouts and three part time consultants, three trainers and...no...doctors as full time employees. Yet they do have three whole divisions devoted to sales...does that tell you where the emphasis lies?

So, yes, the Arizona Cardinals run a more professional football organization than the Bengals.

[Sandwedge]

Arizona's GM is Rod Graves who, at last check, is not related to the Bidwells in any way.

Arizona, for all their inepitude, has 10 full time scouts and 38 total people in their front office not devoted to sales (including 5 Trainers and 9 team doctors, including a team dentist and a team nutritionist). Cincinnati has 3 full time scouts and three part time consultants, three trainers and...no...doctors as full time employees. Yet they do have three whole divisions devoted to sales...does that tell you where the emphasis lies?

So, yes, the Arizona Cardinals run a more professional football organization than the Bengals.

And what has that gotten them??

[Thurmanation]

Arizona's GM is Rod Graves who, at last check, is not related to the Bidwells in any way.

Arizona, for all their inepitude, has 10 full time scouts and 38 total people in their front office not devoted to sales (including 5 Trainers and 9 team doctors, including a team dentist and a team nutritionist). Cincinnati has 3 full time scouts and three part time consultants, three trainers and...no...doctors as full time employees. Yet they do have three whole divisions devoted to sales...does that tell you where the emphasis lies?

So, yes, the Arizona Cardinals run a more professional football organization than the Bengals.

And what has that gotten them??

A state of the art stadium.

[Wraith]

Listen, I am not argueing that the Cardinals have a good organization they too are doing something wrong though what it is is more difficult to identify because their organizational structure is more inline with the rest of the league. Their owner has given control of the football operation to a General Manager who oversees a staff of professionals that is roughly inline with the rest of the league 10-14 scouts (though I hear the Patriots have upwards of 20). There is a football operation run by football guys. The Bengals have no football operation, the team is run by an owner who has complete control over everything. The owner is the GM, the scouts are old school guys and they are managed by Jim Lippencott who has been with the organization since Paul Brown and is completely indoctrinated into the Brown-way of doing things.

Indeed the only two things that have remain consistent for the last 1/4 of a century is Mike Brown and Jim Lippencott.

[Adam-Whodey]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/pgStory?conte...p;photo=8308376

Marvin is #4 and chad is #3 on top 10 players on the hot seat. Just behind Roy Williams S Cowboys and Aaron Rodgers.

[BengalPimp]

Totally disagree and I'll leave it at that...

WHODEY !!!

I'm with you.

WHODEY !!!