A few months ago, few would've predicted Chicago's Lovie Smith, left, and Detroit's Jim Schwartz would be on the coaching hot seat. (Photo: Julian H. Gonzalez, Detroit Free Press) Before this season, it was difficult to imagine there'd be a lot of coaching changeover. Not with all of these coaches in their first or second years, as well as many having experienced success in recent years. But this is the NFL. The win-now mentality, combined with an unprecedented shift in front-office types, could result in roughly 10 head-coaching firings on Black Monday and beyond. One executive predicted a possible "seismic shift in the NFL" — with coaches and assistants moving between NFL teams and (with the strong rumblings of Oregon's Chip Kelly getting into the mix) between the college and pro ranks. Here's a look at the coaches on the hot seat, as well as some who are already reported to be on their way out: Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles The season unraveled so early that the Eagles' fan base never had a chance to get to the point of appreciating the Reid era before he left town. Reason to fire: It's time. We all know it. Reason to keep: Well, because he's still probably going to be a good coach for a long time. But again, somewhere else. Leading candidate: We've been hearing the Chip Kelly stuff all along, too. But keep an ear out for Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, who is regarded highly in the Eagles' building. PHOTOS: Best of Week 17 Dennis Allen, Oakland Raiders Midway through their schedule, the Raiders were 3-4 and facing what seemed to be a pretty soft run of opponents. They lost the next six games. That stretch is why Allen is on this list. Reason to fire: There just haven't been a lot of positives coming out of Oakland this season. No bright spots in a dark year. Reason to keep: It might not be his fault there haven't been any of those bright spots. He and GM Reggie McKenzie inherited a mess. Leading candidate: Owner Mark Davis isn't happy with the results but is trying to be more patient than his late father Al. So we like Allen's chances to stick. Romeo Crennel, Kansas City Chiefs It was a small sample late last season – victories over the then-undefeated Green Bay Packers and the playoff-bound Denver Broncos, plus an overtime loss to the Oakland Raiders – that convinced the Chiefs to remove the interim tag from Crennel after the firing of Todd Haley. The larger sample that has followed has not been pretty. Reason to fire: He's had one winning record in five full seasons as a head coach. Reason to keep: We can't really find one. Leading candidate: Well, this depends on whether GM Scott Pioli sticks. If so, his connections to Josh McDaniels and Kirk Ferentz will push their names to the top of the list. If Pioli is gone, who knows? Chan Gailey, Buffalo Bills Gailey had two decent regular seasons with the Dallas Cowboys in 1998-99 (10-6 and 8-8) but they included one-and-done in the postseason both years. The Bills would've gladly taken as much. Instead, they got no better than a 6-10 mark from Gailey. Reason to fire: Winning just a third of one's games won't cut it. Not even in Buffalo. Reason to keep: Fear of a weak market leading to an even less qualified coach. Leading candidate: This is one of the least desirable jobs, perhaps best suited for a first-time coach hoping for any head-coaching gig. A reunion with New York Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell (a Bills assistant and interim head coach in 2009) might make sense. Mike Mularkey, Jacksonville Jaguars Hired in January. Fired in December? What a business. Reason to fire: The need to bring in a big name to revive interest in that organization. Reason to keep: Can a guy get comfortable first? Leading candidate: They wanted to talk to Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden last year before hiring Mularkey. Gruden wasn't interested. Maybe they'll make another run at him. Mike Munchak, Tennessee Titans According to The Tennessean, he's safe, but ... Reason to fire: When this team has lost this season, it has lost badly – seven defeats by two touchdowns or more, with the 55-7 embarrassment in Green Bay last week an exclamation point. Reason to keep: A 90-year-old owner might be reluctant to make another change. Plus, injuries to the offensive line, Jake Locker's stunted progress and the in-season firing of offensive coordinator Chris Palmer ruined the season. Perhaps Munchak deserves a shot to show what he can do if it's all corrected. Leading candidate: Munchak. Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers His is one of the oddest coaching careers to understand: Hot head-coaching candidate while with the Bears, fired by Chicago, hot again while defensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers, struggling head coach with the Panthers last year, struggling again early this year and now rallying to prove to owner Jerry Richardson and the incoming GM he should stick. Reason to fire: All of the inconsistency just mentioned. Reason to keep: The rally just mentioned. Though it should be noted, the Atlanta Falcons, whom the Panthers beat, are the only winning team the Panthers have played since going 1-5 in six straight against teams with winning records previously. Leading candidate: Fewell was a runner-up to Rivera two years ago and impressed Richardson in interviews. And if the new GM is Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross, that will help Fewell. Rex Ryan, New York Jets Rex, Rex, Rex. What happened? This team was such a bombastic force. It played the way you talked – brash, confident and unaware they were supposed to kowtow to the New England Patriots. And now, it's an absolute mess. Reason to fire: This entire organization needs direction, and Ryan isn't providing any right now. Reason to keep: The bigger problem is the roster GM Mike Tannenbaum assembled. Leading candidate: The old Rex Ryan, not this phony, cuddly Rex. Bring back the Rex who vowed his team will "take a swipe at two of yours" if you take a swipe at one of his. Time to unleash him again. Pat Shurmur, Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Plain-Dealer is already reporting Shurmur, as well as GM Tom Heckert, will be fired Monday. If so, it wouldn't be a surprise, seeing as how new CEO Joe Banner and owner Jimmy Haslam have been intent on making major changes. Reason to fire: Banner wants his own, hand-picked guy under the headset. Reason to keep: Shurmur has made this team pretty competitive down the stretch. Leading candidate: We hear Banner is hot for Kelly. Could there be a bidding war between him and his former co-worker in Philly, Eagles GM Howie Roseman? Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions ESPN reported last week he was safe. And then, ESPN reported on Sunday he wasn't. Schwartz has three more years left on his deal, so expect him to stick. Reason to fire: Discipline has been an issue in Detroit. Reason to keep: Schwartz led the team to a 10-6 record in 2011 – the first time the Lions hit double-digit wins since 1995. Leading candidate: Schwartz. Book it. Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears One of the more outstanding character guys to be named an NFL head coach, Smith has a tenuous hold on his job. GM Phil Emery has said there have been no talks of an extension, which is troubling for Smith. He has had five winning seasons and took the Bears to a Super Bowl in his nine-year run. Reason to fire: They went from midseason Super Bowl contender to late-season scrambler for a playoff spot. Perhaps that's the best indication they'll be good, but not great, under Smith. Reason to keep: He's a well-respected coach in the locker room. He still has the ears of his players. Leading candidate: This would be a tremendous landing spot for the Indianapolis Colts' Bruce Arians, the interim head coach who is back to being offensive cordinator. Jay Cutler could use an offensive-minded, quarterback-friendly head coach. Norv Turner, San Diego Chargers How does Marty Schottenheimer's 14-2 record in 2006 look now? Good enough that he should've been retained instead of booted out the door for Turner, who hasn't won a playoff game in the last four years. Reason to fire: "http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/#FireNorv" has been a popular hashtag on Twitter for a while now. The people have spoken. Reason to keep: He's a respected offensive mind and play-caller who will surely be hired as a coordinator soon. Leading candidate: This has been the spot ticketed for Reid, who has a house in Southern California. And if it's not Reid, a suggestion for the Chargers: Keep an eye on Ken Whisenhunt, who could help resurrect Philip Rivers the way he reinvented Kurt Warner. Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals Three years ago, Whisenhunt and the Cards were coming off their second straight winning season. In the first of those two seasons, they went to – and nearly won – the Super Bowl. One year later, they won a playoff game before being knocked out by the New Orleans Saints. But now, well, these are the Cardinals we've gotten to know over the years. Reason to fire: Frankly, we don't think there's a good one, other than the record. Reason to keep: That record is in large part due to the fact the guy hasn't been given a legit quarterback since Kurt Warner. And when he had him, they almost won it all. Leading candidate: If the Cardinals want to make a change, they should promote defensive coordinator Ray Horton, who will be on other teams' lists. Story Highlights
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Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2012/12/30/nfl-coaches-on-the-hot-seat-black-monday-andy-reid-norv-turner-romeo-crennel/1798881/
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