‘Tis the season to be bloody. At least in the NFL it is. No, I’m not talking about the carnage on the field as the best of the best battle to make it to and win the Super Bowl. This time of year, as the league transitions from its regular-season to the playoffs, is when head coaches lose their jobs. The process is often quick and clean as if done by a symbolic guillotine. Here are the first of what should be a bloody post-season trail.
No Juliet to be Found
Romeo Crennel: “Oh, where for art thou, Romeo?” You are no longer the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. You were there for five years and for whatever reason, you were never able to get your talented teams to play to their potential. Many experts predicted that this was the year for the Browns to supplant the Pittsburgh Steelers as the top team in the AFC North. Well, not only did Cleveland not finish first, they lost their final four games, allowing them to clinch last place in their division. These Browns, who went 4- 12 this season, are so blue they’re in intensive care.
Jet-tisoned
Eric Mangini: Yes, Mangini, is out! He who made his head coaching mark by accusing Bill Belichick of illegally using video cameras to steal coaching signals during a game. He of Spygate. He who many called “cry baby” and “poor sport” now has another title—“unemployed.” Mangini was at the helm of the New York Jets for three seasons, going 23- 26. In the final game of this season, he was unable to beat the Miami Dolphins. If the Jets had won, they would have made the playoffs, and he’d still be employed. Here’s a thought—prior to going to the Jets, Mangini was a coordinator for the Patriots’ Bill Belichick. Do you think after Spygate and all the bad blood, coach Bill might offer Mangini a spot on his team again? Think Belichick can show some good will and Christmas spirit and forgive and forget regarding Mangini and Spygate? Can you say, “Bah humbug?”
A Season of Firsts
Rod Marinelli: It’s hard to believe that the Detroit Lions would fire Rod Marinelli after he put in a record-breaking season. Marinelli is the first NFL coach to take a team through a perfect season. (Did I mention that it was a perfect “losing” season?) Talk about the season of discontent. Marinelli’s Lions redefined “bad” and “humiliation” in the NFL. In his final game against the Green Bay Packers, the head coach saw his defense allow a double-double. The porous Detroit “D” let two Packer rushers each run for 100-plus yards and two Packer receivers each accumulate more than 100-plus yards in catches. That’s another NFL record! Marinelli, who in three seasons with the Lions was 10- 28, goes out a record-breaker!
The unemployment rate of the NFL always tends to spike at the end of the season and this year looks to be no different. Things are tough on and off the gridiron.