HOME ABOUT US CONTACT US SUBSCRIBE ADVERTISE SITE MAP
|
|
HOME ABOUT US CONTACT US SUBSCRIBE ADVERTISE SITE MAP |
|
|
 |
|
Wednesday TIME: US | UK WEATHER: US | UK HOME THE NEIGHBORHOOD "Life in the UK" American Groups Essential Contacts Money Education Driving WHAT'S ON US Group Events Diary Dates Music Live FEATURES Politics blog SPORTS Features Sideline blog NFL Draft THE AMERICAN MAGAZINE ONLINE |
SIDELINE ARCHIVE Santa's Sackings January 01, 2009 Ready for the Turkey November 27, 2008 Making it to the Big Dance November 26, 2008 Brighter Days Ahead for Chargers? November 5, 2008 Unnecessary Hits To The Pocket / Upset: BYU October 17, 2008 Romo's Pause / Seattle Seahawks October 15, 2008 Weekend Prep: Red River and More October 10, 2008 College Football's 'Crossroads' Weekend October 9, 2008 Gramatical Error October 7, 2008 Turning The Page September 30, 2008 So Cal 'Quizzed — But Who Will Answer? September 26, 2008 3rd Tuesday Panic Button / Forté Yard Dash September 23, 2008 Two and Oh; Oh and Two September 22, 2008 No More NCAAffeine September 11, 2008 Week 1 College Football September 6, 2008 How To Spell Heisman / Chad Ocho Cinco September 1, 2008 Why the Favre story STILL won't go away August 18, 2008 Olympic Notes / Ricky's Still Relevant August 14, 2008 Committee Meetings August 9, 2008 Let the QB Battles Begin August 8, 2008 Slinging The Slinger — More Favre August 6, 2008 Welcome to the 2008 season July 28, 2008 Plus One May 27, 2008 Draft: The Morning After April 28, 2008 Draft: Thinking the Unthinkable April 25, 2008 Draft: Ready For The Long Haul April 23, 2008 Sofa–bound Sport April 16, 2008 Post–Winter Wonderland April 11, 2008 Six Impossible Things February 4, 2008 Brady's Misdirection Play February 3, 2008 Colorful Language January 23, 2008 Let the Romo–bashing begin: Dallas lost January 14, 2008 Bowl Bites: The Wrap January 10, 2008 All About The Coaches January 1, 2008 Bowl Bites 3 and A Communication Breakdown December 29, 2007 Bowl Bites 2 December 27, 2007 Bowl Bites 1 December 23, 2007 The Empty Chair - Coach Situations Vacant December 22, 2007 For Some, The Playoffs Are Now December 15, 2007 A Certain Lack Of Welcome December 13, 2007 Unrelated Notes November 29, 2007 Two Thanksgiving thoughts November 22, 2007 Halftime: NFC November 9, 2007 Halftime: AFC November 8, 2007 London, Part 2 / A Tale of Two Chads / A Game of Intimidation November 4, 2007 Damp Squib / Other London Notes October 29, 2007 Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em / Dolphins – The Aftermath October 23, 2007 The Dolphins Did What? October 18, 2007 Notes on the Defenses October 13, 2007 Habits to be Broken October 12, 2007 Overtime October 13, 2007 This Week's Starters October 6, 2007: USF: Covering The Spread / Fantastic Football September 27, 2007: Grossman: The Final Act? / McNabb, the Epilogue September 24, 2007: Eagles QB in Slight Controversy September 21, 2007: Leftwich's Parting Gift to Jacksonville? / Boos cruise September 18, 2007: Notre Dame M.I.A. September 16, 2007: Looking Beyond NFL Wk. 1 September 12, 2007: Best Hope For Heisman September 10, 2007: Coaching Hot Seats / AP Poll Feeling ’Appy September 7, 2007: The NFL’s Prime Cuts September 5, 2007: Michigan Falls to Killer Apps September 3, 2007: Look Out Couch / The Taint's On You, Bud September 1, 2007: |
|
SPORTS SIDELINE 
Observations, Opinion & Occasional Silliness by Richard L Gale THE EMPTY CHAIR When 'Sideline' went online, I intended to take a monthly look at NFL head coaches on the hot seat. However, that idea fell by the wayside and, last week, was overtaken by the first coaching move of the season. I will, however, take a look at something like a hot seat list in a minute, if only because there's now blood in the water. As soon as one coach goes, and a position opens up, seats elsewhere are turned up a notch. Coordinators enter the picture for the vacant position. Coveted ex–coaches start to field questions about whether they are ready to come back to the NFL. And rival owners get to thinking whether the coach about to go to that other team might not look better on his or her own sideline. Ironically, Bobby Petrino wasn't actually on a hot seat, even if he was shifting uneasily in it. Falcons owner Arthur Blank had voiced his support for Petrino to a live national audience only the day before Petrino decided to quit, effectively icing the blowtorches some of the Falcons players had been firing under their first–year coaches chair. And yet, the chair is empty, with a 90–word letter that amounts to little more than 'Goodbye. All the best, Bob.' The media has been vicious about Petrino's exit, decrying him as the lowest of the low or a traitor or a coward. My reaction was a little more sympathetic (but only a little). Like many people who have had more than, say, four jobs, I can recall a time when I made a career misstep, moving to an environment where there was an 'atmosphere', if not from day one, then from even before that. Being the manager in such a situation, you either find the magic combination to unlock better times or, more likely, get dragged into the thick of it, becoming the lightning rod for criticism. At this point, ownership either has to side with their appointed leader, or jettison him. Alternatively, ownership does nothing, the manager/coach realises the situation is futile and leaves, or becomes accustomed to never–ending misery for all concerned. Petrino's error was to leave just when Arthur Blank had made it apparent – on Monday Night Football no less – that he had his back. And at that point any sympathy I have for Petrino's situation in Atlanta went clean out of the window. Only an idiot would walk away from an employer as supportive and generous as Arthur Blank. If Blank looked and sounded stung this past week, just consider how two of his highest–paid employees – Petrino and Vick – have treated him this year. And don't get me started on Bill Parcells piling it on. One rumor has it that San Francisco linebackers coach Mike Singletary might be in the frame for the Atlanta job. While Singletary certainly lacks long coaching experience – he is in his fifth year as an assistant coach – his status as an iconic Hall of Fame player, and his reputation as a leader and man of outstanding character have already seen him shortlisted for head coaching positions in the NFL (Dallas, San Diego), and it is only a matter of time before he does become a head coach. For Blank, Singletary might be the perfect antidote for the poisons of '07. SITUATIONS (ALMOST) VACANT Okay, not precisely a 'hot seat' list, but instead a highly speculatory list of situations likely to be vacant at the end of this season or possibly becoming vacant next season, either through firings, contract terminations, or moonlit flits. 1. Atlanta Falcons Before we lock Singletary in for the Falcons job, consider this. Interim Coach Emmitt Thomas is business–like, has the respect of players and owner, and unlike Petrino, has been through the years of hope before the disaster. Like Singletary, he has a superbowl ring as a player, and has 22 years more experience as an assistant coach (earning two more rings in the process). He will be a finalist for the 2008 Class of the Hall of Fame. Maybe this job isn't as open as it looks. 2. Carolina Panthers If John Fox came into the season on the hot seat – and with the Panthers slipping ever further away from the Superbowl, that was certainly the case – then his pants are glowing right now. Even with the unexpected victory over the Seahawks, it just feels like the Panthers are waiting for the next chapter to begin, though I wouldn't be surprised if Fox turned up somewhere else next year or the year after. 3. Miami Dolphins From his address to the fans following the Ginn selection to the 0–13 start, Cam Cameron has done little to distinguish himself as a head coach thus far. A win over the Ravens changes little, and with Bill Parcells supplying a new face up the hierarchy, Cameron's suitability will at least be reassessed. Of course, beating the Patriots would make him a hero. Realistically, he is a coach in jeopardy even after only one season. 4. San Francisco 49ers Mike Nolan has fallen out with QB Alex Smith, and that means one of these two is turning into a bad investment. Ownership might like to take soundings on which one the rest of the players think is the weak link (now that players seem to have sway over their coaches). The team was expected to make the breakthrough and challenge for the playoffs this year, but they have looked like one of the league's worst instead. 5. Cincinnati Bengals Three times in four years, the Bengals have finished 8–8 with Marvin Lewis running the show, and in his fifth year, 8–8 would be a blessing. Instead, they're at 5–9. If there is any suggestion that good times are just around the corner, it is that the arrest rate for Bengals players has plummeted, but Coach Lewis will need asbestos pants to ride out another offseason. 6. Philadelphia Eagles Andy Reid's sons are not the issue here (he does have offspring who don't get into trouble, by the way), but clearly this is not a team that is going to be in the hunt in a perennial way, as they have been. And it is during this sort of lull that change happens. Don't be too surprised if McNabb and Reid leave Philadelphia, though both will find second homes. 7. Washington Joe Gibbs is a legend, and for that reason alone, he won't be run out of town by the fans ...even if his coaching decisions this year have been error–prone. None the less, a 10–win season next year is probably needed to beat the heat. 8=. Detroit Lions 8=. New York Giants The Lions have already completed their collapse, and the Giants are going through the process. Both seemed to be in strong playoff contention early in the season. Rod Marinelli's job is probably the safer of the two, if only because Matt Millen would almost certainly have to go too if yet another coaching change is made. If the new caring, sharing, touchy–feely version of Tom Coughlin doesn't close the playoff deal with the Giants he'll be gone, because we've already tried the hard–line version. 10. St Louis Rams Terrible record when some people though the team might challenge for the playoffs? Check! Downward trend? Check! Falling out with one of your key stars (in this case, apparently Torry Holt)? Check! The decimation of the Rams offensive line may be Scott Linehan's only defense for now. Also in the mix Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets (3rd years almost certainly guaranteed); Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos (how long since those Superbowl rings?) For the future Chicago Bears I don't realistically think Lovie Smith is going anywhere soon after signing a long–term contract in the offseason, but his inert expression on the sideline when his offense repeatedly stalls itself with penalties certain bugs the heck out of me. I'd sure like to see him looking more frustrated than resigned. |
  |