An NFL Head Coaching Vacancy: Coming to a Team Near You

The National Football league is like a coaching carousel. Coaches come and go every couple of years and rarely do coaches stay for several years. Players no longer get attached to one particular coach because he will be fired or leaving before long. This off-season was supposed to bring stability for head coaches after 10 new head coaches were hired. However, this off-season more coaches are getting the ax than expected and a few coaches are walking away from the NFL.

Starting with the Cardinals, they fired Denis Green after three seasons in which his best season had a 6-10 record. His two other seasons he had 5 wins. This team was supposed to compete this year with an improved defense and Pro Bowl running back Edgarrin James who signed a big contract with the Cardinals. The Cardinals also drafted USC quarterback Matt Leinart with the tenth pick of the draft and at wide receiver they have talent with Anquin Boldin. This team did not meet expectations and Denis Green got the axe.

Next came Jim Mora Jr. of the Falcons, a team that finished with a 7-9 record. The Falcons expected big tings this year after signing some key free agents like pass rusher John Abraham to a big contract. However, he was injured most of the year and even though Michael Vick had his best season gaining rushing yards, he has yet to emerge as an elite quarterback in the NFL. The ranking of this once proud defense fell. In addition, Jim Mora said on a talk show that he would love to coach the Washington college team and I think Jim Mora knew that if his team didn't make the playoffs he was going to get fired. Sure enough he did.

One of the biggest surprises of the off-season was Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban who repeatedly said that he would not coach the Alabama Tide when he had one year left on his Miami Dolphins contract. Sure enough, he took almost 32 million dollars in a contract with the Tide to go back to football. Saban's record in the NFL was only 15-17 in 3 seasons and he just liked college football much better where he was a winner.

In perhaps the biggest surprise of the off-season, Steelers coach bill Cower announced his resignation after 16 years as the Steelers coach. Last year he guided his team to the Super Bowl but this year he looked worn out and old, despite being only in his 50s. Pittsburgh also failed to make the playoffs this year. There is still speculation that in a couple of years, Bill Cower may return to pro football.

Other coaches on the hot seat include Romeo Crenel who coaches the underachieving Browns franchise and Art Shell of the Oakland Raiders who is almost certainly done with his tenure after only one season. Oakland finished with 2 wins the entire season and Art Shell wants to go back into retirement after this dreadful season.