Mike Singletary Is The Fourth NFL Head Coach Fired During The Season

by Josh Kirkendall on Dec 27, 2010 10:40 AM EST

The count is up to four head coaches fired during the season after the San Francisco 49ers announced that Mike Singletary was terminated (not by the T-800 series) from his contract Sunday night. According to Jason La Canfora, the former 49ers head coach refused to resign following San Francisco's 25-17 loss to the St. Louis Rams that eliminated the 49ers from the playoffs. Dallas' Wade Phillips, Minnesota's Brad Childress and Denver's Josh McDaniels preceded Singletary's firing with many other head coaches facing the firing squad at the end of this season.

According to Peter King, as many as seven head coaches could join the four fired this year, including Carolina's John Fox, Miami's Tony Sparano, Houston's Gary Kubiak, Cleveland's Eric Mangini, Tennessee's Jeff Fisher and New York's Tom Coughlin. Marvin Lewis is another because his contract is expiring after this season. King writes:

Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis will see his contract expire after next week, he's been lobbying hard for an indoor practice facility (which owner Mike Brown doesn't want to hear), and it's probably time for a change there.

There's more support for the Bengals moving in a different direction from Lewis after this season. However, we argued that Lewis could remain as the Bengals head coach in the foreseeable future and even Lewis thinks that there's more to do before his time in Cincinnati is over -- though we're fully aware of coach-speak.

One thing that should be taken into consideration is that even during Cincinnati's 10-game losing streak, the players never stopped fighting when they had every reason to. Then the Bengals were 2-9, it took a Pat Sims offsides for the New Orleans Saints to take the lead and beat Cincinnati. Even though the score doesn't reflect it, Cincinnati played Pittsburgh tough and the Atlanta Falcons nearly lost their only game of the year at home to the Bengals when Cincinnati went on a terrorizing 22-point explosion in the third quarter to take the lead.

Being competitive and fighting is one thing while winning is another. Justifying losses means nothing in the grand scheme of sports. But it also gives Marvin Lewis clout with the Bengals ending the season on a high note. If the Brown family really wants Lewis to return -- and we can make more arguments that for his return that they might make -- then the Bengals head coach will have the ultimate captain's chair for everyone that wishes this franchise to change. Hate him or love him, Lewis has a far greater chance than any fan movement to make substantial change with sustenance.

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Most of us have experienced a grudge f**k either on the receiving end or the giving end by/to folks close to us. The later is most satisfying of course and is empowering for awhile. But beware the glited party has just received a mandate for revenge. Consider a case specific to the Bengals….Bill Walsh is passed up by Paul Brown, goes to SF and wins several Super Bowls. So, some of the coaches cut loose this year during or after the season, including ML, may eventually come back to bite us.

Advice, why not? Give ML his head and let him run with it, cut Brat and other coaches who were not of ML’s choosing and let him choose players he wants both in the draft and via FA. I can’t be sure but I think ML has had a major influence in our draft picks in recent years and has been successful. I get the indoor facility idea but working in that environment sure paid off last Sunday.

Now for the other side. If you know the relationship is over set them free and move on. new coaching blood and direction takes time to mature but could right the ship. Familiarity breeds contempt and lack of creativity. With a new qualified experienced HC fresh ideas and vision from the outside can work to success.

Ok….. Whodey what say you?

by sofakingood on Dec 27, 2010 11:33 AM EST reply actions