Dec 29 2008
Three Down
The NFL is a “Prove Yourself” league that does not have time to wait for a coach, unless you work for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In that case, if it is the first Monday after the end of the season, you better be prepared to be fired if your fans are screaming for your head.
Fans dictate a certain amount of respect when it comes to an organizations decisions, whether good or bad, they are the people shelling out their hard earned money. So here is a minor evaluation of the three head coaches that were fired today.
Romeo Crennel: The Cleveland Browns were supposed to be a top rising team in the NFL after having a 10-6 season in 2007, but only went 4-12 in 2008. Crennel had his choice of troubled moments this year, so really this move is not very shocking.
Romeo has a shot a becoming a defensive coordinator in another organization in the NFL if he decides to do so. The Browns are another story, they are quite disfunctional and have also fired their general manager as well. Crennel went 24-20 in his four seasons with the Browns.
Eric Mangini: The New York media ate up this former Bill Belichick assistant, naming him the “Mangenious” after leading the Jets to a 10-6 record three years ago. Mangini would follow that up with a 4-12 season in 2007 and a 9-7 record in 2008.
It wasn’t so much that he has only 9 wins this season, it’s the fact that expectations were so high with the trade for Brett Favre that he could not live up to them. A Super Bowl team the Jets were not and Mangini paid the price. Mangini, like Crennel, will likely be a defensive coordinator in another organization, if not a head coach.
Rod Marinelli: 0-16. That is all you have to say for Marinelli. It’s really sad to see someone fail so badly at what he does. Marinelli did go through this painful season with class and dignity that can only be admired for someone in his situation.
Marinelli is known for his defensive mind, and will likely turn up as a defensive coordinator somewhere, but it is highly doubtful anyone will want to hire the first head coach to ever go 0-16 for a head coaching job in the near future.
Overall, these moves were expected, but Mangini has to come as a shocker to most as he is only two years removed from being dubbed a “Genious”. These will not be the only teams to make coaching moves, as organizations will likely continue to shuffle their coaches in the coming weeks.
J.M.Saucedo
