NFL Coaches On The Hot Seat: Mike Singletary, Marvin Lewis Next To Go?

I've said all along that you can't buy into what owners say about the job safety of coaches on losing teams.

Jerry Jones guaranteed the safety of Wade Phillips only two weeks before he fired him. Pat Bowlen guaranteed that Josh McDaniels was safe for the balance of his contract (two more years) only a week before sending him packing yesterday.

The reality is that firing a coach is the quickest, easiest way to put a band-aid on a bad situation. The coach serves, in many cases, as a one-man scapegoat for bigger, deeper problems (Dallas' lack of anything resembling a defense, for one).

It's easier to fire a coach than to fire players.

Let's take a look at Josh McDaniels' tenure in Denver, check in on the replacements and look at three more coaches who could be in the unemployment line before season's end.

Happy Trails, Josh

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DENVER - NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Josh McDaniels of the Denver Broncos celebrates a touchdown on the sidelines against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter at INVESCO Field at Mile High on November 14, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Denver Bron

Coaching Genes

Bill Belichick protege, coordinated the New England Patriots offense during some of their best years (including their 18-1 finish in 2007).

What Went Wrong

Before and after a 6-0 start to his Bronco's tenure, this was an utter disaster.

First, McDaniels alienated star quarterback Jay Cutler, subsequently getting him dealt to Chicago for Kyle Orton. While the deal has worked out well for both teams, the bad press that the relationship between coach and player received was a black eye for the organization.

After the 6-0 start, the Broncos have only won five contests. There have been some lopsided losses and there have been a few heartbreakers.

The biggest problem, and ultimately what did McDaniels in, was the allegations that a team employee videotaped a San Francisco 49ers walk-through earlier this season. Things got worse when it became apparent that McDaniels knew about the incident and tried to cover it all up. After that, it was virtually a lock that he'd be fired.

After losing to Kansas City 10-6 on Sunday, he was let go Monday afternoon. How bad did Pat Bowlen want him gone? He fired him before he had a successor picked out. There were no head coach types on the staff, so they simply promoted running backs coach Eric Studesville to the top spot until the end of the season.

What Now?

McDaniels probably will go back to being a coordinator if someone will give him a shot. He could also go to the college ranks, but his rocky relationships with players in the NFL could be a red flag.

How About Those Replacements?

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 05: Head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, Leslie Frazier looks on from the sideline against the Buffalo Bills at the Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 5, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo

Leslie Frazier, Minnesota Vikings

Frazier is 2-0 since taking the helm of the foundering Vikings. You get a lot of Tony Dungy in Frazier, who studied under Dungy for years before moving to Minnesota to be defensive coordinator.

The Vikings are playing hard for him and respond to his quiet-but-stern leadership. For a team that looked angry and listless under Brad Childress, this qualifies as significant progress.

Frazier has been patient with Brett Favre and has also gone back to the run to allow Favre to play a more limited, caretaker role in the offense. At his age and with his massive injuries, that suits him much better.

It's a lock that he gets an interview to remain coach of the Vikings. He'll be a hot commodity anywhere else too, so he should have plenty of choices come season's end.

Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys, previously 1-7 under Wade Phillips, are 3-1 (and only a play or two from being 4-0) under interim coach Jason Garrett.

What's clear is that Garrett is holding the Cowboys' players accountable for their performance and he is leading from the front. There is a whole new discipline about Dallas that wasn't there under Phillips this season.

Dallas is playing football again.

It's a shame that it wasted a season by quitting on Phillips, but the important thing for Garrett is to keep the Cowboys on track as the season winds down and then head into the offseason with a clear list of what needs fixed (the defense) and which players need to stay or go.

The Hot Seat

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GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Mike Singletary of the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on November 29, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 27-6. (P

Mike Singletary, San Francisco 49ers

It's no lock that Samurai Mike is fired or kept.

His status is up in the air, but you have to think, if this was a playoffs-or-bust situation, that those playoff hopes have been dashed finally.

This is an interesting situation since, like Denver, there is no logical successor on staff. He's likely to go at the end of the season when owner Jed York can better evaluate coaches that are available.

Jeff Fisher, Tennessee Titans

You get the feeling that he might resign if Vince Young is kept on the roster by owner Bud Adams.

Fisher has control of who is on the roster, but there could be a showdown with Adams over the Titans' embattled signal-caller. Fisher would have no shortage of opportunities should he leave or be let go. Tennessee is reeling right now and you have to wonder if Fisher is as safe as everyone thinks.

Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions

He's not the problem, but remember the introduction information about coaches being scapegoats. The best choice for the Lions is to get more players and give Schwartz more time. But you have to wonder if Detroit can handle keeping a coach after another dismal season.

One thing to remember: If not for two bad calls, Schwartz's Lions would have two more victories.

Pack Your Bags Boys

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MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 19: Head coach Tony Sparano of the Miami Dolphins watches from the sidelines during the game against the Minnesota Vikings on September 19, 2010 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Ge

Unless something unforeseen happens in the final weeks, these three coaches are pretty likely to be looking for work next season.

Tony Sparano, Miami Dolphins

The feeling that he's in trouble has gained traction in the weeks since I first cited him as someone who was on the hot seat.

Other analysts have joined the chorus of critics. There's reason for concern. Sparano was hired by Bill Parcells, who's leaving. He's done nothing since making the playoffs during his first season in charge. He hasn't developed Chad Henne. The Dolphins can't win at home this year.

The list goes on.

Sparano probably will not. He's a good candidate to go back to coordinating, where he is excellent.

Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans

Kubiak was likely in a make-or-break situation last season until the Texans missed the playoffs only by virtue of tiebreakers.

This year, they've slid backwards.

They play in a weakened AFC South, so anything is still possible, but with a leaky defense and inconsistent offense, there's not much hope left for Houston. The Texans have made no public affirmations of job security, so it's reasonable to assume that Kubiak won't be around without a stunning turn of events in the last four games.

One Foot Out The Door: The Next Man To Go

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 25: Head Coach Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals watches the game against the New York Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium on November 25, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the Bengals 26-10. (Photo b

Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals

It's all over but the press conferences and the packing. At 2-10, the Bengals are on track for their worst record under Marvin Lewis. His team has also lost nine straight, which does him no favors when it comes to fan support or owner confidence.

Lewis seems to have lost the Bengals, but you have to ask whether or not he every really had them.

They've never had back-to-back winning records or playoff appearances. They've largely been mediocre in their non-playoff seasons. That was until this year, when they've been just plain awful.

Who takes over is anyone's guess. If Lewis is canned before the end of the season, Mike Zimmer seems the logical choice. Zimmer could also be in the mix to take over permanently if the team wants to remain in house, but I get the feeling that this team would be more apt to go outside.

Lewis could be fired at any time. No one saw the Josh McDaniels firing coming during the year, so if there's any lesson from this week, it is that you never know what will happen in the NFL.