Hot Seat Watch for NFL Players, Coaches After Week 11

With another week in the books—and the NFL postseason drawing nearer—it's starting to become clearer and clearer which coaches, general managers and players find themselves on the hot seat.

The criteria for this list is simple: If the coach, general manager or player is struggling mightily, and the team is performing poorly and not going to make the playoffs, then it's fair to say he is on the hot seat. And the speculation of their job status can officially begin, with media reports factoring into the aforementioned speculation.

Here is the hot-seat watch for NFL players, coaches and general managers after Week 11.

Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese, HC and GM, New York Giants

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

Why They're on the Hot Seat: The 2014 New York Giants aren't your average, run-of-the-mill dumpster fire.

Oh, no. They're so much more than that. They're a heaping, disgusting, noisome mountain of trash that has been doused in kerosene before being set ablaze.

And ultimately, there are two men who should pay with their jobs: head coach Tom Coughlin and general manager Jerry Reese.

The Giants have now lost five consecutive games to drop to 3-7 and all but extinguish their flickering playoff hopes. In an ultra-competitive NFC, Big Blue has proven to be incompetent and unworthy of hanging with the big boys. This past Sunday's 16-10 loss to the 49ers encapsulated that fact.

Let's start with Reese, the architect of the flawed and faulty roster. While Coughlin certainly hasn't done his job (more on him coming up), the bottom line is that the Giants aren't good enough to contend. The roster simply isn't of a sufficient quality and is lacking at just about every level.

In other words: The team stinks.

The offensive line is atrocious, the linebackers have been an albatross for years, and Reese hasn't had a truly successful draft since his legendary 2007 class. He hasn't done a good enough job and needs to be fired at season's end.

As we wrote last week, Coughlin, 68, is perhaps the finest coach in team history, and a probable Hall of Famer. No Giants fan will ever forget the team's two Super Bowl triumphs under Coughlin's watch. But it's clearly time for Big Blue to make a coaching change.

Coughlin's message is no longer ringing clear, and really, how could an intelligent argument to the contrary be constructed? Since the team's last Super Bowl title (following the 2011 season), the Giants are 19-23 and have qualified for the postseason zero times. Coughlin preaches ball security, yet his quarterback, Eli Manning, threw five interceptions in Sunday's loss to San Francisco.

Plus, the man Coughlin hired to "fix" his offense after former coordinator Kevin Gilbride "retired," Ben McAdoo, has been an abject disaster. McAdoo's play-calling by the goal line in the closing moments of Sunday's game would merit capital punishment in some countries. He actually called three straight fade passes—that was a thing that happened. It was a joke of epic proportion, and the rest of the league surely shared a hearty laugh at the Giants' expense.

Reese and Coughlin deserve a ton of credit for the job they've done in their time together, and they should be remembered fondly. But if this season has proven anything, it's that the message has grown stale, the talent level isn't up to par, and sweeping changes are needed on Broadway.

Prediction: Reese will be fired, and Coughlin will step down.

When Will It Happen: Reese will be fired on Black Monday, and Coughlin will announce his resignation plans as the season winds down.

Eli Manning, Quarterback, New York Giants

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat: Although he'll go down as one of the most revered athletes in the history of New York sports, it's fair to wonder if Giants quarterback Eli Manning's best days are behind him.

We'd say that Manning was dreadful in Sunday's loss to the 49ers, but really, that would be an insult to the word dreadful and people who are actually dreadful. In order to reach dreadful, Manning would have had to ascend about 30 levels—his performance was more of the cataclysmic variety.

Manning threw five interceptions in one of the more inept performances you'll ever see from a quarterback. While it's true that his offensive line gave him little chance to succeed, Manning didn't make good decisions, threw off his back foot and tossed the football with such reckless abandon that even Jay Cutler's face twisted into a sly grin.

Since the start of the 2013 season, Manning has tossed 36 touchdown passes against 38 interceptions. That's not good, especially for a quarterback earning a base salary of over $15 million this season.

In addition, it seems as if Manning's magic has officially run out. Not too long ago, Giants fans always felt like their team had a chance as long as the game was close in the fourth quarter, and it was because Manning possessed an almost otherworldly ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. But in the past few seasons, it's been quite the opposite, as Manning now tosses away wins as easily as an interception right in the arms of an opposing linebacker or safety.

With Manning set to enter the final year of his contract—and count for $19.75 million against the cap in the process—it's time to ponder whether he's reached the end of the road in New York. How long can the Giants keep trotting out Manning when he's clearly regressed as a passer and overall player?

As B/R's Patricia Traina wrote, it's exceedingly unlikely that Manning will be replaced going into next season, and it's also reasonable to believe that Manning's fortunes could and would improve with a more talented supported cast.

But the fact that we're discussing his potential ouster from New York—after two Super Bowl championships in the past eight seasons—speaks volumes.

Manning hasn't been good enough. And one more subpar season will almost surely spell the end of his tenure in a Giants uniform.

Prediction: Manning will enter 2015 as the team's starting quarterback.

When Will It Happen: His status as the team's franchise quarterback will never truly be in doubt—until next year.

Brian Hoyer, Quarterback, Cleveland Browns

David Richard/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat: Did you watch this past Sunday's game against the Houston Texans? Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer was atrocious, completing only 20 of 50 passes for 330 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

And while those numbers aren't truly awful (Eli Manning made Hoyer look like Joe Montana by comparison)—and while it's true that Hoyer has led the Browns to a 6-4 record—there are a number of extenuating circumstances that have turned up the temperature on Hoyer's previously lukewarm seat.

The first one is obvious: the presence of rookie signal-caller Johnny Manziel. Regardless of how well Hoyer has played, the fact of the matter is that coach Mike Pettine, general manager Ray Farmer and, most importantly, owner Jimmy Haslam drafted Manziel in the first round of this past May's draft to be the eventual franchise quarterback. And with every clunker turned in by Hoyer, the calls for Manziel's insertion into the lineup only intensify.

The second is Hoyer's tenuous contract situation. He's set to become a free agent at season's end, and the Browns haven't been in any great hurry to sign him to a long-term deal. And according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Texans and Titans would reportedly be interested in Hoyer should he end up reaching the market. If Hoyer's camp was positive he'd be retained by the Browns with a sufficient contract, there's no way a report like that would hit the airwaves. But with Hoyer's future nebulous in Cleveland, he'd be insane to not at least look into the potential of other opportunities.

For now, the job belongs to Hoyer. Sunday's disaster notwithstanding, he's performed admirably this season, particularly without the services of star receiver Josh Gordon. And with Gordon set to return to the lineup this coming Sunday in Atlanta, it's possible that Hoyer will really take off and never look back as the team's starter.

But if the Browns falter down the stretch and miss the postseason, how in the world can they justify signing Hoyer to a long-term deal and keeping Manziel tethered to the bench? It just wouldn't make sense.

One way or another, the situation will rectify itself over the next few weeks. And it remains to be seen if Hoyer, the hometown kid, will earn an opportunity to quarterback the Browns for years to come.

Prediction: Hoyer will eventually lose his job to Manziel and move on to another team, where he'll earn an opportunity to compete to start.

When Will It Happen: In 2015

Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Washington

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat: To paraphrase the movie Anchorman, the degree to which Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III is tone deaf doesn't even make us mad—it's reached the point where it's almost amazing.

After yet another hideous effort in which Griffin turned the ball over twice and took six sacks in a 27-7 loss to the atrocious Buccaneers, the artist formerly known as "RG3" stood in front of the assembled news media and delivered gem after gem.

Consider this postgame quote from Griffin, per Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post:

"

It takes 11 men. It doesn’t take one guy, and that’s proven. If you want to look at the good teams in this league and the great quarterbacks, the Peytons and the Aaron Rodgers, those guys don’t play well if their guys don’t play well. They don’t. We need everybody. I need every one of those guys in that locker room, and I know they’re looking at me saying the same thing.

"

Um. Really?

Griffin invokes the names of Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers, but does anyone truly believe that Manning or Rodgers would say anything even remotely as stupid as what Griffin uttered? No. A true franchise quarterback will fall on the sword without any further qualification, and after the events of the past couple of years, one thing is abundantly clear—Griffin is no longer a franchise quarterback.

Griffin is now 0-3 as the team's starter this season (in games he has started and completed), and he is obviously not the same player he was in his spectacular rookie campaign in 2012. It's fair to wonder if he'll ever reach that level again, and the smart money is on no.

If Washington crashes and burns to close out the season, Griffin's time in our nation's capital could end up drawing to a close.

Prediction: Griffin will keep his job for the remainder of the season...

When Will It Happen: ...but Washington will bring in legitimate competition for the job this offseason. And by legitimate, we don't mean Kirk Cousins.

Reggie McKenzie, General Manager, Oakland Raiders

Stephen Brashear/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat: To paraphrase the movie Office Space, those familiar with the entire catalog of Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie are not surprised to see him make this list—again.

After suffering yet another loss—the franchise's 16th consecutive defeat—the Raiders are now 0-10 and look poised to become only the second team in the NFL's modern era to complete a 0-16 season. Take a gander at Oakland's remaining schedule—Kansas City (this Thursday night), at St. Louis, San Francisco, at Kansas City, Buffalo and at Denver—and try to convince yourself that the Silver and Black will win any of those contests.

If and when the Raiders go 0-16, there can be no recourse for Raiders owner Mark Davis—he must dismiss the hapless, clueless and overmatched McKenzie.

Since taking over as the team's general manager prior to the 2012 season, McKenzie has fired his handpicked coach (the deposed Dennis Allen) and watched his teams stumble and bumble to a pathetic record of 8-34.

8-34! How is that even possible?

Monday marks 365 days since Oakland's last win. It's now been a full calendar year since the Raiders last achieved victory. Pride and poise? Ha! Just win, baby? Don't make me laugh. This three-ring circus isn't worthy of such mantras, and the ringmaster, McKenzie, should be escorted from the premises immediately.

The talent level throughout the roster is an embarrassment and an affront to professional football. Forget about the AFC West—there are teams in the SEC West that would trot out more fantasy football starters than Oakland's pathetic offense.

With the Raiders set to hire a new head coach at season's end (if you believe interim coach Tony Sparano will return, we have an island in the Caribbean to sell you), Davis must do right by his long-suffering fanbase and fire McKenzie.

Anything else would only further tarnish the legacy of Mark's father—the late, great Al Davis—and incite further anger and worse, indifference, from the team's proud fans.

Prediction: Once Davis realizes no head coach worth a damn will come to Oakland with McKenzie in charge, he'll dismiss his clueless general manager.

When Will It Happen: On Black Monday (the day after Week 17's NFL Sunday), or whenever Jon Gruden tells Davis to do it.

Ron Rivera, Head Coach, Carolina Panthers

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat: Do you remember when Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera was bestowed with the nickname "Riverboat Ron" for his wild and zany fourth-down attempts last season? The Panthers went 12-4 and won the NFC South, and good times were had by all.

Well, the aforementioned riverboat has sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. And Rivera's coaching career in Carolina could still follow suit.

After the team's fifth consecutive loss—a soul-sucking 19-17 home defeat at the hands of the Falcons—the Panthers exposed themselves to the world as a team ticketed for the top 10 of this upcoming May's draft.

While it's true that it isn't fair to pin all of the blame on Rivera—especially considering the horrendous job done this offseason by general manager Dave Gettleman in improving the roster—Rivera's coaching chops can certainly be called into question given the inexcusable manner in which they're losing games.

As detailed in this column from Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, Rivera got way too conservative down the stretch of Sunday's loss to Atlanta, belying his ridiculous nickname and lowering his team's chances of achieving victory. His lackadaisical approach led to a Graham Gano missed field goal from 46 yards out, handing victory over to the Falcons. 

Consider these quotes from Panthers receiver Jason Avant, a veteran of nine NFL seasons, who said that the Panthers could have been "a little more aggressive" (per Person) and that, "I’ve been in the league a long time. I know two things. You never want to give a team a chance to win a game, with how much time was left on the clock. And asking a kicker to make a 50-yard field goal with the game on the line is rough sledding."

Yikes. If that isn't a major indictment on his head coach, we don't know what is.

Because Rivera signed a contract extension through 2017 at the conclusion of last year, it's unlikely that he'll be removed from his post, but if the team continues its free fall, all bets are off.

Prediction: Rivera will return as the team's head coach...

When Will It Happen: ...but will enter 2015 on a hot seat doused in kerosene.

Doug Marrone, Head Coach, Buffalo Bills

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat: This one is simple: With a new owner (Terry Pegula) in town, it only makes sense that Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone must make the postseason to save his job.

Consider the facts: The Bills haven't made the playoffs since 1999, the NFL's longest and most futile streak. If you were Pegula—and you watched the team you just bought miss the postseason for the 15th straight year—wouldn't you at least look into the possibility of, you know, hiring your own coach and general manager? What a novel concept!

From the moment Marrone and general manager Doug Whaley swung the draft-day trade to acquire receiver Sammy Watkins—dealing away their first- and fourth-round picks in the 2015 draft, a truly asinine move—the temperature on their collective seat started to rise.

And after this past Thursday night's debacle in Miami, it's begun to reach a boil.

Marrone and Whaley went all in on 2014 with the Watkins trade, and from their perspective, it was an understandable move. If both men were smart enough to become an NFL head coach and general manager, then both men were smart enough to know that they needed a playoff appearance this year to save their jobs. But there's no way that the long-term interests of the Bills were in mind when the deal was made.

The Bills are now 5-5 with games still remaining against the Broncos, Packers and Patriots, which probably means they'll go 8-8 at best. Will that be good enough to make the AFC postseason? Most likely not.

And it's not as if the team has a young quarterback to build around, as second-year passer EJ Manuel—the first draft pick of the Marrone/Whaley regime—is so wretched that he was pulled in favor of career backup Kyle Orton. 

If and when the Bills miss the postseason, expect a coaching change. And the new man in charge won't even have a first-round pick to work with next offseason.

Prediction: Marrone will be fired.

When Will It Happen: At season's end

Kyle Orton, Quarterback, Buffalo Bills

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat: Because he's a career backup quarterback and not that good, obviously. Duh.

It's not the fault of Buffalo Bills quarterback Kyle Orton that the team will likely miss the postseason—that would be like saying it'd be my fault if the Cavs replaced LeBron James with me and didn't make the playoffs as a result. The bottom line is that Orton isn't that good and is miscast in the role as an NFL starter. Period.

Although he's played reasonably well this year, Orton has gone 21 consecutive possessions without leading the offense to a touchdown, and the Bills are now stuck at 5-5 and are on the outside looking in with the AFC playoff picture.

Orton's only saving grace is that the passer he usurped in the lineup—EJ Manuel—is so unbelievably terrible that Bills coach Doug Marrone has said he won't consider making another switch, per Kevin Patra of NFL.com, which would be like saying that your new terrible girlfriend isn't as bad as your old terrible girlfriend, so hey, might as well stick it out with her.

Expect Orton to finish out the season and then return to his all-too familiar home in 2015: the bench.

Prediction: Orton will finish the year as the starter...

When Will It Happen: ...but will be replaced in the offseason by the new Bills head coach and general manager.