Hot-Seat Watch for NFL Players, Coaches After Week 14

It's a yearly tradition: As the holiday season approaches, so too does the NFL's firing season, and that smoke you see in the distance can mean only one thing: Hot seats across the league are getting set to burst into flames.

Only three weeks remain in the 2014 season, and it's easy to see which players, coaches and general managers are in danger of losing their jobs. Some are foregone conclusions, but others still have a chance to turn things around.

The criteria for this list are 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 in some cases (hello, Jim Harbaugh!), a playoff appearance might not even be enough to save a job.

With these factors in play, speculation about job statuses 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 14.

Brian Hoyer, Quarterback, Cleveland Browns

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

Over the past three games, it's difficult to imagine a quarterback playing as badly as Brian Hoyer has for the Cleveland Browns.

After yet another stinker (14-of-31 for 140 yards, zero touchdown passes and two interceptions) in Sunday's gut-wrenching 25-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Hoyer is now up to zero touchdowns against seven picks in the last three weeks. Simply put, he's been brutal and couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat.

In this space last week, we called for Browns coach Mike Pettine to hand the starting job over to rookie Johnny Manziel, but Pettine opted (foolishly) to stick with the below-average Hoyer for another week. The Browns paid the price, losing a game that put a significant dent in their playoff hopes.

Make no mistake about it: The Browns really and truly deserved to lose to Indianapolis. Pettine's stubborn refusal to pull an ineffective Hoyer from the lineup cost them the game. Cleveland's defense was fantastic all day, scoring two touchdowns to keep the Browns in the contest. It was ultimately the offense that failed them. And that starts with Hoyer.

The fact that Hoyer deserves to be benched has nothing (OK, maybe a little) to do with the fact that Manziel is the player behind him and everything to do with the fact that he's just not good enough to get the job done. It's almost impossible to believe that Manziel could actually be worse than Hoyer, so why not give the neophyte a shot?

The Hoyer era in Cleveland needs the Old Yeller treatment ASAP. There should be a federal investigation if Pettine sticks with Hoyer for next Sunday's tilt with Cincinnati.

Prediction: Hoyer will be benched.

When Will It Happen: At some point in the next few days.

Rex Ryan, Head Coach, New York Jets

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

Zero playoff appearances for four consecutive years and a 2-11 record this season? Yeah, that's good enough to land New York Jets coach Rex Ryan on the hot seat. And by hot seat, we mean one that's long since burst into flames and is quickly approaching "towering inferno" status.

It's a foregone conclusion that Ryan will lose his job at season's end—the next three games are a mere formality. There's no way the Jets can bring him back.

On Sunday, Ryan's defense allowed over 400 yards of total offense to the Vikings in a 30-24 overtime defeat, and his offense, led by struggling second-year quarterback Geno Smith, hasn't been up to par all season. In fact, Ryan's offenses have never been great throughout his tenure on Broadway, and his stark inability to coax above-average play out of the quarterback position will be one of his lasting legacies.

Ryan's tenure has been marred by ridiculous press conferences and the kind of double talk best suited for an Aaron Sorkin television script. While he did reach the AFC Championship Game in each of his first two seasons on the job, he hasn't sniffed the postseason since, and his foibles have become too gargantuan for owner Woody Johnson to consider keeping him.

It remains to be seen what Ryan will do in 2015. Brian Costello of the New York Post recently wrote that his options include either getting another head coaching job or working in television, with one (television) being significantly more likely than the other.

If Ryan does go to television, he'll surely be great at it, what with his bombastic attitude, unwavering honesty and self-deprecating humor.

And hey, there's no way he could be worse at it than he's been as Jets coach.

Prediction: Ryan will be fired.

When Will It Happen: On Black Monday (the day after Week 17's NFL Sunday).

Jay Gruden, Head Coach, Washington Redskins

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

The Washington Redskins' 2014 season is a disaster wrapped in a debacle and topped with a generous heaping of disgrace.

And the man who could ultimately end up paying the price for the wretched campaign is head coach Jay Gruden.

Wait, you say: Didn't the Redskins just hire Gruden after firing Mike Shanahan? Is owner Daniel Snyder—so bad at his job that he makes Jerry Jones look like the late, great Wellington Mara—really going to fire Gruden after just one season on the job, as Jason Reid of The Washington Post recently suggested could be the case?

Unfortunately for long-suffering Redskins fans, when it comes to the clueless Snyder, anything is possible.

Gruden made the same mistake as Shanahan: publicly feuding with quarterback Robert Griffin III and sending Griffin to the bench. Forget the fact that he has clearly regressed as a passer and couldn't lead turkeys to a Thanksgiving slaughter—Griffin is Snyder's guy, and that's clearly all that matters in our nation's capital.

What a joke.

Look, this isn't to absolve Gruden of blame. The fact of the matter is that his team stinks, and that needs to at least partially serve as a reflection of him. And Gruden's postgame comments in the wake of Sunday's 24-0 loss to the Rams were troubling, as he told Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post:

"

[The Redskins are] pro football players. Any time you have a chance to play against the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Philadelphia Eagles, you should be able to be motivated as a pro football player. It's exciting, it's a privilege to play this game. So if I have to motivate a pro football player to play football, we need to get new pro football players. 

"

Gruden's open criticism of the roster put together by general manager Bruce Allen surely didn't do wonders for his job security.

The Redskins have three games left to enter the offseason with a positive taste in their collective mouth. It's going to be fascinating to see how Gruden handles the quarterback situation (will he turn back to Griffin?) and the media over the next few weeks.

In fact, those decisions could very well decide if he's back on the Washington sideline in 2015.

Prediction: Gruden will retain his job.

When Will It Happen: It will be announced on Black Monday.

Joe Philbin, Head Coach, Miami Dolphins

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

In his nearly three full seasons on South Beach, Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin has been unable to get his team over the hump, and that fact was exemplified in Sunday's atrocious 28-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

It was an inexcusable performance by the Dolphins that left fans and players alike wondering what the hell just happened. Count Miami defensive tackle Jared Odrick among those nonplussed with Philbin, as Odrick could be seen yelling in Philbin's direction (h/t Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com) on the sideline on multiple occasions.

Because, you know, it's always good for players to be openly disrespecting the head coach in the midst of a brutal loss. Right.

Last season, Philbin endured the embarrassing BullyGate scandal that nearly tore his locker room asunder, which was a black eye for the once-proud organization. And then the Dolphins lost their final two games in hideous fashion to miss out on the postseason.

Now it looks like more of the same in Miami. Faced with a golden opportunity to take a huge step toward securing a playoff spot in the jumbled AFC, Philbin's Dolphins completely fell apart in the fourth quarter against a more resilient and tougher team (Baltimore).

As Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweeted after the game, the players are now outwardly showing their dissatisfaction for Philbin. If that dissatisfaction comes in a package deal along with missing the playoffs, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross might decide to put Philbin out of his misery.

Ross has shown in the past that he isn't afraid to go after the big-name coach, and with Jim Harbaugh likely to hit the market, Ross' trigger finger could become exponentially more itchy.

Next Sunday, the Dolphins play at the Patriots, a team that they defeated in Week 1. That probably means the Patriots will win by 20.

And that will spell the beginning of the end of Philbin's time on the Dolphins' sideline.

Prediction: Philbin will be fired.

When Will It Happen: On Black Monday.

Mark Sanchez, Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

To paraphrase former NFL coach Dennis Green: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez is who we thought he was!

After the turnover-filled first chapter of Sanchez's career with the Jets, the Eagles handed him a golden opportunity to change his personal narrative when starting quarterback Nick Foles broke his collarbone in Week 9. But Sanchez has (predictably) failed to do so, throwing only 10 touchdown passes to go along with seven interceptions and two lost fumbles.

Sanchez was awful in Sunday's 24-14 loss to Seattle, completing only 10 of 20 passes for 96 yards. Yes, the Seahawks defense is among the league's best, but 96 yards passing? That's just atrocious.

It didn't help Sanchez's cause that receiver Riley Cooper threw him under the bus after the game. Speaking about the interception Sanchez threw in the third quarter on a ball intended for him, Cooper told Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ Advance Media, "Was it a miscommunication? No. [Sanchez] knew the the route. I knew the route. I ran the route. He threw the ball."

Yikes.

With Foles healing and nearly ready to return to action (as NJ Advance Media's Matt Lombardo notes), it's very much within the realm of possibility that he'll get his job back, and Sanchez will once again be tethered to the bench.

It will all depend on next week's home game against Dallas. With a winning performance, Sanchez should be able to hold on to the job through the end of the season. But if Sanchez stinks up the joint and the Cowboys move into sole possession of first place in the NFC East, all bets are off.

Prediction: Sanchez will keep his job if the Eagles beat the Cowboys next week and lose it with a loss.

When Will It Happen: Either way, a decision should be made next Monday.

Marc Trestman, Head Coach, Chicago Bears

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

Chicago Bears coach Marc Trestman is not having a good year.

His team—widely expected to compete for a postseason berth—is now 5-8 after yet another embarrassing home defeat, this one a 41-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on national television last Thursday night in a game that wasn't as close as the final score would indicate.

After being humiliated in front of the country again, it's fair to ask when enough will be enough and Trestman is handed his walking papers. At this point, how can Bears ownership and/or general manager Phil Emery possibly rationalize bringing Trestman back for 2015?

When Chicago hired Trestman prior to the 2013 season, his primary directive was clear: Elevate the play of quarterback Jay Cutler. That has been a rousing failure, with Cutler remaining wildly inconsistent and continuing to display the kind of nonchalance that infuriates Bears fans.

Ultimately, the singular move that could lead to Trestman's dismissal was his decision to retain defensive coordinator Mel Tucker for this season. It's possible that Tucker could be worse at his job than anyone in the entire country is at theirs, and Trestman is the one who signed off on bringing him back. The Bears defense can't stop anyone, and it falls on the head coach.

With Minnesota winning yesterday to improve its record to 6-7, the Bears are now in sole possession of last place in the NFC North, and the smart money is on them occupying the basement through season's end.

If that's not enough to get Trestman canned, he might just be the new Teflon Don.

Prediction: Trestman will be fired.

When Will It Happen: On Black Monday.

Jim Harbaugh, Head Coach, San Francisco 49ers

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

Last week, we detailed all the reasons why San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has (inexplicably) found himself on the hot seat.

Even with speculation about his future reaching a fever pitch, Harbaugh could have quieted the noise by guiding his team to a victory over the hapless Raiders, keeping the 49ers squarely in the NFC playoff picture.

Of course, that didn't happen, with the 49ers somehow managing to lose 24-13 to a vastly inferior Oakland team Sunday. The loss was among the worst of the Harbaugh era and makes his eventual ouster a lot more likely.

It's been a stunning fall from Bay Area grace for Harbaugh, who led the 49ers to at least the NFC Championship Game in each of his first three seasons with the team. But reported infighting with general manager Trent Baalke (detailed in the link above) and a struggling team mean that Harbaugh's time in San Francisco is quickly drawing to a close.

But perhaps the biggest indictment on Harbaugh has been the clear regression of quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick has looked skittish in the pocket and has been wildly inaccurate, completing over 60 percent of his passes only once in the last five games.

Given the fact that the 49ers lavished Kaepernick with a big-time extension this offseason, the drop-off in his play is troubling, and Harbaugh needs to shoulder the majority of the blame for it.

At this point, the situation with Harbaugh and the franchise could be untenable, and if the 49ers lose at Seattle next week (a likely proposition), their record will drop to 7-7 and surely see them out of the NFC playoffs.

And that will mean Harbaugh is coaching elsewhere in 2015.

Prediction: The 49ers will try to find a trade partner for Harbaugh—but with teams realizing he's on the way out the door in San Francisco, they won't make a move, and the 49ers will be forced to fire Harbaugh.

When Will It Happen: At some point before the Super Bowl.

Josh McCown, Quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh McCown is on the hot seat because he stinks.

McCown is 1-7 as the Bucs' starter this year. He's thrown only nine touchdown passes against 11 interceptions. He didn't get the job done in Sunday's 34-17 loss at Detroit. And simply put, the 35-year old journeyman isn't good enough to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.

After a Week 10 loss to the Falcons, McCown told Mark Didtler of The Associated Press, "When you're 35 years old, you know that the clock is ticking. You don't want to let these moments slip away. I think that's why it hurts because it got away." If McCown was hurting then, he must be racked with pain now, because his time as an NFL starter has all but ended.

It makes zero sense for Bucs coach Lovie Smith to trot McCown out for the season's final three games, but heck, with the way Smith has mangled this season, it wouldn't exactly be a shock to see McCown on the field.

We still believe Mike Glennon will get the nod starting with this upcoming Sunday's game at Carolina. The coaching staff might as well evaluate Glennon to see if he could potentially be "The Guy" next season (spoiler alert: He can't).

While Glennon still has hope, McCown has none and offers none. A switch needs to be made.

Prediction: McCown will be benched in favor of Glennon.

When Will It Happen: Before Sunday's game at Carolina.