First NFL Head Coach Fired: The Sad Sack Six

Wade Phillips has the best team in the NFC and he's still doomed.

Unless he wins the Super Bowl, Phillips is fried.

Even if he wins the Super Bowl Phillips might be deep fried.

Jerry Jones isn't known for his kindness to coaches or tolerance of losses. Poor Wade Phillips has his successor standing behind him on the sidelines waiting to seize the throne.

Prince in waiting Jason Garrett, the chose one, the next Big Cowboy.

Its just a matter of time.

When Wade drops his first big NFC East game expect him to get that look of despair that Sal Tessio had in the Godfather when he realized it was his last car ride.

Wade's easy going but to be coach-cuckolded by Jerry Jones has to make a man miserable. It has to be tense – sitting on dynamite and knowing Terrell Owens might smile and start smoking.

Wade "Son of Bum" Phillips is done in Dallas. Its just a matter of when.

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Wouldn't it be nice to be a head coach under an owner who not only seemingly dislikes you but makes all the personnel decisions himself?

To have a defensive coordinator who has coached longer then you and wants your job?

Welcome to Lane Kiffins world. Lane's World.

Its not just the hair styles and the New York roots, no Al Davis and Phil Spector have both been acting erratically of late.

Davis didn't shoot anyone, of course, but it seems he might be killing his team with love. Misplaced free agent love

They have the promise of a young quarterback and rookie running back but don't expect Lane to last long enough to enjoy it.

Al Davis was steamed when Kiffin sought some college football coaching jobs. Al is old. Al is impatient. Al wants to win now. Al wants Art back.

But expect Lane's end to come  sometime during the season and Rob Ryan to weasel in as interim coach then cling to the job desperately.

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When your offensive line is a wreck, your quarterback is old and fragile and your defense filled with high priced busts, it's not a happy head coaching world.

So what do you do?

If it's a country song you go get good and drunk. But in the NFL you fire your assistants.

That's what desperate Scott Linehan did in St Louis.

The St Louis Rams are in a rebuilding process. It is not going to be short process.

The team might be sold and moved west.

The rumor is Eddie Debartolo is seeking to resurrect the Los Angles Rams. "Resurrect the Rams" T-shirts are actually being sold by Fred Dryer on Hollywood Boulevard right now.

Hey, he needs the work. Its been a long dry season for Dryer since Hunter was shot down.

Expect Marc Bulger to go down also, and for the season to disintegrate around Scott Linehan.

Lights out for Linehan but is it lights out for the St Louis Rams?

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A high priced bust at the all-important quarterback position is a young coach killer.

As Alex Smith goes down in flames his fire is going to burn up his head coach Mike Nolan.

The San Francisco 49ers banked on Smith being big but he looks more like a big bust. As does the offense built around him.

Unless Smith wakes up he is going to put his coach to sleep.

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Who goes bust first: Ford Motor or the Detroit Lions?

Despite constant front office failures, General Manager Matt Millen somehow still clings to his job. But even the Ford family has to call in their chips if the Lions are lackluster yet another year under Millen and head coach Rod Marinelli.

The Lions lack a running game and a reliable defense.

Don't expect Jon Kitna to bring back memories of Bobby Layne. Don't expect him to even bring back memories of Gary Danielson. Expect another season of little fun in a division that is constantly growing tougher.

When William Clay Ford finally fires Millen expect Marinelli to wash away with him. And the Lions to begin from cat scratch. Yet again.

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The Kansas City Chiefs had a good draft and have a promising rookie in Dwayne Bowe. But the defense lost its best player in Jared Allen and the offense line needs badly rebuilt

But the biggest problem is Brodie Croyle. If the young quarterback doesn't step his game up expect the season to dissolve.

Another horrible Chief season will lead to the dismissal of conservative coach Herman Edwards.

If the Chiefs stagnant or regress they will rebuild with a new boss.

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Some others simmering on the cooker:

• If the Chad Johnson drama queen act takes flight, and anyone else gets arrested, expect the Cincinnati Bengal's season to transform into a very bad soup opera.

Expect Marvin Lewis to be canned. The Bengals can't build a defense or keep their players police slates clean. The notorious cheapness of the Brown family might save Lewis's job as they do not wish to pay a contract to a coach not coaching.

• What about the New York Jets?

If the defense gels and the old timers on the offensive line meld it could be a great season. But the quarterbacks are questionable. If the Free Agents flops it could be farewell to the the Magic Man, Eric Mangini.  It would take a colossal meltdown for him to lose his job, but a bad season turns the heat up high in New York.

• How about a long shot?

No one knows much about Jim Zorn's ability to be a head coach. But people know a lot about owner Daniel Snyder's short patience and big bank roll. If Zorn is a disaster it will be one and done for the old Seattle Seahawks scrambler.

• And what about Lovie Smith?

Recently removed from a Super Bowl, he won't be fired by the Chicago Bears but a terrible year will put him on the spot quickly. His personal decision have been terrible. Adam Archuleta, Cedric Benson, Rex Grossman, and the release of several quality free agents.

The cupboard is bare for the Bears at the skill positions on offense. And there are no NFL quality starting quarterbacks on the bare Bears roster.  Someone must take responsibility sometime, right?

• High in the Rockies Mike Shanahan has ruled seemingly forever. But when will Denver Broncos owner Bowlen say bye bye?

Another mediocre year and is it finally good bye to the big Bronco man? The playoff wins have been few since John Elway rode off into the sunset.

Each year the NFL has a high turnover rate. Its a high pressure well paid job and a win now atmosphere. Most coaches, even the legends, end up being fired. Owners grow impatient, fans revolt, and players flop.

Cleveland Brown Owner Art Modell fired perhaps the two greatest coaches of the modern era: Paul Brown and Bill Belichick.

Remember that when his annual Hall of Fame push comes.

Jerry Jones canned Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson. Its a bloody business. Even the best bite the bullet eventually.