Josh McDaniels Fired: Where Will Wonder Boy Coach in 2011?

He couldn't get along with franchise QB Jay Cutler from the start, so we probably should have seen this one coming. 

Josh McDaniels will certainly be employed by an NFL team in 2011, but in what capacity remains to be seen.

After a 3-9 start to the campaign and having lost 17 of the last 22 dating back to last season, the enigmatic McDaniels was given the axe by the Denver Broncos. It certainly looked like the young coach was in well over his head during his short tenure with the team, so perhaps a lateral move back to being an offensive coordinator would be a wise idea.

One of the best offensive minds in the league, McDaniels will have his phone ringing off the hook at season's end. Teams that could be looking for new offensive coordinators—like the Panthers, Dolphins and Vikings—may certainly entice the former right-hand man of Bill Belichick.

Known for getting the most from his players with guys like QB Kyle Orton, WR Brandon Lloyd and QB Matt Cassel (when they were in New England together), McDaniels has really been a big-time bust when it comes to personnel decisions. Behind the trade that sent a future first round pick to reach up and grab mega-bust CB Alphonso Smith, McDaniels was thought to also be the substantial driving force behind the Tim Tebow draft pick last April.

And neither one of those even come close to Denver trading RB Peyton Hillis to the Cleveland Browns for QB Brady Quinn. I'll bet he'd like a do-over on that one. 

If McDaniels hopes to be a head coach in the NFL again one day, he would be wise to re-establish his stock around the league as a dynamite offensive coordinator. Then, and only then, will he be looked at as a serious head coaching candidate.

But it has to be the right situation, and Denver certainly was not.