Mike Singletary: Alex Smith and 10 Players Who Should Have Been Fired Instead

The San Francisco 49ers made the decision to fire Mike Singletary on Sunday, after a 25-17 loss to the St. Louis Rams that ended the Niners' playoff hopes.

Rather than let Singletary coach in the season finale next week against the Arizona Cardinals, they gave him the pink slip, effective immediately.

In most cases, firing the coach isn't going to make things better. That's certainly the case in San Francisco.

It's hard to blame Singletary entirely, with the mess he has to work with at quarterback and in the secondary.

Here are 10 players who should have been fired along with Singletary.

10. Mike Iupati, LG

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SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 14: Mike Iupati #77 of the San Francisco 49ers in action against the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park on November 14, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Iupati isn't performing at a first round level, though the Niners spent a first-round draft pick on him.

Too often, he can be found standing around blocking no one as the quarterback runs for his life.

You can't coach effort, so it's going to be hard to fix Iupati until he's playing for his next contract.

9. Isaac Sopoaga, DE

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 17: Isaac Sopoaga #90 of the San Francisco 49ers in action against the Oakland Raiders at Candlestick Park on October 17, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

I'm not sure why Sopoaga is celebrating here.

The 49ers are 5-10.

And, Sopoaga, a starting defensive end, has only 1.5 sacks on the season.

That's unacceptable for the position he plays.

8. Parys Haralson, OLB

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 03: Parys Haralson #98 of the San Francisco 49ers against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on October 3, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

In 14 starts this season, Haralson has only 38 tackles.

That's unacceptable for a linebacker of any sort.

Linebackers are supposed to be the guys who lead the team in tackles.

Even Manny Lawson, another disappointing linebacker, has 52 tackles.

7. Reggie Smith, SS

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 12: Safety Reggie Smith #30 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the NFL season opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on September 12, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Smith has only one interception all season.

In order to be successful, a team has to get more production than that out of the safeties.

But, Smith hasn't been the only disappointing safety...

6. Dashon Goldson, FS

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 12: Safety Dashon Goldson #38 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during warm ups prior to the NFL season opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on September 12, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty

Goldson is another safety with only one interception on the 49ers.

He often gets beat on deep routes, too, something a free safety is specifically on the field to prevent.

That's a big reason why the 49ers have the 24th-ranked pass defense in the NFL.

5. Manny Lawson, OLB

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LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 31: Manny Lawson #99 of San Francisco 49ers sacks Kyle Orton #8 of Denver Broncos during the NFL International Series match between Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers at Wembley Stadium on October 31, 2010 in London, England

This picture says it all for Manny Lawson's year.

Even when he gets to the quarterback, he commits a stupid penalty and costs his team.

With only two sacks this season, Lawson hasn't improved the way the team hoped he would.

Part of that is due to coaching, but most of it is due to a lack of effort.

4. Michael Crabtree, WR

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GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 29: Wide receiver Michael Crabtree #15 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after scoring a 38 yard touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on No

Though the 49ers don't have a decent quarterback, Crabtree certainly doesn't do his QB any favors with his poor route running.

Even with the struggles at quarterback, Crabtree should be putting up bigger numbers than he is right now.

It's only his second season, but he needs to make a jump soon or he might become a bust.

3. Nate Clements, CB

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INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 01: Nate Clements #22 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball during the NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 1, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts won 18-14. (Photo by Andy Lyons/

Remember when Clements had the game-sealing interception against the Falcons but got chased down and stripped by Roddy White?

Yeah, me too.

He single-handedly cost his team the win in that game.

Looking back now, if the 49ers had won that game, they'd be in control of their own playoff destiny. They'd be facing a "win and you're in" situation against Arizona this Sunday.

Clements should have gone to the ground and protected the victory.

2. Troy Smith, QB

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ST. LOUIS, MO - DECEMBER 26: Troy Smith #1 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on December 26, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams beat the 49ers 25-17. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Yelling at your coach on the sideline during a close game with the playoffs on the line probably isn't the best way to keep your job as a starting quarterback in the NFL.

If Singletary was telling Smith he was doing a bad job, he was right.

It will be interesting to see if Troy gets the nod as the starter this week after his actions on Sunday.

1. Alex Smith, QB

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 16: Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers drops back to pass against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 16, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

Seriously, how is this guy still a starting quarterback in the NFL?

He's a backup QB at best.

He's proven over and over again that he's not a guy you can count on to carry a team. Everyone seems to have figured that out.

Everyone except for the 49ers, that is.

The 49ers need to draft a QB this April and cut ties with Smith.

If they don't, the new head coach is going to meet the same fate as Singletary.