Tom Coughlin: If He's Fired, Who Replaces Him in 2011?

Tom Coughlin–safe for now?"

"He's on the hot seat. I think everyone in the organization is on the hot seat."

So said former Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce last May.

Again, that was last May. He was talking about Coughlin and the Giants staff in general.

If Coughlin's seat was hot back then, it's got to be at least a few degrees warmer going into the last week of the season and things aren't looking too bright for the G-Men about now.

Would John Mara be tempted to make a major change?

He might because there's one name lurking out there that could make a lot of sense for the New York Football Giants: Bill Cowher.

Former Giants running back Tiki Barber, who has often criticized Coughlin, has gone on the record to say Coughlin's job is "certainly in jeopardy." But that's Barber, who hasn't had much contact with any of the current players.

Mara and just about anyone else who follows these situations, knows that the Giants are on Cowher's wish list. Why wouldn't they be there? 

The Giants are still in playoff contention despite the past two weeks but many have been quick to point the finger directly at Coughlin for the Giants poor performances.

Fact is, if Mara were to make a change, he would have to feel that the goodwill from the team's Super Bowl victory three years ago, is used up and that an upgrade is necessary.

Cowher would be considered an upgrade by anyone who followed his career in Pittsburgh.

In this case, Coughlin's immediate future is perhaps directly tied to Cowher's.

Mara would have to find a way to have a "theoretical" situation discussed with Cowher and make sure that he was committed long before anything is done with Coughlin.

Don't forget, Coughlin could perhaps save himself with a playoff berth. But the way things have been going for his team, that might be a reach. The Giants face the Redskins next Sunday and suddenly it's looking like the Redskins actually WANT to play rather than phone it in.

The Giants would also need some help from other playoff contenders to land that wild card berth.

So does Coughlin stay, does he go?

Unless you've got John Mara on speed dial, we'll all have to wait and see.