Coaches Cornered: Mike Singletary Gone, Others To Follow Next Week

After 16 weeks only a handful of playoff spots remain. The first overall draft pick has been locked up by the Carolina Panthers and we've seen four head coaches from the beginning of the season canned by their respective teams.

This week it was Mike Singletary's turn in San Francisco. The 5-10 49ers were eliminated in a loss to St. Louis on Sunday, spelling the end of Singletary's tenure.

Here's a look at who's still on the firing line as we head into the season's final week.

Happy Trails, Samurai Mike

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SAN FRANCISCO - DECEMBER 12: Head coach Mike Singletary of the San Francisco 49ers looks on against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on December 12, 2010 in San Francisco, California.(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

What Went Wrong

There are many places where now-former 49ers head coach Mike Singletary had failed, but none was more obvious than his inability to find, and then settle on, a quarterback.

At the beginning of the year, I said that hitching his wagon to the questionable talents of Alex Smith was risky and potentially job-threatening. Singletary stuck with Smith while the 49ers dug a huge hole, then moved to third-string quarterback Troy Smith, who led the 49ers back to the cusp of believable contention. 

Then he switched back to the first Smith, then back to Troy Smith, and then finally back to Alex Smith late in the game against St. Louis. I feel bad for David Carr. In a year in which San Francisco couldn't pick a quarterback, he got next to no opportunity to prove his ability.

What Went Right

Not much. The 49ers were pretty awful this year, but if you have to pick a bright spot, the team found out it has the defensive talent to compete. Young players like Patrick Willis will anchor this defense for years to come and could help the 49ers back to contention.

Another bright spot is the young offensive talent. Michael Crabtree will flourish with a more talented passer, Vernon Davis is one of the most talented tight ends in the league and Frank Gore, when healthy, is a force in the running game.

There's talent on this roster. They just need to fill the sport's most important position.

Endangered Species: Possibly Due For Pink Slips

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CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 19: Head coach Eric Mangini of the Cleveland Browns on the sidelines while playing the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Here's a look at coaches who aren't guaranteed pink slips after next week, but who could find themselves looking for work anyway.

Eric Mangini, Cleveland Browns

When Colt McCoy first got his opportunity to start and showed flashes of being a good NFL passer, it looked like Mangini was safe and would get the chance to put some talent around his young quarterback.

Now that the Browns have fallen back into the pack with three straight losses (including against Buffalo and Cincinnati), Cleveland boss Mike Holmgren may go shopping for a new coach. He could try to resurrect Jim Mora Jr. again or he could even consider coaching himself.

Mangini probably deserves to stay. He's got some pieces in place. The Browns are probably two solid drafts from being a dangerous player in the AFC North, so if he can talk Holmgren into giving him another two years provided the team improves, he may yet have hope.

Jeff Fisher, Tennessee Titans

Tennessee continues to spiral downward, getting blown away by the Chiefs this past week. You just get the feeling that Jeff Fisher has had it and will find a new home for his coaching talents in 2011.

With the NFLPA and Roger Goodell's deputies both saying this week that they're committed to getting a labor deal done and not dealing with a lost season, it's more likely that teams will be emboldened to make coaching changes. If Bud Adams doesn't receive a resignation letter from Fisher, he may fire him rather than battle over Vince Young's roster spot.

Fisher is not on this list because he deserves to be fired. Veteran coaches with his resume usually get the benefit of the doubt, but the situation is unique because of Young's relationship with ownership and Fisher and Young's falling out.

Tom Cable, Oakland Raiders

Oakland has a chance at its first non-losing season since the 2002 Super Bowl run, but it may not be enough for Al Davis to keep Tom Cable. Davis wants a playoff run and the Raiders, who teased for most of the season, will not be heading to the postseason.

Cable has the respect and backing of his coaches and players (perhaps they are afraid he will deck them if they don't support him), but Davis has fired coaches for less.

The best choice the Raiders could make would be to keep Cable and see if another year of stability can help this team continue to grow. They have great talent at several positions, so it's not unbelievable to think that they could compete for a spot in the postseason next year.

Tom Coughlin, New York Giants

When the Giants faded last year, Tom Coughlin saved his job by pledging changes to his staff and his team. He did that.

Now the Giants are facing playoff elimination once again after playing two very poor games. Eli Manning has once again fallen apart down the stretch, the defense has started to leak, and the Giants have lost discipline. It's all eerily similar to 2009.

If the Mara family feels that this is a trend, they will likely part ways with Coughlin. With Bill Cowher waiting in the wings for a job in Houston, Carolina, or New York, the Giants might pounce on the opportunity to add the Super Bowl XL-winning coach in favor of Coughlin.

Going, Going, GONE!

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 23: Head coach John Fox of the Carolina Panthers watches his team warm up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 23, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

These coaches aren't coming back unless their owners decide to hand out some late Christmas presents.

John Fox, Carolina Panthers

People have been asking all year why I stopped putting him on this list. It's simple. Everyone knew he wasn't coming back. Why bother wasting column space on him?

Since it's the last week of the season, we'll take one last look at Fox, who's listless demeanor and listless team carried the Carolina Panthers to the first overall draft pick.

He'll leave the team with some talent left behind, so it's not unreasonable to think a new coach couldn't bring the Panthers back in a year or two. But his obvious desire to get out of town made this a lost, awful season in the south.

Tony Sparano, Miami Dolphins

Sparano has two things working against him right now. One, his team finished 1-7 at home. Two, he committed to a guy (Chad Henne) who is obviously not a franchise passer. That combination could prove fatal to Sparano, who will no longer have Bill Parcells to protect him.

Losing consistently in front of the home folks won't make any friends. Seats will be noticeably empty next year because of it. In a down economy, selling out the home games is essential to turning profits. If a coach can't win at home, that coach won't be around long.

The Dolphins need a coach that knows how to get more out of his team. The Dolphins often look listless and out of it. They've blown several close games by playing poorly at the wrong times and can't seem to get out of their own way in some contests.

Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals

A late two-game winning streak isn't likely to save Lewis' job, but it does provide hope that whoever takes over will be able to finally turn around a franchise that's been mostly missing in action for the last decade-and-a-half.

Lewis never could string winning seasons together and this season, with all the talent and hype surrounding them, was his worst. The Bengals started 2-1 and then lost 10 straight games before coming back and winning two games.

Whoever takes over will inherit a team with a lot of personality, some great talent and some serious discipline and personnel problems.

Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans

In another rumored Bill Cowher landing spot, Gary Kubiak's team was in contention for awhile and then fell apart with a four-game losing streak. The defense can't stop anyone, the offense can't consistently put up yards and points, and the team is an overall mess when it comes to discipline.

Kubiak needed a playoff run to validate ownership's confidence in his talents. He's an offensive guru who's imprint is easily visible on this team. Matt Schaub is a Pro Bowl-caliber passer. There are some great young pieces around him too.

With another losing season, it's highly likely that Texans ownership will move on to a more defensive-minded coach who can repair a unit that is, by far, the worst performing defense in the NFL.