Todd Haley and the NFL's 5 Most Obvious Lame-Duck Coaches

Perhaps more than any American sport, the NFL has a "What have you done for me lately?" ethos.

That's particularly true when it comes to head coaches. It's time to win or go home, and we see changes in the offing for a number of NFL franchises, some of which could come before the season ends.

Others won't happen until the conclusion of hostilities, but make no mistake, changes will come.

5. Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis Colts

The first two seasons at the helm of the Colts went very well indeed for Jim Caldwell, but he knew he’d be in trouble this year with quarterback Peyton Manning beginning the season injured and unable to play.

As it turned out, Manning hasn’t played at all, and the Colts have simply imploded with their lynchpin gone. They come into the weekend with an NFL-worst 0-11 record.

From 2002-2010, the Colts were contenders every year, winning at least 10 games, so this isn’t a franchise that’s likely to sit around and wait for better times to come.

Caldwell might get a pass this year because of the loss of Manning, but no one would be terribly shocked if Caldwell paid the price for Manning’s pain.

4. Leslie Frazier, Minnesota Vikings

It was just 54 weeks ago that Vikings management cut Brad Childress loose after a 3-7 start to the season and installed then-defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier in his place.

Frazier was a natural choice, having been the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator since 2007.

He raised some expectations with a 3-3 finish to the 2010 season, but the 2011 campaign has been an unmitigated disaster at 2-9 entering this weekend.

But quarterback Donovan McNabb didn’t work out, and neither did the defense; the Vikings had second-half leads in a handful of early-season games, only to fall apart.

The fact that Frazier is in his first full season may save his job—but it may not.

3. Norv Turner, San Diego Chargers

A little more than 4.5 years into his time with San Diego, Chargers coach Norv Turner could be close to having his tenure snapped.

Two years ago, Turner and quarterback Philip Rivers had the Chargers at 13-3 and seemingly on the brink of busting through as one of the up-and-coming franchises in the game.

Then came a 9-7 season in 2010 that didn’t result in a postseason berth, and now he and the Chargers are sitting on a 4-7 record with a chance to finish last in the weak AFC West.

A huge push by the Chargers the final month could save Turner's job, but based on the first three months of the season, it’s difficult to see that happening.

2. Tony Sparano, Miami Dolphins.

It doesn’t help Miami's Tony Sparano that the man who brought him into the Miami organization, Bill Parcells, is no longer around.

More than that, since going 11-5 in the 2008 season, Sparano has had back-to-back 7-9 seasons. With the Dolphins now mired at 3-8, a 7-9 season would look like a return to glory.

Overriding all of that is the fact that Dolphins owner Steven Ross toyed with the idea of bringing in Jim Harbaugh from Stanford—Harbaugh eventually went to the 49ers where a resurgence is taking place—a year ago before giving Sparano a one-year extension through 2013.

After this season, Ross is likely to eat the 2013 contract and go in search of a new face to head his franchise.

1. Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs

It’s now been 2.5 years at the helm of the Kansas City Chiefs for Todd Haley, and he still doesn’t have them at the competitive level he (or they) wanted when he was hired.

Under his watch, things have become so dire that Kyle Orton, a castoff from Denver, has worked into the plans at quarterback this week.

The 28th-ranked offense does need help, but so does the 18th-ranked defense.

A 4-7 record this year and an 18-25 overall record has management and the rabid Chiefs fans on edge. It seems only a matter of time before Haley gets handed his walking papers.