Should they stay or go?
Should he stay or should he go?
T h a t ’s t h e c l a s h s o me teams are considering as the NFL season winds down. Here are the pros and cons for keeping these coaches in their jobs:
Todd Bowles, Jets ■ Pros: In just second season as coach in New York after establishing himself as highly sought coaching candidate following several years as widely respected defensive assistant. Might be too soon to fire Bowles, who dealt with awful quarterback play and decline of aging stars this season. Two years after changing direction by firing Rex Ryan, is owner Woody Johnson ready to do it again by parting ways with even-keeled Bowles? ■ Cons: Things were looking up one year ago when Jets were 10-6 and missed playoffs by one game — loss in season finale. Things have gone way south since, with questions whether he has full respect of players and his in-game strategy raising the heat on Bowles. Some late-season blowouts and half-empty home games also haven’t been good looks for frustrated franchise missing postseason for sixth straight year.
John Fox, Bears ■ Pros: Track record. Fox has proven his turnaround skills with Carolina and Denver, getting both to Super Bowls. Bears played hard despite so much losing and lack of talent. Pass defense r a n ke d s i xt h a n d yo u n g D c ame up with 37 sacks in Fox’s second season in charge. ■ Cons: Chicago took big step backward this season, and Fox is not QB expert, something Bears could use. Tough NFC North competition makes rebuilding project more challenging. Franchise has recent history of impatience with coaches, firing Lovie Smith and Marc Trestman since end of 2012 season.
Marvin Lewis, Bengals ■ Pros: Loyalty. Owner Mike Brown is fond of Lewis, who is under contract through 2017. Lewis has indicated he wants to be back. At some point, Lewis will retire — he talked about succession plan that would have kept Hue Jackson from going to Cleveland one year ago — but apparently wants at least one more season before that occurs. Brown always seems to oblige. ■ Cons : Any pl a c e e l s e , Lewis would have been fired after going NFL-record 0-7 in playoff games, including five straight first-round losses through 2015 season. He wraps up 14th season in Cincinnati with still no playoff win and team that underperformed this season. After yet another home loss to Pittsburgh eliminated Bengals, Lewis acknowledged that “I’ve not found the right buttons to push to get us to where we need to be. It’s my job to figure out why we don’t get it to where it needs to be.” Any other team would be looking for replacement at this point, someone who can take the team to that next level.
Mike McCoy, Chargers ■ Pros: McCoy’s under contract for 2017, and chairman Dean Spanos doesn’t like eating contracts. If he’s retained, it’s good sign Chargers are staying in San Diego. If he’s fired, it could be nod that Chargers know they need stronger personality as coach if they move to Los Angeles. He was given one-year extension through 2017 after last year’s 4-12 nightmare, although most of his offensive staff was fired. ■ Cons: McCoy is solidly on hot seat after last week’s loss to previously winless Cleveland, and Chargers have secured second straight lastplace finish in AFC West and will miss playoffs for third straight time under McCoy. He is 27-36 in four seasons. McCoy has been criticized for being conservative and for poor clock management; Chargers have blown several fourth-quarter leads this year. Chargers went to playoffs his first season, 2013, and were 8-4 going into December 2014. They’ve gone 10-25 since.
Chuck Pagano, Colts ■ Pros: Pagano took what was supposed to be worst team in football to the playoffs in 2012, delivering one of biggest turnarounds in league history in first season as head coach. He reached AFC championship game following 2014 season and has since managed to pretty much break even despite series of debilitating injuries. Indianapolis players continue to fight for coach they revere. And coaching change would likely give QB Andrew Luck fourth offensive coordinator in six seasons. ■ Cons: Colts have missed playoffs in back-to-back seasons for first time since 1997 and 1998 and have done it under same coach for first time since Ted Marchibroda in 1993 and 1994. Luck has been sacked 37 times in 2016, and defense Pagano was supposed to fix is ranked No. 24. Pagano has been dogged by questionable play calls, poor execution and continual mistakes.