Tuesdays with Smitty: The NFL Hot Seat

Since we focused last week on the current Studs and Duds in the NFL, I thought we would take this week to focus on the state of the NFL coaching ranks – focusing on who might be joining the NFL Unemployment Line. After all when a team wins, coaches get too much of the praise and when a team loses – they get too much of the blame. Well there are a few coaches who got their share of the blame and a few of them have already received their walking papers (see Scott Linehan, Mike Nolan and Lane Kiffin).  So with that, let’s look at a few that may be on the hot seat as well:

Lovie Smith – Is 2 years removed from taking the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl and this team appears to be heading in the wrong direction. The Bears looked awful in the loss to the Green Bay Packers (37-3) and the defense is beginning to look old. Everything can’t be blamed on Lovie, as Bears management has failed to come up with an adequate starting QB. Throw in a few questionable coaching decisions earlier this year with high expectations in the Chicago and Lovie could be in trouble after this year.  Seat – Very Warm

Rod Marinelli – Hard to blame him, as he had to coach through the end of the Matt Millen Era. If people need a reason for the 0-10 start let’s look at the #1 picks used on Wide Receivers (Charles Rogers, Mike Williams, Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson). The only one left ? Calvin Johnson. Their QB came back out of retirement, and things don’t look good in Detroit. But the Lions are playing hard and that does shows that Marinelli is getting his players to respond to him. But in the end, a complete change in the organization may be necessary for the environment to change in Detroit. Seat – Hot

Romeo Crennel – One year after this team made the playoffs, the Browns entered the season as the sexy pick in the NFL.  Well it appears that last year may have been a mirage. Derek Anderson appears to have been a one year wonder and there have been problems everywhere. Kellen Winslow had a run-in with the front office, Jamal Lewis accused the team of quitting and Braylon Edwards is looking to legally change his name to “Mr. Stone Hands”. Crennel looks like he may be losing the locker room, and that is a problem. Then again – winning takes care of everything. Seat – Very Hot

Marvin Lewis – This one should be interesting as this team 2 years ago was the sexy pick, and it has been downhill every since. Charles Johnson (this writer refuses to acknowledge the Ocho-Cinco)  has been an issue and has been hurt all year. Carson Palmer has a bad elbow and may need Tommy John surgery. The Bengals released Rudi Johnson in pre-season and their running game has been anemic all year. Their defense – Marvin Lewis’ specialty – has been average. With Palmer out, Lewis will probably get a pass on this year. Seat – Lukewarm

Norv Turner – Is this a surprise? The San Diego Chargers have to be the most underachieving team the past 2 years. This team was and still is a Super Bowl quality team and have failed to deliver. Philip Rivers is for real and despite the loss of Shawn Merriman, the defense has been adequate. The problem? LT. LT hasn’t been the same since his record breaking season in 2006. Can anyone say Shawn Alexander? Is it safe to say that LT might be out of a job within the next 2 years?  Seat – Burning

Herman Edwards – Despite being 1-9, this Chiefs team is rebuilding and Edwards’ job is safe for at least next year. Not much reason to dwell on this one.. Seat – Comfortable

Thinks someone’s job is in jeopardy? Let’s hear it. Gotta question for Smitty – e-mail all questions to ask.smitty@hotmail.com

*************************** BREAKING STORY************************************

This story is hot off the press as rumors are beginning to swirl around the CCWW site. Early reports show that the popular WAI (“Who Am I”) may be a fixed event.  Yes, that is correct. This investigative reporter has been working with Anderson Cooper to uncover this story that may rock the very core of the CCWW world.

The unsubstantiated rumor started with the news that the first WAI Challenge was fixed. According to an anonymous source, the 1st season WAI Champion –  known by both his competitors and fans as Chas – was sent the questions 10 minutes before the said material was released to the rest of the field. The source was quoted as saying, “I heard Dad…. err the Commish talking to someone on the phone and saying, “Smitty can’t know about this. But you are my boy.. Giants represent!! ” . Phone records obtained by this reporter show a phone call made by the Commish to a pre-paid cellphone with a 617 area code 10 minutes before the Challenge started.

When confronted by the evidence, the Commish, at his posh Edgemere Mansion, coolly replied, ” What do you have? You have nothing, nothing I tell you.  Who do you think you are – Elliott Ness? I am the next Vince McMahon. Don’t get in my way or I will squash you like a bug.”

Further incidents have bolstered these claims as the commissioner one time called as this reporter was posting an article to delay the posting long enough to secretly post a “WAI”.  A “WAI” that was won by Chas.

Said the anonymous source ” Look the Commish has a plan, and he is planning on taking this website to new heights. In 2 years, the WAI may be the most exciting event on the internet. He is on a mission and nothing, and I mean NOTHING is going to get in his way.”

Chas was recently confronted at his new posh hi-rise apartment in downtown Boston, where he quickly refused comment. ” I have nothing to say. Commish told me to keep my mouth shut, or I could kiss my home goodbye.” When asked if the Commish had threatened the WAI star to maintain his silence, the former minor league baseball player responded with ” Look – you are not putting words in my mouth.  I did the research and I won that contest. I am the best and will continue to be the best until someone dethrones me. The Commish said he would take care of me, and I believe him.” When asked what he meant by the Commish taking care of him, Chas quickly dismissed us again, saying he had to go, as he had a facial and manicure appt. scheduled.

” You don’t understand – this is the best spa in Boston. I made this appointment 4 months ago. Now leave me alone.”

But a friend of Chas – who wished to remain a friend of Chas’, quickly debunked the claims of the star. ” He can’t research $##$.  I watched him try to google Jenna Jameson, and he kept coming up with Jameson’s Whiskey.”

In checking with other members of the CCWW, most declined comment. Crossword Pete quickly ran in the other direction yelling ” No comment”. But one embattled CCWW veteran – Brother Reynell – was full of interesting insight. “Yeah, the Commish approached me about being “the guy” in the WAI challenge. I told him it was wrong and unfair to the rest of the guys. He just laughed at me and told me I was making the mistake of my life. Suddenly I lose my job, my car is repossessed and I magically default on my mortgage. My wife has left me because pictures suddenly appeared of me using “illegal substances”. Man, I don’t even know where to get the stuff. The Commish can squash you if he wants- trust me. ”

Stay tuned to find out if this story truly is fact or fiction…..