7 Things To Remember About Black Monday

by Joel Thorman on Jan 3, 2012 7:45 AM CST

There was a whole bunch of news around the NFL today, which we call "Black Monday". That's the day after the regular season when some organizations decide to fire head coaches and/or GMs. That happened at a number of spots around the league today.

Here's a roundup of all the coaching and front office news we heard today.

Bill Muir is "likely" to retire. This according to Jason La Canfora of NFL Network. With the 31st ranked offense, I'm not sure Muir should have been brought back anyway. If he does indeed retire, the Chiefs enter the season with openings at offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and defensive coordinator. This will be yet another offensive coordinator for Matt Cassel (or whoever the quarterback is).

Norv Turner and GM A.J. Smith could be safe. Everyone expected the San Diego Chargers to fire Norv Turner but now reports are surfacing that he could be safe. Philip Rivers is reportedly lobbying for him to stay. It'll be interesting to see how this one turns out.

Steve Spagnuolo fired by the St. Louis Rams. As expected. Spags had won 10 games in three years -- does that stat sound familiar? It was the same as the Chiefs in the final two years of the Herm Edwards era and the first of the Todd Haley era. The Rams are reportedly pursuing Jeff Fisher.

Speaking of Jeff Fisher, he has a couple suitors. The Rams, for one, are interviewing him, as are the Miami Dolphins. He's at the top of the "A" list of coaches this year with Jon Gruden reportedly staying at ESPN.

Jaguars have a bunch of coaching candidates. They are interim head coach Mel Tucker, Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, Cowboys special-teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis, Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, and Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.

Raheem Morris is out. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired him, which many expected. He had a similar run as Todd Haley -- bad first year in 2009, very good second year in 2010 (10 wins) and a poor 2011 (four wins).

And the shocker of the day is that the Polians are out in Indy. That's Bill (Vice Chairman) and his son, Chris (GM). Jim Caldwell has not been fired, but he still could be. Bill Polian arrived in Indy the day after they clinched the No 1 pick in the 1998 NFL draft and he leaves the day after they clinch the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

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The news that Turner and Smith are safe in SD is music to any Chiefs fans ears

Smith has done an aweful job in the draft in recent years and Norv couldn’t coach his way out of a paper bag. This is great news

by Chiefs08Matt on Jan 3, 2012 7:51 AM CST via mobile reply actions

Norv should have been fired last year.

They were #1 in total offense and total defense and couldn’t make the playoffs — that’s historic levels of incompetence. I’m glad he’s staying. As that team ages they’ll bottom out very quickly.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Jan 3, 2012 9:45 AM CST up reply actions

They were #1 in yards.

Yards don’t equal points.

by kcgiant06 on Jan 3, 2012 10:31 AM CST up reply actions

They were #2 in total points.

Only New England scored more than the Chargers did last year. That’s historic levels of ineptitude on Norv Turner’s part. Think of it this way: Norv’s Chargers were beaten for the division title by a team Todd Haley coached.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Jan 3, 2012 3:21 PM CST up reply actions

He should be fired almost every year

Then again, as a Chiefs fan I am happy he is staying there, especially if we play them early in the season.

Insert witty yet thought provoking phrase here.

by Fozzyboyd on Jan 3, 2012 10:37 AM CST up reply actions

I wonder what would have happened if Marty had stayed and AJ had been canned?

I know part of it is that I liked Marty – until we got to the playoffs… and part of it is that I feel bad for the guy – I mean he played under GM’s King Karl and AJ Smith… sheesh.

by Eastcoastransplant on Jan 3, 2012 11:44 AM CST up reply actions

I think he could have took them to the Super Bowl

His problem was he was always conservative with his offense and he never had a true QB other than Montana. I think with the talent they had out there for a couple years, Marty would have took them far.

Insert witty yet thought provoking phrase here.

by Fozzyboyd on Jan 3, 2012 12:32 PM CST up reply actions

A true QB is such the big point.

We need one here so bad. No more of this mediocre will do till later fixes.

by Eastcoastransplant on Jan 3, 2012 4:55 PM CST up reply actions

pioli...

if pioli dosnt draft good and get good FA this year maybe jr wiil put pioli on hot seat next year.

by wolfpack0735 on Jan 3, 2012 7:58 AM CST reply actions

I think Pioli will be/is on the hot seat this year.

If he doesn’t make the right moves, ie HC, QB, Draft… then I don’t see him getting another year to prove it. This is (or should be) his make it or break it year (2012). Then again as the world ends this year it doesn’t really matter :)

by Eastcoastransplant on Jan 3, 2012 11:46 AM CST up reply actions

You mean

A new OC for Orton. If Cassel comes back, many fans aren’t.

by MichaelMantastic on Jan 3, 2012 8:30 AM CST reply actions

Technically.. we have holes at HC/OC/Oline coach

RAC is still the DC, was just temp HC. Unless he gets promoted/stays as DC/or leaves

I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee

by BAMFSpecialOps on Jan 3, 2012 8:33 AM CST reply actions

plus we can always send a #1 pick to St. Louis for McDoogie

so we can Fix our QB Cassel :(

by Steve_Chiefs on Jan 3, 2012 8:38 AM CST up reply actions

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee

by BAMFSpecialOps on Jan 3, 2012 8:48 AM CST up reply actions

Take that back sir!

by Eastcoastransplant on Jan 3, 2012 11:46 AM CST up reply actions

Go Ducks!

Standing on the corner in a white Godfather hat. He drives a long black gangster Cadillac. He can steal a broads mind, man, in three or four minutes. It’s not how long you talk, brother, it’s what you put in it.

by HIV 2 Elway on Jan 3, 2012 8:40 AM CST reply actions

Man NFL teams have short memories

Who would have though last January that Morris and Haley would be out of work.

Not For Long…

Suck For Luck = Pack your bags Front Office, you don’t get to reap the benefits.

Meh...
I don't only want to stand out here when we get our asses kicked... I like to stand out here when we kick somebody else's ass... Big Win, Big Win ~ Todd Haley
@w_a_watts

by Chief-blinders-on on Jan 3, 2012 8:53 AM CST reply actions

Or the old boss wants to go with Pey Pey

by HIV 2 Elway on Jan 3, 2012 8:56 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

Definitely a factor

Meh...
I don't only want to stand out here when we get our asses kicked... I like to stand out here when we kick somebody else's ass... Big Win, Big Win ~ Todd Haley
@w_a_watts

by Chief-blinders-on on Jan 3, 2012 8:58 AM CST up reply actions

I'd take Peyton

Give me 3-4 years with a HOF QB and one of the better receiver corps in the NFL if Bowe stays. We will be dominant.

by AnkenyChiefsFan on Jan 3, 2012 9:26 AM CST up reply actions

Not unless Peyton is cleared beyond a shadow of a doubt.

I sure as s@$t don’t want to pay that man, have him play two games and go down the rest of the year after he’s sacked. Now as the OC I could live with.

by Eastcoastransplant on Jan 3, 2012 11:48 AM CST up reply actions

Thorman

You had me until you said “QB Matt Cassel”…please, no…I’d rather have Orton, even though he has looked mediocre as well. But at least he’s getting the ball down the field…

by AnkenyChiefsFan on Jan 3, 2012 9:24 AM CST reply actions

He's not staying.

Look at his quotes in the KC Star. He flat out said it’s Cassel’s team and used words like ‘they’ to describe the Chiefs. He’s already back in Denver with his family and looking for his next opportunity that isn’t in Kansas City.

by JacinB on Jan 3, 2012 9:30 AM CST up reply actions

You act like that means anything.

To affirmatively say he’s not coming back is super foolish on your part, anything can, and will happen, will not be surprised to see him back. Romeo already said he’d like to see him back.

Winner of the 2010 Arrowhead Pride, "Beat The Insiders"
Start Stanzi! Palko is terrible. Orton started, close enough. CHECK
Sign Orton to an extension!
No to RG3
Haley needs Fired! CHECK

by KC Nate on Jan 3, 2012 10:16 AM CST up reply actions

Of course Romeo would like to see him back.

Even if he’s just a back-up, he’s an immediate upgrade over Palko and Stanzi and keeps some level of consistency in the offense by playing like Cassel.

However, Orton’s not going to come back unless he knows he’s the starter and that’s not going to happen, if only because Cassel is Pioli’s guy and we’re not going to pay Cassel’s contract money for a guy who rides pine and holds clipboards.

Even if Romeo wanted him back and wanted to start him, the best he could offer Orton is a chance to compete for the starting job in training camp and Orton isn’t going to go for that, particularly when there are a number of other NFL teams out there that can promise him the starting job from day one.

Orton wants to start again, which translates to Orton’s gone.

Accept it and move on. Orton has.

by JacinB on Jan 3, 2012 12:16 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

I think Orton would have an excellent chance to start in a true competition with Cassel.

But from his comments, it sounds like he doesn’t want to. He apparently got to know and like some guys on the team, and doesn’t want to take Cassel’s job from him.

When you gotta go in the lion's den, you don't go quiet. You go in loud, kick the door down and say WHERE IS THE SONUVABITCH. -B. Billick

by Brsrkr on Jan 3, 2012 12:40 PM CST up reply actions

Replacement Coaches / Coordinators

If Bill Muir retires the most logical replacement I can think of would be Tony Sparano. He was Parcells O line coach in Dallas prior to being named HC in Miami. If Romeo is named HC (which is what everyone expects), he will need a new DC. I think it would be GREAT to steal Greg Manusky from San Diego to be DC or DC / Assistant HC. That would free RAC to concentrate on HC duties and not make similar mistakes to Haley. With St. Louis gutting their front office we stand to gain McDuffus to “repair” Cassel and or Orton and get us to a point where we can score points as needed.

You can't spell "suck" without KSU

by danrice on Jan 3, 2012 9:51 AM CST reply actions

seemed to me that Crennel was doing fine with double duty.

the problem, which was the same as Haley (aka similar mistakes) was an incompetent OC, a backup QB being a starting QB here the past few seasons w/ inadequate/rookie backups, injuries and a lack of depth.

I’m sure Haley had other issues, but as seen in the Raiders game, AT ARROWHEAD nonetheless, the offense couldn’t score TDs! Whether Haley or Crennel, the game plan/ plays did not result in points.

I was really hoping Norv Turner would get fired. He would be an excellent OC addition to the staff. And I’d have no problem with Sparano and Manusky, though Sparano will probably be looking for an OC job, not an oline coaching job….that’d be quite a hit to the ego after being a HC.

"At one point in your life you either have the thing you want or the reasons why you don't "

by chief Stevie_k on Jan 3, 2012 11:41 AM CST up reply actions

Weird what happened with Morris.

I don’t follow the Bucs, but that team’s performance reeks of bad politics.

When you gotta go in the lion's den, you don't go quiet. You go in loud, kick the door down and say WHERE IS THE SONUVABITCH. -B. Billick

by Brsrkr on Jan 3, 2012 10:19 AM CST reply actions

How so?

Kansas City Chiefs: Undefeated in 2012, baby!

by Tarkus on Jan 3, 2012 10:27 AM CST up reply actions

Division winner to cellar dweller, 10-loss collapse down the stretch.

Either politics or major injuries like ours. Actually, we might have had both.

Kinda eerie how similar our two teams are on the surface.

When you gotta go in the lion's den, you don't go quiet. You go in loud, kick the door down and say WHERE IS THE SONUVABITCH. -B. Billick

by Brsrkr on Jan 3, 2012 11:19 AM CST up reply actions

Maybe they just got lucky last year.

Like the Chiefs, who had a lot of things go their way.

Kansas City Chiefs: Undefeated in 2012, baby!

by Tarkus on Jan 3, 2012 11:24 AM CST up reply actions

Eh, that happens every year. Things even out.

Kinda like looking at the pre-season strength of schedule to predict our record, just a bunch of voodoo.

When you gotta go in the lion's den, you don't go quiet. You go in loud, kick the door down and say WHERE IS THE SONUVABITCH. -B. Billick

by Brsrkr on Jan 3, 2012 11:30 AM CST up reply actions

That's why

there is that stat that shows teams that make a big leap in one year almost always regress the following year. Regression towards the mean.

Kansas City Chiefs: Undefeated in 2012, baby!

by Tarkus on Jan 3, 2012 11:34 AM CST up reply actions

But look at how YOUNG THEY ARE!!!

If it wasn’t for the accursed paycheck, would I really imprison myself in this dungeon of the human soul?

by electriclight on Jan 3, 2012 12:23 PM CST up reply actions

Huh.

I hadn’t heard that.

Kansas City Chiefs: Undefeated in 2012, baby!

by Tarkus on Jan 3, 2012 12:42 PM CST up reply actions

Leftover joke from our preseason game.

Commentators couldn’t stop gushing about that young Bucs team.

If it wasn’t for the accursed paycheck, would I really imprison myself in this dungeon of the human soul?

by electriclight on Jan 3, 2012 3:11 PM CST up reply actions

either way, Josh Freeman >>>>Cassel + Palko.

"At one point in your life you either have the thing you want or the reasons why you don't "

by chief Stevie_k on Jan 3, 2012 11:42 AM CST up reply actions

The only thing that would be better than Muir retiring is if Cassel retired.

The views expressed by craig in calgary do not necessarily represent the views of all Canadians.

by saskwatch on Jan 3, 2012 11:46 AM CST reply actions

Ok, a little (no... a lot) off topic...

But why is it called Black Monday? Black Friday as I feel like this name refers to, is referencing getting out of the hole. Stores want to get in the Black, out of the Red, make a profit. And generally Black Friday is when they start to do that, if not make a lot of their profit for the year. Why isn’t it called Red Monday? Just seems like the connotation is backwards.

by Eastcoastransplant on Jan 3, 2012 11:53 AM CST reply actions

by danrice on Jan 3, 2012 12:50 PM CST up reply actions

Also, the day the stock market crashed in 1929 is also referred to as Black Monday.

I always thought the NFL Black Monday thing was a direct reference to that day in history.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on Jan 3, 2012 3:25 PM CST up reply actions