I discussed this in some detail in our weekly Fantasy Roundtable...here is my commentary for those who aren't subscribers:
Jason Wood: There should be a deluge of coaching changes this offseason. We already had confirmation that Brian Billick will remain, but I still see 10 potential vacancies...
* Buffalo -- Mike Mularkey hasn't been there for long, but there are indications that Ralph Wilson is unhappy and that GM Tom Donahoe is getting the boot. Tough to bring in a new GM and not let him bring in his own coach if he so chooses.
* Houston -- Capers and Casserly are dead men walking, we knew that the day Dan Reeves joined as "consultant." Whether Reeves takes the job remains to be seen, but they'll have a new crew in Houston in '06.
* Kansas City -- Vermeil hasn't confirmed plans to stay for '06, and I could see him feeling burnt out, but this move is less certain.
* Oakland -- Norv Turner was a bad hire in the first place, and far from Al Davis' top choice (he was really the only guy who wanted the job). With guys like Gallery and Moss in town now, I believe more young coaches will be willing to roll the dice and take over, much like Jon Gruden did a few years ago.
* Detroit -- The Lions have looked as bad under **** Jauron as they have under Mooch, and Millen has one last chance to get the head coaching position right. You don't hang your professional career on **** Jauron's shoulders.
* Green Bay -- The team has been decimated by injuries, but the play the last month suggests the team has largely given up. Sherman was on tenuous ground anyway having been stripped of his GM duties. New GM Ted Thompson likely wants "his guy" in and has a legitimate excuse to punt Sherman after this debacle of a season.
* Minnesota -- Had Tice pulled off a miracle playoff berth it might have been tough to fire him, but new owner Ziggy Wulf is likely desperate to completely turn the page and that will start with the hiring of his own GM/head coaching tandem.
* New Orleans -- Jim Haslett seems fed up, and frankly his coaching record with New Orleans doesn't suggest he's a "must keep at all costs" guy in the first place.
* Arizona -- Word out of Arizona is that Denny Green is "demanding" substantial raises for many of his assistants, which is coachspeak for "trying to get fired." My instincts say Denny stays for 2006, but it's no slam dunk, particularly if he feels he can land a better job elsewhere.
* St. Louis -- Obviously Joe Vitt is not getting the interim tag removed.
As to which coaches may be in line for HC hires next year, here are some to think about...
* Dan Reeves, Houston "Consultant"
* Mike Martz, Ex-STL HC
* Denny Green, [if released from ARI contract]
* Jim Bates, DC, Green Bay [if GB promotes him]
* Wade Phillips, DC, San Diego [likely in Hou if Reeves takes GM job]
* Gary Kubiak, OC, Denver
* Cam Cameron, OC, San Diego
* Russ Grimm, OL, Pittsburgh
* Jim Fassel, OC, Baltimore [i think he'll campaign hard for Buf and Oakland jobs]
* Al Saunders [Vermeil's choice to replace him in KC]
* Sean Payton, OC, Dallas
* Tim Lewis, DC, New York Giants
* Brad Childress, OC, Philadelphia
* Gregg Williams, DC, Washington
* Mike Trgovac, DC, Carolina
* Ron Rivera, DC, Chicago
* Greg Knapp, OC, Atlanta
* Kirk Ferentz, HC, Iowa U.
With news that Vermeil IS going to retire, and news that Schottenheimer may also be on the outs in San Diego, the picture gets considerably less clear. Despite claims to the contrary, I would think Herman Edwards will be approached, as will other incumbent coaches for either of those jobs [if KC doesn't give the job to Saunders.
