5 NFL Coaches on the Hot Seat

With just one week to play before the 2009 NFL betting season comes to a close, BetOnline Sportsbook takes a look at the coaches that are sitting on the hot seat and may be playing for their jobs in Week 17…

Eric Mangini, Cleveland Browns: A third win in a row may be enough for incoming GM Mike Holmgren to consider keeping Mangini aboard. All things considered, the former Jets’ skipper did a heck of a job holding this squad together in spite of the fact that there’s just not any legitimate offensive talent to go around.

Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans: One would like to think that Kubiak took himself off the hot seat by assuring that the Texans would finish at no worse than .500 for the third straight season. But how many more years can the NFL’s youngest franchise continue to kick around at mediocre, especially considering that they lost five games this year in the dying plays of the game?

Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: NFL betting fans that took a shot with Tampa Bay made some bank off that comeback against the Saints last week. The Bucs have won two straight games, and though they ultimately cost themselves a shot at landing DT Ndamukong Suh in the draft, unless something crazy happens and the Glazer Family gets wowed by a Bill Cowher or someone of the sorts, Morris should keep his job.

Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars: Now this is a different story. Del Rio has largely underachieved as a head coach during his entire reign in Jacksonville. The Jags probably won’t make the playoffs once again this year in spite of the fact that they probably have one of the six most talented teams in the AFC. He gambled a few years ago and sent QB Byron Leftwich out of town in favor of David Garrard, and ultimately, he’ll probably pay the price for the decision.

Jim Zorn, Washington Redskins: Do we even have to stick Zorn on this list of coaches that could be in trouble? If there’s one coach that is certainly out after Sunday, it’s Washington’s. Owner Dan Snyder hasn’t been thrilled with the work of his head coach since the day he brought him aboard, and with the sexy names like Cowher or Shanahan available, who could blame him for wanting to make a change now?

John Fox, Carolina Panthers: In spite of the fact that NFL betting aficionados cursed out Fox time after time for throwing the football with QB Jake Delhomme instead of running it with either RBs Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, Fox looks like he’s going to be okay for at least another season. The Panthers’ skipper can salvage a .500 season with a win over New Orleans on Sunday, but it seems like he’ll be back in black and blue in 2010.

Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears: Chicago’s win over Minnesota on Monday night will certainly help, but the reality is that there are a lot of heads that are going to roll over this Jay Cutler debacle. Even though LB Brian Urlacher was lost right at the beginning of the season and second year RB Matt Forte has been a total bust, Cutler’s arrival in the Windy City was supposed to bring Da Bears back to supremacy in the NFC. It’s done the exact opposite. The biggest insult will be if Kyle Orton is playing in the playoffs with the Broncos while Cutler is on the verge of throwing 30 picks.