Black Monday removes four more NFL coaches

Almost as soon as the St. Louis Rams announced yesterday that Mike Martz was out as head coach, they asked the Chicago Bears for permission to talk to Ron Rivera, their defensive co-ordinator.

Same thing in Houston: the Texans fired Dom Capers, then asked Denver for permission to talk to Broncos offensive co-ordinator Gary Kubiak.

Such is the way of the NFL. If there's a hot coaching prospect out there, try to get to him as soon as possible before the competition grabs him.

Four coaches were let go on Black Monday, the day after the regular season and the traditional time for firing coaches. Martz, Capers, Mike Sherman of Green Bay and Jim Haslett of New Orleans were canned.



They join Mike Tice of Minnesota, who was fired Sunday night, and Kansas City's Dick Vermeil, who retired Sunday at the age of 69. With the dismissal of Detroit's Steve Mariucci in November, there are seven NFL head-coaching vacancies.

That's not an unusual number, although there were only three new coaches this past season. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, an average of 5.9 jobs per year opened up.

Haslett's job has been in question most of the season as the Saints, who finished 3-13, went through a chaotic period in which the team was driven from its home by hurricane Katrina, settled in San Antonio and played home games in three different stadiums, including its opener at the home of its opponent, the New York Giants.

"There were some unexpected challenges, but in any case our record isn't good enough," Haslett, who coached the Saints for six seasons and was the NFL's coach of the year in 2000, said in a statement.

Martz, 54, took a medical leave after five games with an infection of the heart lining. He was not allowed back on the sidelines, in part because of differences with director of football operations Jay Zygmunt. At the time he left the team, Martz's career record was 56-36 and he had led the Rams to the playoffs four times and to the Super Bowl after the 2001 season.

Thus it was no surprise when New Orleans' offensive players heard of the availability of Martz, known for his innovations, and hinted he be considered to replace Haslett.

"I'd like an offensive-minded coach," wide receiver Donte' Stallworth said, nodding when asked if it was a coach who had a recent health problem.

Martz might be a candidate for an opening, especially on a team looking for offensive help.
The Saints, who own the No.2 pick in the draft and a possible shot at Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart, might do worse. Martz's specialty is developing quarterbacks, as he did with Kurt Warner and Marc Bulger in St. Louis.

The list of prospects for the vacancies is long.

Rivera is one of those at the top. Because he is of Hispanic heritage, he also fits the specifications of the Rooney rule, which requires that all teams with vacancies interview at least one minority candidate.

Another top prospect in that category is Tim Lewis, defensive co-ordinator of the Giants, who was once a cornerback for Green Bay and turned down an interview with Detroit when it hired Mariucci.

Other potential minority candidates include Cleveland offensive co-ordinator Maurice Carthon, Minnesota defensive co-ordinator Ted Cottrell and Mike Singletary, the hall-of-fame linebacker who is San Francisco's assistant head coach.
source : thestar.com