So What Coaches are Getting Fired and Who Might Get Hired?

Because pimpin' ain't easy.

Now that the regular season is over 20 teams are forced to go home and think about next season as they watch the other guys continue on in the playoffs. Some will be thinking it should be them. Others will be thinking after the season they've had they are glad its not them. Others will be blissfully clueless thinking that even though their team stunk their job is safe.

Probably the only guy that we can assume is going to be back is New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. Over the weekend the news broke that the team has come to an agreement with him for a multi-year deal that will make him the highest paid coach in at around $8 million a year.

The only question will be whether Roger Goodell will reinstate him or not. After the bounty gate fiasco it would not be surprising to see him want to stick it to someone, and since the coaches are the only ones left...

Then again it would be smart of him to just let bounty gate go and quietly reinstate Payton.

Rumor has it that Rex Ryan is going to stay, but Tony Sparano is out. That's good since the word is that Mark Sanchez will still be around since he is too expensive to cut. Fans of the other 31 teams should be pretty happy; at least now they know that there will be at least one team that is a bigger train wreck than their team.

Any moment now Andy Reid and Pat Shurmur are expected to be officially let go. The Reid news broke last night during the Cowboys/Redskins game (at least that;s when I saw it). Shurmur's demise broke Saturday night.

In Oakland, the early word is that offensive coordinator Greg Knapp is out. Nothing has been said about head coach Dennis Allen yet.

Norv Turner announced his own demise yesterday following the Chargers win over Oakland. If he wasn't going to be fired he should be now. Rex Ryan may be a blowhard, but the man is at least willing to publicly fight for his job (even if he isn't privately). Anyone that publicly says he's going to be gone should be.

Even though Jerry Jones has said that Jason Garett is safe I would not be surprised to see him get canned. Jerry Jones is never one that can be taken at his word; he proved that with all his public support of Wade Phillips prior to firing him.

Plus, as much as I'd like to blame Tony Romo for all that is wrong with Dallas it is the job of the coaching staff to figure out how to get the most and best out of the players. The 'Boys have easily been the most under-performing team in the league. Supporters can blame injuries all they want, but in the end the team wasn't performing at full strength either.

To that degree, Rob Ryan should go as well. A supposed defensive wiz like his brother (ha!), the Cowboys defense has just not measured up. Yes, he has done well with a lot of back-ups thrust into starters roles, but the team is out of the playoffs again--after giving up 200 yards on the ground to a 6th round rookie.

A umber of guys are rumored to be interested in returning to the sideline. Jay Gruden has been the focus of speculation for months thanks to his many veiled comments during broadcasts. According to the latest he is open to interviewing after publicly stating that he is cool with his role at ESPN.

Steve Mariuci has thrown his hat into the ring as well. This I found a little surprising. He wasn't spectacular with the 49ers or Lions. My only guess is that the man may not be returning to the commentating gig next season so he needs to get a job (before he looses this one).

A number of college coaches are rumored as NFL candidates. Nick Saban and Chip Kelly have been widely talked about already, but Penn State's Bill O'Brien and Washington's Steve Sarkisian are rumored to be candidates as well.

Among current coordinators Bruce Arians has to be the hottest commodity on the market. After proving he can do the job during Chuck Pagano's abscnce needy teams should be lining up to interview him. The downfall of the Steelers will help prove his worth as well.

Other possible candidates include 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Benglas OC Jay Gruden, Cardinals DC Ray Horton, Falcons OC Dirk Koetter, Packers QB coach Ben McAdo, Broncos OC Miek McCoy, 49ers OC Greg Roman, Redskins OC Kyle Shanahan, and Bengals DC Mike Zimmer.