Reading material

The firing squad for coaches usually begins lining up right after the New Year's Eve hangover begins to wear off. While the playoff teams start preparing for the tournament, the also-rans start "charting a new course," "heading in a new direction," "making a fresh start."

Seems they were anxious for a fresh start in Kansas City and Miami. The Chiefs axed head coach Todd Haley on Monday, followed a few hours later by the Dolphins saying see ya to Tony Sparano. (Not Soprano). It was pretty clear both coaches were not going to be around next season so I guess the teams decided why not beat the New Year's rush.

• In KC, the focus is now squarely on GM Scott Pioli. The former Patriot exec came to the Chiefs with three Super Bowl rings and a promise to return KC to its glory days. Things looked promising with a surprising division win last season but it's been more gory than glory in 2011. Now Pioli is looking for a new coach. Word is he's leaning towards another former Pat,  Josh McDaniels. Good luck with that.
• In Miami, the Phins looked like they might save their coach's job when they ran off four wins in five weeks but then they got pounded by Philly at home Sunday. Time to take Sparano for a ride. Sparano is a good guy and pretty good coach. But he had a lousy team. So he had to go. 
• That's the way it goes with coaching. Not just in the NFL but in all sports. As they say, you can't fire the players. So the coach has to go. As your teenager might say ... life's not fair.

Haley's and Sparano's firing makes three for the season so far. Jacksonville axed long-time coach Jack Del Rio a few weeks ago. That will probably be it till the season ends. Who will be next? Norv? Yes. Has to be Norv's time.

Reading material

As I've written before. The NFL is a coaches' league. You can have a great QB. A great defense. But it doesn't matter if your coach can't handle the pressure or keep his players focused. That was the theme of many stories in out-of-town newspapers after Week 13.

• First and foremost there's Dallas. The Cowboys thought they were done with this kind of mess when they dumped Wade Phillips. Wrong. Jason Garrett's bungling of the last 30 seconds of yesterday's game was beyond anything I've seen Wade do. There is no defending not calling a timeout with 26 seconds left. No defending it. I would link to a column from the Dallas Morning News but my free online subscription does not give me access to columnists. I have to get the newspaper delivered for that. But I don't live in Dallas. Gee. I wonder why newspapers (and their websites) are struggling.
• A little further east in the NFC division of the same name finds the Eagles falling to new lows. In Seattle. Andy Reid has lost his team and after 13 years looks well on his way to losing his job.
• Another sign that a coach doesn't have control of his team is penalties. The Raiders have been famous for this for years. The Detroit Lions have taken their place as the most undisciplined team in the NFL. Coach Jim Schwartz has a cocky attitude for a guy who hasn't won anything yet. When they were 5-0 he was strutting around the sidelines. He hasn't been strutting lately.

So Pats fans. As you are reading about the state of coaching in other NFL cities, take a moment to be thankful that Mr. Kraft agreed to give up that first round pick to the Jets just a little more than a decade ago. Greatest first-round pick in the history of the league.