CheramieIII

From the Washington Times:

Wannstedt heads coaches on spot

By David Elfin

Dave Wannstedt was battered and beaten before the NFL season even began.
Wannstedt's Miami Dolphins missed the playoffs last season for the second straight year, leaving many surprised he was not fired. In July, he lost running back Ricky Williams, the team's offensive star, to unexpected retirement. He lost top receiver David Boston to injury in August. He was forced to trade disgruntled pass-rusher Adewale Ogunleye, a star on defense, for a receiver to replace Boston.

The tumult left Wannstedt in an uncomfortable position: atop the list of coaches most likely to get fired during or after this season. Others in danger:
• Jim Haslett, New Orleans Saints. The only playoff victory in franchise history came in 2000, Haslett's first season. However, his team collapsed miserably at crunch time the next two seasons. Haslett knows he might be fired unless his team reaches the postseason or at least makes a serious playoff push.
"There's myself, my family and probably another 200 people affected by a coaching change," Haslett said. "Do I want to win for myself? Yeah. But I want to win for everybody that's involved. I feel pressure because I've got a lot of families looking at me."
• Mike Tice, Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings turned a 6-0 start into a 9-7 finish last season and didn't qualify for the playoffs. Unlike Wannstedt and Haslett, the former Maryland quarterback is in the last year of his contract and likely needs to make the playoffs to remain employed.
• Butch Davis, Cleveland Browns. A coach knows he's in trouble when his team plummets from the playoffs to the division cellar in one season, as the Browns did last year. Davis' problems are compounded because the owner who hired him, Al Lerner, died and the front-office boss who was his big booster, Carmen Policy, was forced out.
If the Browns aren't competitive in the weak AFC North, Davis is a goner.

http://www.washtimes.com/sports/2004...5657-5078r.htm