Teams Waste Little Time as Ax Falls

Besides being fired Monday, NFL coaches Dennis Erickson, Dave Wannstedt, Ray Rhodes, Ted Marchibroda and Dom Capers had one other thing in common: They never had a chance.

If your job is riding on the arm of Jon Kitna, Steve Stenstrom or Koy Detmer . . . start typing the resume.

And if you are working for a quirky owner, maybe too poor or cheap to buy quality personnel, or too eager to shift the blame . . . rent, don’t buy.

“I think it’s disgusting some of the better coaches in the NFL got fired today,” Miami Coach Jimmy Johnson said. “I know we’re highly paid, but it’s a shame when coaches’ jobs are dependent on injuries, skyboxes, people in the stands and officiating calls. It doesn’t give me a good feeling about our profession when I see things like I saw this morning.”

In rapid-fire succession--less than 24 hours after their final games--the Bears’ Wannstedt, the Eagles’ Rhodes, the Ravens’ Marchibroda, the Seahawks’ Erickson and the Panthers’ Capers were fired.

Throw in Kevin Gilbride, dismissed by the Chargers earlier this year, and that’s six changes to date--21 in the past three years--and if you are Norv Turner in Washington you might want to stop at the local supermarket and stock up on boxes.

Green Bay Coach Mike Holmgren also is expected to switch jobs, but it will be his decision. Looking to grab the power that Dan Reeves has in Atlanta, Bill Parcells in New York and Johnson in Miami, Holmgren has an out in his contract that will allow him to go elsewhere in exchange for a second-round draft pick.

Cleveland, which interviewed Minnesota offensive coordinator Brian Billick on Monday before starting talks with Denver offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, is prohibited from hiring Holmgren because it cannot use any of its draft choices to acquire a coach.

Steve Mariucci, who has indicated for some time he will sign a new contract in San Francisco, has failed to do so, leaving the door cracked for Holmgren’s return. If that happened, Mariucci would be a sure-fire hire by Cleveland and former 49er president Carmen Policy.

The Chargers, who lost June Jones to the University of Hawaii, appear to be interested now in San Diego State Coach Ted Tollner, who previously was a Charger assistant.

Are you nervous, Marty Schottenheimer? Schottenheimer, who has 10 years of service in Kansas City--the last being a major disappointment--presently enjoys the longest stretch with the same team, followed by Pittsburgh’s Bill Cowher, Minnesota’s Dennis Green and Holmgren, all hired in 1992.

“When you don’t win, changes have to be made,” said Rhodes, who showed the good graces not to point a finger at owner Jeffrey Lurie, who failed to put out the money to sign free agents. “This is part of the business.”

Wannstedt, left to hire and fire personnel early in his tenure in Chicago, foundered and only recently received front-office assistance with the hiring of former Chief executive Mark Hatley.

“It hurts to see empty seats, people who’ve already paid for those seats choosing not to show up,” said Bear owner Michael McCaskey.

Wannstedt, a former defensive coordinator for Johnson in Dallas, will probably work again as a defensive coordinator in the league.

Rhodes, like Capers, a former NFL coach of the year, worked as defensive coordinator in San Francisco and with Holmgren in Green Bay and will probably join George Seifert or Holmgren in the same position.

Capers, a former defensive coordinator for the Steelers and the only coach the Panthers have had in their four seasons, was fired two seasons after taking the team to the NFC championship game in its second year. Owner Jerry Richardson, considered a loose cannon by many NFL observers, released Capers after he went 30-34 to keep a grip on the Panther fans.

Marchibroda came from Indianapolis to an unsettled situation in Baltimore, taking over the Ravens the year after they moved from Cleveland. The Ravens were 16-31-1 under Marchibroda, and were unarmed as they went to battle this season with quarterbacks Jim Harbaugh and Eric Zeier.

“It’s a bittersweet moment,” Raven owner Art Modell said. “I’m saddened by what I had to do today, but look forward to winning again. I didn’t come from Cleveland to Baltimore to lose.”

Erickson, considered a goner a year ago after Paul Allen bought the team, fell victim to one of the worst officiating calls in the league this year.

The Seahawks stopped Jet quarterback Vinny Testaverde short of the goal line in the final seconds, but an official credited Testaverde with a game-winning touchdown. The loss dropped Seattle to 6-7 and all but knocked them out of the wild-card race.

Cincinnati Coach Bruce Coslet, 3-13 and a 35-0 loser in his season finale, has been told he will not be fired. At least this year.

JOB OPENINGS

Team with former coach listed

Baltimore

Ted Marchibroda

*

Carolina

Dom Capers

*

Cleveland

Expansion

*

Chicago

Dave Wannstedt

*

San Diego

June Jones*

*

Seattle

Dennis Erickson

*

Philadelphia

Ray Rhodes

*Left to become coach at University of Hawaii.