National Football League

Spagnuolo, Morris can still return to top

Published Jan. 2, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

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Alex Marvez

There is a sliver of light for the two NFL head coaches fired on what is ominously known as Black Monday.

Plenty of failed first-timers get a second chance.

Three of the past seven Super Bowl winners — New England (Bill Belichick), Indianapolis (Tony Dungy) and the New York Giants (Tom Coughlin) — featured head coaches who had to learn tough lessons elsewhere before finding their groove. Jeff Fisher and Mike Mularkey already have resurfaced as candidates who will get a long look for some of this year’s vacancies.

Not that this should provide any consolation to Steve Spagnuolo and Raheem Morris. Both brought their respective franchises — St. Louis and Tampa Bay — to the cusp of respectability last season only to have the roof collapse in 2011.

Indianapolis’ Jim Caldwell is under evaluation, but could fall into the same first-time coaching status as Spagnuolo and Morris — with an asterisk. Caldwell has previous head coaching experience at Wake Forest from 1993 to 2000.

San Diego’s Norv Turner — who is on his third different NFL head coaching stint — also is likely to get canned. Team owner Dean Spanos told the San Diego Union-Tribune that he would wait several days before making a final decision.

Three other franchises fired their head coaches — Jacksonville’s Jack Del Rio, Miami’s Tony Sparano and Kansas City’s Todd Haley — during the season. Here’s a look at the others who joined them Monday among the unemployed and the direction their franchises may be heading:

Steve Spagnuolo

Record: 10-38 in three seasons.

What went wrong: Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney, who also was fired Monday, couldn’t change the culture of losing he inherited. The Rams were 5-27 in the two seasons before the duo was hired. They fell back to that decrepit level in 2011 with an injury-ravaged roster and the surprising regression of second-year quarterback Sam Bradford under new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Proudest moment: Guiding the Rams to a 7-9 record in 2010 record after a 1-15 mess the previous season.

Moment of shame: Losing at Seattle, 16-6, in the 2010 season-finale. The Rams would have won the NFC West and possibly bought Spagnuolo and Devaney more time in St. Louis. Seattle instead became the first team with a losing record to ever win a division.

What’s next?: Spagnuolo should be in strong demand as a defensive coordinator. One possibility is a return to Philadelphia. The Eagles’ defense struggled for much of the season until late improvement under new coordinator Juan Castillo. Getting the chance to work with a talent like Bradford as well as the salary cap space St. Louis has available will make St. Louis attractive. Stan Kroenke, who will be entering his second season as Rams owner in 2012, is expected to make a big splash at head coach and general manager in hopes of reinvigorating an apoplectic fan base.

Raheem Morris

Record: 17-31 in three seasons

What went wrong: After finishing 10-6 in 2010, the Bucs ended the 2011 season on a 10-game losing streak. The defensive collapse was especially damning with Morris holding coordinator responsibilities. Tampa Bay was outscored by an average margin of 41-18 in their final five games.

Proudest moment: Morris coached the last team to defeat the eventual Super Bowl-champion New Orleans Saints in 2009. Besides being the highlight of a 3-13 season, that 20-17 road upset helped lay the groundwork for the 10-6 record Tampa Bay posted the following year.

Moment of shame: Knowing that their head coach was on the hot seat, the Bucs responded by falling behind 42-0 in the first 24 minutes of Sunday’s season-finale against Atlanta. The lack of effort provided further affirmation that Morris was a goner long before time expired on a 45-24 loss.

What’s next?: The next time that the 35-year-old Morris gets a head coaching opportunity — and I fully believe he is worthy of one — expect him to run a far tighter ship with a greater personal distance from the players he works with. General manager Mark Dominik — who successfully deflected enough blame about this season to keep his job — has an attractive young roster, abundant salary cap space and 23-year-old quarterback Josh Freeman to offer Morris’ replacement. I also expect a known disciplinarian to receive strong consideration after what transpired under Morris. The big question: How much will the miserly Glazer family allow Tampa Bay’s football operation to spend on the next head coach as well as the roster?

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