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Give the Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams credit for recognizing their
mistakes. It’s hard to give Al Davis credit for much in Oakland.

The Lions finally pulled the plug last week on Matt Millen’s
disastrous seven-plus-year reign of error as general manager (a 31-84
record). On Monday, the Rams fired coach Scott Linehan after a
dreadful 0-4 start that saw morale plummet and opponents amass a
147-43 scoring edge.

And yesterday, Davis dropped the axe on Raiders coach Lane Kiffin
after an awkward month of innuendo and replaced him on an interim
basis with Tom Cable.

All three scenarios were toxic, and making changes at or near the top
may be the first of many steps required to change the culture of
losing in all three cities.

According to ESPN.com research, the firings of Linehan and Kiffin mark
the 59th and 60th in-season coaching change since the 1970 NFL-AFL
merger. Replacement coaches have a combined 120-263-1 record (a .314
winning percentage). Of the 27 coaches who took over with at least
half a season remaining, only five led their teams to winning records.

To be fair, few of those men inherited good situations. Unlike in
baseball, basketball or hockey, football teams (pro or college) rarely
make in-season management changes. Coaches spend their entire off-
seasons implementing or honing offensive or defensive schemes, and
even during bye weeks, it’s hard to change course.

Most changes come when things clearly get out of hand–and nowhere is
that more true than in Oakland.

The Raiders job may be the least desirable in pro sports because of
Davis’ meddling. Oakland has lost at least 11 games for five straight
seasons, tying Tampa Bay’s NFL record for futility. A once-proud
franchise whose motto was “Commitment to Excellence” has become a
laughingstock, and it may not get better until Davis is committed–to
a retirement home.

Don’t expect Bill Cowher or anyone with a shred of independence to
apply for the job in the offseason.

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Tags: baseball basketball, bye weeks, coach lane, coach scott, coaching change, defensive schemes, detroit lions, espn, football teams, hockey football, interim basis, lane kiffin, management changes, matt millen, pro sports, raiders coach, scott linehan, st louis rams, three cities, tom cable