Before we get to the earliest NFL-coaching-hot-seat possibly ever, I thought I'd share a John Randle quote from a story I'm working on for Saturday. The story takes a look at the friendship between the Vikings' Hall of Fame defensive tackle and former Vikings defensive line coach John Teerlinck.
Randle recently picked Teerlinck to be hispresenterat this summer's Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony inCanton, Ohio. Actually, Randle decided a long time ago thatTeerlinck would do thehonorsif Randle were to get in.
I talked to a guyat the Hall that I've known for22 years, and he saidthere have only been about 10 position coaches who have served as presenters.
I called Randle the othernight and asked him for a few moments of his time. Hesaid he had five minutes because he wastaking his son to soccer.I told him I wanted to talk aboutTeerlinck.We finished our conversation about 25 minutes later.
"He's like Mr. Miyagi ," Randle said of Teerlinck, who's nowdefensive line coach for the Colts."He's the guru."
Indeed, he is.
Now, on to the hot seats. Who would you put in your top three?
It could be guys who have struggled for a number of years now (Jack Del Rio), guys who were given a second chance aftera front-office overhaul (Eric Mangini), guys who are successful but just haven't gotten over the hump (Jeff Fisher, Andy Reid) and guys whose Super Bowl appearance has faded (Lovie Smith).