How much responsibility of a losing season falls on the head coaches head? And how long can a mediocre coach survive from a Super Bowl appearance? Head coach for the Chicago Bears, Lovie Smith, appeared in the 2006 Super Bowl—with quarterback Rex Grossman leading the way—but has done nothing since.

Since that 2006 Super Bowl appearance, Smith has gone 22-25 and has not seen a playoff game. With the addition of Jay Cutler, you would think the Bears could at least do as well as when Grossman was the quarterback.

It is becoming commonplace for coaches to take the fall when teams fail. I guess it’s like any other business: the presidents take the fall when the company fails.

Maybe all coaches and players should follow the likes of running back Ricky Williams when he signed with the New Orleans Saints and have an incentive-based salary. Everyone starts with a base pay, respective of each position, and then the millions of dollars should be earned. First-year players that have not proven themselves and still make ridiculous amounts of money may cause them to lose their edge. The NFL provides speed, the hardest hits you have ever seen, on-and-off-the-field antics, and great entertainment, but is sometimes missing that motivation that college players have. Incentive-based pay could renew that motivation.

Firing a coach or signing an all-star may help rejuvenate a franchise, but until coaches truly have more power over their players, maybe the players should be looked at a little closer and team owners should not put so much weight on the coaches.

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