What kind of a record would make Richardson pull the trigger?

[ChucktownK]

Anything not in the playoffs according to Richardson.

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

Not sure that Richardson will have to pull the trigger. Thinking more and more that Fox might step down after this year regardless of what happens.

[Udogg]

Fox ain't going nowhere. Suck it up.

[panthersphan]

I really don't see Fox being fired after the season...if we miss the playoffs.

I really don't...hope I'm wrong...

[rayzor]

i guess the bar is set pretty low around here. as long as you can keep the team from being 1-15 you're ok and even then, since you took the team to the superbowl years ago you could probably stay longer.

awesome. mediocrity rules.

[Khyber53]

Once again, we're two games into the season!

I plan on watching the next 14 panther games, and hopefully a few more before the season winds out. So, I'm just not ready to write them off yet, or the coach, or the quarterback.

[mountainpantherfan]

1995 7-9

1996 12-4

1997 7-9

1998 4-12 Coach Fired

1999 8-8

2000 7-9

2001 1-15 Coach Fired

2002 7-9

2003 11-5

2004 7-9

2005 11-5

2006 8-8

2007 7-9

2008 12-4

2009 ?

A 7-9 record or better will save Fox, like it or not. I think the standard of the first season has been the measuring stick that Richardson has and will use in deciding about the future of the coaching position. 6-10 record or worse, Fox is gone.

Fox is a good coach and I think there is a good chance he will eventually win a Super Bowl in his career. It could be that the Panthers and fans need to give him more time like Pittsburgh did with Cowher. Or it could be that he needs to change teams like Coughlin did with Jacksonville and New York. Or he could end up like Fisher in Tennesse and never win a Super Bowl with the Panthers.

Personally I think it may be time for Fox to move on but like others have said, just because you bring in a new coach doesn't mean that will translate into a good move. Seifert is a great example of this and firing Fox no matter how you look at it is taking a huge gamble.

[thunderraiden]

Oh, I don't know... 0-16?

Why would the team owner want to ditch the winningest coach in team history? A coach that never posted a record lower than 7-9? One who took the team to the Super Bowl? Or got them to the playoffs three times in six years?

Maybe he would fire him if enough weenies on fan forums gnashed their teeth and typed all in caps? Get real.

Look at it from the business side. Fox brought the team respectability and he did it quick. His record and coaching brought us spots as the featured national game (MNF, SNF, TNF), rather than being the also rans way back in the national coverage.

That respect has put butts in the seats at the stadium, has driven better TV ratings, sold tons of merchandise, extended the season three times (thereby GREATLY increasing team revenues from all sources) and he has been a steady, solid performer that hasn't had any incidents (like punching out an assistant coach, flipping out at a news conference (Playoffs?!!?! Playoffs??!!?? They are who we thought they are!).

He also hasn't courted TOs, Favre's or Plaxicos out of desperation, hasn't had team alcohol problems like the Bengals or Vikings, hasn't had tampering charges leveled against him, courted a college coaching HC job, or just simply given up on the team during a rough spot.

Pull the trigger because he got out coached for the season opener and then lost a nail biter against a strong division rival in their house? After coming off a 12-4 season that ended in a butt whooping from a Super Bowl team on the rise?

Yeah, right. Fox is really about to get fired. Really. Pink slip already warm and in the printer. Stack of empty copier paper boxes right beside his desk. Yep, on his way out. Security is on alert and the doorman is WD-40ing the hinges.

Ain't gonna happen forum dweebs unless they find Foxy with a dead hooker or a live boy, to quote the old political axiom.

I would agree if it werent for the fact that Cowher is all that you just mentioned and also avaliable to us. Cowher runs the same philosophy... only better and he would command ALOT of respect when hiring new assistants and coordinators.

[SMACKDAB]

How about this record.......??

[Sultan33g]

How about this record.......??

lol only you electro would post that!

[SMACKDAB]

lol only you electro would post that!

Somebody pulled the trigger already.

[Mr. Scot]

I'd have to agree with 6-10 or lower.

We've seen 7-9 and 8-8 seasons before, but if it dips below that line that's when I think the real possibility of Fox being in trouble comes in.

[CRA]

I'd have to agree with 6-10 or lower.

We've seen 7-9 and 8-8 seasons before, but if it dips below that line that's when I think the real possibility of Fox being in trouble comes in.

we have seen 7-9 before......but this ain't a team lead by Foster and David Carr. This team happens to have probably one of the better offenses in the league w/ some GREAT and healthy talent on D.

[Mesmer]

I believe that that anything less than a Wild Card berth should result in termination.

Unfortunately, I think if we do hit 7-9, Fox and Hurney will stay. Then, hopefully we'll have another year in 2010-2011 where we're insanely good because Fox's Panthers are the most inconsistent bunch around.