How Fox could keep his job (even with 4-12)

[Mr. Scot]

Conventional wisdom is that a 6-10 record or lower could very well get John Fox his walking papers. Worst case scenario? The team loses its remaining games and goes 4-12. Most would likely expect that result to spell the end for Fox as Panthers head coach.

Probably true, but there are legitimate scenarios where Fox could keep his job, even if the Panthers don't win another game.

Here's how...

Blame the injuries: This is the most likely out. Fox could argue that the injuries to key players prevented him from being able to field a winning team. Considering that he was given a pass for a prior losing season on this basis, it's not exactly farfetched. Yes, other teams have worked through injuries, but it's the exception, not the rule. Fox knows this, and Jerry Richardson does too.

Blame the Quarterback: Fox has tied himself pretty closely to Jake Delhomme in the past, but if it came down to him or Jake, I expect Fox would bail. Is Fox one of the people that kept Jake here? Sure, but he could go to Richardson and say "Look, after last season we really thought he had a few good years left, but it turns out he didn't. We blew it, but we'll fix it and it won't happen again." It's definitely not out of the realm of possibility that Richardson could accept this as a valid explanation.

Ask for a New Staff: This past offseason saw a near complete turnover of the defensive staff while the offensive group remained mostly intact. Although it took a little time, the new defensive staff eventually translated to improvement. Fox could make the argument that a similar turnover on the offensive side (plus a new QB) could lead to similar improvement. "Give me Charlie Weis and a new staff and we'll do the same on offense," he could say. And yeah, there's some logic to it, so it could happen.

Appeal to Prior Record: Overall, Fox still has a decent winning percentage. In his time as Panthers coach, the team has been to a Super Bowl and two NFC Championships. That's not bad for a coaching career. Thus, Fox could cast this season as a "bump in the road" and say that the team will "be back" next season. Richardson could very well be inclined to agree.

Point out the Tough Road Ahead: Starting over with a new coach could very well mean rebuilding from the ground up. Most teams that have to start over like this end up having to endure at least one rough season, sometimes more. Fox could conceivably convince Richardson that it'd be easier to stick with him and let him tweak things than it would to start all over. Richardson might look at the situation and decide it's true.

Appeal to the "Last Chance" Scenario: Fox has a single year left on his contract, and it wouldn't be a reach to spin that last year into a last chance. "Look, I've got one more year," he could argue, "so give me one last chance to show what I can do." Given that hiring a new head coach means essentially starting over, and throwing in that Fox may have guaranteed money in his contract (unknown) Richardson could decide it's easier to just stay the course for one final time and then the following year either extend Fox, or start over.

No Argument Needed: In reality, there's been no actual confirmation that Fox is on the proverbial hot seat or that Richardson is inclined to fire him for a bad season. So even if things go completely wrong, Richardson might come out after the season and say "I still trust John Fox" and that'd be it. Fox would then be free to make what changes he wants and go into next season safe and secure.

Any one of these, or a combination of them, could be used as arguments to keep John Fox in place for one more year.

Will it happen? Unknown. You can be certain that Fox would rather not have to go this route.

But given the circumstances, he might.

We'll see.

[PntherPryd]

Richardson is too good of a businessman to give Fox a pass.

[Argus Plexus]

Who knows. John Fox is an excellent coach if you ignore the fact that he ignored the need to groom a young QB for so long.

[Lumps]

I think Fox will be back next year. Fox gets his last chance to do something and JR can now put some major heat on him because of that fact. If that doesn't make a coach preform nothing will.

It does make me sick we have to deal with run/play action x 100000000 for the next year but at least the d will be solid.

I truly believe the only major change is going to be Delhomme. And while I would like to see Fox gone for being an idiot, as a business man this would make more sense.

[Mr. Scot]

Richardson is too good of a businessman to give Fox a pass.

Maybe. I'm just not convinced it's a lock. Again, these are all things that could happen. I'm not about to predict what will.

My current preference would be to get Mike Zimmer. The only scenario I see where I favor keeping Fox would be if he brought in someone like Charlie Weis and a new QB. To be clear, I don't prefer that scenario over getting Zimmer, but I prefer it over the status quo.

[Brooklyn Bully]

He already used the Injury Pass. Was it 2004? When we had 14 injured or on IR. Something like that.

[CRA]

I don't see the injury excuse being a card he can play.......anyone who has watched Carolina up to this point knows coaching/playcalling has cost the Panthers some wins. Fox/Davidson know what they have in there hands....and have repeatedly played it wrong after the 0-3 start....when it was painfully obvious how to win and lose games.

Yeah, we lost Kemo early. We probably are stronger now at DT than coming in. Yeah, Davis was a huge blow.....but those two aren't enough to even think of crying about injury. Gross? By that point, Fox's coaching had this team going in the wrong direction before they went down.

Godfrey - we got better

Jake - most likely Moore will be as good or better. Thinking he will be worse really isn't realistic.

[JungleCat]

Would Richardson pass up Cowher if he wanted to come here next year?

[The Faceless]

I would not have a problem with keeping Fox next year IF he can get a competent Qb in here. Mabye a Brady Quinn-Charlie Weiss combo?

[Baschski]

Yeah, contrary to what most people on the board believe (and wish), I think there's a good chance Fox will be back next year. If he can swallow his pride and keep Jake on the bench, I think this team can really thrive with a new QB. We don't need an entirely new coaching staff or system or philosophy. We just need a QB that doesn't throw four picks a game.

...We also need a #2 WR.

[Mr. Scot]

I don't see the injury excuse being a card he can play.......anyone who has watched Carolina up to this point knows coaching/playcalling has cost the Panthers some wins. Fox/Davidson know what they have in there hands....and have repeatedly played it wrong after the 0-3 start....when it was painfully obvious how to win and lose games.

Yeah, we lost Kemo early. We probably are stronger now at DT than coming in. Yeah, Davis was a huge blow.....but those two aren't enough to even think of crying about injury. Gross? By that point, Fox's coaching had this team going in the wrong direction before they went down.

Godfrey - we got better

Jake - most likely Moore will be as good or better. Thinking he will be worse really isn't realistic.

Ah, but it could be argued that sometimes who you lose is more important than how many (Kemo, Gross. Davis, Stewart not 100%). Is it valid? Debatable, but it can be argued.

Again, I'm not saying this should happen. Just that it could.

[CRA]

Ah, but it could be argued that sometimes who you lose is more important than how many (Kemo, Gross. Davis, Stewart not 100%; all important cogs in the machine).

Is it valid? Debatable, but it can be argued.

well, you are probably right.....

it can be argued....but i would laugh at Fox if he did.

[PntherPryd]

It's much more than the injuries.

I think Richardson makes a move simply because he can. Fox has been given enough chances and nothing has changed. Richardson has made moves in the past when coaches hit a wall and the team doesn't improve and I fully expect it to happen in January.

But the reason I want it to change has to do with not just offensive play calling as it is the structure, creativity and execution of the plays we have in the playbook. Defensively, we're mediocre but good enough to contend. Special teams we are bottom of the barrel. But it all goes back to the head coach. We tried changing OC's, we tried changing DC's and we've tried to unearth the nude photo's of Fox's gay lover that our ST's coach possesses. Nothing has worked. Time to move on.

Starting even before the Super Bowl it has appeared that many opponents know the plays we are going to run better than we do. I can see that happening once or twice but it has grown to be the standard. I can't remember the last time we came on this board and admired any half-time adjustments, offensive or defensive. All of that goes directly to John Fox.

[pantherpain]

Point out the Tough Road Ahead: Starting over with a new coach could very well mean rebuilding from the ground up. Most teams that have to start over like this end up having to endure at least one rough season, sometimes more. Fox could conceivably convince Richardson that it'd be easier to stick with him and let him tweak things than it would to start all over. Richardson might look at the situation and decide it's true.

This would only prolong the inevitable. Giving Fox another year or two would only be more of the same foxball we've seen over the years.

The sooner we part way's with Fox the closer we are to winning a super bowl.