It should make the Bears no happier to know they have plenty of company in their misery. If there is a common denominator among poor teams it is injuries, instability of core talent and, more than anything else, a history of poor decision-making. It is revealing, at least, to compare notes with the worst teams in the league.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-11)
Thumbnail: Two years since reaching the NFC championship game, the Panthers have lost 16 of their last 20 games. Last week’s loss to San Francisco was their eighth by a touchdown or less.
What went wrong: Injuries: 13 players on IR currently and eight different starting combinations on the offensive line. The Kerry Collins debacle after the fourth game was franchise-shaking. Questionable decision-making–passing on Randy Moss, Vonnie Holiday and Fred Taylor in the draft for defensive end Jason Peter, who has done little–and free agent busts explain the dive.
What the coach is saying: “It brings out a player’s truest, most innermost characteristics when you’re faced with adversity and disappointment,” Dom Capers said.
What the boss is saying: “We’ve made a long-term commitment to Dom and that hasn’t changed,” team President Mark Richardson said last week. “It has been a bad year for all of us. We’re all disappointed with losing. . . . But that’s not reflective of how we feel about the coaching.”
What the papers are saying: “If you are at all imbued with the holiday spirit, share some with the Carolina Panthers,” Charlotte Observer columnist Tom Sorensen wrote after the 49ers’ loss. “I feel bad for them and I haven’t felt bad for them since 1995.”
Capers’ fate: He’s set based on Richardson’s comments.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-11)
Thumbnail: In the midst of an eight-game losing streak, the Bengals must win two of their final three games to avoid tying the worst record in franchise history. Either way, they miss the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. Ranked 28th in both points scored and allowed, they recently broke a streak that had them trailing in 17 straight quarters.
What went wrong: The quarterback situation is a mess: four different starters in the last 19 games. Season-ending injuries to Ki-Jana Carter and Neil O’Donnell hurt, but poor scouting, a lack of a personnel staff and now signs of players giving up signal a far bigger problem.
What the coach is saying: “I hope we’re sowing seeds that will pay off down the road, but right now, I can’t tell you that,” Bruce Coslet said after his team’s 27-10 loss to Oakland on Oct. 25.
What the boss is saying: “This is an emotional thing,” said club President/General Manager Mike Brown after fans directed obscene gestures at the owner’s box during the Bengals’ last loss. “I’m actually happy people have emotions about us, even if they care in this fashion. At least it shows they care.”
What the papers are saying: “We must have done something terribly wrong to deserve this,” writes Cincinnati Enquirer columnist Paul Daugherty. “A whole decade of the-song-remains-the-same. I feel like I’m watching the movie `Groundhog Day,’ directed by Stephen King. Other places, they get locusts.”
Coslet’s fate: Locals give Coslet a 95 percent chance of returning, particularly after Brown said three weeks ago that the failures are not Coslet’s fault.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-11)
Thumbnail: Plenty of potential with rookie Peyton Manning improving and running back Marshall Faulk having a Pro Bowl year. Offensive line is league’s youngest with two rookies and two second-year players, but is still a huge improvement over last season. On defense, 11 of the 25 players on the roster are undrafted free agents and not especially good ones.
What went wrong: Overall inexperience. Early injuries to playmakers Quentin Coryatt and Tony Bennett, subsequently released, and sack leader Dan Footman have left them void of defensive talent.
What the coach is saying: “We played another close game,” Jim Mora said after last week’s 28-21 loss at Atlanta. “But that’s all it was, close. That means we’re not quite good enough.”
What the boss is saying: “As long as I see us getting better and as long as I know what we need to do to get better, then I’m fine with it,” team President Bill Polian said of the Colts’ win-loss record.
What the papers are saying: “You don’t have to be a member of the Thundering Herd Fan Club to see this team’s potential, at least offensively,” writes Indianapolis Star columnist Robin Miller.
Mora’s fate: No pressure for Mora or Polian in their first years.
CHICAGO BEARS (3-10)
Thumbnail: The Bears have lost their last five in a row, are 7-22 over the last two seasons and will mark their fourth straight year without a playoff appearance.
What went wrong: The loss of starting quarterback Erik Kramer was the big blow. The Bears had won three of four going into the bye week and were never more optimistic with “winnable” games approaching. Then they lost Kramer for the season with shoulder and knee injuries. Top draft pick Curtis Enis’ slow start because of his training camp holdout also hurt, particularly in tough losses early on to Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and Minnesota.
What the coach is saying: “Just try to win a game,” Dave Wannstedt said in response to what his team has left to play for. “Just to go out and win. Which is a lot to play for.”
What the boss is saying: Nothing from team President Michael McCaskey.
What the papers are saying: “This wasn’t football, this was carcass cleaning, the Vikings picking off what is left of the Bears, removing the last traces of Bears pride, dignity, respect and honor. You know, the little things,” wrote Tribune columnist Bernie Lincicome after the Bears’ humiliating 48-22 loss to Minnesota Sunday night.
Wannstedt’s fate: Undetermined given McCaskey’s silence. It’s still his job to lose.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-10)
Thumbnail: The Eagles haven’t won on the road since their 21-20 victory over the New York Jets in December 1996. They have been shut out three times this season and are on pace to break Seattle’s 16-game record for fewest points in a single season (a 9.6-point average).
What went wrong: Seven years of bad drafts. Quarterback Bobby Hoying was progressing nicely last season, but offensive coordinator Jon Gruden left for Oakland. Coach Ray Rhodes hired Dana Bible and, by training camp, he was criticizing his own hire. By the seventh week of the season, quality control assistant Bill Musgrave was calling plays. The Eagles have had 10 quarterback changes in the last 28 games.
What the coach is saying: “I don’t keep glass objects or razors around the house,” Rhodes said after the Eagles’ 24-16 loss to Green Bay two weeks ago.
What the boss is saying: “This is pitiful,” team owner Jeffrey Lurie said after the Eagles’ 28-3 loss to Washington. “This is an embarrassment to our fans.”
What the papers are saying: “Finally, this corpse of a football team showed a pulse, a spark, a flash . . .,” Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Bill Lyon wrote after the Green Bay loss. “In a garbage dump of a season, you take your small victories where you can find them. . . . At least the Birds were passably entertaining.”
Rhodes’ fate: Since Tom Modrak was hired away from the Steelers last May to be Philadelphia’s director of football operations, Rhodes’ impending firing is the worst-kept secret in the league.
ST. LOUIS RAMS (3-10)
Thumbnail: The Rams have lost four straight and have won just one of their last 12 home games. They have scored a mere 55 points over the last eight games and have been outscored 110-17 this season in the first quarter. Their rushing leader is Greg Hill, who went on IR after the fourth game of the season. Long-snapper Jeff Robinson is tied for the team lead in TD catches with one.
What went wrong: Injuries. Eight players on IR. But the real problem is that players are close to revolt and not responding to coach Dick Vermeil, who still seems locked in the 1970s with the longest, most grueling practices in the league.
What the coach is saying: “At 62 years old, I don’t worry about job security,” Vermeil said. “But I think (team President John) Shaw recognizes our problems. I don’t think he’s satisfied. If I were him, I would not be satisfied. If I were ownership, I would not be.”
What the boss is saying: “I personally, as well as the organization, are committed to this coach,” Shaw said after the Rams’ 37-15 loss Nov. 1 to Atlanta. “The last thing we want to do is make a change.”
What the papers say: “The Rams are living in a bizarre, bewildering dream world that I like to call `Pleasantville,’ ” writes St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz. “The fantasy land has been established by coach Dick Vermeil, an eerily upbeat man who could find the positives in, say, Armageddon.”
Vermeil’s fate: Shaw has done nothing but indicate Vermeil will be back, although team owners Georgia Frontiere and Stan Kroenke still can decide he has to go. Firing Vermeil would cost $10 million to buy out him and his staff. He might be told, however, to fire several assistants.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS (4-9)
Thumbnail: Redskins are 4-2 since an 0-7 start and, save for a miracle pass and a bad call in two last-minute losses to Arizona, they could have a six-game winning streak.
What went wrong: Washington never recovered from Gus Frerotte’s two interceptions and benching in Opening Day loss to the Giants. Playing San Francisco, Seattle, Denver and Dallas didn’t help and neither did getting virtually nothing from defensive tackles Dana Stubblefield and Dan Wilkinson.
What the coach is saying: “We’re not turning the football over the way we did early and we are creating more turnovers,” Norv Turner said this week. “Defensively, we are not giving up big plays like we were in the first seven games. Those things all add up.”
What the boss is saying: “Everybody is evaluated constantly, but only after a full season,” team President John Kent Cooke said.
What the papers are saying: “The Redskins have improved in virtually every area since that devastating (41-7) mid-October loss in Minnesota,” writes Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon. “At 0-7, the Redskins could have gone right in the dumpster as the Kansas City Chiefs have done and pouted their way through the final weeks of the season. It says a lot that they haven’t.”
Turner’s fate: If Cooke has made his decision, he isn’t tipping his hand. Both Turner and GM Charley Casserly are under contract through 2001.
