Fansided

Gray Monday

By Jonathan Bass

Jan 3, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin (C) waves to fans while walking off the field after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. The Eagles won 35-30. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin (C) waves to fans while walking off the field after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. The Eagles won 35-30. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Normally a bloodbath, Black Monday was surprisingly tame.

In years past the NFL had followed a simple recipe for Week 17, the final week of the regular season. All 32 teams would take the field; some would fulfill expectations and clinch playoff berths, others would flame out; and then, on Monday, heads would roll. Ignominiously nicknamed “Black Monday,” the immediate aftermath of the regular season resembled something from the book of Exodus.

Entering this latest iteration of Black Monday, things appeared to set up for an especially grim day. The NFL, unlike any year in recent memory, was plagued with parity. There were only a handful of very good teams, a few decent clubs, and then a plethora of underwhelming franchises. There would’ve been little surprise had the calendar turned to January 5 and found 1/3 of the league’s teams on the hunt for a new head coach. And yet, Black Monday 2016 came and went without much fanfare.

As we currently sit, only six teams have vacancies and five of those had axed their head coaches prior to the season started. Only the New York Giants, with news of Tom Coughlin’s resignation, cut ties with their head man on Monday.

Long-term trend or one-year fad? If we look at this season in a vacuum, this might become the new norm. The Dolphins and Titans both entered 2015 with their coaches, Joe Philbin and Ken Whisenhunt, on respectively short leashes. As both clubs stalled and sputtered through the early going they swiftly cut the cord midway through the year. The Eagles had worn thin on Chip Kelly’s ego and ineffectiveness and sent him packing shortly before the calendar flipped to 2016. Then the 49ers and Browns put their overmatched leaders out of their misery before Sunday was over.

No parades. No drawing out the process. Every NFL season is a 17-game working interview; if it ain’t right after three or four months, cut the losses and move on.

Just as surprising as the swift cutting of ties, were the actually effective meetings scheduled throughout the week. Rather than immediately jettisoning Dan Campbell, the Dolphins agreed to give him an actual interview alongside other candidates. The Colts and Chuck Pagano held an all-day session that ended with an extension. The Chargers made peace with Mike McCoy as they head into an offseason of homeless uncertainty. Despite rumors and reports, the Ravens and John Harbaugh kept it tight, and Jerry Jones once again stuck beside Jason Garrett. Even the Saints, rather than shipping off Sean Payton, have started crafting a plan to trade him for at least a second-round pick. Very shrewd.

Could it be that the NFL is actually in a place where management and ownership are acting with prudence? Performing due-diligence, acting swiftly when needed and not making a charade when the spotlight is on? Maybe it is a new year after all. The only blood from the day was, in fact, Black Friday itself.

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