ChiefsPlanet - Chiefs Chatter increases that Pioli could be back in Kansas City

Jason La Canfora ‏@JasonLaCanfora

Crennel, Reid, Turner and Shurmur will not be back. Ryan, Schwartz, Garrett and Allen are safe. Much more here: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/ja...monday-victims

Reid, Shurmur, Turner, Crennel all likely Black Monday victims
By Jason La Canfora | CBS Sports NFL Insider
December 30, 2012 11:45 am ET

With "Black Monday" falling on New Year's Eve and some owners preferring to wait until after the holiday to meet with coaches and general managers, the head coaching changes are expected to come in a few waves, with a half-dozen coaches likely to learn their fate on Sunday night or Monday morning and then other moves occurring through early January.

After surveying with execs, team sources and agents, there is a strong expectation that Andy Reid (Eagles), Norv Turner (Chargers), Romeo Crennel (Chiefs), Pat Shurmur (Browns), Ken Whisenhunt (Cardinals) and Mike Mularkey (Jacksonville) will be out shortly after the season ends. Of that group, league sources said Reid, Turner, Crennel and Shurmur are all certain to go and are bracing for that outcome (Reid is prepared to leave Philadelphia even should ownership opt to try to keep him). And with the Jaguars preparing to relieve general manager Gene Smith, there is a possibility that Mularkey, who is completing just his first season on the job, is retained until the new GM makes a determination on the coaching staff.

Mike Munchak (Titans) and Chan Gailey (Bills) have owners who do not live in the state in which their teams play, and those situations could linger awhile. Ron Rivera (Panthers) could retain his job pending the conclusion of his team's general manager search (former GM Marty Hurney was relieved of his duties early this season). Ultimately, Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy is seen a favorite to replace Rivera should he be let go.

And Lovie Smith (Bears) will be further imperiled should his team fail to get into the postseason. Chicago needs a win at Detroit and a loss by Minnesota to qualify after starting the season 7-1. Smith has one year left on his deal.

Meantime, while there has been mounting speculation about the job security of Rex Ryan (N.Y. Jets), Jason Garrett (Dallas), Jim Schwartz (Detroit), and Dennis Allen (Oakland), league sources said those teams are not planning to make any changes at this time. Possible general manager changes in New York and Detroit could complicate matters for those coaches later in this offseason, but at this point no moves are anticipated.

Of the group of head coaches to be let go, league sources anticipate Reid to have numerous opportunities, while Whisenhunt and Smith would also get head coaching interviews. The rest of the group are likely to be in the hunt for coordinator jobs. Turner will be hotly sought after for several openings, New York and Baltimore possibly among them. Shurmur will be a hot coordinator as well, and league sources expect the Vikings to be among the teams to pursue him.

The Eagles and Browns will pursue Oregon coach Chip Kelly aggressively according to league sources; Jay Gruden is coveted by Eagles, as well

As we reported last week, Kelly is the prime target of the Eagles with Reid set to depart. Many in the league are bracing for an intriguing struggle for Kelly's services to emerge between Philadelphia and the Browns, who are now run by former Eagles president Joe Banner.

As one source with ties to Kelly pointed out this week, it's still roughly 50/50 that Kelly leaves college, and several execs said this week they have heard that Kelly might be only lukewarm at best about the Philadelphia opening. If the Eagles do not land Kelly, Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden is also high atop their wish list, league sources said. But that, too, might not be the most attractive opening for him, and it will be a daunting chore for anyone to replace Reid on that rebuilding club.

With most expecting Nick Saban to remain with Alabama (Cleveland owner Jimmy Haslam would have interest in him, sources said), Patriots coordinator Josh McDaniels is expected to merit strong consideration for the Browns' job as well. Some believe that, should the Eagles be unable to land Kelly or Gruden, Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien would be a target for them.

Reid, as we first reported weeks ago, would love to land in San Diego, where he lives, but many execs believe the Chargers might go in a less high-profile manner for their next coach. Kansas City is also a team that could suit Reid, sources said.

In addition to Kelly and O'Brien from the college ranks, Syracuse coach Doug Marrone is seen as a viable NFL candidate by some. He could get interviews for jobs this offseason and, while Jim Mora has only been at UCLA for one season, his past credentials in the NFL could lead to overtures from teams in the coming weeks.

Jets to keep Rex Ryan; Mike Tannenbaum could be out as soon as Monday

Jets owner Woody Johnson does not intend to fire head coach Rex Ryan, according to league sources but is highly unlikely to retain Mike Tannenbaum as his general manager.

As we first reported last week, Johnson was quietly gauging whether some candidates would have interest in serving as his general manager with Tannenbaum remaining in a salary-cap capacity. Those overtures have been largely rebuffed, sources said and, at this point, Tannenbaum could be let go this week. Ryan, who is generally held in high regard by his players, has also reached out to those whom he trusts to ascertain a group of potential new general managers whom he might be able to work well with, sources said.

In what has been a wildly dysfunctional season for the Jets, this frayed ending does not come as a surprise to many around the league. It has been a topic of discussion since the summer as to how the Ryan/Tannenbaum relationship would hold up if the team fell far below its expectations -- an outcome, which, again, is not a surprise to many. Tannenbaum shares a strong relationship with Johnson. But with the team in freefall, ownership knows changes must be made.

Houston's college scouting director, Mike Maccagnan, is someone the Jets are high on. But like several top candidates, accepting any position with Tannenbaum and another former Jets GM, Terry Bradway, still working for the team is seen as a deal-breaker. Some former NFL general managers, like Jerry Angelo and Randy Mueller, would take the job under such constraints, sources said, but Johnson is not expected to go that route. Ultimately, parting with Tannenbaum might be unavoidable as he restructures the franchise.

With Ryan safe, other staff changes are expected, however. Offensive coordinator Tony Sparano has failed, and Tannenbaum was a major proponent of that hiring, sources said, while Ryan is in favor of staff changes with quarterback Mark Sanchez floundering in 2012 and the unit lacking direction. Ryan would support the hiring of an established coordinator, with more playcalling acumen, sources said, with San Diego head coach Norv Turner, set to be fired this week, likely atop that wish list.