Patience not virtue for NFL owners

This is how the news feed of ESPN.com read at 7:41 a.m. on Monday:

Report: Bears fire Smith after missing playoffs.

Eagles fire Reid after 14 seasons as coach.

Jets fire GM Tannenbaum, not Rex.

Chiefs can Crennel, keep GM Pioli for now.

Bills dismiss Gailey.

Browns fire Shurmur, GM.

Sources: Chargers will fire Turner, GM Smith.

Two thoughts came to mind: 1. Black Monday in the NFL is as unforgiving as one's debt; 2. As a lifelong Cowboys fan, someone must have made a mistake and forgot to file a story about Dallas bouncing Jason Garrett.

Hey, a guy can dream.

The list of those axed grew as the final day of 2012 played out. Arizona let go of coach Ken Whisenhunt, general manager Rod Graves and the entire offensive coaching staff, because when you endure a stretch of 12 consecutive quarters during any season without a touchdown and nearly six games without a passing score, you have unquestionably fallen behind UNLV's offense and can expect the brightest of pink slips.

NFL coaches are paid handsomely, and yet with such dollar signs come expectations from those signing checks that are higher than Charlie Sheen on, well, any day of the week.

Seven coaches and five general managers were fired Monday. In just over two years, half of the league's 32 teams have changed coaches.

This is what happens when billionaires become restless and start looking at league standings.

"It's all part of the changing culture of the NFL," said Jim Trotter, NFL writer for Sports Illustrated. "You see teams go from worst to first - Atlanta 4-5 years ago, Indianapolis this season - and you have owners saying, 'If they can do it, why can't we?' There is very little patience left for head coaches.

"It's unfortunate. I think a head coach should be guaranteed at least three years to implement his plan, but that's not the world we live in anymore. In college, coaches recruit players. In the NFL, you draft and develop them and bring in some veteran free agents to fill in pieces right away.

"But you still need at least three years to see if you're headed in the right direction. Not necessarily to have a Super Bowl contender, but just to make sure the direction is good. Many owners just don't want to wait that long."

Jerry Jones apparently does in Dallas. That's an entirely different mess.

Here's a quick look at those coaches fired Monday, listed in order of not-surprising-at-all to did-that-just-happen?

Andy Reid, Philadelphia: Don't shed any tears. Reid coached the Eagles for 14 seasons - some guys don't get 14 minutes nowadays - and had enough success (five NFC championship games, a Super Bowl appearance) that he should have another job by the time the Rose Bowl kicks off later today. But he was bounced after a team many picked to reach the game of Roman numerals this season resembled more the Angola train wreck of 1867.

Norv Turner, San Diego: His tombstone might one day read: Here lies Norv, Master of the Underachievement.

Romeo Crennel, Kansas City: Given the Jovan Belcher murder-suicide saga, you have to feel for Crennel and all he endured this season. He has Super Bowl rings as an assistant coach but just 28 wins as a head coach over six seasons. Translation: He's a supporting actor and a darn good one.

Chan Gailey, Buffalo: This is more about a slacker of a franchise than any coach, although Gailey managed only 16 wins over three seasons. But the Bills will now search for a fifth coach since 2001 and have posted eight straight losing seasons. Face it. They stink.

Pat Shurmur, Cleveland: What you don't want to be - an NFL coach with a roster full of young players and new ownership. Bad, bad combination.

Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona: Trotter was most surprised at this dismissal, given the mess Whisenhunt inherited when taking the job, that he led Arizona to its only Super Bowl and the fact star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald openly lobbied for the team to sign quarterback Kevin Kolb, hinting he might have departed if it hadn't. Still, the coach gets bounced.

Lovie Smith, Chicago: This is the one that shocked many. The Bears went 10-6 this year and are two seasons removed from an NFC championship game. Smith went 81-63 over eight seasons and took Chicago to a Super Bowl in 2006. But the Bears missed the playoffs five of the last six seasons. Anything can happen, it seems, on Black Monday.

Except in Dallas.

Oy vey!

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on "Gridlock," ESPN 1100 and 98.9 FM. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.