Black Monday turned out to be Light Gray Monday. The day after the end of each regular season, so named because coaches often are fired in droves, brought only one casualty this year, when Eric Mangini was bounced by the Cleveland Browns. The original men in black - the Oakland Raiders, ever the contrarians - waited until Tuesday to dismiss Tom Cable.
There had been speculation over a number of impending departures, but only the above two happened.
Jeff Fisher may yet be jettisoned by the Titans, but as of this writing he was hanging on grimly.
Coaches who carry the "interim" tag tend to boomerang back to their assistant status. But Leslie Frazier (Vikings) and Jason Garrett (Cowboys) were awarded permanency, a term applied loosely in this profession.
One reason for the lack of firings was due to impatient team owners. Four swung the axe in-season, making their move early rather than waiting for the post-season.
More significant is the looming lockout of players when the collective-bargaining agreement expires in March. Most owners are reluctant to expend time and energy to replace a coach until they are certain the 2011 season will unfold.
Nor are the owners, suddenly cost-conscious, eager to burn millions of dollars to pay off the unexpired contracts of dismissed coaches.
By this time next year, if labour peace reigns, you can take the Monday after the season concludes … and paint it black.
