NFL COACHES AREN'T SAFE FROM THE FIRING SQUAD.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

It had been 61 years since anyone had drop-kicked a ball in the NFL, but when Patriots quarterback Doug Flutie turned the trick Sunday, it didn't take long for the idea to catch on.

Soon after Flutie's boot, one owner after another conclude it was a fine thing to try with coaches.

Vikings owner Ziggy Wilf waited until Mike Tice wrapped up his post-game news conference Sunday evening, then had press releases handed out announcing Tice had been fired.

Then on Monday, the Turk began making the rounds. Dom Capers was told to clean out his desk in Houston. Jim Haslett apparently got his wish and was fired in New Orleans - or was it San Antonio?

Mike Martz, who was cleared to return to work Sunday after recovering from a heart virus, was fired Monday by the Rams. And Mike Sherman was sent packing in Green Bay, where the question is will Brett Favre follow him?

Add to that 69-year-old Dick Vermeil, who told his Chiefs on Saturday night that he was retiring, and Steve Mariucci, who was fired just after Thanksgiving, and that's seven job openings.

When Oakland fires Norv Turner, perhaps as soon as today, it will be eight - or one-fourth of the league.

The number of vacancies could grow if Bills owner Ralph Wilson decides to make a clean sweep of Mike Mularkey, along with general manager Tom Donahoe.

And there may also be another opening if Kansas City pursues Jets coach Herman Edwards.

So what gives? It's hard to argue that any of the firings have been unjustified. Capers, Haslett, Mariucci and Turner have a combined two winning seasons between them at their latest posts. Tice was sunk as much by the Vikings leading the league in off-the-field problems, which included him getting caught scalping Super Bowl tickets.

Martz and Sherman were caught in power plays, though both their fates were probably sealed on the same weekend two years ago.

The Rams, after miraculously recovering an onside kick, had a chance to beat Carolina but Martz, saying he was afraid Marc Bulger would throw an interception, instead settled for a field goal that sent the game in overtime. Once there, Bulger did throw an interception, and Carolina went on to beat Philadelphia and make it to the Super Bowl.

The Packers figured they should have been the ones Carolina had to beat. They were leading the Eagles, 17-10, and had them in a fourth-and-26 hole when Donovan McNabb hit Freddie Mitchell for a first down. The Eagles then drove for the tying score and won in overtime.

It turned out to be a last gasp for Sherman and Martz. Their teams made the playoffs last year by virtue of winning weak divisions, and collapsed this season.

However, what's surprising about all the firings is how few hotcandidates are available. Gregg Williams, the former Buffalo head coach who has coordinated the Redskins' defense the past two years, is now being reinvented a la Bill Belichick - an recalcitrant defensive mastermind who has learned from a previous failure.

There are no coordinators of the order of Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel. Some, such as defensive coordinators Jerry Gray in Buffalo and Jim Schwartz in Tennessee and offensive coordinator Brad Childress in Philadelphia, are well regarded but suffering through poor seasons, while Denver offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak may have trouble convincing anyone he does more than staple the game plan together for Mike Shanahan.

The timing could be better for college coaches, too, with Kirk Ferentz at Iowa and Bob Stoops at Oklahoma having sub-par seasons. That's if you believe that Pete Carroll announcing his new contract (which he hasn't signed) wasn't a ploy to keep recruits on board or to keep today's Rose Bowl news conference from turning into grilling on the merits of every opening.

Martz is sure to get some interest, and other retreads - such as Wade Phillips, now the Chargers defensive coordinator, and Jim Fassel, now the Ravens offensive coordinator - will get some interest. Phillips best shot is in Houston, where his father Bum was beloved and his former boss, Dan Reeves, is advising owner Bob McNair on his search.

Packers defensive coordinator Jim Bates, who did well as the interim coach in Miami last season and improved Green Bay's defense, could get some calls.

There are some coaches, however, who could be helped - minorities. With the success of Tony Dungy, Lovie Smith and Marvin Lewis, it can't help but lead to more interviews, if not offers.

Expect Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, Buffalo's Gray, Chicago's Ron Rivera and 49ers linebacker coach Mike Singletary to draw some interest, even if they don't land any head jobs.

Again, it's easy to why some of these coaches were fired, but are the alternatives really that much better?

Perhaps instead of following Flutie's boot, owners should have been mimicking what he does best: pass.

CAPTION(S):

5 photos, box

Photo:

(1) DOM CAPERS

(2) MIKE SHERMAN

(3) MIKE TICE

(4) MIKE MARTZ

(5) JIM HASLETT

Box:

NFL COACHES HANDED THEIR WALKING PAPERS