The NFL could teach Congress something about accountability.

REVIEW & OUTLOOK
DECEMBER 30, 2008

You Are Your Record
The NFL could teach Congress something about accountability.


It's that brutal time of year again, when the ruthless meritocracy that is the National Football League does its annual reckoning with its head coaches. Three of the league's 32 coaches got the sack yesterday, following three who were fired during this season, and there are undoubtedly more to follow.

Two of yesterday's dismissals weren't surprising: Rod Marinelli of the 0-16 Detroit Lions (that city can't catch a break) and Romeo Crennel of the 4-12 and perennially hapless Cleveland Browns. On the other hand, the New York Jets gave the boot to third-year coach Eric Mangini, whose team finished 9-7 and who only two years ago was called "Mangenious" because he took the team to the playoffs in his rookie year as coach. He had a year left on his contract and on Sunday he said he expected to return in 2009.

However, the Jets lost four of their last five games despite a big offseason investment in players, and the local tabloid writers were calling for Mr. Mangini's head. Off it went. "He did a great job for us for three years and he helped lay a great foundation," said Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum, in explaining the dismissal. "We felt, in our judgment, we want to build on that and go in a different direction." Now there's a non sequitur for the ages.

NFL coaches are highly paid celebrities who know the perils of their trade, so it is hard to feel sorry for them. But in this age of government failure and corporate bailouts, there is something refreshing about a line of work that is so unforgiving about performance. In the phrase of Bill Parcells, the head of football operations for the (11-5) Miami Dolphins and former Super Bowl coach, "You are what your record says you are."

Members of Congress can thank their lucky gerrymandered districts that they aren't judged by the same standard.

Ellie