Here is my pre-season look at the job security of NFL coaches.

ON SOLID GROUND-SOLID AS A ROCK

1. Tom Coughlin, Giants. He just won a Super Bowl and signed a new extension. Why would anyone want to get rid of him?

2. Jack Del Rio, Jaguars. The Jags got their first playoff win in 8 years, and are one of the teams favored to win it all in 2008. Jack's move making Garrard the starting QB and releasing Byron Leftwich was a gamble and it paid off. Del Rio also signed an extension in the offseason.

3. Tony Dungy, Colts. Dungy will be the head coach on this team as long as he wants to be. The only question is, will he decide to leave after the 08 season?

4. Romeo Crennel, Browns. Crennel is the toast of the town now. He will need to get this team to the playoffs. If he doesn't, his status will quickly change.

5. Jeff Fisher, Titans. Fisher has earned his way onto this list-having the longest tenure as a head coach in the NFL. The question here is how well does he get along with the Titans' front office?

6. Mike McCarthy, Packers. McCarthy got the team to the NFC Championship last year. Now, without Favre, expectations have been lowered and McCarthy will look good again if the Pack can make a title run.

COMFORTABLE-YET COULD SLIP

1. D. Jauron, Bills. Jauron has done a fabulous job of getting the most out of his young team in Buffalo. However, Bills fans haven't seen the playoffs since the Music City Disaster (as it's known in western NY)-and they could be losing patience.

2. Bill Belichick, Patriots. Belichick should be in the top list, but Spygate just won't go away. Owner Robert Kraft does not like the fact that many fans look at the Patriots championships as tainted. It will be interesting to see what happens if the Pats don't perform up to their recent standards.

3. John Harbaugh, Ravens. Harbaugh is a young, new head coach. Expectations for his first season are not that high. He will be given some time if the team shows improvement.

4. Herm Edwards, Chiefs. Herm was highly touted as the savior to a Chiefs' team that was starting to see dwindling numbers in the win column. He hasn't had a QB since Trent Green got knocked silly a couple of years ago so he's gotten a pass for the last 2 years. Chief fans will want to see signs of improvement this year after a solid draft class.

5. Norv Turner, Chargers. Turner was brought in to win in the playoffs and he has. His team is the overwhelming favorite to win the AFC West. Norv has had a bit of bad luck in his coaching past-let's hope he can avoid it here in southern California.

6. Jim Zorn, Redskins. See John Harbaugh-except for one thing. The Redskins were a playoff team in 2007, an owner Daniel Snyder desperately wants to win. Zorn has a bright football mind that should lead to success in D.C.

7. Brad Childress, Vikings. Adrian Peterson is the key to Childress being on this list. If he has a sophomore season anything near his rookie campaign, then he will have success. However, he's one injury away from being in the bottom category.

8. Lovie Smith, Bears. Lovie took the Bears to the Super Bowl, so the fans aren't calling for his head yet. If he doesn't find a quarterback, they soon will be.

9. Jon Gruden, Buccaneers. When you win a Super Bowl, then survive your team not making the playoffs the next 4 years-you should be safe the year after making a return to the playoffs.

10. Sean Payton, Saints. Payton is still getting love for the Saints 2006 season that saw them advance to the NFC Championship. He has a team that could get back there-if they miss the playoffs for a second consecutive year, things could get dicey.

11. Mike Holmgren, Seahawks. Holmgren has said that this is probably his last year as head coach of the Seahawks. I hope not. There isn't a more competitive and fiery guy on the field nor a more compassionate and caring guy off of it. He has meant a great deal to both the Packers' and Seahawks' franchises.

12. Mike Smith, Falcons. This is truly a rebuild job in Atlanta. They just signed their hopeful long term franchise quarterback, got the best free agent signing in running back Michael Turner, and are ready to turn the page on the Michael Vick era. He will have time to get this done and I look for Smith to have success.

STARTING TO SLIDE-LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER

1. Tony Sparano, Dolphins. Sparano is a Bill Parcells guy. But what happens when Parcells wants to coach again, i.e. Pat Riley (same city)? Will Parcells be patient if Sparano doesn't turn the team around right away? These are interesting questions that will be answered soon enough.

2. Mike Tomlin, Steelers. The only thing that Tomlin has done wrong is that he's not Bill Cowher. Steeler fans are still upset with some of Tomlin's decisions in the Steelers' playoff loss to Jacksonville. They are ready to pile on, and with Pittsburgh's tough schedule, Tomlin may start feeling the heat.

3. Gary Kubiak, Texans. The Texans are coming off their best season in the team's history. However, they did nothing in the offseason to make themselves better. Their drafting has been widely criticized and their division foes have all made improvements. If the Texans revert back to another 4-12 type season, Kubiak could be to blame.

4. Wade Phillips, Cowboys. There are a couple of factors here-no playoff wins and Jason Garrett waiting in the wings. The Cowboys want a championship-Jerry Jones is throwing around his bank book to show that he's willing to do whatever it takes. It may take Phillips' job in the long run.

5. Eric Mangini, Jets. The New York media will not allow Mangini to survive another season like 2007. Especially after opening up their own bank book this offseason to several high priced free agents. Their number one concern is still at quarterback-this could be the downfall of the "Man-genius".

6. Mike Shanahan, Broncos. Bronco fans are calling for a change. Shanahan has made several questionable moves in recent years, and his idea that any running back can succeed in his system just shows how arrogant he really is. Another losing season, and his seat will be nice and toasty.

7. Andy Reid, Eagles. Kudos to Reed. Anybody that can be in charge of a pro team in Philly for this long takes a lot of guts, thick skin, and a belief in yourself like no other. Throw in the problems of his sons, and it's amazing that he is still here. There are some that think Reid will pull the Eagles out of the cellar in the NFC East and bring them back to the top. I think he's walking on a tightrope and they're taking away the nets.

8. Rod Marinelli, Lions. It's not your fault Rod. It's Matt Millen's. Period. Don't worry, you will get a second chance when people realize that you coached the Lions-the Bad News Bears of the NFL.

ON THIN ICE-ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE-NOT LOOKING GOOD

1. Marvin Lewis, Bengals. The Bengals, despite all of the media attention, have only made it to the playoffs once in the Marvin Lewis era-and they lost that game. Their last playoff win was in 1990. Now with the whole Chad Johnson fiasco and all of the 'criminals' being released from the team, there is no way they are getting back in 2008. It may be time for another direction in Cincinnati.

2. Lane Kiffin, Raiders. It's not your fault Lane. It's Al Davis's. Period. Don't worry, you are young and recent former Raider coaches have won Super Bowls elsewhere (Shanahan, Gruden).

3. John Fox, Panthers. Fox got the Panthers to the Super Bowl, but they have done little since. They seem to be the preseason favorite every year only to let us down. People are questioning Fox' coaching style and ability-this could get ugly if the Panthers don't make a playoff run.

4. Mike Nolan, 49ers. He almost got fired last year. He and the 'franchise QB', Alex Smith, are not getting along. The only thing that you can say about the Mike Nolan era for the 49ers is that their coach was a sharp dressed man.

5. Scott Linehan, Rams. The team is for sale, Isaac Bruce is a 49er, what else can go wrong for this franchise? At least they signed Josh Brown out of Seattle so he can't beat them twice a year.

6. Ken Whisenhunt, Cardinals. The Cardinal fans need a championship in the worst way. They would settle for a winning season. This team is not going to provide that, and Whisenhunt will be made the scape goat.