Brian Billick of the Ravens, Romeo Crennel of the Browns, Herman Edwards of the Chiefs, Brad Childress of Minnesota and new Cowboys coach Wade Phillips also will be under the microscope this season. Billick was on the hot seat a year ago, but the Ravens’ division title gave him a reprieve. Ravens fans are still waiting for Billick to show his magic offensive touch with the team.

Crennel does not have much to work with, but he is in his third year on the job, and his bosses in Cleveland want to see progress after 6-10 and 4-12 seasons. It looks like it will take rookie Brady Quinn quite a long time to be ready, so it’s hard to find improvement when Charlie Frye is the starting quarterback.

Edwards is an established coach who was successful with the Jets despite an overwhelming lack of talent. He’s probably a better coach now, but GM Carl Peterson is a demanding boss who wants results and will not hesitate to change leaders if he doesn’t like what he sees.

Through the first six games of the 2006 season, Childress appeared to have the 4-2 Vikings on track for a winning season. But he lost control of his team and the Vikings had no direction. The insecure Childress has the bulk of the decision-making power in the organization, but a double-digit loss season will force owner Zygi Wilf into action.

There’s little doubt that the Cowboys will enjoy the working conditions Phillips gives them after being under the thumb of Bill Parcells. A quick start is likely, but Phillips never has been more than an average strategist, and his players instinctively learn how to take advantage of his “friendly” attitude. If the Cowboys don’t have the kind of season that Jerry Jones is expecting — a division title and at least one postseason win — Phillips may be one-and-done in Dallas.

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