Ever since the NFL has come into existence, there have been coaches on the hot seat. In the modern NFL, however, they all are.

Some seats are hotter than others. Some are merely a comfortable state of lukewarm. But in a zero-sum game that produces no winner without a loser, consistently being on the wrong side of the final score can turn a sensation akin to a heating pad set to "low" into an inferno.

Just ask Cam Cameron, who was run out of Miami in 2007 after winning one game in his one and only season as coach of the Dolphins.

So the only way to properly gauge the NFL hot seat is to do so for every coach. And, like that heating pad, each coach will be rated based on low, medium, high, or some variation thereof.

Onto the AFC. Check back later for the NFC edition.

AFC EAST

Dick Jauron, Bills
Seats don't get much hotter than the one on which Jauron is sitting. An impulsive decision to reward Jauron during a successful run to start the 2008 season with a new three-year deal nearly wasn't enough to save him after another disappointing finish. The fact that Jauron fired offensive coordinator Turk Schonert only ten days before the season opener proves that Jauron is in trouble -- and that he knows it.

Hot seat setting: Extra high.

Tony Sparano, Dolphins
New owner Stephen Ross seems to be more interested in establishing a roster of entertainment partners than putting a Lombardi Trophy in the case. But even if Ross were prepared to demand a high level of success, getting rid of Sparano would be expensive. Besides, VP of football operations Bill Parcells surely would trigger his money-for-nothing escape clause if Sparano were jettisoned, making the move even more costly for a billionaire real estate developer, who, like most billionaire real-estate developers, has seen his net worth shrink over the past couple of years.

Hot seat setting: Extra low.

Bill Belichick, Patriots

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Though the model franchise of the first decade of the 21st Century recently has shown a willingness to dump players who have overstayed their welcome, Belichick is several years of mediocrity away from experiencing similar treatment. Still, it'll be interesting to see whether Belichick can continue to effectively spot talent and manage the roster without Scott Pioli there to nudge him toward making the best decisions.

Hot seat setting: Low.

Rex Ryan, Jets
First-year coaches rarely are in trouble, but a total collapse in 2009 could prompt owner Woody Johnson to fire GM Mike Tannenbaum, which could prompt the new GM to recommend buying out Ryan or, alternatively, demoting him to defensive coordinator.

Hot seat setting: Medium.

AFC NORTH

John Harbaugh, Ravens
Owner Steve Bisciotti loves stability. And Harbaugh had more than enough success in his first year to keep him from the firing line, regardless of the outcome to the 2009 season.

Hot seat setting: Low.

Marvin Lewis, Bengals
In most other cities, Lewis already would be back to working elsewhere as a defensive coordinator, hoping for another shot at a head-coaching gig. In Cincinnati, however, winning takes a back seat to making money. And buyouts are expensive. Still, Mike Brown isn't afraid to fire a coach when necessary, and another losing season might make it necessary to let Lewis go.

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Hot seat setting: Medium-High.

Eric Mangini, Browns
In an era where few fired coaches ever get a second chance, Mangini's termination from the Jets turned into an immediate return to the sidelines in Cleveland. But Mangini continues to behave like Belichick without the bling, and he might not last long in his second NFL stint, either.

Hot seat setting: Medium.

Mike Tomlin, Steelers
The Steelers have had three coaches since 1969. Tomlin won a Super Bowl faster than any of them. There won't be a fourth coach until Tomlin decides to leave.

Hot seat setting: Absolute zero.