The Carolina Panthers' Matt Rhule and Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys might not lead the league in losses in the 2022 season.
That dishonor is more likely to go to Lovie Smith and the Houston Texans or Ron Rivera of the Washington Commanders.
But Rhule and McCarthy have one thing in common. They are the odds-on favorites to be at the front of the line when the first NFL coach is fired in 2022, according to DraftKings.
Rhule is the leader at +300 odds and McCarthy is not far behind (+500) after feeling the tsk-tsk of owner Jerry Jones in the aftermath of a prompt playoff exit in January.
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Rhule’s status at No. 1 is no surprise. In fact, it’s something of a miracle Rhule is heading into his third season with the Panthers. Owner David Tepper is the NFL’s richest leader and probably could have just about any coach he wants.
Tepper, who made billions managing hedge funds and was part of sustained success when he was a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, isn’t known for his patience. Some officials in the Carolina organization were almost certain Rhule would be fired after last season.
Tepper decided to stick with Rhule, perhaps dissuaded by the specter of another rebuild with a new regime.
Did anybody really think Sam Darnold was the answer at quarterback? Not even the Panthers. That’s why they went out and brought in Baker Mayfield, a move that comes with its own risk.
Hot in Big D
McCarthy is in something of a different spot than Rhule. Even so, the odds are not in his favor. McCarthy and the Cowboys are coming off a 12-5 season, which featured a sweep of the NFC East.
Apparently, now all Jones wants is nothing short of a Super Bowl appearance and maybe nothing short of a Super Bowl championship.
Let’s face the facts. Jones is 79 and will turn 80 on Oct. 13. Time is getting short and Jones is likely to resort to the same impulsive tactics he showed early in his tenure, when he canned Jimmy Johnson during a run of championships.
And let’s throw a wild idea at you that may not be all that far-fetched. Sean Payton, who once was a Dallas assistant and was particularly close to Jones, walked away from the New Orleans Saints after last season.
But Payton wouldn’t rule out the possibility of coaching again. Payton remains under contract with New Orleans and any team interested in getting him would have to compensate the Saints.
Landing Payton could be a last hurrah, of sorts, for Jones.
Speaking of Payton, let’s forget that wild report last week that he could end up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if first-year coach Todd Bowles' (+10000) charges start slowly. That’s not happening. The Bucs have traded for a coach (Jon Gruden) before, but not this time.
Saints vice president and general manager Mickey Loomis knows Payton’s value as a coach better than anyone. There’s no way Loomis would allow Payton to end up with an NFC South opponent.
Out of the top-10, best-selling NFL jerseys over the first six months of the year, eight are of quarterbacks and two are new to their teams.
More coaches under fire
Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, may have outlasted Russell Wilson, but maybe not by all that much. Carroll is +600 to be the first coach out the door this season. Carroll will turn 71 on Sept. 15 and he doesn’t have a quarterback. It might be time for the Seahawks to start all over.
If you’re looking for a longer shot, try the Atlanta’ Falcons' Arthur Smith (+1400).
He has only had one season, but this team is starting from scratch after parting ways with longtime quarterback Matt Ryan and replacing him with Marcus Mariota.
Much like Jones, Atlanta owner Arthur Blank has a biological clock that’s ticking. Blank will turn 80 on Sept. 27. Blank has run off Mike Smith and Dan Quinn, and he has high expectations for a rapid rebuild.
The Indianapolis Colts are expected to be in the playoffs -- owner Jim Irsay made this abundantly clear in a principal’s office type of meeting last January when the team plane returned from a loss to the league's worst team. The lowly Jacksonville Jaguars beat Indianapolis, keeping them from the postseason and triggering another QB switch.
If Frank Reich gets off to a slow start, his +700 odds will shrink quickly.
The same is likely true for Rivera with the Commanders. Another year with another quarterback, Washington is giving Carson Wentz a spin after failed runs with the Philadelphia Eagles and Colts. He’s +800 to be the first fired and in a highly combustible situation from the top-down.
Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell might be willing to run through a wall for grins, but that’s not getting this team into contention. The Lions are built for a run in 2023 or 2024. If Campbell keeps losing in multiples of five, he will be watching Detroit succeed under a new regime.
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NFL teams open camp with biggest question still unanswered
WHERE’S JIMMY G GOING?

The San Francisco 49ers made it clear Trey Lance will be the starting quarterback and they’re moving on from Jimmy Garoppolo, who led them to a Super Bowl appearance following the 2019 season and nearly another one last season. The Niners have to trade or release Garoppolo before Week 1 to avoid having his $24.2 million base salary become fully guaranteed. Garoppolo would’ve been moved already if it weren’t for his offseason shoulder surgery.
“This is Trey’s team. That’s nothing against Jimmy,” 49ers coach Mike Shanahan said. “We made that decision a year ago and we’re not going to mess around with that anymore. ... Jimmy understands that fully. He’s a big guy and it’s nothing against him. It’s a business decision.”
BAKER OR SAM?

The Carolina Panthers acquired Baker Mayfield from the Browns earlier this month and plan to let him compete with Sam Darnold for the starting quarterback job. Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, has been more successful than Darnold, who was the third pick by the Jets in the same draft.
Panthers coach Matt Rhule isn’t going to rush a decision.
“Anytime you put timelines on things, you end up rushing to make bad decisions,” Rhule said. “To me this is about being in the moment but not making rash judgements. Guys are going to have good days and bad days. When we know, we know.”
WHEN DOES LAMAR GET PAID?

The Baltimore Ravens still haven’t locked Lamar Jackson into a long-term contract extension but the two sides have been talking. Jackson, the 2019 NFL MVP, saw his value increase after the Cardinals gave Kyler Murray a deal worth up to $230.5 million with about $105 million guaranteed at signing and $160 million guaranteed for injury. Jackson doesn’t have an agent, which could impact negotiations. It wasn’t a factor for his rookie deal because the collective bargaining agreement predetermines the money in each draft slot. This contract is far more lucrative.
ARE THEY HEALTHY?

Saints quarterback Jameis Winston, Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin, Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins are among more than 50 players returning from ACL injuries. Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey played only seven games last season because of hamstring and ankle injuries. Titans star running back Derrick Henry missed nine games with a foot injury before playing in the team's playoff loss to the Bengals. Cowboys receiver Michael Gallup, Ravens running back Gus Edwards, Titans receiver Robert Woods, Packers tight end Robert Tonyan are also coming back from ACL surgery. Saints star wideout Michael Thomas missed 2021 because of a severe ankle injury, and Vikings receiver Adam Thielen had ankle surgery in December.
Photos: Jackie Robinson Museum opens after 14 years of planning

Exhibits are shown at the Jackie Robinson Museum that opened Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

An exhibit is shown at the Jackie Robinson Museum, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

A Jackie Robinson 1953 All Stars jacket on display at the Jackie Robinson Museum, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

A Jackie Robinson 1955 World Championship ring on display at the Jackie Robinson Museum, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Chairs are set up outside the Jackie Robinson Museum, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in New York. Long dreamed about and under construction for longer than the big league career of the man it honors, the Jackie Robinson Museum opened Tuesday in Manhattan with a gala ceremony attended by the 100-year-old wife of the barrier-breaking ballplayer and two of his children. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Rachel Robinson, wife of Jackie Robinson, enters the newly-opened Jackie Robinson Museum, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Rachel Robinson, widow of Jackie Robinson, cuts the ribbon for the opening of the Jackie Robinson Museum, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Rachel Robinson, widow of Jackie Robinson, is shown at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the Jackie Robinson Museum, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Della Britton, President & CEO of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, speaks to the media at the Jackie Robinson Museum, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Della Britton, President & CEO of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, speaks to the media inside the Jackie Robinson Museum, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Jackie Robinson's posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, is displayed at the Jackie Robinson Museum, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Billie Jean King speaks to the media prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Jackie Robinson Museum, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)