Didn't the Panthers say earlier this week that Fox and his staff will be back next season? I thought I saw that on an ESPN crawl during the Bears-Vikings game.

Yes, the GM announced it, and I think the GM is wrong.

Carolina is up and down every year....they will have a good season, but then leak oil at the very end -and then the following year, they start poorly and finish strong, but not strong enough...and then the season after that, they start well but run out of gas at the end. Their downfall this year reminds me of the 2004 season.

John Fox is the worst play-caller in the NFC, even worse than Jim Zorn was - he blew the game against New Orleans at the end because he put too much faith in Jake Delhomme. When players play well only AFTER the team has been eliminated, it's a strong sign that the coaching staff isn't preparing them for the games that count.

Keep in mind, just because the GM says it now (that Fox can come back), doesn't mean he'll hold true to his word - remember the famous Nick Sabin line about 3 years ago, when he swore before the end of the season that he wouldn't leave Miami....when in fact he was already in negotiations with them. And even if the GM DOES bring Fox back, next season is Fox' last contract year. Unless Fox has a monster year next season, he's history either way.

If I were Fox (I know, I'm not), I'd step away for a year and regroup, and wait to see what happens in New York (Giants).