Chilly On The Hot Seat

NFL players aren't stupid. They're fully aware of the never-ending carousal that is the NFL coach's "hot seat." Wade Phillips sat atop the throne until he was fired last week. It's now Brad Childress' turn to try and fend off his angry subjects.
Sensing the seat got a little bit hotter, six anonymous Vikings players decided to strike. They questioned among other things, Childress' leadership, people skills, and loyalty. "We know that Childress doesn't have our backs, so why should we have his?" one player said. "We're playing for us, and we're winning despite him."
Not exactly a vote of confidence. The good folks at FIRE CHILLY, who have been at it since 2008, may finally get their wish.
While remaining relatively low key, Vikings players and coaches have reportedly been unhappy with Childress for years. Winning, and fielding the best team in the NFC last year, temporarily quelled those feelings.
The built up Childress hate finally boiled over after a 1-6 start and Childress' decision to cut Randy Moss without owner Zygi Wilf's permission. The next week Childress publicly criticized Brett Favre and Percy Harvin, two players who have battled through injuries and haven't missed a game all season.
The most puzzling detail of this entire saga is Childress' reasoning for letting Moss go. Moss was reportedly waived because he voiced his displeasure about the catering of a post-practice meal. "We want good people who are good football players," Childress said. "And this just doesn't fit."
Childress had already lost his team by this point, but how about trying to give an honest answer? Moss was cut because he dogged it on the field. Plain and simple. Childress was a fool for trying to turn this into a bad character crusade. Had Moss performed on the field and the Vikings were winning, outbursts like this would have been tolerated. They always are.
How are players supposed to respect a head coach that is using character as an excuse to waive players? But the knife cuts both ways.
Making anonymous comments to the press wasn't smart. What about the 47 teammates who didn't make anonymous comments? They may not respect Childress either, but they shouldn't have to worry about if the guy next to them has already given up on the season. Injuries happen that way. If these players really had "pride" and "weren't going to lay down like the Dallas Cowboys" then why even make the comments? Because the iron was hot, Childress is next up, and by going to the press, one more loss could cost Childress his job, and the six anonymous players know it.
Both parties have shown poor judgement in handling this situation. Zygi Wilf has the final say and will likely side with his players. The question is, will he cave into player demands and fire him next week, or wait until the end of the season?
Rather than bickering with each other through the media, Childress and the Vikings should be worried about the Bears, an underwhelming 5-3 team that could move to 3-0 within the division with a win. The hot seat just got a little chillier.