A look around the NFL while wondering how in the world we reached a point where it's a news flash that a football coach yelled at his offense at halftime of a game in which it has 66 yards and is being manhandled by an inferior opponent. Somewhere up there, Vince Lombardi is shaking his head and thanking the football gods that he doesn't coach in today's world ...

. I'll admit I'm stunned that the Browns ended up with Mike Holmgren as their football czar. I assumed he would end up back in Seattle, but apparently the Seahawks prefer their egos over the move that made the most sense. Holmgren's first move on Jan. 4 needs to be the firing of Eric Mangini. Cleveland has its first legitimate football man in charge since the Browns returned to the league as an expansion franchise in 1999. A clean break from everything associated with the past 10 years is A MUST. Mangini has led the Browns to consecutive victories, but I don't care. Look at the entire body of work this year. It's not good enough and keeping him and anyone associated with this season is keeping part of the bad taste that all Browns fans want to exterminate ASAP.

. I also think the Browns need a new QB. Brady Quinn isn't the answer. He's also out for the rest of the season with a foot injury, according to this tweet from the Browns' organization. I had one member of the Vikings tell me awhile ago that the Vikings didn't think much of Quinn coming out of Notre Dame. After watching Quinn, I'm siding with the Vikings. Derek Anderson isn't the answer either. So, for Cleveland, I think the new football czar needs a new head coach, a new franchise QB, a new everything, but kick returner (Josh Cribbs) and left tackle (Joe Thomas).

. Why don't we hear or talk more about Bills rookie free safety Jairus Byrd? He does, after all, lead the NFL in interceptions with nine. He's also inching closer to a spot in the Pro Bowl, according to this report on the Bills' website.

. The rich (read: 14-0 team) could get richer this week with the possible return of receiver Anthony Gonzalez, who hasn't played since Week 1. I hope the Colts strive for an undefeated season. Be different. The franchise already knows what happens when it coasts into the playoffs. Remember 2005, when it started 13-0, coasted to 14-2 and got beat at home by Pittsburgh in its playoff opener? The Steelers were the sixth seed that year. They were the last team to get into the playoffs, and had to win its last five or six just to get in.

. I know this isn't the politically correct thing to say, but I think Tom Cable should keep his job in Oakland. Relatively speaking, he's done a terrific job when compared to what normally goes on in Oakland. Yes, people have been calling for his scalp since the ESPN report that he abused women in his past. He's admitted to one incident a long time ago. There's also the allegations by assistant Randy Hanson. But Cable deserves a second chance, just like everyone else in the world gets. As a coach, yes, he's 5-9 this year. But he's 3-2 since a 2-7 start. He's beaten the AFC North-leading Bengals. He's beaten the defending champion Steelers in Pittsburgh. He beat the Eagles. He won in Denver. He has three wins against teams that currently have winning records. He's earned a shot to coach again next year in Oakland.

. In Green Bay, Packers coach Mike McCarthy believes his secondary giving up 503 yards passing in a last-second loss at Pittsburgh was an anomaly. He's probably right. After all, the defense had played exceptionally well after the season-ending injuries to Aaron Kampman and Al Harris. We'll find out Jan. 3 if it was an anomaly. The Packers travel to Arizona in what could be an NFC wild-card preview.

. If you look at the NFC playoff picture right now, the wild-card games would be Packers at Arizona; and Cowboys at Eagles. I'd have to guess the Cardinals and Eagles would win. That would make the following divisional matchups: Cardinals at Saints; Eagles at Vikings. Oh boy. Not another home playoff game against a red-hot Iggles squad.