Black Monday Is Off And Running...7 Teams Makes Moves... (UPDATED... Now 11)

It's not quite a national holiday, but it's a day that pro football fans look at for guidance and renewed optimism... in some places, it's expected...

Others, not so much...

Like Chicago...

The Bears started out 7-1 and now Lovie Smith is fired after the team went 3-5 after the half-way point... Ian Rapoport over at NFL.com gets the HT for that one...

The appropriate amount of early discussion is hyah... on the NFL Network... and they've already asked the Broncos for permission to talk to OC Mike McCoy- which they can do since the Broncos are in a bye week...

Apparently, Bears QB Jay Cutler found out via text during his own radio show. He was, understandably, a little choked up.

The Buffalo Bills, mired in mediocrity, fired Grizzly Adams Chan Gailey... back-to-back 6-10's in three years... but how does GM Buddy Nix still have a job...???

Gailey released a statement through WGR-AM55 radio:

"I understand this is a business. We didn't get the job done. I've been called two other times to get things turned around, was able to do it, we weren't able to get this one soon enough and I understand that completely. I want to thank the fans, great Buffalo fans, great football town. These are loyal, loyal fans and I understand that. I think that the next staff will have a great opportunity for success and to make this another great football franchise. This'll probably be, and I say probably, but I think it will be the first place that's ever fired me that I'll pull for. Thank you."

The Kansas City Chiefs, stuck in one of the worst seasons on and off the field anyone can remember, fired Romeo Crennel... the HQ thinks the team mercifully put him out of his misery...

Crennel texted Rapoport, the response through on Rapoport's Twitter: "It has happened. Going home to watch it snow. Happy New Year."

According to Bill Maas, Atlanta Falcons OC Dirk Koetter will be interviewing with the Chiefs tomorrow in Atlanta...

The New York Jets fired GM Mike Tannenbaum and kept head coach Rex Ryan- for now... The Philadelphia Eagles fired Andy Reid after 14 seasons

- and the San Diego Chargers aren't interested... the HQ slams it's collective palm against its forehead...((Owner Jeffrey Lurie gives Reid a game ball for his time in front of Eagles employees on the right, thanks to the Eagles))

The Cleveland Browns, not surprising the HQ, fired both head coach Pat Shurmur and GM Tom Heckart... Heckart told the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot: "I knew I'd be gone..." when new CEO Joe Banner came in...

And the Jacksonville Jaguars fired their GM, Gene Smith, after a 2-14 season... head coach Mike Mularkey says he's safe for now... “Until I’m told otherwise, I’m the coach of this team,” Mularkey told the Florida Times-Union. 1240 UPDATE:

According to Jim Wyatt, over at the Tennessean and others, Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams is keeping head coach Mike Munchak. Executive Vice President Mike Reinfeldt wasn't so lucky...

From Wyatt:
“He has two more years to go on his contract but I think we’d be better off without him," Adams said. 'I don’t think he was getting the job done. Mike Reinfeldt is out.”

That should fix the problem right there...

1330 UPDATE: Someone must have found the pictures that San Diego Chargers head coach and GM AJ Smith had of the Spanos family, because they're now both gone as well...

Turner knew it in his postgame presser yesterday, and now it's official...

"My only goal is the Super Bowl, and that is why I have decided to move in a new direction with both our head coach and general manager positions," Spanos said in a statement. "I am committed to our great fans, and we will do whatever we possibly can to achieve that goal.”

1345 UPDATE: Add Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt and GM Rod Graves...according to Adam Schefter...

Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Rod Graves have been fired after a 5-11 season, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Whisenhunt, 50, was 45-51 in six seasons with the Cardinals after being hired in 2007. Graves couldn't find a replacement for Kurt Warner and will be known for trading for Kevin Kolb...

The Cardinals, who started the season 4-0, lost their next nine games.

The team also fired the following assistant coaches: Russ Grimm (Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line), Mike Miller (Offensive Coordinator), Chad Grimm (Offensive Quality Control), John McNulty (Quarterbacks), Frank Reich (Wide Receivers), and Tommie Robinson (Running Backs).

1430 UPDATE: Once again from Rapoport...

#Raiders coach Dennis Allen announce the firing of OC Greg Knapp, ST coach Steve Hoffman, OL coach Frank Pollack, LB coach Johnny Holland.