Tice Might Be Running Out of Options

Browns quarterback Jeff Garcia left Sunday's 37-7 loss in Buffalo with a torn left knee ligament, ending his season. (Jamie Germano -- Democrat & Chronicle (n.y.) Via AP)

Minnesota Vikings owner Red McCombs made a rare Monday appearance this week at the club's Winter Park training facility in Eden Prairie, Minn., saying he was there to attend the annual Christmas party. Being festive, however, couldn't have been easy for members of the organization the day after a potentially season-wrecking loss that included an errant trick play that could end up costing Coach Mike Tice his job.

"Obviously, it'll take a little different meaning to so many of the families because of the outcome of [Sunday's] game . . . so we'll try to do what we can to take the edge off of that," McCombs said during a news conference.

McCombs expressed support for Tice but again said that he won't make a decision until after the season about whether to exercise the club's $1 million option for next season in the coach's contract. McCombs said he was not bothered that Tice publicly expressed interest last week in the University of Washington's coaching job that went to Tyrone Willingham, and added: "Mike is not in limbo. Mike has a contract until the end of the season, and then we have an option to extend it a year. That's not in limbo at all."

The problem is that the language in Tice's contract reportedly calls for McCombs to make a decision about next season's option by Jan. 1, and the Vikings' regular season finale is Jan. 2 against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Tice -- the lowest-paid coach in the league, by far, with a $750,000 salary this season -- said Monday that he deserves to be fired if the Vikings lose their remaining three games.

McCombs said he is foremost a fan and he knew what the team's followers were talking about on Monday -- the decision to have wide receiver Randy Moss throw a first-down pass from the Seattle 20-yard line that was intercepted in the end zone with just more than two minutes to play in the Seahawks' 27-23 triumph.

"I suspect that in the state of Minnesota, the conversation in every science laboratory, every working crew out building a highway, the guys out at the airport getting ready to fly planes, is going to be the Vikings and why did they have that stupid play there at the end of the game," McCombs said.

Many of McCombs's comments Monday were lighthearted, but his team's season is on the verge of unraveling again. The Vikings have lost five of seven games since a 5-1 start. Last season, they lost seven of their final 10 games after a 6-0 start and missed the playoffs.

One NFL source with a good feel for coaching situations around the league, speaking on the condition of anonymity so that his dealings with teams would not be affected, said if Tice is dismissed he expects there to be at least four more vacancies, starting with the New Orleans Saints' Jim Haslett, the Oakland Raiders' Norv Turner and the San Francisco 49ers' Dennis Erickson.

Garcia Down and Maybe Out of Cleveland

The Cleveland Browns had high hopes for their offense when they outbid the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March to sign free agent quarterback Jeff Garcia, a three-time Pro Bowl selection with San Francisco. Cleveland signed Garcia to a four-year, $25 million contract that included a $5 million signing bonus, and handed him the starting quarterback job that was shared last season by Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb.

But Garcia's first season in Cleveland has been one to forget, and his future with the organization will depend on the feelings of the franchise's new general manager and coach. Garcia is set to earn $4 million next season, putting him in jeopardy of being released before then. He turns 35 in February and has had a string of injuries.

Garcia's frustrating season ended Monday when he was placed on the injured reserve list because of a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee, which he suffered during his appearance in Sunday's loss at Buffalo. Garcia lasted three plays in relief of starter Luke McCown, after having missed the previous two games because of a rotator-cuff injury.

Garcia has frequently criticized the Browns' offense. When interim coach Terry Robiskie asked players who considered themselves team leaders to stand during his initial address to the club, Garcia remained seated while 22 other players stood. Garcia miffed coaches by failing to show up on a day off to receive treatment on his shoulder. He had a 3-7 record as the Browns' starter. . . .

The first NFL meeting between Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger will come Saturday at Giants Stadium when Manning's New York Giants host Roethlisberger's Pittsburgh Steelers. The prized first-year quarterbacks couldn't be having more different rookie seasons.

While Roethlisberger, drafted 10 spots beneath Manning in April, laps the field in the rookie of the year race with 11 straight victories and a 97.6 passer rating, Manning has struggled mightily since taking over as the starter after Giants Coach Tom Coughlin benched veteran Kurt Warner four games ago. The Giants are winless in Manning's four starts, extending their losing streak to six games. Manning has thrown one touchdown pass and six interceptions and has a passer rating of 33.8. He had a zero rating in Sunday's loss at Baltimore, in which he was intercepted twice and completed 4 of 18 passes for 27 yards.