Several dozen outlets are reporting that Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil will announce his retirement after today’s game with the Bengals, which should crank up speculation surrounding Herm Edwards’ immediate future even further. It will also have a negative impact on the Kleenex share price, but that was bound to happen sooner or later, anyway.

ESPN is claiming that the firing of Texans coach Dom Capers is a done deal. With the 2-12 Texans facing the 3-11 49’ers later today in what has predictably been dubbed the Bush Bowl, the ongoing debate of whether or not either team would take a dive in order to ensure their shot at USC’s transcendent running back confuses me. If the Texans were to phone it in today, how could we tell? How much lower than their usual level of performance can they get? Is David Carr going to be sacked in the parking lot?