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In less than two weeks from the time this article was written, the Arizona Cardinals' 2012 season will be over.

At that point the franchise will have some important decisions to make, not the least of which is what to do at head coach.

Do they keep Ken Whisenhunt, who in six seasons with the team has won a pair of NFC West titles and taken the Cardinals to the Super Bowl? Or do they fire a coach whose career record is 45-49, and has gone just 18-28 over the last three seasons?

They are the same guy, after all.

"The realization that [Whisenhunt's] entering the last year of his contract, when you start to do that then you start to say 'OK, is it time to do the extension,'" ESPN NFL insider John Clayton told Arizona Sports 620's Doug and Wolf Thursday. "And if they don't do the extension and they start to review things and look at this season there might very well be a change."

"I think it'd be a mistake because I think he's too good of a coach to let go, but I think you can understand the circumstances."

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Clayton mentioned the team's recently-snapped nine-game losing streak, which came a season after the team had a six-game skid, which came a season after a year where the Cardinals had a seven-game slide -- along with the failed acquisition of Kevin Kolb -- as possible reasons the franchise may look to make a change.

"Those things, unfortunately, are going to be held against him," Clayton said. "Should he be fired? No. Will he be fired? Maybe."

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    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    Make Horton HC
    December 21, 2012 8:33 am
    and I guarantee you that there will be Offensive Player FA's that will come here in a heart beat because they know this team is secured defensively. There will be good offensive FA's that will know that they can come here and help this teams defense, but, its going to take a change in HC and new direction. Whiz cant develop players. Its a joke for you guys to suggest taking away his personnel decisions so that someone else can hire and fire coaches and players for him. Thats a Head Coaches job. If he cant do that then he's not a good HC. Maybe Horton would hire Warner to be our QB coach???
  • Abuse
    sundevil7901 wrote...
    The problem
    December 21, 2012 9:29 am
    is that the Cards will likley lose Horton this season, unless they promote him to HC and fire Whiz. If the Cards stick with Whiz and the team is not improved next year, we've lost a great replacement candidate in Horton. I like Whiz but I am just not convinced that he can evaluate QB talent. He is also slow in developing rookies so it hurts the roster depth.
  • Abuse
    sundevil7901 wrote...
    Also
    December 21, 2012 9:31 am
    the defense is the one thing going right with this team, and is the main reason we've won any games at all this year. Can we really afford to lose Horton?
  • Abuse
    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    afford to lose Horton?
    December 21, 2012 11:37 am
    Answer: NO!
  • Abuse
    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    afford to lose Whiz?
    December 21, 2012 11:38 am
    Answer: Yes. Theres nothing special he's done with his Offensive unit like Ray Horton has.
  • Abuse
    hm wrote...
    No John
    December 21, 2012 2:51 pm
    Whis is not a good coach. If he is so good why can't he figure out a offense in 3 years? Horton has the respect of his defense. The offense has no leadership from players or coaches.
  • Abuse
    hm wrote...
    No John
    December 21, 2012 2:51 pm
    Whis is not a good coach. If he is so good why can't he figure out a offense in 3 years? Horton has the respect of his defense. The offense has no leadership from players or coaches.
  • Abuse
    Lee A. wrote...
    Sorry @Fitz
    December 21, 2012 4:46 pm
    Most of the time I'm on the same page with you but it's well known that Whiz has personnel (players and coaches) decision power written into his contract (local media has confirmed that) and Graves is just a figurehead GM. His problem is wanting to control too much and not partner with others in the organization. Maybe the organization is too dysfunctional to do that.... I dunno but I think he needs another year with a new OC, O-Line coach and maybe a new GM (Steve Keim??), people who will actually do those jobs versus Whiz trying to do it for them.
  • Abuse
    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    @ Lee A.
    December 21, 2012 11:04 pm
    I kind of was thinking the same thing, but, (after thoroughly thinking it through I concluded) his job is primarily developing and progressing players. No one on this offense has developed or progressed. If anything they've degressed. So in addition to everyone else not doing their jobs, Whiz isnt doing his either. His job is to put everyone in a position to succeed and excell. He or none of his players have done that. If your talking about getting rid of everyone around Whiz, you mightest well get rid of him too. Just like the others, he hasnt done his job either...
  • Abuse
    JW L. wrote...
    I keep reading that Whiz
    December 22, 2012 10:31 am
    ..shouldn't be fired. But, when I look at the record and watch the games, I wonder why anyone would keep him. It seems pretty obvious that they should promote the defensive coordinator to head coach, and start looking for a new high powered offensive coordinator to come in an clean house. I am thinking that the GM should be on a train out of town too.
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