Leaders of Men?

Everybody thinks they could do a better job of coaching their favorite NFL team. Regardless of who the coach is, he isn't perfect, he makes mistakes and we Monday-morning-quarterback him to death.

But there are some coaches who just seem to invite more second guesses. Their game management seems nonsensical. Their play-calling is illogical. They look funny on the sideline.

Don't look now, but a lot of those guys that get ridiculed are leading their teams into the post-season.

With a week to go in the season, here are the teams who are headed to the playoffs, along with their head coaches:

• Saints (Sean Payton)
• EAGLES (Andy Reid)
• Vikings (Brad Childress)
• Cardinals (Ken Whisenhunt)
• Cowboys (Wade Phillips)
• Packers (Mike McCarthy)
• Colts (Jim Caldwell)
• Chargers (Norv Turner)
• Bengals (Marvin Lewis)
• Patriots (Bill Belichick)
• Jets (Rex Ryan)
• Ravens (John Harbaugh)

At least four of those men will probably never get respect from fans and talk show hosts - Reid, Childress, Phillips and Turner. They get belittled and even vilified on a weekly basis.

Caldwell is getting killed this week for white-flagging Sunday's game against the Jets (which really does seem like it has the potential to crush his team).

Rex Ryan just read his Christmas list to reporters last week and - like his dear ol' Dad, Buddy - is a bit of a roller coaster ride as a head coach.

Marvin Lewis spent most of the past three seasons conferencing with a bail bondsman on behalf of his trouble roster.

Bill Belichick? Sure, he's a genius, but he seemed more mad than scientist a month ago when he went for it on 4th-and-two on his own 29. Plus, everybody hates his guts.

Mike McCarthy remains a complete and utter mystery to most of America. I really don't have an opinion of him and I don't think you do, either. In this group, that's practically a positive.

But there's more - in the AFC, coaches still in the mix include Jack Del Rio and Gary Kubiak, both of whom could be fired this off-season.

Of the playoff group, only Payton, Harbaugh and Whisenhunt have halfway decent reputations with the fans. I'm sure it's only a matter of time...

My point is that maybe these guys are just the victims of over-scrutiny. Maybe we're just magnifying a couple mistakes and ignoring all the good things they do. Maybe it's not their fault if the quarterback overthrows an open receiver or the left guard misses a key block.

Maybe we're focused on the wrong things.

Maybe they're actually doing a good job. Maybe they know about football than the talk show hosts and the columnists and you and me.

Because these are the guys who are going to decide the world championship in six weeks.