United's NFL owners get tough as Tampa Bay's Morris is axed

By Simon Milham for MailOnline Updated: 16:39 EDT, 2 January 2012

The National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired Raheem Morris on Monday after his three seasons as the team's head coach.

The team announced the change one day after a 45-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons extended the franchise's longest losing streak within the same season since 1977 to 10 games.

Fired: Raheem Morris is let go by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Morris went 17-31, including a 10-6 mark in 2010, when the Bucs (4-12) narrowly missed the playoffs.

General manager Mark Dominik said in a brief statement released by the team, which is owned by the Glazer family, that he has 'a lot of respect and appreciation for the passion coach Morris gave to our football team, but this change is one we felt was necessary.'

The Glazer family also own Premier League giants Manchester United.

St. Louis blues: Spagnuolo (left) was also axed

The 35-year-old Morris was hired in January 2009, replacing Jon Gruden.

The St Louis Rams also parted company with head coach Steve Spagnolo and general manager Billy Devaney after they completed a disappointing 2-14 season with a 34-27 home defeat by the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

The Buccaneers lost their last 10 games, a streak which started when they fell to the Chicago Bears at Wembley on October 23.

It is unlikely that Spagnuolo will be out of work for long, as his former team, the New York Giants and their NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles could soon be in the market for a defensive coordinator.

Spagnuolo made his name as the Giants' defensive coordinator, having previously worked under Andy Reid in Philadelphia from 1999 to 2006.

The Rams have quickly tuned their attentions to former Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher, who has had a season on the sidelines. They are set to interview him later this week and will begin the search for a new general manager thereafter.

The Miami Dolphins, who beat the New York Jets 19-17 on Sunday, could turn to Jets' defensive coordinator Mike Pettine to fill their head-coaching role. Pettine took over play-calling duties from Rex Ryan this season and is considered a rising star in the coaching ranks.

On the hot-seat: San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner

However, Dolphins' owner and New York businessman Steve Ross, is also believe to be monitoring the situation in San Diego, where Norv Turner is on the hot-seat after the Chargers failed to make the playoffs.

Meanwhile the Indianapolis Colts have fired vice chairman Bill Polian and his son, general manager Chris Polian after their 2-14 season without quarterback Peyton Manning.

Bill Polian was hired by the Colts following a 3-13 season in 1997.

The team drafted Manning with the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, a decision that helped set Indianapolis up as one of the most successful teams in the last decade.

In another coaching change, Buffalo have replaced defensive coordinator George Edwards with former Miami Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt.

On the field, Pittsburgh, who travel to Denver in the wild card round of the playoffs this weekend, will have to do without running back Rashard Mendenhall, who has torn knee ligaments and will miss the rest of the season.