The Top Five Candidates To Replace Dennis Allen

Leave it to the Oakland Raiders to create controversy even when it comes to firing their head coach.

The Raiders, who lost to the Miami Dolphins in London, 38-14, made the move Monday evening when the team phoned the then head coach about their decision to make a change.

Allen (according to USA Today) also joins an esteemed list of coaches who were canned in Oakland after four games into the season. Mike Shanahan got the boot after four games in 1989 and Lane Kiffin was shown the door after the same time in 2008.

Getting fired by the Raiders was bound to happen after an 8-26 record in three-plus seasons as an NFL head coach.

Getting fired over the phone is not a good way to be let go. As an employee, you hope to be able to look your boss in the eye before getting the boot and perhaps even answer for your actions. However, Allen shouldn’t feel too bad. He was working for the Raiders, after all. Compared to head coaches of yesteryear, Allen’s dismissal was downright classy, the USA Today story reported.

According to the Sporting News and David Steele, an Associated Press reporter tweeted Sunday evening that the Oakland Raiders had fired head coach Dennis Allen - then deleted the tweet, then later retracted it completely with an apology.

Niceties and all may be warranted for a premature story circulating about Allen, but after the 38-14 loss to Miami in London on Sunday, with a 0-4 record to begin the 2014 season, it locked everything in place and real except for the actual act to be carried out.

Allen has been on the job three-plus seasons (8-28 overall) after he was hired from the Denver Broncos where he served as defensive coordinator.

The report in the Sporting News goes on to say Allen told reporters after the game that he was not worried about losing his job and believed he would remain the coach, according to ESPN.com. But the San Francisco Chronicle cited organization sources that said it "would be a shocker" if McKenzie were able to talk owner Mark Davis out of firing Allen.

Tony Sparano, the offensive line coach and former head coach of the Dolphins, would replace Allen, the Chronicle reported.

If Sparano is the choice, is he a temporary solution or the man both general manager Reggie McKenzie and Davis want, or are there other names the team might look to after the season is over?

Here are five names to consider.

GREG ROMAN – OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, SAN FRANCISCO

Roman is the current offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. He had previously been a coach under Jim Harbaugh's staff at Stanford from 2009 to 2010. Upon the conclusion of the 2012 season, he was the first offensive coordinator to complete consecutive seasons as the 49ers offensive coordinator since Greg Knapp in 2002 and 2003. Roman has previously been a coach with the Carolina Panthers (1995–2001), Houston Texans (2002–2005), Baltimore Ravens (2006–2007).

PETE CARMICHAEL – OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, NEW ORLEANS

Carmichael is the current offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He was named offensive coordinator in 2009, replacing Doug Marrone who left to become the head coach of the Syracuse Orange. New Orleans led the league in scoring in 2008 and 2009. The Saints offense has finished No. 1 overall in four of Carmichael’s six years with the organization. He has helped make Drew Brees on of the best in the NFL.

DAVID SHAW – HEAD COACH, STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Shaw is the head coach of the Stanford Cardinal football team. Shaw was the team's offensive coordinator for the entire tenure of head coach Jim Harbaugh from 2007 to 2010. Previously, Shaw was a four-year letter winner playing as a wide receiver for the Cardinal from 1991 to 1994, where he was coached by Dennis Green and Bill Walsh. Prior to returning to Stanford as offensive coordinator, Shaw was Harbaugh's passing game coordinator at the University of San Diego and an assistant coach in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders, and Baltimore Ravens.

JIM HARBAUGH – HEAD COACH SAN FRNCISCO 49ERS

If the 49ers part ways with Harbaugh, maybe he takes a trip up the coast.

Harbaugh was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Michigan, and was in the NFL for 14 seasons, from 1987 to 2000. Harbaugh has been a head coach since 2004, beginning at the University of San Diego for three seasons. He moved up the coast to Stanford University of the Pac-10 in 2007, and after four seasons, to the 49ers in 2011.

DAN QUINN – DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Quinn is the current defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. Quinn originally joined Seattle  in 2009, after spending the previous six years coaching the defensive lines for the San Francisco 49ers (2003-04), Miami Dolphins (2005-06) and the New York Jets (2007-08). He began his NFL coaching career in San Francisco as their defensive quality control coach in 2001 before moving to the defensive line. He also served as the defensive coordinator for the Florida Gators during the 2011 and 2012 seasons.