THE CURRENT STANDARD OF UNDERACHIEVEMENT. In the National Football League, it's losing to the Packers.

Three weeks ago, the Packers wiped their feet on Dallas, 45-7. Despite weekly assurances that owner Jerry Jones wasn't the kind of person to can a coaches midseason, that's exactly what he did. Less than 24 hours after the Cowboys staggered off Lambeau Field, coach [Wade] Phillips was fired.

Then the Packers had a bye and jobs were safe for a week.

On Sunday, Green Bay marched into the unfriendly Metrodome in Minneapolis and manhandled the Minnesota Vikings, 31-3.

Less than 24 hours later ...

Three years removed from the Packers but just 10 months after the NFC Championship Game, quarterback Brett Favre looked mentally spent. Yet his dejected look paled in comparison to [coach Brad] Childress' ashen face as the crowd chanted, "Fire Childress!" before it deserted the stadium.

Again, despite reports just a week ago that Childress' job was safe, the Vikings (3-7) announced Monday that Childress was fired.

Boo-Hoooooo!