Welcome to the latest installment of “Fire Vic Fangio.”

What chapter is this anyway? Chapter 25? Thirty? How many more can one columnist write (or every grouchy Broncos fan read)? I sure hope you’re as sick of reading these as I am of writing them. More importantly, I sure hope George Paton is reading, too – this column, the “room” – or – the NFL rule book.

That’s right, the rule book.

As my friend and MHS colleague Dan “The Man” Mohrmann has been yelling from atop the Manitou Incline for the better part of a week, there’s a very relevant to fire Vic Fangio now. And no, it’s not because he’s suddenly any worse than he was a week ago, or even a season ago. He’s bad. Has been. Still is. Will be if he’s still around next season.

Now is suddenly important because of a new NFL rule that essentially allows teams to interview possible candidates “for a head coach position during the final two weeks of the regular season with the consent of the employer club.” Of course, the position must be open in order for a team to conduct interviews for the job.

Here’s hoping by the time you read this, the job is open. Wide open.

After stubbing their toe against the Raiders on Sunday – an occurrence that’s becoming almost as familiar as church – the Broncos playoff hopes are all but gone. Mathematically, Denver still has a chance – like, a 1 percent chance. For practical purposes, they’re done, toast, long gone.

Ol’ Vic Fangio should be finito as well.

Because of the new rules, George Paton shouldn’t waste a single second in his efforts to right the ship at the Broncos head coaching position. In other words, begin interviewing as soon as the sun comes up Monday morning. The Broncos should be first in line for any and all possible head coaching candidates. They should be the first team trying to make a first impression; let those hot shot coordinators know that they’re wanted in the Mile High City. Don’t let another team tell them first. After all, the Broncos won’t be the only team in search of a new coach. We already know the Raiders and Jaguars will be in the market, and surely there are a few other teams that aren’t willing to put up with the kind of nonsense we have for the past three seasons.

There’s absolutely zero reason to keep Fangio around another day. His defense – the only reason one might argue in is favor – is a fraud. It’s great on the stat sheet but can’t make the big plays when it has to. His formula of low-scoring, risk-free football is producing nothing more than statewide naps at 2:30 in the afternoon. He won’t make the playoffs, he won’t take responsibility, and if by chance the locker room is shaken up or whatever “continuity” the Broncos might have is disrupted, then so be it. Furthermore, there’s absolutely nothing that can happen, win or lose, in the final two weeks that should make a difference. If the Broncos happen to slip by the Chiefs in the season finale, it will only be because Kansas City is resting up for the postseason.

Get rid of this guy and move on to the next chapter in Broncos history before all credibility has been lost.

And now there’s an even better reason.

George Paton’s Monday should be spent on the telephone. And the first of many calls should be made to his soon to be former head coach.