Okay, so give me the example of 5 years with no winning seasons or playoffs. The common criteria for most teams are winning seasons/division winner/playoffs. Is that correct?
Did I say anything about 5 years with no winning seasons or playoffs?
I would think the expectation would be a winning season by year 3. But my point is that if you are seeing slow steady progression of the team instead of regression, he likely keeps his job because your favorite GM in the world is very patient. I think he gets a pass to be in the range of just below .500 for the first two years while he slowly builds the team with the cap limitations. But there will be expectations that he has a winning season or very close to it by year 3.
But, it really is all about progression or regression. For instance, if he somehow wins 9 or 10 this year which likely wins the division, it might not mean he keeps his job for 4 or 5 years if the records gets worse by the year or hovers around 7 or 8 wins. We all know what it looks like when a good coach is trying to build a team, i.e. three straight 7-9 years for Payton) vs. when a bad coach has a mediocre record, i.e. 7-10 and then 9-8 with Dennis Allen. Despite the record getting better with DA, it was clear that the team was regressing.
So, I don't think it's as simple as win/loss record or playoffs or not. You have to look beyond the record. :)