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Wednesday Roundup Bengals considering Palmer as offensive coordinator
Updated: Thursday January 18, 2001 2:32 AM
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Chris Palmer, fired as coach of the Cleveland Browns, is under consideration to become offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals. Bengals head coach Dick LeBeau expects to interview Palmer on Friday. Palmer is a former offensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars. LeBeau also is interviewing Detroit Lions receivers coach Jerry Sullivan this week. "I'd like to wind this all up by the weekend," LeBeau said Tuesday from Mobile, Ala., where he is scouting college players preparing to play in the Senior Bowl. LeBeau has already interviewed fired Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, current Steelers receivers coach Bob Bratkowski and Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks coach Bruce Arians. LeBeau coached with Bratkowski's father, Zeke, for the Green Bay Packers. The Bengals are trying to revive an offense that ranked last in the NFL during 2000 in yards passing and scored only 185 points, the fewest in the Bengals' history. Even with top draft pick Peter Warrick starting every game, the Bengals managed only 1,946 yards passing in 16 games. The Bengals relied almost exclusively on Corey Dillon's running under the direction of LeBeau, who became coach when Bruce Coslet quit after an 0-3 start. Arizona hires Olson as offensive coordinatorTEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Arizona head coach Dave McGinnis hired Rich Olson, former quarterbacks coach for the Washington Redskins, as offensive coordinator Wednesday. Geep Chryst, who served as quarterbacks coach for Arizona in 1998, returns to that post after two seasons as offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers. McGinnis also hired Jerry Sullivan as wide receivers coach. Three coaches from last year's staff were re-hired -- running backs coach Johnny Roland, offensive line coach George Warhop and offensive line assistant Mike Devlin. Olson is a protege of former Redskins head coach Norv Turner and Oregon State head coach Dennis Erickson. McGinnis had talked to Turner about the offensive coordinator's job left vacant by the firing of Marc Trestman, but Turner took the coordinator's post at San Diego instead. Olson was quarterbacks coach for Washington the past two seasons. In 1999, he tutored Pro Bowl quarterback Brad Johnson, who completed a franchise-record 316 passes for 4,005 yards and 24 touchdowns. Chryst, a 14-year NFL coaching veteran and Princeton graduate, was an assistant for Vince Tobin with the Cardinals from 1996 to 1998, first as quality control coach, then as tight ends coach and finally as quarterbacks coach. McGinnis has repeatedly mentioned that quarterback Jake Plummer had his best NFL season with Chryst on the staff, and that the two had a close relationship.
Titans give Browns permission to talk with WilliamsNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Tennessee Titans have given permission for the Cleveland Browns to talk with their defensive coordinator Gregg Williams about their head-coaching job. The Browns are the second team in the past two weeks to ask to interview Williams. The same request was made by the expansion Houston Texans. Williams said Wednesday afternoon that he had not yet been contacted personally by the Browns. He guided the Titans to the No. 1 ranking as the NFL's best defense in yards allowed last season, and they also set a club record with 55 sacks. He signed a contract extension through the 2002 season last fall.
League reinstates suspended Colts playerINDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Defensive end Shawn King, who started eight of the Indianapolis Colts' first nine games in 1999, has been reinstated by the NFL after a one-year suspension for violating the league's drug and alcohol policy. He also was suspended for six games in 1997, when he was with the Carolina Panthers. "All I can really say is Shawn's happy and excited to be back," agent Ted Marchibroda Jr. said. "Shawn has matured and he understands how valuable football is to him. "He understands he made a mistake, but he has learned a hard lesson and wants to go on," Marchibroda told The Indianapolis Star. Marchibroda said he was told of the reinstatement by the league on Monday but that King had not spoken yet with Colts president Bill Polian, who was scouting college players at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Polian could not be reached for comment, team spokesman Craig Kelley said Wednesday. King, 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, was a second-round draft pick by Carolina in 1995, when Polian was the Panthers' general manager. He came to Indianapolis as a free agent before the '99 season, signing a three-year, $6 million contract that included a $1.5 million signing bonus. If the team keeps King and does not restructure his contract, he will earn a base salary of $2.5 million in 2001. King had 45 tackles and 1 1/2 quarterback sacks before his suspension by the NFL in 1999. Before that, he and defensive back Tito Wooten were suspended by the Colts for four games for incidents that occurred before a game at Philadelphia. The players reportedly took a late-night jaunt to Atlantic City, N.J., missed bed check the night before the game and were late to a meeting. Shortly after that, the Colts cut Wooten and the NFL suspended King for at least 12 months. Since King's departure, the Colts have been unable to find a suitable replacement at left end, where Mark Thomas, Bernard Whittington, Bernard Holsey and Brad Scioli have combined for 23 starts. After a 23-17 overtime loss to Miami in the first round of the playoffs, Polian said left end was one of the areas in need of an upgrade during the off-season.
Lions to speak with 49ers' offensive coordinatorPONTIAC, Mich. (AP) -- The Detroit Lions received permission to speak with San Francisco offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, the fifth candidate for the team's coaching job. Mornhinweg joins Lions head coach Gary Moeller, Tampa Bay assistant head coach Herman Edwards, Baltimore defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis and Denver offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak. Matt Millen, Detroit's new president and chief executive, said he doesn't expect other candidates. "If these guys are what they're supposed to be, we shouldn't have to," Millen said in the Detroit Free Press on Wednesday. Mornhinweg, 38, has been successful working with Brett Favre, Steve Young and Jeff Garcia in jobs at Green Bay and San Francisco. "He's the triggerman. He's been calling the offense the last two years," Millen said. "He knows the offense inside and out, he's solid with personnel and he's a fiery guy." The team said Millen was expected to meet with Edwards on Monday. Lewis cannot be contacted until after the Ravens play the Giants in the Super Bowl on Jan. 28. Millen doesn't expect to make a decision until he interviews Lewis. Millen is in Mobile, Ala., watching workouts for Saturday's Senior Bowl. He spoke with Edwards and Mornhinweg while there. Bills' Cottrell to interview for Washington jobBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- The whirlwind continues for Buffalo defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell. On Thursday, Cottrell will interview for the Washington defensive coordinator job, according to Redskins spokeswoman Michelle Tessier. The Washington interview will be the first assistant job Cottrell has interviewed for this offseason. He traveled to Houston last week to interview for the head-coaching job for the expansion Texans. On Monday he interviewed for the Bills head-coaching job with new Buffalo general manager Tom Donahoe. On Wednesday, Cottrell was in New York to interview for the Jets head-coaching job. In three seasons with Cottrell at the defensive helm the Bills have ranked sixth, first and third in the league in total defense. The 53-year-old Cottrell is the Bills players' choice to be the next Buffalo head coach. He also received a vote of confidence from fired Buffalo head coach Wade Phillips.
Collins, Lewis, Richardson named players of weekNEW YORK (Reuters) -- New York Giants quarterback Kerry Collins, who passed for an NFC Championship Game record 381 yards to help his team reach the Super Bowl, was named Offensive Player of the Week, the NFL announced Wednesday. Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was named Defensive Player of the Week and his teammate, punter Kyle Richardson, captured Special Teams honors. Dissecting a porous secondary which ranked 28th in the league, Collins completed 28 of 39 passes in the Giants' 41-0 demolition of the Minnesota Vikings. Lewis, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, made his presence felt in the AFC Championship Game, collecting seven tackles and recovering a fumble in the Ravens' 16-3 victory against the Oakland Raiders. Richardson averaged 40.6 yards on seven punts, placing four inside the 20-yard line. Baltimore yielded only 9 yards off punt returns.
Broncos RB Anderson may seek heftier paycheckDENVER (AP) -- Denver Broncos running back Mike Anderson may be shopping for a more lucrative contract after a standout season that earned him the honor of NFL offensive rookie of the year. "I think the Broncos will agree Mike is underpaid. We're trying to be very reasonable," said his agent, John Walter Reed. "Mike gives me my marching orders. He doesn't want to cause any waves. He's torn, confused. But he also realizes he has a finite career." Anderson, a sixth-round pick, rushed for 1,500 yards in 2000 despite starting only 12 games. He was paid the rookie minimum of $193,000 in 2000 and is scheduled to earn the second-year minimum of $275,000 next year and the third-year minimum of $358,000 in 2002. Reed said he believes the Broncos anticipate a request by Anderson for more money. The agent said he was a hopeful a deal could be worked out to avoid a holdout by Anderson during training camp. "We would hope it doesn't get to that point," he said. Denver Broncos general manager Neal Dahlen acknowledged the team generally is reluctant to redo rookie contracts because of the salary cap. "That's not the way things work," Dahlen said, "but if you look at long-term plans you might say with a particular player that you're willing to raise what he makes next year and extend into the future because you know he'll be part of the future at that point." Dahlen said it's too early to speculate on such financial matters until he sees how the team fits together after free agency and the draft. Anderson is reluctant to talk about potential deals. "It's a tough situation. I don't know what's going to happen," Anderson said. "Right now I'm getting in the best shape I can get in to be ready for camp. That's how I'm preparing myself right now." Reed said he is researching contracts but has set the top 20 percent as his target. Cowboys still not sure on timing for Aikman decisionIRVING, Texas (AP) -- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has met with Troy Aikman about the quarterback's future, but says he still doesn't know when a decision will be made. "Nothing has been resolved, but we have met," Jones said Wednesday. "We have a good grasp ... and an open line of communication." Aikman missed the final two games last season. He suffered his second concussion of the season, and the 10th of his 12-year NFL career, when he was tackled by Washington linebacker Lavar Arrington on Dec. 10. Aikman, 34, has given no indication publicly if he plans to continue his career or retire. Jones has to decide whether he wants to keep the quarterback who brought him three Super Bowl titles -- and at what price. Aikman, the first player Jones ever drafted, is due $7 million if he's on the roster March 8. Leigh Steinberg, Aikman's agent, hasn't returned repeated phone calls the past couple of weeks. Jones said there would be more meetings with Aikman and Steinberg, but didn't indicate when or where such meetings would take place. The first meeting happened earlier this month in California. Vikings' Randle fined $7,500 for gestureEDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota defensive tackle John Randle was fined $7,500 by the NFL for a public act of obscenity during the Vikings' NFC playoff game against the New Orleans Saints on Jan. 7. After sacking Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks for a 6-yard loss, Randle celebrated by acting as if he were urinating on the field. The league confirmed the fine, which was imposed last week. Randle's sack prevented the Saints from scoring just before halftime. The Vikings led 17-3 at halftime and went on to a 34-16 victory. Colts sign 10 to free agent contractsINDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indianapolis Colts announced the signings of 10 free agents Wednesday, including eight who had at least one previous tryout with the team in the past two years. They include linebacker Josh Gentry, a Division II All-American at the University of Indianapolis, who was with the Colts during training camp last summer and then was signed twice to the team's practice squad during the season. Offensive linemen John Merandi and Tom Moreira and defensive end Ike Reid also signed as free agents last spring but were waived before the start of the season. Quarterback Roderick Robinson, a free agent who was waived by the Colts in 1999, was on Philadelphia's practice squad that season and was in Jacksonville's training camp last year. Offensive lineman Tim Ridder, Merandi's former teammate at Notre Dame, spent parts of the 1999 and 2000 seasons on the Colts' practice squad. The others, receiver Brad Freeman and defensive back Derek Fox, were on the Colts' practice squad last year. Fox also spent the preseason last year with the St. Louis Rams. The Colts also announced the signings of receiver Drew Haddad, a seventh-round draft pick by Buffalo who was waived in November, and defensive back Nicholas Harper, who started all 18 games and had four interceptions with Hamilton of the Canadian Football League. Eagles sign two from practice squadPHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Philadelphia Eagles signed two players from their practice squad to new contracts Wednesday. Defensive end Dwight Johnson signed a one-year contract and cornerback William Hampton signed a two-year contract. The club did not disclose the financial terms of either deal. Two other players had surgery. Brian Mitchell, a running back and kick returner, underwent surgery on his right elbow, and wide receiver Charles Johnson had surgery on his right shoulder.
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