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Coming back Expect Reeves, Riley to return in 2001
Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King spoke with CNN/Sports Illustrated anchor Bob Lorenz about Week 14's storylines Sunday on CNN's NFL Preview: Bob Lorenz: There have already been three coaching changes this season. More, as can be expected, are on their way. What's the latest? Peter King: It would have appeared coming into the last month of the season that two endangered species would reside in Atlanta and in San Diego. Dan Reeves and Mike Riley were both on the firing line. But I spoke to both men Saturday. Dan Reeves told me categorically, "I will return to coach the Atlanta Falcons next year." He's already talked to club president Taylor Smith about it; no question in his mind that he'll be back. More interestingly, in San Diego, Mike Riley met with Chargers president Dean Spanos on Friday and Spanos told Riley flat-out that he had no plans to make a change. Riley will be back and that is an upset. Lorenz: If Kurt Warner comes back and leads the Rams to a 4-0 season, don't you think he should be the league MVP again? King: It's tempting, but you can't miss 5 1/2 games in the NFL today and get my vote for MVP. My ballot today would be 1) Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon; 2) Rams RB Marshall Faulk; and 3) a surprise guy, running back Robert Smith of the Vikings. Lorenz: Giants coach Jim Fassel is normally so quiet and reserved. Now it's as if he's carrying around a megaphone. What do you make of him putting a gag order on his team this week while they were preparing for the Redskins, not to mention all his other comments lately? King: The question isn't what we make of it, it's what his players make of it. I think he has a lot of players in his locker room looking at him with arched eyebrows saying, "This isn't the guy we've known for three and a half years." It's sort of like a leopard who changes his spots. If the Giants don't beat Washington, there's going to be some real unrest with that team. Lorenz: If the Titans lose Sunday to the Eagles, they'll drop into a tie with the Ravens in the AFC Central. Jeff Fisher says there's no reason to panic. Should there be? King: There shouldn't be any reason to panic; however, Al Del Greco, the formerly reliable kicker, has really used about eight of his nine NFL lives. If he misses one more big kick in the fourth quarter, the Titans will fire him, even though it's this close to the postseason. They can't go into the playoffs thinking that their kicker could cost them a game. Lorenz: So you say Reeves will be back next year for the Falcons, but what about quarterback Chris Chandler, who was a bit critical of his coach this week... King: Chandler came out last week after the game and said, "The coaches have to look at themselves, players have to look at themselves, we all have to get better." When I talked to Reeves on Saturday, he said, "Chris Chandler's right -- we all have to look at ourselves." And he said some things lauding his quarterback. But I said to him, "Dan, will Chris Chandler be back on this football team next year?" He said they'd evaluate that at the end of the season. Not exactly a ringing endorsement. I'd be very surprised if Chandler was back with the Falcons. Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL beat for the magazine and appears each Sunday on CNN's NFL Preview. Click here to send a question to Peter's NFL mailbag.
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