Posted on 12/10/2003 10:10:40 AM PST by flying Elvis
Stoops, Saban named as possible candidates
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Dan Reeves was fired abruptly by the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday with three games left in a disappointing season.
Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will take over as head coach for the rest of the season.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank told Reeves — the sixth-winningest coach in NFL history — that he would be fired at the end of the season, but asked him to coach the final three games. Reeves asked to be let go immediately.
``When Arthur told me he had made the decision about the end of the year, I knew it had to come to a fullness today,'' Reeves said. ``I'm an eternal optimist, so yeah, it was a surprise. But I'm also realistic enough about coaching to understand this is how it is in the NFL.''
Reeves, 59, is in his 23rd consecutive season as an NFL head coach, by far the longest tenure in the league, and he had one year left on his contract. Reeves led the Denver Broncos to three Super Bowls, losing each time.
As Blank answered questions from reporters in one of the team's meeting rooms Wednesday, Reeves stood outside in the hall and exchanged handshakes and hugs with some of the players, including quarterback Michael Vick.
Afterward, Vick and the others quickly walked to the locker room to prepare for practice.
The Falcons fell from the playoffs a year ago to one of the worst teams in the league after Vick was hurt in the preseason.
But Reeves was let go after the Falcons (3-10) defeated Carolina 20-14 in overtime in Vick's first start of the season.
``I want to be clear that this decision is not being made based on our performance this season — we're looking forward, not back,'' Blank said. ``This is purely about the future of the organization.''
Blank said he doesn't expect to hire a new coach until after the regular season. Phillips, a former head coach in Denver and Buffalo, isn't thought to be a serious candidate.
Among the possible candidates: former Minnesota coach Dennis Green and college coaches Bob Stoops of Oklahoma, Nick Saban of LSU, and Kirk Ferentz of Iowa.
``We want to begin the process of searching for a new head coach in a thorough and honest manner,'' Blank said. ``In order to do so, and as Dan and I previously discussed, I wanted to let him know of our decision first.''
Reeves began the season with his 199th career victory, a 27-13 win at Dallas. Atlanta then lost seven in a row before Reeves finally got his 200th win at New York against the Giants on Nov. 9.
Vick broke his right leg in the preseason, exposing the Falcons as a one-man team. Initially expected to be out six to 10 weeks, the third-year quarterback's rehabilitation dragged on for 3½ months.
At one point, there appeared to be a rift between player and coach. Reeves said Vick needed to get back on the field; Vick responded that he wouldn't play until he was fully recovered.
Vick played the final two series in a Nov. 30 loss to Houston, then finally made his first start last weekend. He rushed for 141 yards — the third-highest total by a quarterback in NFL history — and finally brought a little hope to a dismal season.
But Reeves won't be around for the rest of it. He leaves with a career record of 201-174-2, including the playoffs.
Only Don Shula, George Halas, Tom Landry, Curly Lambeau and Chuck Noll won more NFL games.
``Dan's record in the NFL speaks for itself,'' Blank said. ``He has had a long and successful NFL career as a head coach, assistant coach and player, and his Hall-of-Fame-caliber accomplishments will have a place in the NFL record and history books for years to come.''
Reeves, a protege of Landry, began his head coaching career with the Broncos. After swinging a trade for John Elway, Reeves guided the Broncos to three AFC championships.
Reeves was fired after the 1992 season, a move that was linked to a feud with Elway. The quarterback accused Reeves of stifling the offense; the coach countered that Elway had secretly drawn up plays with former offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan.
Reeves then landed in New York with the Giants. They made the second round of the playoffs in 1993 and had a winning record the following season, but Reeves was fired again after the Giants went 5-11 in 1995 and 6-10 in '96.
Then, it was back home with the Falcons. Reeves is a native of Rome, just north of Atlanta, and grew up in the Georgia town of Americus.
After going 7-9 his first season, Reeves took Atlanta to the greatest season in franchise history. The Falcons went 14-2 in 1998, going on to capture their first NFC championship with a thrilling overtime victory in Minnesota.
Adding to the drama of the season, Reeves underwent heart bypass surgery late in the season but managed to return to the sideline for the playoffs. Then, he got to face Elway, Shanahan and the Broncos in the Super Bowl. Denver won 34-19.
Atlanta then struggled through three straight losing seasons, with a combined record of 16-32. But a trade on the eve of the 2001 draft brought Vick to the Falcons, a precursor of brighter times.
When Blank bought the Falcons before the 2002 season, he gave Reeves a new three-year contract.
More's the pity!
You heard it here first.
i'm a husker fan
Most NFL fans may not know this, but even though he's signed through next year he's got an escape clause in his contract that allows him to leave at the end of this season. The Giants are going to offer him a nice, handsome raise, along with a contract that will extend beyond what he's got now with the Jets.
Edwards is everything that Fassel isn't -- a strong leader and disciplinarian who doesn't tolerate any sh!t from his players. For all their flaws, the Jets are a very disciplined team and play solid fundamental football. If the Giants had even a shred of that in them, they would finish this season at least 12-4 and maybe have home field through the playoffs. And this is after they would have gone to the Super Bowl last year, too.
This is my house! I own this house!
god save us
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