Tuesday, December 31, 2002
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dave Campo is out, along with Tom Coughlin and Dick LeBeau. Meanwhile, Bill Parcells seems just about ready to take Campo's place in Dallas.
Campo was fired by Jerry Jones on Monday after three straight 5-11 seasons, as much, perhaps, Jones' fault as it was the fault of his coach. The Cowboys' owner, after all, is also the general manager and he assembled the talent -- or what passed for it -- that caused the demise of America's team.
So Jones changed his mind about control, enough so that Parcells, winner of two Super Bowls with the Giants and an AFC title with the Patriots, seems to be considering becoming Dallas' new coach.
If nothing else, it will be Parcell's first NFL coaching job outside of the Northeast -- he also coached the Jets and began his pro career as linebackers coach with New England more than two decades ago.
None of the firings were unexpected.
Jones spent 11 hours in two separate meetings with Parcells over the last 10 days. The Dallas Morning News reported on its Web site that Parcells and the Cowboys had agreed to a four-year deal at $4.5 million a year. ESPN, the network for which Parcells works as an NFL analyst, reported that there was no deal yet.
LeBeau's dismissal in Cincinnati probably won't bring a sudden turnaround for the NFL's worst franchise. The team hasn't had a winning record since going 9-7 in 1990 and winning the AFC Central title. LeBeau went 12-33 in three seasons.
Coughlin had served as coach and general manager during all eight years of the Jaguars' existence. He went 72-64 and twice took Jacksonville to the AFC championship game, but the Jags went 19-29 the past three years.