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The Arizona Cardinals are planning a very public search for a new coach.
Just hours after coach Dave McGinnis was fired Monday, Cardinals vice president and general counsel Michael Bidwill scheduled interviews this week with Dennis Green and Jim Fassel.
Green, the former Minnesota Vikings' coach, will be in town for an interview on Wednesday. Fassel, just fired by the New York Giants, will be in Tempe on Saturday.
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Bidwill also identified New England Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel
and Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson as candidates. Under
NFL rules, both would have to be interviewed by Friday, in their home cities,
because their teams have byes in the first round of the playoffs.
More candidates will be identified, Bidwill and Rod Graves promised, including some college coaches. The search could continue past the Super Bowl, Graves said.
Graves, vice president for football operations, praised McGinnis' hard work and outgoing personality.
``But now it's time for our organization to more forward, to see if we can get a staff in place that can create a level of discipline and consistency and help us build a winner,'' Graves said.
Buffalo's Gregg Williams and Chicago's Dick Jauron were also fired Monday. The three firings Monday meant five head coaches are out of work: Dan Reeves was fired by Atlanta and Jim Fassel by the New York Giants during the season.
Miami's Dave Wannstedt gave up some responsibility over personnel decisions in exchange for a two-year contract extension through 2006. The Dolphins will hire a general manager who will have final authority over the draft and free-agent signings.
Left dangling was Oakland's Bill Callahan, less than one year after he led the Raiders to the Super Bowl. And Washington's Steve Spurrier had not yet committed to returning to the Redskins, even though owner Daniel Snyder said he expects the ol' ballcoach to be back.
Consistency was a big problem in the McGinnis era. The team was 4-4 at home this season, but 0-8 on the road. The Cardinals had to be competitive for McGinnis to keep his job, and away from Sun Devil Stadium, they often weren't.
``We had eight losses by 17 points or more,'' Bidwill said. ``We had five losses by 24 points or more.''
McGinnis went out in his usual accommodating style. He spoke with reporters for a half-hour, and bought them pizza, as he always did after a victory.
``I need you guys to chip in,'' he said, ``because I'm unemployed.''
He thanked owner Bill Bidwill for the opportunity to be a head coach and said he would always be a Cardinals fan. He believes his successor will find the pieces in place to succeed.
``This organization is on great footing, cap-wise, as far as young players under contract, guys that have gotten experience,'' McGinnis said. ``To me they're sitting right now in pretty good shape.''
McGinnis said that he had worked to clear cap room in his first full season as head coach, when the team went 7-9. Then in 2002, Arizona got off to a 4-2 start, then the team was ravaged by injuries and staggered home 5-11.
This year, with Graves overseeing wholesale changes in personnel, the team sagged to 4-12. Arizona was the first NFL team since 1987 to finish last in the NFL in both points scored and points allowed.
Even the season-ending 18-17 stunner over Minnesota had a sour aspect. It cost Arizona the No. 1 pick in the draft.
In all three of McGinnis' full seasons as coach, the Cardinals had the youngest team in the NFL.
Michael Bidwill said the team will be about $8 million under the salary cap next season and expects to use the money on free agents. The team also has the No. 3 pick in next year's draft, and has the attraction of moving into a new stadium in 2006.
The new coach will be expected to lead the team into that new building, now going up in Glendale, in the west Phoenix suburbs.
``Something I don't think I can say enough is that we are committed to putting a winning football team on the field,'' Bidwill said.
McGinnis said his phone message machine was jammed with well-wishers. He wants to coach again soon and would love another head coaching job.
``I'm not a football coach. I'm a football creature,'' he said. ``I love this, and this is what I do.''
In Buffalo, Williams' Bills fell from an encouraging 8-8 last season to 6-10 this year and their offense often was inept. He was 17-31 in three seasons and finished his stint in Buffalo with a 31-0 loss at New England.
Bills president Tom Donahoe hired Williams to replace Wade Phillips as his first major move in Buffalo. But Williams never turned the Bills into winners.
``We weren't able to do as well as I thought this year, but Tom has put the team in the right position,'' Williams said. ``I'm sorry I wasn't able to take it to the next level.''
Jauron took the Bears to
the next level in 2001, when they were 13-3 and won the NFC Central. But that
was Chicago's only winning record with Jauron, and the Bears lost in the first
round of the playoffs to Philadelphia.