Fassel Back With Giants as Head Coach
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Quarterback guru Jim Fassel was named the New York Giants’ coach Wednesday, accepting the job of reviving the NFL’s worst offense and developing Dave Brown into a bona fide quarterback.
Fassel, 47, takes over a team that has missed the playoffs the last three seasons and that has made the postseason once since Bill Parcells resigned after the Super Bowl XXV victory in January 1991.
A Giant assistant under Ray Handley in 1991 and ‘92, Fassel was given a four-year, $3.2-million contract to replace Dan Reeves, who was fired on Dec. 23 after New York (6-10) posted its second consecutive losing season.
“When I left here four years ago, there was something inside of me that I had a very good feeling about this organization, there was a lot of work that I felt was left to be done,” said Fassel, who was the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive coordinator last season. “I had a feeling that I wanted to come back here.”
Fassel immediately named Brown as his starting quarterback in training camp. The choice of Brown over second-year pro Danny Kanell clearly avoided a quarterback controversy.
“In my determination, right now, Dave Brown is the one closest to being ready to play,” Fassel said. “He has more experience in the game. I don’t see any . . . technical or physical flaws.”
Fassel’s work with quarterbacks is well documented. A former quarterback, he recruited John Elway to Stanford, helped Scott Mitchell set NCAA records at Utah and, after leaving the Giants, worked well with Elway, Jeff Hostetler, Boomer Esiason and Kent Graham while at Denver, Oakland and Arizona the past four years, respectively.
Fassel had been the leading contender since General Manager George Young began his search, with the only serious challenge coming from Michigan State Coach Nick Saban.
However, Saban’s salary demands pushed him out of the picture over the weekend.
Young refused to discuss any aspects of the search, particularly questions about whether Parcells was considered for the opening. His contract with the New England Patriots expires after the Super Bowl and there have been rumors that he wanted to return to his native New Jersey.
“We wanted someone who would help us now,” John Mara, the Giants’ executive vice president, said. “I think he [Fassel] has that ability. We felt he was the best coach available today.”
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Reeves appears to be the choice for the Atlanta Falcons’ coaching job, with only the final details on a contract remaining to be negotiated, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Team officials said no announcement is expected until Friday or later.
Falcon President Taylor Smith is in West Palm Beach, Fla., for two days of NFL owners committee meetings and is not expected back until Friday. Reeves, who met Monday night and Tuesday with Smith, did not immediately return a phone call to his home in Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J.
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A year ago, the Dallas Cowboys were preparing for the Super Bowl. Now they are preparing for or undergoing surgeries, including Wednesday’s successful removal of bone spurs from running back Emmitt Smith’s right ankle.
Today it will be cornerback Deion Sanders’ turn as a surgeon repairs the damage to his right orbital bone that occurred when he was tackled during the Cowboys’ playoff loss to the Panthers.
Defensive tackle Charles Haley, who had his second back surgery in 13 months last November, met with Dr. Robert Watkins in California to discuss his situation. Later in February, tight end Jay Novacek, who sat out the season because of back problems, will seek Watkins’ counsel.
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The Carolina Panthers denied a request by the Saints to interview General Manager Bill Polian for a similar position with New Orleans, according to broadcast reports. . . . Doug Flutie hasn’t given up on playing in the NFL. The Toronto Argonauts say the star quarterback’s agent is trying to find an NFL club willing to sign his high-profile client.
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