Three Down, More to Go?

In a flurry of NFL firings Monday, Dallas cleared the way for Bill Parcells, Jacksonville made franchise history, and woeful Cincinnati went from worst to first.

First to get rid of its coach, that is.

But the biggest news of the day wasn’t the Bengals firing Dick LeBeau, or the Jaguars firing Tom Coughlin -- the only coach they have ever known -- but the Cowboys firing Dave Campo apparently in order to hire Parcells, perhaps as soon as today.

Still uncertain is the job status of Seattle’s Mike Holmgren and Detroit’s Marty Mornhinweg. Both coaches have said they’re confident they will be back next season, even though neither team came close to making the playoffs.

Hours after Campo was fired, conflicting reports swirled as to whether Parcells had already filled the Cowboy coaching vacancy.

The Dallas Morning News reported on its Web site Monday afternoon that Parcells had agreed to a four-year contract that will pay him roughly $4.5 million a season, and that he will be introduced today as the team’s sixth coach. The newspaper cited a source close to Parcells and Cowboy owner Jerry Jones.

But ESPN, which employs Parcells as a studio analyst, countered that report with one citing his agent, Jimmy Sexton, and two other unnamed sources who said there was no deal.

Jones, fed up with three consecutive 5-11 seasons, has spoken at least twice with Parcells, 61, who has been out of coaching since ending a three-year stint with the New York Jets after the 1999 season. He won two Super Bowls as coach of the New York Giants, and took the New England Patriots there in 1996.

He also has a history of abruptly quitting jobs and turning down offers at the last minute, as he has done twice with Tampa Bay, most recently last spring. The Buccaneers, who eventually hired Jon Gruden, say they have a signed contract with Parcells and contend they should have been asked permission before Parcells and the Cowboys talked. Tampa Bay wants compensation, and that could complicate a deal with Dallas.

Jones said one of the reasons for making a coaching change is he wants a proven coach. All five of the men who coached the Cowboys had no prior experience as an NFL head coach.

“This change is more about a change in philosophy, not about what Dave didn’t do,� Jones said.

In Cincinnati, there are indications the Bengals are taking a long look at Coughlin, who is more of a disciplinarian than LeBeau. People familiar with the situation say Cincinnati players have asked owner Mike Brown to hire a coach willing to enforce rules.

The Bengals did not pick up the option in LeBeau’s contract, letting him go after a 2-14 season, the worst in franchise history. Owner Mike Brown, who has not had a winning season since taking over in 1991 for his late father, Paul, told reporters he has no plans to hire a general manager. Brown has been widely criticized for being a better businessman than a judge of football talent.

In three seasons under LeBeau, the Bengals went 12-33 (.267), the worst winning percentage by any of the eight coaches in team history. He was known as a “player’s coach,� who was friendly and possibly too soft on his team.

Two Bengal assistants rumored to be potential replacements for LeBeau are running backs coach Jim Anderson and defensive coordinator Mark Duffner.

Coughlin, Jacksonville’s coach and general manager since the franchise was formed eight years ago, was fired after three consecutive losing seasons. Even though the Jaguars made it to the AFC title game twice under Coughlin, they were 6-10 this season and 19-29 over the last three. Said Jaguar owner Wayne Weaver: “There’s a point in this business where you have to say, ‘We need innovative new ideas, new fresh approaches, and we need to move in a different direction.’ �

Dennis Green, former coach of the Minnesota Vikings, has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Coughlin. Green told ESPN that he might be interested in the Jacksonville job if it included general manager responsibilities. But Weaver has made it clear he wants a separate coach and general manager.

Other possible candidates for the Jacksonville job are Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops and Pittsburgh Steeler offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, a former Florida tight end.

In Detroit, team President Matt Millen and Mornhinweg kept their jobs Monday despite a 3-13 season, and a 5-27 record over the last two years. Lion owner William Clay Ford is on vacation in Florida and said two weeks ago that he will make a decision on Millen and Mornhinweg after the season.

Holmgren met Monday night to discuss his future with Seahawk President Bob Whitsitt. There are reports Holmgren will stay as coach but will be asked to relinquish his duties as general manager.

He will address the media today at a news conference.

Although he did not speak with reporters Monday, Holmgren told players he expects to be back.

“He’ll be back. We’re too good,� running back Shaun Alexander told reporters. “You don’t give away talent like this for someone else to go win a Super Bowl. I think we’re going to win the Super Bowl, either next year or the year after.�

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Associated Press contributed to this story.

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*--* Playoff Matchups Saturday Indianapolis at Jets, 1:30 p.m., Ch. 7 Atlanta at Green Bay, 5 p.m., Ch. 7 Sunday Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 10 a.m., Ch. 2 Giants at San Fran., 1:30 p.m., Ch. 11

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*--* RELATED STORY Ram tough: St. Louis scores 28 points in the fourth quarter to beat the 49ers, 31-20. D9

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WHO’S OUT:

DAVE CAMPO

* Campo “led� the Cowboys to three consecutive 5-11 seasons and is the only coach in team history with a losing record.

TOM COUGHLIN

* Coughlin was fired after three consecutive losing seasons. The Jaguars were 6-10 this season and 19-29 over the last three.

DICK LeBEAU

* In three seasons under LeBeau, the Bengals went 12-33, the worst record by any of the eight coaches in team history.