Thursday, January 22, 1998

Source says Jerry Jones, George Seifert meeting on Thursday

By Jean-Jacques Taylor

Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

SAN DIEGO - Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will meet with former San Francisco 49ers coach George Seifert on Thursday morning to discuss the Cowboys' vacant head coaching position, a source said Wednesday.

The source said the meeting will involve Seifert, Jones and Cowboys director of pro and college scouting Larry Lacewell. The meeting originally was scheduled for Wednesday, but was postponed because of scheduling conflicts.

Jones declined to comment on the meeting with Seifert, but did say he will interview Green Bay offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis for the Cowboys' coaching job.

That means Jones will not hire a coach until after Sunday's Super Bowl. NFL rules prohibit Jones from talking to members of the Broncos or Packers coaching staffs until their seasons have ended.

Jones said his decision to interview Lewis has nothing to do with criticism in published reports that black assistant coaches are upset Lewis has not been interviewed.

Several black assistants were quoted Wednesday in a New York Times story that said they were considering filing a class action lawsuit against the league because blacks are not getting opportunities to be head coaches.

"It has been my intent all along to visit with him," Jones said. "I would point out what happened in Green Bay this season as a logical reason for why I would want to talk to him."

Lewis, 55, became Green Bay's offensive coordinator in 1992 after nine years as an assistant at San Francisco. Before that, he spent 14 seasons at his alma mater, Michigan State, serving as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator his final three years (1980-82).

Under Lewis' direction, Green Bay increased its points production every year from 1992-96. In 1996, the Packers scored 456 points, the first time they led the league in scoring since 1962.

"I can't say I expect to hear from him," said Lewis on Wednesday afternoon. "But I hope to. I heard he had a list of three candidates, and, hopefully, I'm one of the three. But to say I expect to be interviewed is presumptuous."

Jones suggested Lewis would be a good fit for the Cowboys because of the way he has meshed with Green Bay coach Mike Holmgren. In Green Bay, Holmgren calls the play and formulates much of the game plan, although Lewis is the coordinator.

"Sherman has shown he can work in all systems," Jones said. "Our structure, the way we go about things, has shown me he is capable of working with me."

Meanwhile, in Minnesota, Vikings offensive coordinator Brian Billick met with team president Roger Headrick to discuss his future. Billick refused to say whether he would resign, saying only he was certain he would be coaching in 1998.

Last Wednesday, Headrick denied Jones permission to talk to Billick about being the Cowboys' offensive coordinator. Billick is pushing for a contract extension in Minnesota.

Ray Anderson, Billick's agent, said Wednesday that Billick might resign if he doesn't get an extension.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

(c) 1998, The Dallas Morning News.

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