Friday, January 23, 1998

Jones interviews Seifert, plans to meet with Lewis

By Josie Karp and Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

SAN DIEGO - Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' search for a coach intensified Thursday when he interviewed former San Francisco coach George Seifert for about three hours.

Afterward, Jones said the search will continue throughout the weekend here at the site of Super Bowl XXXII, with plans to interview Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis on Sunday or Monday.

That means any decision on which candidate - former UCLA coach Terry Donahue, Seifert, Lewis, or even University of Miami coach Butch Davis or Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak - won't be made until after the Super Bowl.

"I do intend to interview Sherman and wouldn't if I'd already decided on a coach," Jones said Thursday.

Jones has confirmed only that Donahue, who interviewed this week in Dallas, and Seifert have had formal meetings with the owner about the job.

Discussions with Seifert could continue through the weekend, Jones said. But Jones and Seifert expressed satisfaction with the first face-to-face discussion.

"We really had a good visit," Jones said. "We all are familiar with his coaching record and his skills, and we've got some things there that could make some good times. We talked about personnel, or staff. We tried to roll it forward a little bit and see how it might work if we joined up. It was a good meeting."

Said Seifert: "There is only one heaven. The Cowboys are one of the premier franchises in all of sports. From that standpoint, anybody is going to be interested in visiting with them."

How Jones' heavy-handed ownership technique would impact Seifert has been questioned. Jones asserted that it would not be a problem.

"I can speak for him in this case, and that wouldn't be an issue," Jones said. "Certainly, there is no question about our ability to work together."

As he left the meeting at a San Diego area hotel Thursday afternoon, Seifert commented on his interest in coaching the Cowboys.

"I like the enthusiasm of the owner and what he wants to do as far as trying to win," said Seifert, who called Thursday's meeting a preliminary discussion. "Jerry is an exciting owner. He's done an excellent job with the franchise. Of course there is interest, any time you are a coach and a position like that is available."

Seifert said Jones did not make an offer and offered no timetable for when a decision will be made.

"He doesn't have timetable, nor do I," Seifert said. "I think there are a number of outstanding candidates that he's interested in visiting with. I think, obviously, he's got to pick the man that he thinks will best suit the situation there in Dallas, which has one of the great traditions in football."

The decision will probably come Monday at the earliest, after Jones interviews Lewis, who said Thursday that he welcomes the opportunity to talk to the Cowboys owner. According to NFL rules, Jones cannot formally request permission to talk to Lewis until after Super Bowl XXXII.

"I would like to coach in the NFL - a head-coaching job," Lewis said. "The Cowboys are a great team. If you are going to coach in the league, you'll like to start with a team that's got some good people. They've got as good players as anybody in the league, no question."

Jones emphasized that he wants to interview Lewis based on his sterling credentials, not because the NFL might be pressuring him to interview an African-American. There are three black coaches in the NFL - Dennis Green of Minnesota, Tony Dungy of Tampa Bay and Ray Rhodes of Philadelphia.

"If you look at what Green Bay did to us this year, that ought to be reason enough to be interviewing Sherman," Jones said.

Lewis said he is interested in talking about details concerning how much input the Cowboys coach has in all aspects of team control.

"I would have some questions about chain of command, who makes what decisions - whether it's personnel, practice or travel," Lewis said. "I think that's something you put on the table and discuss. Either it's acceptable for both or not."

Kubiak, meanwhile, said he is interested in any head-coaching opportunities but will not interview to be offensive coordinator.

"I already have the best offensive coordinator job in the NFL," Kubiak said.

Jones said last week that he wants to interview Kubiak, but has not mentioned the Denver offensive coordinator as a candidate this week. He also inquired about the availability of Minnesota offensive coordinator Brian Billick last week, when Jones was denied permission to talk to Billick, who the Vikings labeled a supervisory coach eligible to talk only about head-coaching positions.

Billick resigned Thursday as Vikings offensive coordinator. The New York Times reported in Friday's editions that Billick is expected to sign a three-year, $1.2 million contract to become the Cowboys' offensive coordinator.

However, Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said last night, "That's not true. We haven't talked to Brian Billick. We don't have permission to talk to Brian Billick."

Said Jerry Jones of the report: " It is absolutely unfounded."

Stephen Jones said that although Billick has resigned, it's subject to the terms of his contract that teams interested in interviewing him must have permission. Vikings president Roger Headrick said Thursday that because Billick had a contract for next season, he would consider filing tampering charges against any team trying to employ him.

"We may ask Roger Headrick for permission again," Stephen Jones said. "But as of right now, we don't have it."

Jerry Jones said he maintains interest in Davis, the former Cowboys defensive coordinator who left for University of Miami after the 1994 season.

"He's someone that I would have an interest in, because of our background together and his contribution to our success and the great job he's doing down there in Miami," Jones said. "He's someone that, yes, I have thought about."

Jones indicated he might have had discussions with Davis about the job.

"I'm not going to get into whether I have or whether I haven't," Jones said. "It's possible."

The rest of his weekend will not be limited to a search for coach, Jones said.

Jones said he might interview offensive coordinator candidates and, a source said, Jones has requested permission from at least one NFL team to interview a potential replacement for running backs coach Joe Brodsky.

Jones would not comment.

One person Jones will continue to speak with is Seifert.

"We'll probably touch base two or three times over the next several days," Jones said.

(c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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