Friday, January 9, 1998

Source says Switzer out as Cowboys coach

By DENNE H. FREEMAN AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) - Barry Switzer is paying the price for the Dallas Cowboys' 6-10 season.

Switzer, 61, has reached an agreement with team owner Jerry Jones to step down as coach, a source within the organization told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The team scheduled a news conference for 1:30 p.m. EST today regarding the coaching situation. Jones was flying back from New York to attend.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Switzer and Jones came to the agreement this week. It was not clear whether Switzer will remain with the team as a consultant.

He still has at least two years left on a contract at $1 million per year, and he recently bought a home in the area and owns a restaurant.

Switzer took most of the blame for the Cowboys' failure to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years, although he brought them a Super Bowl title just two years ago.

Jones was not immediately available for comment because he was in New York for NFL meetings, and Switzer did not answer his home telephone.

Sources told The Daily Oklahoman on Thursday in a copyright story that Switzer and Jones have reached a pact regarding the remaining years on his contract.

Switzer, who replaced Jimmy Johnson four years ago, had said that he would not stand in the way if Jones - a longtime friend - is eager to make a change.

The fact that Switzer was not present for a major news conference earlier this week when Jones announced the signing of offensive lineman Larry Allen to a six-year contract was a signal that Jones' good friend was no longer a member of the inner circle.

Another indication that Switzer wasn't coming back was when quarterback Troy Aikman, who complained openly about a lack of discipline on the team this year, announced before the regular season ended that would come back in 1998.

Critics of Switzer pointed out that Aikman wouldn't have made such a statement unless he knew that Switzer's fate was sealed.

Fullback Daryl Johnston was interviewed last week and said one of the reasons the team collapsed this year was because of lax discipline, such as Switzer allowing players to report late for practice.

Switzer himself even said after the Cowboys' final game, "I told Jerry he ought to fire the whole damn bunch of us."

Jones, however, didn't take Switzer's advice. Instead, he came to an agreement with Switzer much as he did with Johnson, who got a $2 million goodbye package and thanks for winning two Super Bowl rings.

Switzer leaves with one Super Bowl ring in his four-year stint with the team and a record of 40-24. However, the Cowboys were 17-17 in Switzer's last two years.

Candidates to replace Switzer include George Seifert, who left the San Francisco 49ers under strained circumstances a year ago.

Seifert's contract with the 49ers expires in early February, and Jones said this week he wasn't going to do anything about the Cowboys' coaching situation until February.

Other possible hires include Terry Donahue, former UCLA coach; Jon Gruden, offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles; and perhaps even someone from Switzer's own staff such as defensive coordinator Dave Campo.

Jones has said he plans to do some coaching himself next year, and the new candidate would have to accept having Jones looking over his shoulder. In fact, Jones has already drawn up plans for a 3-4 defense and other items he thinks might help get the Cowboys back into playoff contention.

The Cowboys had been in the playoffs six consecutive seasons before this season's power failure, when the offense came apart from failure to score inside the 20 and constant mental mistakes and penalties.

Campo's defense was the second-best in the NFL.

Also in danger is offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese, who was criticized for many of his calls and Dallas' failure to score from in close.

Jones has refused to say which of Switzer's assistants he is keeping, although he has already secretly signed contracts with several of them.

Switzer embarrassed Jones in August by getting arrested for carrying a loaded pistol in his luggage at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Jones, who wanted to show that he was serious about improving the Cowboys' tarnished image fined Switzer $75,000 - the largest ever imposed on an NFL coach. Switzer also ended up pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, with a judge ordering him to pay a $3,500 fine and perform 80 hours of community service.

The Cowboys, apparently taking their cue from Switzer, played without discipline the entire season save for a 37-7 victory over Pittsburgh in the opener.

Switzer, head coach at Oklahoma from 1973 until he left the program in disgrace in 1988, said before this season that he felt the pressure to make the Cowboys champions again.

"The goals are always the same here," he said then. "We're going to be the measured by one thing in Dallas, and that's winning championships. The more success you have, the more people expect of you."