Switzer In Solid With Cowboys
Dismiss the rumors Barry Switzer is in his last year as coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Look for him to be around well into the next century.
“Rubbish,” is what owner Jerry Jones called reports of Switzer being a goner.
“Barry Switzer is more vital today than he was when he got here three years ago,” Jones said Tuesday. “I think of Barry Switzer coaching the Cowboys 10 years from now. He is my coach and my only coach for a long time to come.”
Jones fueled the rumors himself when he said wasn’t adding another year to Switzer’s five-year rollover contract. Instead, he was just letting it run. Jones admitted that was a mistake from a perception standpoint.
“I’m not talking about rollovers,” Jones said. “I’m not biting that cheese any more… . (The rollovers) are not appropriate for how I feel about Barry as a coach. He is more strongly entrenched than ever since he got here. He’s longer and stronger.”
Jaeger signs with Bears
The Chicago Bears have signed kicker Jeff Jaeger to a one-year contract to replace Carlos Huerta.
Bears spokesman Bryan Harlan confirmed that Jaeger had signed, but would not comment on the terms.
The 31-year-old Jaeger, who played in college for the Washington Huskies, has 742 points in eight seasons, making 166 of 226 field goals (73.5 percent).
He made the Pro Bowl in 1991, when he scored 116 points, and led the NFL with 132 points two years later. Oakland decided this preseason to go with Cole Ford, who was 8-of-9 while an injured Jaeger missed five games last season.
Mora gets vote of confidence
The New Orleans Saints are 0-3, yet owner Tom Benson remains convinced the season can be turned around and Jim Mora is the man to do it.
“Right now, the coach is the coach and the players are the players,” Benson said Tuesday. “We’re not going to change our quarterback, we’re not going to change our coach and we’re not going to change the owner.”
In January, Benson kept Mora for the final year of his contract after the Saints posted a second-consecutive 7-9 record, their third consecutive non-winning season.
NFL downplays CFL talks
Montreal Alouettes owner Jim Speros has met three times with a senior NFL official in recent weeks to discuss some type of investment in the CFL starting next season.
The NFL says it’s nothing more than the kind of routine talks they have with many suitors.
Speros said he has held talks with Roger Goodell, an NFL senior vice-president whose duties include overseeing the World League of American Football.