Jets Hire Dick Steinberg as GM; Patriots Threaten Legal Action

Dick Steinberg, former director of player personnel for the Rams who later helped build the New England Patriots into a Super Bowl team, was hired as general manager of the New York Jets Monday amid threats of legal action by the Patriots.

Steinberg, 54, accepted a contract estimated at five years for nearly $3.25 million to become the Jets’ first general manager in 15 years.

Patriot General Manager Pat Sullivan, interviewed on WBZ-TV in Boston, said director of college scouting Joe Mendez was appointed to replace Steinberg and that the team was going to take legal action over the way the Steinberg matter was conducted.

Sullivan said the Patriots would seek compensation of some kind, maybe in a trade or monetary form. “We basically felt there are provisions in this contract . . . that were violated,” Sullivan said.

The Jets are 4-11, their worst record in seven seasons under Coach Joe Walton.

Although Steinberg’s role with the Patriots had not changed under new owner Victor Kiam, he did not have the power there he will have with the Jets.

Steinberg, the director of player development for the Patriots, has disagreed with Kiam, General Manager Patrick Sullivan and Coach Raymond Berry on some recent personnel moves, including the waiving of quarterback Tony Eason, who started for the Jets Sunday.