Coury to Leave Rams for Job With Patriots

Dick Coury, the Ram quarterbacks coach, is expected to be named the New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator today, ending five seasons of work with Jim Everett.

Coury, 61, was offered a multiyear deal Monday by Sam Jankovich, the Patriots’ chief executive officer.

The Patriots announced that they would have a news conference today, naming the new offensive coordinator, making it clear that Jankovich assumed it was a done deal.

“I think those assumptions are right,” Coury said Monday afternoon from his office at Rams Park. “I can’t say much about it, but I’ve basically been offered the job and I’ve basically taken it.”

Coury said he discussed the situation with Ram Coach John Robinson on Sunday, and Robinson conceded that it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Coury said he does not expect Robinson to hire anybody to replace him, because offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese does most of the game planning with Everett, anyway.

“He wants me to stay, but he knows I just can’t turn it down,” Coury said of Robinson.

Coury said he will especially miss working with Everett, whom he coached from Everett’s first day as a Ram.

“My deal with Jim is fundamentals as much as anything, and I’ve enjoyed it, especially that first year he was here when we worked a lot, I was on the field with him a lot,” Coury said.

Recently, Coury had been working more with John Shaw, Ram executive vice president, doing administrative work, and Coury conceded he wanted to do more coaching.

Ram receivers coach Norval Turner has emerged as a candidate to become the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive coordinator.

The Cowboys have already been turned down by Miami quarterbacks coach Gary Stevens and San Diego assistant head coach Ted Tollner, who was denied permission to talk with the Cowboys.

Coach Jimmy Johnson interviewed Turner in Mobile, Ala., last week during the Senior Bowl workouts.