Rams Pay a Visit to Knox in Their Search for a Coach

With the NFL head coaching scramble getting ever more frantic, the Rams made official their interest in Chuck Knox with a visit to his Palm Springs condominium this past weekend, according to sources close to Knox.

Knox, who resigned last week after nine seasons in Seattle and had won five division titles for the Rams in the 1970s, apparently will talk with representatives from the Green Bay Packers today or Tuesday in Palm Springs, and perhaps more teams later.

The 59-year-old Knox, along with former Philadelphia Eagles Coach Buddy Ryan, is one of the top candidates to replace former Ram Coach John Robinson, who resigned at the end of the season.

Although it is not clear whether the Knox discussions over the weekend took the form of an interview or whether they were attended by John Shaw, the Rams’ executive vice president, Knox is the first person the team has made official contact with so far to fill its void.

But the pace may quicken with Ryan, who popped back into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ picture when former New York Giants Coach Bill Parcells declined a five-year, $6.5-million deal to run their franchise. Parcells is expected to meet with the Green Bay Packers sometime this week.

With Parcells out, Tampa Bay reportedly is leaning toward Jerry Vainisi, one of the few men Ryan acknowledges he could share power with, as its general manager, and letting Vainisi choose his coach.

Ryan and Vainisi worked together when both were with the Chicago Bears and have remained friendly through the years.

Parcells’ decision could also move San Francisco 49er offensive coordinator Mike Holmgren from the Rams’ list to the top of the Buccaneers’.

Holmgren, who has a contract that forces him to get approval from the 49ers before interviewing or accepting a head coaching job with another team, is much more likely to be allowed to go to Tampa than to the division-rival Rams.