Knox Apparently in Driver’s Seat for Ram Job : Pro football: Though scheduled to interview with Colts and, maybe, with Packers, sources say L.A. is his top choice.
Faced with deciding between the volatile Buddy Ryan and the stable Chuck Knox to fill their vacant coaching spot, a wave of negative comments about Ryan and a successful interview with Knox apparently have moved the Rams to the brink of offering Knox the job, possibly as soon as next week.
Although Knox has an interview scheduled with the Indianapolis Colts Friday and is waiting to hear from the Green Bay Packers and other teams, a few of his former Seattle assistants told associates Tuesday that the Rams were his first choice.
Ken Meyer, quarterback coach under Knox in Seattle, reportedly has told another NFL head-coaching prospect that he will accompany Knox to the Rams, with whom Knox won five division titles in an earlier five-year run with the Rams during the 1970s.
Knox, 59, reached at his Palm Springs home Tuesday evening, was given the chance to dismiss reports that he is about to rejoin the Rams. He did not, although he emphasized that he did not want to imply anything.
“I’m not really saying anything at this point,” Knox said. “I’m just hoping to get things resolved possibly within the next week or so.”
The Rams, realizing that Knox has not committed to them, are planning to interview Mike Holmgren, the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator, Thursday in Los Angeles.
But since Saturday, when Ram Executive Vice President John Shaw met and was impressed with Knox in Palm Springs, and after the Rams began receiving calls from others in the NFL arguing that Ryan does not deserve a chance to coach again, every sign has pointed to Knox coming to the Rams.
Knox resigned from the Seattle Seahawks last week after nine years as coach. He left the Rams following the 1977 season, despite a 54-15 record, after repeated run-ins with then-owner Carroll Rosenbloom.
Ram owner Georgia Frontiere, who has always respected Knox despite his problems with her late husband, is expected to meet with Knox soon.
As for Ryan, Chicago Bear Coach Mike Ditka said he was not one of those attacking his former assistant coach.
Ditka said he gave the former coach of the Philadelphia Eagles a thumbs-up when Shaw asked his opinion.
“I couldn’t say anything bad,” Ditka told reporters in Chicago this week. “If that’s what they want--as long as they know what they’re getting. They’re getting a good football man, there’s no question about that.
“The Rams haven’t been a tough, hard-nosed football team for a lot of years, and they certainly would be a tough, hard-nosed football team with Buddy coaching.”