PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Wyche Reportedly Agrees to Coach the Buccaneers

Former Cincinnati Bengal coach Sam Wyche will be named coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today, according to broadcast reports Thursday night.

Cincinnati stations WCPO-TV, WKRC-TV and WLWT-TV all reported that Wyche had been offered the job and had accepted. But they also said that Wyche refused to confirm the reports.

Earlier Thursday, the Buccaneers denied that an offer had been made.

Wyche, who was head coach of the Bengals for eight years, left the team Dec. 24 after meeting with General Manager Mike Brown. Wyche said he was fired after a 3-13 season, but Brown said Wyche quit.

Wyche had interviewed with Buccaneer owner Hugh Culverhouse and acknowledged an interest in the job. But Culverhouse also had talked with Buddy Ryan, Floyd Peters and Mike Holmgren, as well as Bill Parcells.

The agent for Holmgren, the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator, said that the Green Bay Packers had made a contract offer to his client to coach the team. “We have a firm contract offer from the Green Bay Packers,” Bob LaMonte said. But he added: “It’s far from a done deal.”

LaMonte wouldn’t say if Holmgren, who has talked to at least four other teams about their coaching vacancies, had any other offers. LaMonte wouldn’t offer a guess on whether the Packers and Holmgren could reach an agreement in the next couple of days. “That’s a tough call really,” he said. “I would say if there is any place it could get done in a week rather than a month, it would be here.”

Washington defensive coordinator Richie Petitbon is also interested in coaching the Packers and hopes the team will wait to interview him. Redskin General Manager Charley Casserly said he would deny permission for any of his assistant coaches to be interviewed until after the team’s final game. “I believe if somebody is interested, they should wait,” Petitbon told the Milwaukee Journal. “For the life of me, I can’t understand what the hurry is.”

Al Davis and Bill Walsh, each of whom built three Super Bowl championship teams, and Bud Grant, who won about everything but a Super Bowl, are among 15 finalists announced for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Other finalists are cornerback Lem Barney, defensive end Carl Eller, offensive linemen Bob Brown, Dan Dierdorf and Tom Mack, running backs John Riggins and Willie Galimore, punter Ray Guy, wide receivers Charlie Joiner and Lynn Swann, tight end John Mackey and New York Giant owner Wellington Mara.

The inductees will be announced Jan. 25.

Keith Kartz, the Denver Broncos’ starting center, didn’t practice again because of a strained thigh muscle, but wide receiver Mark Jackson moved closer to being activated.

Jackson, who suffered what was diagnosed as a season-ending dislocated right wrist Nov. 24 but made a quick recovery, looked impressive for the second consecutive day in drills.

“I don’t think there’s any question that he’ll be ready,” Coach Dan Reeves said of Jackson.

Minnesota Viking running back Herschel Walker was added to the Ottawa Rough Riders’ negotiation list, and the Canadian Football League team’s owner says a big effort will be made to sign him. . . . Detroit Lion running back Barry Sanders and Coach Wayne Fontes won the Maxwell Football Club’s NFL player and coach of the year honors.