Carolina to Introduce Seifert as Its Coach to Replace Capers

George Seifert, who has the best winning percentage of any coach in NFL history, will be named coach today of the Carolina Panthers.

Seifert, 58, who has been out of coaching since he left the San Francisco 49ers after the 1996 season, is to get a multiyear deal with Carolina worth about $2 million a season. Seifert will also have a leading role in the team’s player personnel moves.

He replaces Dom Capers, who was fired last Monday after a 4-12 season.

Seifert, who won 75.5% of his games (108-35) with the 49ers from 1989-96, likely would find part of his new staff already waiting for him. Richardson said last week he wants to retain three of Capers’ assistants--offensive coordinator Gil Haskell, tight ends coach Don Breaux and wide receivers coach Richard Williamson.

Several newspapers have reported that Ray Rhodes, fired last Monday as Philadelphia coach, could become Seifert’s defensive coordinator if he is unable to find another head coaching job.

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Wide receiver Randy Moss of the Minnesota Vikings was a landslide winner of the Associated Press’ NFL offensive rookie of the year award. Moss, who led the NFL with 17 touchdown receptions and averaged 19 yards a catch, received 44 votes from a nationwide panel of 47 sportswriters and broadcasters.

Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning got two votes. The other vote went to Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor.

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Already without injured defensive end Jason Taylor, the Miami Dolphins learned they will be without Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tim Bowens for the rest of the playoffs.

Bowens underwent surgery Sunday morning to repair a tear of his right biceps tendon. He suffered the injury in the third quarter of Saturday’s 24-17 victory over Buffalo.

Although Miami’s defense gave up the fewest points in the NFL, Bowens was its only member named to the Pro Bowl.

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Mark Pike, one of the Buffalo Bills’ four remaining players from the team’s Super Bowl years, has retired.

Pike, a special-teams standout, played his entire 13-year career with the Bills.

Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas and Bruce Smith are the only players left on the team who played in Buffalo’s four consecutive Super Bowls losses from 1990-93.