Packers Reportedly Set to Hire Sherman

Mike Sherman, the Seattle Seahawk offensive coordinator and a former Green Bay Packer assistant, will be hired as the new coach of the Packers, a team source told the Associated Press on Monday. Sherman probably will be introduced at a news conference today, the source said.

Sherman spent two years as Green Bay’s tight ends coach before moving to Seattle with Mike Holmgren last January, where he doubled as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach.

Sherman and his agent were on their way to Green Bay on Monday night.

A longtime college assistant with only three years of NFL experience, Sherman suddenly emerged as Packer General Manager Ron Wolf’s choice when former Kansas City Chief coach Marty Schottenheimer and St. Louis Ram offensive coordinator Mike Martz took themselves out of the running. Martz signed a two-year extension with the Rams on Monday.

Wolf fired Ray Rhodes and his staff Jan. 3 after the Packers completed a mediocre 8-8 season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1992.

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Nick Lowery, who is 43 and last kicked in the NFL in 1996, is among the possible replacements being considered for Ram kicker Jeff Wilkins. Wilkins, hampered by tendinitis in his left knee since midseason, missed a 42-yard field-goal attempt in Sunday’s 49-37 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. . . . Two days after his bad snap cost the Washington Redskins a chance to kick a winning field goal in a playoff loss to the Buccaneers, long snapper Dan Turk was a no-show at the end-of-season players’ meeting. His brother, punter Matt Turk, left early and said he wanted to be cut because he has been treated poorly by the organization. . . . San Diego quarterback Ryan Leaf had arthroscopic surgery to clean out his right shoulder and should be ready for mini-camp in April. . . . Miami guard Kevin Gogan underwent surgery to remove cartilage and repair a nerve problem in his right elbow.