New Jet Owner Says Coaching Situation to Be Settled Soon

Robert Wood Johnson IV, unanimously approved Tuesday by the NFL as the new owner of the New York Jets, promises his team will have a coach in place by the end of the week.

Bill Parcells resigned after three years on the job Jan. 3, turning the team over to defensive coordinator Bill Belichick. A day later, Belichick bailed out, reportedly influenced by better opportunities elsewhere. That threw the Jets’ sideline situation into turmoil.

There has since been speculation that Parcells might return.

“I’ve met with or talked with Bill Parcells every day,” the new owner said. “He’s a very unusual man who brought a life to this team not seen since the Joe Namath era. We have had discussions and talked about what he wants to do. Those discussions are continuing.”

Not for long, though. Johnson promised he would not allow the issue to linger.

“We’re looking at his role,” he said of Parcells. “I think he’d be a great coach. We hope he’ll play a large role. No decision has been made. We’ll have one by the end of the week. I guarantee we will know by the end of the week.”

If Parcells decides to remain retired, Johnson said he would not limit his search for a coach to the Jets’ current staff of assistants, which no longer includes Belichick, who had been the heir apparent. Linebacker coach Al Groh has been mentioned as the main candidate within the organization.

Asked about reports that he had offered Parcells $5 million to return for one more year, Johnson smiled thinly and said, “I don’t remember making such an offer.”

One matter already settled is the status of Steve Gutman, who has agreed to remain as president of the team. Gutman handled much of the day-to-day operation of the franchise for owner Leon Hess, who died last May.

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Mike Sherman, named the Green Bay Packers’ new coach, said he needed less than five hours to persuade General Manager Ron Wolf to risk the Packers’ future on another untested coach.

Sherman, who at one time was UCLA’s offensive line coach, replaces Ray Rhodes, who was fired two weeks ago after one 8-8 season.

Sherman, who has only three years of NFL experience, spoke with Wolf for 4 1/2 hours in Wolf’s office at Lambeau Field on Saturday. By Sunday morning, Wolf had made up his mind.

“I knew that for all intents and purposes, the search was over,” Wolf said. “I went home and thought about it that night. I told my wife that if I really and truly had any guts, I would go sign Mike Sherman right on the spot.”

Sherman was the Packers’ tight end coach for two seasons before following Holmgren to Seattle, where he was offensive coordinator this season. Green Bay was his first NFL stop after 16 seasons as a college assistant, most recently at Texas A&M; and UCLA.

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Charley Casserly, who won three Super Bowl rings during 22 years as general manager with the Washington Redskins, could be hired as vice president of football operations for Houston’s NFL expansion team as early as today.

Citing league sources and people close to franchise owner Bob McNair, the Houston Chronicle and Fox Sports Net reported Casserly was working out a contract with McNair and executive vice president Steve Patterson.

McNair told Houston television station KRIV on Tuesday night, “I’ve seen a lot of deals which people thought they had an agreement blow up. . . . We have not consummated a deal.

Casserly, forced out by Redskin owner Daniel Snyder before the start of this season, had been general manager in Washington since 1989. He started with the team as an unpaid intern in 1977.

Casserly also was considered a candidate for jobs with the New Orleans Saints and Jets.

The Chronicle, quoting what it called a league source, said Pittsburgh couldn’t get Casserly to interview for the job left open when Tom Donahoe resigned.

Houston’s team is scheduled to begin play in 2002.