Ex-Redskin Casserly Gets Houston Job

Charley Casserly, who won three Super Bowls during 22 years with the Washington Redskins, was picked Wednesday as general manager and executive vice president of Houston’s NFL expansion team.

“This is not an on-the-job training program. We want people with a track record and success at this level,” owner Bob McNair said in Houston. “We did not interview a lot of people but we looked a lot.

“The overwhelming response was that Charley demands respect in the NFL and that is what we were seeking.”

McNair declined to give terms of Casserly’s contract, other than to say it was a multiyear deal. Houston’s NFL team is scheduled to begin playing in 2002.

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The Redskins were close to completing a deal to hire Minnesota Viking defensive coordinator Foge Fazio and former Green Bay Packer coach Ray Rhodes, ESPN reported.

ESPN said Rhodes would become defensive coordinator, while Fazio would become linebackers coach.

Former defensive coordinator Mike Nolan quit after a season of criticism by new owner Daniel Snyder. The Redskins also fired defensive backs coach Tom Hayes, and defensive line coach Earl Leggett retired after a 24-year NFL coaching career.

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The St. Louis Rams have told Nick Lowery, 43, that he will be their kicker in the NFC championship game if Jeff Wilkins (tendinitis in his non-kicking leg) can’t play. . . . The Vikings fired inside linebackers coach Tom Olivadotti. . . . Packer receivers Antonio Freeman and Charles Jordan pleaded innocent in Green Bay, Wis., to misdemeanor obstruction for allegedly lying to police that Freeman was not driving when a car crashed and injured a woman Dec. 22. . . . San Francisco 49er defensive tackle Bryant Young will have a rod removed from his right leg Feb. 1.