Redskins Get New Assistant: Rhodes

Ray Rhodes just wants to coach football, even if it means a demotion. Rhodes, fired two weeks ago as coach of the Green Bay Packers, signed a two-year contract Monday to become defensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins.

“The last couple of years, I’ve wanted to get more of a hands-on approach,” Rhodes said. “I wanted to get back into coaching the defensive side of the football.”

The Packers were 8-8 in Rhodes’ only season and missed the playoffs.

Whether Rhodes could have been a serious candidate for any of the current NFL head coaching vacancies is debatable, but he took himself out of the running.

Rhodes, 49, will have plenty of authority with the Redskins. Coach Norv Turner’s specialty is offense, and he gives his defensive coordinator a great degree of autonomy.

The Redskins also hired Foge Fazio as linebackers coach. Fazio, 60, is also moving down the ranks, having resigned last week as defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings.

Fazio said he had no hard feelings toward Viking Coach Dennis Green, who this month fired linebackers coach Tom Olivadotti without telling Fazio. Fazio cited personal reasons for his move.

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As expected, Al Groh, a Bill Parcells pal for more than 30 years, replaced Parcells as coach of the New York Jets. Groh signed a four-year contract worth a reported $3.2 million with new owner Robert Johnson IV, who bought the Jets this month from the estate of Leon Hess for $635 million.

“I’m going to act in a support role, as a consultant to Al, a supporter and advisor,” Parcells said. “We are committed to him. He’s smart and tough and has the ability to stay focused. He will do a good job.”

In other Jet news, Bill Belichick sued the NFL, seeking a temporary restraining order that would allow him to negotiate with other teams.

A hearing in Newark, N.J., was scheduled for today.

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Denver Bronco wide receiver Rod Smith was arrested in Castle Rock, Colo., on charges of third-degree assault and harassment after an altercation last week with his common-law wife, authorities said. . . . Atlanta Falcon Coach Dan Reeves, shaking up his staff after a 5-11 season, fired quarterback coach Steve DeBerg. DeBerg held the job for only one season. Also, Atlanta offensive line coach Art Shell received permission to interview for the vacant coaching job in New Orleans. . . . Bronco offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak interviewed for the Saints’ vacant coaching position, and the Saints received permission to talk to Jacksonville Jaguar defensive coordinator Dom Capers. The New England Patriots also received permission to talk to Capers.

Kansas City Chief Coach Gunther Cunningham hired old friend and colleague Willie Shaw to be the team’s new linebackers coach. . . . Miami Dolphin Coach Dave Wannstedt hired former Dallas Cowboy assistant Jim Bates as offensive coordinator and Clarence Brooks as defensive line coach, a position he held with the Cleveland Browns last season. . . . The Tennessee Titans’ 33-14 victory over the Jaguars in the AFC championship game got a 24.2 rating and 47 share on CBS, Nielsen Media Research said. That’s down 6% from the 26.1 rating and 52 share for the Falcons’ 30-27 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Fox, which was the early game last year. The St. Louis Rams’ 11-6 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC championship game got a 27.9 rating and 46 share on Fox, up 3% from the 27.2 rating and 47 share for the Broncos’ 23-10 win on CBS in the same time slot last year.