Robinson Is Hired by Chiefs

Greg Robinson, who spent the last six seasons as defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, will fill the same job for the Kansas City Chiefs.

New Coach Dick Vermeil hired Robinson to replace Kurt Schottenheimer, who was dismissed along with most of Gunther Cunningham’s staff earlier this month.

Vermeil also said he still wants Al Saunders as his offensive coordinator but is awaiting permission from the St. Louis Rams to speak with him.

During three of Robinson’s seasons in Denver, the Broncos ranked in the NFL’s top 10 in total defense.

Robinson said he would like to maintain the aggressive man-to-man pass coverage that has been the hallmark of the Chiefs.

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Miami Dolphin Coach Dave Wannstedt filled two coaching vacancies, hiring Tony Wise for the offensive line and Keith Armstrong for special teams.

Both men are longtime friends of Wannstedt.

Wise, who coached for the Carolina Panthers the last two seasons, worked with Wannstedt for six years in Chicago and was assistant head coach there from 1995-98.

Wise also worked with Wannstedt and former Dolphin coach Jimmy Johnson at the universities of Pittsburgh and Miami.

Armstrong, Chicago’s special teams coach the last four years, coached in Atlanta in 1994 with Jim Bates, now the Dolphin defensive coordinator. Armstrong coached under Miami tight ends coach Pat Jones from 1990-92, when Jones was head coach at Oklahoma State.

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The Minnesota Vikings overcame wholesale changes on their coaching staff, offensive line and at quarterback.

Now, the team’s defensive problems that were exposed in the Vikings’ 41-0 loss to New York Giants in the NFC championship game Sunday may prompt another overhaul.

In what promises to be an eventful off-season, the Vikings could lose Robert Smith to free agency and Cris Carter to retirement. Randy Moss expressed doubts about his future as a Viking, puncturing the organization’s hopes for locking him up to a long-term deal before he becomes a free agent after the 2001 season.

Coach Dennis Green also must trim about $20 million from the roster to get under the salary cap.

“There’s going to be some changes made,” free safety Robert Griffith said.

“There’s no way to get around that, playing defensively the way we did.”