Giants Give Fassel Chance To Revive Team
Quarterback guru Jim Fassel was named the New York Giants coach on Wednesday, accepting the job of reviving the NFL’s worst offense and developing Dave Brown into a bonafide quarterback.
Fassel, 47, takes over a team that has missed the playoffs the last three seasons and that has made the postseason only once since Bill Parcells resigned after the Super Bowl victory in January 1991.
A Giants assistant under Ray Handley in 1991 and ‘92, Fassel was given a four-year, $3.2 million contract to replace Dan Reeves, who was fired on Dec. 23 after New York (6-10) posted its second straight losing season.
“When I left here four years ago, there was something inside of me that I had a very good feeling about this organization, there was a lot of work that I felt was left to be done,” said Fassel, who was the Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator last season. “I had a feeling that I wanted to come back here.”
Fassel immediately named Brown as his starting quarterback in training camp. The choice of Brown over second-year pro Danny Kanell clearly avoided a quarterback controversy, something that plagued Handley during most of his tenure.
“In my determination, right now Dave Brown is the one closest to being ready to play,” Fassel said. “He has more experience in the game. I don’t see any … technical or physical flaws.”
Fassel has been the leading contender since general manager George Young began his search, with the only serious challenge coming from Michigan State coach Nick Saban.
However, Saban’s salary demands pushed him out of the picture over the weekend.
Fassel’s work with quarterbacks is well-documented. A former quarterback, he recruited John Elway to Stanford, helped Scott Mitchell set NCAA records at Utah and, after leaving the Giants, worked well with Elway, Jeff Hostetler, Boomer Esiason and Kent Graham while working at Denver, Oakland and Arizona the past four years, respectively.
Falcons, Reeves close
Dan Reeves appears to be the choice for the Atlanta Falcons coaching job, with only the final details on a contract remaining to be negotiated, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Team officials said no announcement is expected until Friday or later.
Bobby Ross wasted little time in organizing a staff.
Two days after being named coach of the Detroit Lions, Ross named Sylvester Croom offensive coordinator, Larry Peccatiello defensive coordinator and seven other assistants.
Croom had worked with Ross the past five seasons in San Diego, serving as the running backs coach for the Chargers. He also had been the running backs coach for the Indianapolis Colts in 1991 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for four seasons before that.
Also following Ross from San Diego are defensive line coach Brian Baker, who played for Ross at Maryland and coached for him at Georgia Tech; Dennis Murphy, who will serve as coach of quality control-defense; running backs coach Frank Falks, who coached tight ends and H-backs for the Chargers; wide receivers coach Jerry Sullivan; John Misciagna, quality control-offense and administrative assistant; and special teams coach Chuck Priefer.
Smith has ankle surgery
A year ago, the Dallas Cowboys were preparing for the Super Bowl. Now, they are preparing for or undergoing surgeries, including a successful removal of bone spurs from running back Emmitt Smith’s right ankle.
Today, it will be cornerback Deion Sanders’ turn as a surgeon repairs the damage to his right orbital bone which occurred when he was tackled during the Cowboys playoff loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Offensive tackle Mark Tuinei underwent successful surgery last week to repair a torn ligament in his left knee which had hampered him most of the season. Tuinei was expected to be ready by training camp in July.