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Monday, December 22, 1997

Barry Switzer says he has discussed stepping down for new role

By Bart Hubbuch

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas - The embattled Barry Switzer left open the possibility Sunday that he will retire as coach of the Cowboys.

"I don't know whether I'd want to be coach next season," a disgusted Switzer said after the Cowboys capped their worst season since 1989 with a dreary 20-7 loss to the New York Giants at a half-full Texas Stadium.

Switzer, 60, whose team finished 6-10 in his fourth season since replacing Jimmy Johnson in March 1994, confirmed he has had recent discussions with owner Jerry Jones about a different role within the Cowboys organization.

"We've talked about (a new position)," said Switzer, who had never lost more than two consecutive games before closing this season with five straight losses. "Jerry and I have had those discussions."

Speculation has swirled for months that Jones would replace Switzer as coach. In a funeral-like locker room Sunday, Jones did nothing to quell rumors other than say no one in the organization has spoken with a potential successor to Switzer.

Jones added Sunday that he expects the Cowboys' coaching job to be among the most sought-after in the NFL should Switzer be deposed or step down.

"If I talk to anybody, I would be really surprised if they're not interested," Jones said. "This is an exciting place to be. I still consider this one of the best jobs in the NFL."

Jones, who watched the game at one point from the coaches' box and addressed the players in the locker room after the game, said Switzer's fate will not be decided until at least Dec. 29. The Cowboys' coaching and front-office staffs have been given the entire week off.

Even if Switzer returns, he and Jones promised significant changes next season, both in the coaching staff and on a roster only two seasons removed from winning the Super Bowl.

The Cowboys challenged several club records for futility on offense and were among the NFL's most-penalized teams this season. Several players, including quarterback Troy Aikman, also criticized the team's lax practice regimen.

"There will be a lot of changes," Switzer said. "It got ugly today. I told Jerry that he should get rid of the whole damn bunch of us because today was so ugly."

Switzer wore a defeated look in the Cowboys' locker room Sunday, embracing defensive tackle Chad Hennings and visiting for nearly five minutes with quarterback Troy Aikman, with whom he has had a strained relationship in the past.

Switzer missed the Cowboys' final walk-through practice Saturday, telling clubs officials he didn't feel well. He watched most of the third quarter Sunday with his hands in his pockets.

"I'll sit down with Jerry, and we'll talk about it," Switzer said of his fate. "We'll let you know what we decide."

Switzer, who has been friends with Jones for 35 years, has three years left on his contract. He repeated Sunday that he wants to continue in an undefined role if he no longer is the coach, preferably in the areas of scouting and the draft.

Jones said his close relationship with Switzer will weigh heavily in any decision.

"This is a personal thing with me," Jones said. "Ever since I became aware of football, I've been knowing Barry."

Including the playoffs, Switzer is 45-26 in four seasons with the Cowboys. This year's 6-10 finish marked the first losing season of Switzer's 20-year career as a college and NFL head coach, and it was the first time since 1990 that Dallas, which finished fourth in the NFC East, has failed to make the playoffs.

Switzer's worst previous records as a head coach were 10-6 last season with the Cowboys and 7-4-1 in 1981 at Oklahoma. He had never finished worse than second in the Big Eight Conference.

"I'm personally responsible for what's happened," Switzer said Sunday. "I've always said it all starts with the head coach and goes down from there."

Jones strongly denied he has contacted any potential replacements or gauged the interest of coaches currently available, including former 49ers coach George Seifert and former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz - two of the names mentioned most frequently.

Jones said no Cowboys front-office officials, at least with his permission, have spoken to possible successors.

"We've talked to no one. The only person who would have even had a conversation in passing about what's going to happen next year would have been with Stephen Jones, team vice president ," Jones said. "I've never talked to anybody individually."

Aikman, for one, insists he will have no role in any decision on Switzer.

"My opinion doesn't matter," Aikman said.

(c) 1997, The Dallas Morning News.

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