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Thursday, November 13, 1997

George Seifert on rumor mill regarding Cowboys

By Matt Maiocco

Knight-Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

SANTA CLARA - George Seifert to the Cowboys?

It's the hot rumor in Dallas, where word travels faster via word of mouth, obviously, than the printed word.

The Seifert-has-agreed-to-coach-the-Cowboys-ne xt-season rumor is so hot that neither of the two major newspapers that cover the NFL team bothered to run follow-up stories because they deemed the report as fiction.

The Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Press Telegram aren't the only entities to find the report dubious.

"That would shock me," 49ers vice president Dwight Clark said Wednesday. "(But) I guess anything's possible."

On Tuesday, a former Cowboys beat reporter went on two nationally syndicated radio shows and said Seifert and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones have reached a preliminary verbal agreement. Under the alleged pact, Seifert will become coach next season, replacing Barry Switzer, who would be fired at the end of this season. The Cowboys are 5-5 and alive in the playoff picture.

Seifert has denied the report. And a Cowboys spokesman said there was no need for a comment, adding, "(Jones) has repeatedly made it clear that any speculation in that area is a waste of time."

Seifert was replaced by Steve Mariucci as coach of the 49ers in January after compiling a 118-35 record in eight seasons. Since he has been out of coaching, Seifert has lived the high life, traveling the world fishing and hunting. He has never ruled out a return to coaching.

The 49ers are paying off his $1.6 million salary for this season, and he's also awarded a healthy severance package for the next five years that would pay him $200,000 each season he does not coach.

"I think he wants to get back into it," Clark said. "But Dallas? That would surprise me. I would think George Seifert would want to run the whole show, and I don't know if he'd be able to do that there."

Jones is a meddlesome owner. He lost one of the most highly respected coaches in the business when Jimmy Johnson resigned after being frustrated by his inability to win power struggles.

It's highly unlikely Seifert would lock himself into a situation so far ahead of the time he'd take over as coach. Dallas also is a team with an aging nucleus of stars that is clearly declining after winning three Super Bowls since 1992. Moreover, the Cowboys' salary-cap situation shouldn't allow them to add any young impact players for several seasons.

"He's going to pretty much be able to choose where he wants to go," Clark said of Seifert. "Any job that opens up, he's got to be No. 1 on the list."

(c) 1997, Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.).

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