ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 30, 1997 TAG: 9701300057
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: NFL NOTES
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
If Bill Parcells wants to coach another NFL team in 1997, it must be on the New England Patriots' terms.
Just three days after losing the Super Bowl, the Patriots won their contract dispute with their coach.
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue's ruling Wednesday in favor of New England owner Robert Kraft doesn't mean Parcells won't jump to the New York Jets, only that they can't hire him without first getting the Patriots' permission - or buying it with money, a player, draft choices or a combination.
Otherwise, Parcells can coach the Patriots for a fifth season, which is unlikely, or stay out of the NFL until after Jan.31, 1998.
Parcells reportedly was in line to go to the Jets, who have the top pick in this year's draft but would not consider sending that to the Patriots as compensation. Their head coaching job has been available since Rich Kotite announced Dec.20 that he wouldn't return.
ESPN reported that the Jets are putting together an offer for Parcells to the Patriots.
The Jets refused comment ``until the entire process is completed,'' said team president Steve Gutman.
Tagliabue's ruling came in response to requests from Parcells and Kraft that the commissioner mediate their contract dispute.
Parcells claimed his original five-year contract - negotiated with former owner James Orthwein - allowed him to get out of the last season by paying the owner $1.2 million, one year's salary.
At Parcells' request, Kraft agreed last January to eliminate the last season, 1997, moving the expiration date up to this Saturday. That revision also gave the Patriots the exclusive right to employ Parcells if he decided to continue working in the NFL next season, Tagliabue ruled.
Parcells can work as a college coach or pursue other business opportunities, such as broadcasting, without the Patriots' permission. After Jan.31, 1998, he would be free to work as a head coach or in a comparable position in the NFL, according to the decision.
In other NFL news:
REDSKINS: The Heath Shuler era with Washington, which never really got started, officially ended.
The former first-round draft choice, who lost the starting quarterback job to Gus Frerotte before last season, announced he was invoking a clause in his eight-year, $19 million contract that allows him to leave the team.
In a strategic response, the Redskins announced they will take the steps necessary to make Shuler a restricted free agent, which means the team would receive a first-round pick and a third-round selection as compensation from any team that signs Shuler between Feb.14 and April 14.
If no team signs Shuler during that period - during which the team will make him a contract offer, likely for the NFL minimum - the Redskins would retain Shuler's rights; under such a scenario, they no doubt would try and trade him.
RAMS: Jim Hanifan, the former coach of the St.Louis Cardinals, has been hired as the Rams' offensive line coach. Hanifan had been an assistant with Washington since 1990.
Also Wednesday, the Atlanta Falcons hired the Rams' former head coach, Rich Brooks, as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.
BILLS: Jim Kelly, who led Buffalo to four straight Super Bowls, will announce his retirement at noon ET Friday in Buffalo, N.Y. That leaves Dan Marino and John Elway active from the famed class of '83 quarterbacks.
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines KEYWORDS: FOOTBALLby CNB