DTLB58
12-19-2005, 08:51 PM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The illustrious coaching career of Dick Vermeil may have only two games to go.
"That decision will be made within the next three weeks," he said Monday.
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The 69-year-old Vermeil, who has taken both Philadelphia and St. Louis to the Super Bowl and been honored as coach of the year at four different levels, said last summer he might put off retirement if the Kansas City Chiefs had a good year.
But a poorly played 27-17 loss to the New York Giants on Saturday dropped them to 8-6 and reduced their playoff hopes to a flicker. The only way they can get into the postseason now is to win their last two games, at home against San Diego and Cincinnati, and get help from other teams.
Asked if he was thinking about his future, Vermeil said, "Yes. I think about it. You have to think about those kind of things."
The way the Chiefs lost to the Giants left Vermeil, as well as Chiefs fans, searching for answers. Poor tackling and faulty execution enabled Tiki Barber to rush for 220 yards, a Giants team record and a Kansas City opponent record. It was a shocking letdown for a defense that had gone 20 games without allowing a 100-yard rusher.
"Yeah, I think about (retirement), especially when you walk out of that New York Giants stadium with your (tail) handed to you, embarrassed," Vermeil said. "This is what I do for a living, coach a football team. Just like you take pride in what you do. When you're embarrassed you get upset: `What the hell am I doing here?'
"But I don't feel that way today."
Vermeil took the 1980 Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl, and won the Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams after the 1999 season.
He retired abruptly after the Rams' Super Bowl win and has said often that he almost immediately regretted it.
"Last time I didn't think about it, and I made an impulsive decision," he said Monday.
Nevertheless, success has followed the California native everywhere he's gone. His career record as an NFL head coach is 123-114. He's 42-36 with the Chiefs, but has taken them to the playoffs only once in his first four years.
Does he feel he's done a good job this season?
"Average," he said. "Give me a C."
His coaching staff, he said, would get a higher grade.
"I allow my coaches to coach," he said.
Vermeil also said several concerns he had coming out of training camp had been satisfactorily resolved.
"In our business, you live in a state of concern," he said.
He insisted he would not use the playoff possibility as an incentive to his players.
"We won four of our last five games last year with no hopes of the playoffs," he said. "Professional football players get paid to play. That's how they earn their living. They get evaluated every single day by us and any other team that might be interested in them next year or next year when they're free agents.
"I expect our football team, regardless of having an incentive of playoffs, to play well. That is an added incentive."
"That decision will be made within the next three weeks," he said Monday.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 69-year-old Vermeil, who has taken both Philadelphia and St. Louis to the Super Bowl and been honored as coach of the year at four different levels, said last summer he might put off retirement if the Kansas City Chiefs had a good year.
But a poorly played 27-17 loss to the New York Giants on Saturday dropped them to 8-6 and reduced their playoff hopes to a flicker. The only way they can get into the postseason now is to win their last two games, at home against San Diego and Cincinnati, and get help from other teams.
Asked if he was thinking about his future, Vermeil said, "Yes. I think about it. You have to think about those kind of things."
The way the Chiefs lost to the Giants left Vermeil, as well as Chiefs fans, searching for answers. Poor tackling and faulty execution enabled Tiki Barber to rush for 220 yards, a Giants team record and a Kansas City opponent record. It was a shocking letdown for a defense that had gone 20 games without allowing a 100-yard rusher.
"Yeah, I think about (retirement), especially when you walk out of that New York Giants stadium with your (tail) handed to you, embarrassed," Vermeil said. "This is what I do for a living, coach a football team. Just like you take pride in what you do. When you're embarrassed you get upset: `What the hell am I doing here?'
"But I don't feel that way today."
Vermeil took the 1980 Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl, and won the Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams after the 1999 season.
He retired abruptly after the Rams' Super Bowl win and has said often that he almost immediately regretted it.
"Last time I didn't think about it, and I made an impulsive decision," he said Monday.
Nevertheless, success has followed the California native everywhere he's gone. His career record as an NFL head coach is 123-114. He's 42-36 with the Chiefs, but has taken them to the playoffs only once in his first four years.
Does he feel he's done a good job this season?
"Average," he said. "Give me a C."
His coaching staff, he said, would get a higher grade.
"I allow my coaches to coach," he said.
Vermeil also said several concerns he had coming out of training camp had been satisfactorily resolved.
"In our business, you live in a state of concern," he said.
He insisted he would not use the playoff possibility as an incentive to his players.
"We won four of our last five games last year with no hopes of the playoffs," he said. "Professional football players get paid to play. That's how they earn their living. They get evaluated every single day by us and any other team that might be interested in them next year or next year when they're free agents.
"I expect our football team, regardless of having an incentive of playoffs, to play well. That is an added incentive."