Jets’ Victory Grounds Belichick

He may not want to coach them, but Bill Belichick still belongs to the New York Jets, at least until somebody pays enough to free him. That might be the New England Patriots and it might happen soon.

While Commissioner Paul Tagliabue didn’t completely rule in favor of the Jets on Friday, he did uphold their rights to Belichick through the 2000 season. Tagliabue ruled Belichick breached his contract, which has three years remaining, when he resigned as coach of the Jets on Jan. 4 and cannot work for another team this year without the Jets’ approval.

While the Patriots reportedly have been working behind the scenes to free Belichick from the Jets, Tagliabue’s ruling made it clear he expects the teams to come up with an agreement this month.

“Taken as a whole, the contract and the related memoranda constitute an agreement that Mr. Belichick would be the Jets’ head coach except when Mr. [Bill] Parcells served in that capacity,” Tagliabue ruled in a grievance filed by Belichick. “The agreement contemplated that Mr. Belichick would automatically succeed to the head coaching position if Mr. Parcells was no longer head coach.”

Parcells stepped down as coach the day before Belichick resigned.

Neil Cornrich, Belichick’s lawyer, threatened legal action against the league.

“We think the commissioner’s decision is unlawful and we are actively assessing all of our legal options,” Cornrich said.

Belichick is sought by the Patriots for their vacant coaching position and a personnel role. Now that the grievance has been dismissed, the Patriots will need to negotiate with the Jets, bringing almost full circle the teams’ off-field relationship regarding coaches.

In 1997, the Jets sent four draft picks to New England to get Parcells released from his contract with the Patriots.

Tagliabue did, however, deny the Jets’ claim that Belichick should be barred from leaving for another team for the remaining three years on his contract. Friday’s ruling applied to 2000 only.

Meanwhile, Patriot quarterback Drew Bledsoe has notified management that he’d like to have Belichick as his new coach, a person close to the player told Newsday.

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Tennessee Titan quarterback Steve McNair did not practice, two days before the AFC championship game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, because of turf toe.

Coach Jeff Fisher said McNair was added to the official injury report as questionable and will be reevaluated today.

McNair watched practice with his left foot in a protective boot. He has battled the condition for weeks but has not sat out any games.

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ESPN reported that quarterback Jeff George will not return to the Minnesota Vikings next season, primarily because of financial considerations, but George and his agent disputed the report in an AP story. . . . The San Francisco 49ers signed center Chris Dalman to a four-year contract, which will put the team about $20 million over the projected NFL salary cap of $62.2 million. . . . The Green Bay Packers will ask for a 0.5% sales tax in Brown County, which has to be approved by voters, to help pay for a $295 million renovation of Lambeau Field, the Associated Press has learned. The remaining $135 million would be paid by the Packers, though the team plans to charge a “personal seat license” of $1,500 to $2,000 on all season-ticket holders. . . . Dan Reeves, 56, said he’ll return next season to coach the Atlanta Falcons.