Rams Try to Block Chiefs From Vermeil

The Kansas City Chiefs want to hire Dick Vermeil as their coach, but the St. Louis Rams are trying to block the deal for now.

The Rams say the Chiefs have no right to hire Vermeil--who retired after leading St. Louis to the Super Bowl championship last season--because he is under contract for one more season.

The matter could wind up being decided by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed Thursday that both teams have contacted the league regarding the dispute over whether the Chiefs can hire Vermeil.

Aiello said the situation was similar to ones in recent years involving the New England Patriots and the New York Jets with the hiring of Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick. Both of those cases involved players changing teams in compensation deals.

Vermeil, 64, has been a close friend of Kansas City President Carl Peterson. The two coached together at UCLA in the 1970s and, when Vermeil led the 1980 Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl, Peterson worked in the team’s front office.

Kansas City Coach Gunther Cunningham, 16-16 in two seasons, was apparently informed Thursday morning he would not be retained.

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Washington Redskin owner Dan Snyder, who said he would be “hands-on” when he bought the team, introduced Marty Schottenheimer as the team’s new head coach and director of football operations at a news conference and vowed to be “hands-off.”

“This is Marty Schottenheimer’s organization from the standpoint of the final word,” Snyder said. “This is something he needs to have, it’s important to have.”

Schottenheimer, who had a 145-85-1 regular-season record--but only 5-11 in the playoffs--in coaching stints with Cleveland and Kansas City, signed a four-year, $10-million contract. He succeeds Terry Robiskie, who coached the final three games after Snyder fired Norv Turner. The Redskins finished 8-8 despite a record $100-million player payroll.

Schottenheimer ends a two-year absence from coaching, during which he worked as an ESPN analyst and was critical of Snyder’s meddlesome style.

Said Schottenheimer: “I broke an axiom that I’ve always believed in, that when you take a position on something, you ought to have some information on what you’re choosing to speak about. I obviously didn’t have enough information about Dan Snyder.”

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John Butler agreed to a reported five-year, $7.5-million contract to become executive vice president and general manager of the San Diego Chargers. Butler, a scout with the Chargers from 1985-86, was fired as Buffalo Bill general manager by owner Ralph Wilson on Dec. 19 because of his unwillingness to make a commitment beyond February, when his contract was to run out. . . . Norv Turner says he has talked with Arizona Cardinal Coach Dave McGinnis about becoming the team’s offensive coordinator. Turner was offensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys before becoming coach of the Redskins. . . . The Detroit Lions will hire Matt Millen as president and general manager, according to the Detroit News and ESPN. Millen, who has been a football analyst for Fox Sports and the CBS radio network, reportedly might fire Lion Coach Gary Moeller.

Gary Kubiak, the Denver Broncos’ offensive coordinator, will interview for the coaching job with the expansion Houston Texans. . . . New York Giant halfback Tiki Barber practiced with a smaller cast on his broken left arm and didn’t appear to have any problems taking handoffs or catching passes. There’s still concern if Barber can field punts, and Amani Toomer or Ike Hilliard could take over that duty in Sunday’s playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles. . . . St. Louis running back Marshall Faulk, selected the NFL’s most valuable player last week, was named the league’s offensive player of the year.