Fritz Shurmur

Eagles defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher was here yesterday for discussions with Los Angeles Rams coach John Robinson, who earlier this week fired his defensive coordinator and five other assistants. Fisher, who said he made the trip with the permission of Eagles officials, said he would not characterize the talks as interviews for the vacancy created when Fritz Shurmur was fired. "We discussed defensive philosophies and some directions (Robinson) was headed in and my philosophy to see if they intersect.

Eagles defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher concluded a third day of meetings with Rams head coach John Robinson yesterday and said he had been offered the job of defensive coordinator, although a monetary proposal had not been finalized. A breakfast meeting between Robinson and Fisher was scheduled for today. Fisher also said that if he accepted Robinson's offer, he would consider hiring the remainder of the current Eagles defensive staff, which includes defensive line coach Dale Haupt and defensive backfield coach Tom Bettis.

The news that Keith Jackson had rejoined the Eagles yesterday didn't force Fritz Shurmur to draw up a new game plan for Sunday's game. The Rams' defensive coordinator was planning on the All-Pro tight end being in the Eagles' lineup all along. "I wrote his name on the blackboard this morning," Shurmur said. "I told our guys that he (Jackson) would be out there. I told them to count on it because I did. " What made Shurmur so certain? Was he listening in on agent Gary Wichard's party line this week?

Eagles defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher yesterday received an offer to coach the defense of the Los Angeles Rams, and former Cleveland Browns head coach Bud Carson has emerged as a candidate for Fisher's job with the Eagles. If Fisher, who is under contract with the Eagles until Feb. 1, decides to accept the Rams' offer, his departure could have a dramatic effect on the Eagles' defense next season, possibly ending the club's long adherence to the "46" defense favored by Buddy Ryan.

After an unexpected and unwanted weekend off, the Eagles will regroup today for a practice at their training facility. Coach Andy Reid will conduct an abbreviated practice as the team prepares for a return to a normal workweek Wednesday. The players will have their regular day off tomorrow before practicing in earnest for Sunday's game in Seattle. The Eagles should find out tomorrow whether yesterday's unplayed game at Tampa Bay will be rescheduled. The NFL is reportedly leaning toward making up the Week 2 slate of games on Jan. 5 and 6. That would mean eliminating the wild-card round of playoffs and dropping four teams, two in each conference, from the postseason.

BIO Born: May 26, 1941, in Maywood, Ill. Education: Bachelor's degree in education; master's degree in physical education from Missouri Player: Quarterback at Missouri, 1959-62; Tight end for Buffalo Bills, 1963-64 Family: Wife, Vicky; two children, Scott, Michelle; four grandchildren, Katie, Justin, Brandon, Jax. CAREER COACHING STOPS 1967-68: Missouri Southern, head coach 1969-72: Drake, defensive coordinator 1973-76: Indiana,...

In the wake of San Francisco's 55-10 trashing of Denver on Sunday in Super Bowl XXIV, the 49ers have been hailed as the greatest pro football team in history. "They lost two games all year," said Dan Reeves, Denver's disillusioned head coach. "I'd say it's going to be very difficult for someone to say that they're not one of the great teams of all time. " The 49ers' offensive strength encourages those rave comparisons. "When those other teams had the ball," said Matt Millen, the San Francisco linebacker who spent his first nine seasons with the Raiders and played in two Super Bowls before XXIV, "you never stopped sweating.

Tonight's Monday Night Football game was supposed to be the battle of the quarterbacks, the Rams' Jim Everett vs. the Bills' Jim Kelly. But because Kelly separated his shoulder against the Colts last Sunday, Frank Reich will take his place in the quarterbacks' duel. At first glance, it looks like a mismatch. Reich, after all, hadn't thrown more than two dozen passes as Kelly's backup entering this season. His inexperience will be hard for the Bills to overcome. But the Rams, if they stay true to form, might unwillingly lend a hand.

When the Eagles and Rams square off at Veterans Stadium on Sunday, in an NFC wild-card contest that will launch the playoffs, reasonable expectations should include the following: The Rams' defense will allow Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham to go about his work unblitzed. The Rams will often drop up to eight defenders into their pass coverage, to clog the passing lanes and zones and force the Eagles' receivers to run their patterns single file. The Rams will try to confuse the Eagles with "the Eagle," a defensive strategy that calls for two down linemen and five linebackers.

BIO Born: May 26, 1941, in Maywood, Ill. Education: Bachelor's degree in education; master's degree in physical education from Missouri Player: Quarterback at Missouri, 1959-62; Tight end for Buffalo Bills, 1963-64 Family: Wife, Vicky; two children, Scott, Michelle; four grandchildren, Katie, Justin, Brandon, Jax. CAREER COACHING STOPS 1967-68: Missouri Southern, head coach 1969-72: Drake, defensive coordinator 1973-76: Indiana,...

After an unexpected and unwanted weekend off, the Eagles will regroup today for a practice at their training facility. Coach Andy Reid will conduct an abbreviated practice as the team prepares for a return to a normal workweek Wednesday. The players will have their regular day off tomorrow before practicing in earnest for Sunday's game in Seattle. The Eagles should find out tomorrow whether yesterday's unplayed game at Tampa Bay will be rescheduled. The NFL is reportedly leaning toward making up the Week 2 slate of games on Jan. 5 and 6. That would mean eliminating the wild-card round of playoffs and dropping four teams, two in each conference, from the postseason.

Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur has taken a leave of absence because of cancer, several newspapers reported yesterday. Shurmur arrived Wednesday in Green Bay, where he formerly served the Packers as defensive boss, and where he might undergo treatment, the Post-Crescent, of Appleton, Wis., said, quoting unidentified sources. The Seattle Times, citing unidentified sources, also reported the cancer diagnosis. Shurmur, 66, beginning his 25th year in NFL coaching, was with the Packers from 1994 to 1998, after which he joined former Packers coach Mike Holmgren in Seattle.

"Show me the money" is more than just a popular line from a movie. It is the credo of most of today's NFL players. Free agency has turned them into mercenaries, willing to play for the highest bidder. Have shoulder pads, will travel. Loyalty means little if somebody else is offering a dollar more. Last February, though, Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Gilbert Brown proved that it is occasionally possible for a player to act with his heart rather than his wallet. You might recall that Brown was one of the more sought-after items in the league's annual free-agency auction after helping the Packers to their first Super Bowl title in 29 years.

The Phoenix Cardinals, who used to rank somewhere with an IRS audit as an object of fan adulation, will bring a winning streak and a worrisome, restructured defense into the Eagles' home opener at Veterans Stadium today. That doesn't bode terribly well for an Eagles offense that has lost quarterback Randall Cunningham or an inexperienced line that hopes to keep Jim McMahon, his brittle, less-mobile replacement, out of harm's way. The Cards' new defense was designed by Fritz Shurmur, 59, the veteran defensive coordinator whom the Los Angeles Rams fired after they finished 5-11 last season.

The Los Angeles Rams met the San Diego Chargers last Saturday in what NFL coaches politely call a "controlled scrimmage. " This time, they were half right. A scrimmage, it was. Controlled, it wasn't. The play-by-play - make that the blow-by-blow - went something like this: Rams defensive tackle Mike Piel started a fight with Chargers lineman Dean Brown. Rams linebacker Vernon Maxwell took a swing at Chargers halfback Eric Bieniemy. Rams defensive end Bill Hawkins punched Chargers guard Bill Novak and set off a bench-clearing brawl.

Eagles defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher concluded a third day of meetings with Rams head coach John Robinson yesterday and said he had been offered the job of defensive coordinator, although a monetary proposal had not been finalized. A breakfast meeting between Robinson and Fisher was scheduled for today. Fisher also said that if he accepted Robinson's offer, he would consider hiring the remainder of the current Eagles defensive staff, which includes defensive line coach Dale Haupt and defensive backfield coach Tom Bettis.

Eagles defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher yesterday received an offer to coach the defense of the Los Angeles Rams, and former Cleveland Browns head coach Bud Carson has emerged as a candidate for Fisher's job with the Eagles. If Fisher, who is under contract with the Eagles until Feb. 1, decides to accept the Rams' offer, his departure could have a dramatic effect on the Eagles' defense next season, possibly ending the club's long adherence to the "46" defense favored by Buddy Ryan.

The offensive and defensive continuity that was retained by the Eagles in the wake of the Buddy Ryan firing is threatening to show a crack. Jeff Fisher, 32, the Eagles' defensive coordinator, flew to Los Angeles yesterday to interview for the vacant Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator job. He is scheduled to be interviewed today, and sources said he is likely to be offered the job. The position became open Wednesday when Rams coach John...