Tuesday, February 01, 2000
Vermeil thinking about retiring
But talking about returning to coach Rams
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ATLANTA — Rams coach Dick Vermeil's Trail of Tears washed up on the Lombardi Trophy Monday.
For the record, Vermeil, 63, who on Sunday became the oldest coach to win a Super Bowl, broke down just once in Monday's final Super Bowl news conference before he hopped a plane to St. Louis and a triumphant parade.
Vermeil, known as much this season for his weeping as his winning, stumbled once. It's when he thought back to the 23-16 victory over the Titans, and how his two brothers reminded him what his late mother said when Vermeil quit coaching in 1982 — that he would go back and coach a Super Bowl champion.
“And, God, she was right,” said Vermeil, his voice breaking. “I didn't think she was, but she was.”
Another woman holds the answer to the NFL's most pressing offseason question: His wife, Carol, may decide if it's time for Vermeil to retire and ride off to his 110-acre ranch with a Super Bowl ring.
Vermeil told Solomon Wilcots of ESPN on Monday he “probably” will return. Then he told Fox Sports that his goal is to coach out his contract. “But I do want to spend some time talking to my wife about this. We haven't spent more than five minutes talking about it.”
ABC-TV's Brent Musburger stopped by Monday to hug Vermeil. The two are friends from the days when Vermeil did the analysis to Musburger's play-by-play for college football games.
“I think he will think about leaving,” Musburger said, “because his wife will want to have a more relaxed lifestyle. I think it's a jump ball.”
There were signs Monday that Vermeil might not be happy making concessions to coach today's players.He quelled a player revolt this season by backing off his tough training camps and all-out practices, but Vermeil didn't like the way the Titans pushed the Rams around in the second half.
“In watching the game unfold last night, I'd say my first thought, just spontaneously, we (will be) a little tougher in training camp next year than we were this last year,” Vermeil said. “I was really concerned about the physical toughness of Tennessee's front seven offensively and defensively and we would become such a finesse football team that we have lost a little edge of toughness in the trenches and we are capable of beating toughness. But there is no switch you turn on.
“So maybe we have to make sure that we rebuild that little edge of toughness. And also make sure that we couldn't al low that philosophy to disintegrate through 16 games because it can catch up with you. It is still a tough game.”
Vermeil admitted he saw some plusses by shedding the intensity and narrowness he brought to the job in Philadelphia 20 years ago.
But ...
“I'm better in some aspects and not good in others,” Vermeil said. “I think I'm a better leader because I invested more time being out of football in being prepared to be a leader of an organization than I did in the past, where I only prepared to be a technical leader, to be the Xs and Os guy ... It allowed me more time to understand the individual as an individual rather than just a position with a jersey number.”
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