Wolf cries foul as rumors swirl

Posted: Thu January 22, 1998

Thursday
The Packers' media tent, La Jolla, Calif.

The 10 things I think I think today:

1. I think Green Bay GM Ron Wolf is getting increasingly frustrated with this Mike Holmgren thing. He knows it's a quasi-creation of the media, this Holmgren-to-Seattle rumor. But he spent 30 minutes answering questions about the rumor, about what will happen to his free-agents after the Super Bowl, about the long-term future of the Pack—and nothing about the game.

Finally, when some guy asked him if he'd do the ring ceremony the same way as last year if the Packers win Sunday, he popped. "This session sucks,'' he growled. "Ring ceremony, Seattle ... Jeez, the Super Bowl's Sunday." Wolf did say he doesn't think the organization would stand in Holmgren's way if he decides to go, but the GM stressed this is president Bob Harlan's call.

2. I think Jerry Jones doesn't know what he wants to do yet about his coach.

Talked to him last night, and the Dallas owner only knows he wants to vastly improve his offense. He'll interview Packers offensive coordinator Sherm Lewis Monday or Tuesday. My gut: He picks between Terry Donahue, Lewis and a mystery guy I don't know—unless the Broncos beat the Packers Sunday. Then he looks hard at Denver offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak.

3. I think commissioner Paul Tagliabue will delight the owners in the next 24 hours when he announces the 1998 salary cap. It'll be north of $50 million, up from $41.45 million in 1997.

4. I think the only prediction I care about concerning this game is Steve Bisheff's. He's a columnist for the Orange County (Calif.) Register, and I rode the bus to Packers interviews with him today. He has a documented streak of 19 straight Super Bowl winners going, and he's picked 25 of the last 26 games right.

"There's something eerie going on,'' Bisheff said. "It's just a weird thing. I've had guys tell me I should have a 1-900 number during Super Bowl week.''

Bisheff's best calls: "In the Buffalo-New York Super Bowl, I picked New York by two and they won by one, and I said the key would be ball control, and they held the ball 40 minutes. The year the Bills had nine turnovers, the headline on my piece was, 'Buffalo Blunders Sure To Tell.' Two years ago, I had the Cowboys 28-17; they won 27-17. It's just a flukey thing. I can't explain it. The secretary in my office just gets bombarded this time of year with requests for my pick.''

And what is it? "Green Bay, 30-16.''

5.I think Jon Gruden is smart as a whip, works well with people, has an excellent grasp of the West Coast offense and knows how to mediate player problems. Will he be dominated by Al Davis? I think so. That's what worries me about Gruden with the Raiders. I keep having to tell people down here he's not a bad hire—and he might be a good one, if he gets the chance to be a real coach and not one on a string.

6. Gruden will be the NFL's 18th consecutive white head-coaching hire, and there is a simmering anger among black assistants and players that could boil over into some sort of job action if Lewis doesn't get a head-coaching position next week.

7. I think Lewis is doing a good job keeping his priorities straight.

"Everything's swirling around me, but I don't feel it much,'' he said today. "It hasn't been hard for me to focus. It is strange, though, not really knowing where I'll be a week from today. A lot of things could happen.''

8. I think I'm sick of hearing about how Denver is tight and Green Bay is loose.

THIS IS NOT TRUE. THIS IS SILLY PAP. Now the Packers allow fans to roam their hotel lobby in La Jolla, while the Broncos ban plain folk from theirs. But there is no good reason to think the Broncos are sitting up nights biting their fingernails.

9. I think I'm about to give you the Shameless Plug of the Week. If you're coming here, you ought to go to Junior Seau's place. Great barbeque chicken salad. Plus, Seau's always around, glad-handing everyone. There he was last night, a personal welcoming committee.

10. I think Denny Green is doing a great job of talking himself out of a job.

Vikings CEO Roger Headrick and Green will likely part ways Tuesday. Green has hired a lawyer who's looking into ways Green can resign and still make the $900,000 he's owed in 1998, the last year of his contract. Headrick wants Green to coach the last year of his contract. Privately, Headrick is starting to think Green is a baby.

• Wednesday: Hop on the coaching carousel
• Tuesday: Will Holmgren Pack it in