This is a breaking story , Vermeil Has accepted a job as Chiefs Head Coach , The Rams are trying to Block the deal by demanding Draft Picks . Poor ol Gunther he never could beat the Raiders . -------------------------------------------- Dick Vermeil is planning to return to the NFL but his former team, the St. Louis Rams, say they first need compensation. Vermeil has agreed to take the Kansas City Chiefs coaching job, replacing Gunther Cunningham. The Rams, however, remain in a squabble over whether the Chiefs have the right to hire him. Gunther Cunningham appears to be out in Kansas City. The matter could wind up being decided by NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue. A league spokesman confirmed Thursday that both parties have taken the dispute over whether the Chiefs can hire Vermeil to the NFL. "It is a matter of interpretation of a contract, and if the parties can't agree, then it could go to the commissioner. We have had conversations with both teams," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. "If they cannot reach an agreement, then the commissioner could play a role." He said the situation was similar to ones in recent years involving the Patriots and the Jets, and their hiring of coaches Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick. Both of those cases involved players changing teams in compensation deals. Rams president John Shaw spoke with Chiefs president Carl Peterson on Thursday morning. During that conversation, Shaw said he was told by Peterson that it was Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt's contention that his team did not need to get permission from the Rams to hire Vermeil. "In view of the sudden development of the Chiefs' request, coupled with rumored reports over the past week, and coach Vermeil's continued assurances to Rams ownership that he would not coach in the NFL, we feel that further investigation is necessary before permission is granted," Shaw said in a statement. Shaw said he was shocked to learn Vermeil wanted to get back into coaching less than a year after making a tearful farewell. "The way he left, he said he was definitely done coaching and that he wanted to spend time with his family," Shaw said. "I'm totally stunned." The Rams are due to pay Vermeil $2 million next year, the final year of a five-year contract. They're also paying Vermeil another $2 million in four yearly installments as part of a resignation agreement reached two days after the Rams' Super Bowl victory last January. Shaw said the extra $2 million was a "voluntary" choice of the team in recognition of Vermeil's accomplishments. The retirement agreement did not stipulate that Vermeil could not return to coaching. "I didn't think that was necessary," Shaw said. Both teams contacted the NFL, and the Rams even faxed a copy of Vermeil's resignation letter from when he retired from the team after last season to league offices. Vermeil agreed to become coach and second in command to Peterson. Both Vermeil and Peterson will share the decision-making responsibilities on player personnel. Vermeil would replace Cunningham as head coach. Cunningham, who all this week was an early arrival for work, did not appear at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday morning, the Kansas City Star reported. Later in the day, Cunningham's wife, Rene, came to the door of their home -- adorned with a Chiefs logo on the garage -- and said the coach had "nothing to say" right now. Sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Vermeil will seek to hire Rams receivers coach Al Saunders as his assistant head coach and groom him as his likely successor in Kansas City. "I'm not in a position to say yes or no," Vermeil told USA Today on Wednesday night when asked if he planned to return to coaching with the Chiefs. "It's not ethically right for me to say." Cunningham's status as coach is tenuous after going 16-16 in two seasons since taking over for Marty Schottenheimer. Vermeil cited burnout for retiring after the 1982 season and spent the next 14 seasons as a television analyst. He returned to coaching with the Rams in 1997 and, after two sub-.500 seasons, took them last season to the Super Bowl, where they beat Tennessee. ------------------ "Its a good thing they don't make posters of European players" -Walt Williams after getting "posterized" by Zan Tabak .
Why? That is what I'm wondering. He left St.Louis a champion. K.C. is like a block down the road. Why wouldn't he have just stuck with the Rams if he wanted to coach. He could have gone out a big winner with Warner. The Chiefs are a long term project. Destined to be 8-8 forever. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
Its all about The Benjamins ------------------ "Its a good thing they don't make posters of European players" -Walt Williams after getting "posterized" by Zan Tabak .
Vermeil didn't leave St. Louis on his own terms. He felt that he was pushed out for his hand picked successor Mike Marts and underappreciated by management. St. Louis is afraid. That's why they are protesting to the NFL. If the guy wants to return, I say let him. It's not like KC is the same situation at STL. In two years, Vermeil will wish he didn't come back. ------------------
