Friday, January 12
Coughlin gives up offensive coordinator duties



The Jacksonville Jaguars promoted quarterbacks coach Bob Petrino to offensive coordinator Friday, ending coach Tom Coughlin's two-year stint in the position.

Petrino came to Jacksonville as quarterbacks coach two years ago, when former offensive coordinator Chris Palmer left to coach the Cleveland Browns.

There was wide speculation that Coughlin and Mark Brunell's relationship was strained with Coughlin in charge of the offense. Several times, Brunell has said he has a good relationship with Petrino, who came to the Jaguars from Louisville.

After a 7-9 season, Coughlin said he would re-evaluate his role as offensive coordinator, although he scoffed at any speculation he would name a coordinator as a buffer between him and Brunell.

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life," Coughlin said the day after the season ended. "Do you think for one minute that Mark's going to come into my office and say, 'That's part of my contract'? You ought to make it some kind of joke, because that's what it sounds like."

Regardless of the reason, Brunell will have a new offensive coordinator, and the timing is ripe.

Brunell and the team are expected to enter into new negotiations this week. Brunell is scheduled to count $13 million against the Jaguars salary cap in 2001, and if he doesn't renegotiate, Jacksonville will have to trade him or release him.

In turn, Brunell's negotiations will affect the rest of the team's offseason moves. Jacksonville is $35 million over the 2001 salary cap and must make several moves involving veteran players to get under the cap.