Texans look outside for help to end spiral
Ex-NFL coach Dan Reeves hired as a consultant
By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
<!-- commented out ad <iframe width="1" height="1" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder=0 scrolling=no></iframe> <script></script>
--><!-- A resource box here --><!-- A resource box here --><!-- Mille Photo Reference Type: image ID: a1213reeves Width: 150 Credit: PAT SULLIVAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Caption: NEW ASSET Dan Reeves, left, who has been in nine Super Bowls as a player or coach, talks with Houston Texans coach Dom Capers at Monday's news conference where Reeves' hiring was announced. end of Photo -->Frustrated and disappointed with a team that has the worst record in the National Football League, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair has hired four-time Super Bowl coach Dan Reeves as a consultant in a move that ultimately may determine the fates of embattled general manager Charley Casserly and head coach Dom Capers.
After a 13-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday — the Texans' third consecutive defeat in the final seconds of regulation or in overtime — McNair called on Reeves, a fellow University of South Carolina alumnus, to help evaluate the personnel on his team, which has just one win in 13 games this season.
"None of us are happy with the performance of our team," McNair said Monday while introducing Reeves at a news conference. "We all want to do everything we can to improve our team. That's what this effort is all about."
McNair said he has hired Reeves for "a couple of months" but added that the relationship could last longer.
"It could be that it develops into some sort of longer-term relationship," McNair said. "A lot of that depends on Dan and how he wants to use his time, how productive it's been, how much he enjoys it, and how much value he can bring on a continual basis."
Postseason decisions loom
That also could depend on the futures of Capers and Casserly, who could be fired after what has become the most disastrous season since the Texans joined the NFL in 2002.
McNair has repeatedly said he will not make top-level personnel decisions until the season is over. He also said Monday's move was not made with an eye toward replacing Capers or Casserly, even though Reeves has experience in both men's roles.
"Dan's not here to interview for a coaching job," McNair said. "He's not here to make an evaluation of the coach or the general manager. He's here as a resource to assist me and other people in our organization to help us be a better team.
"To get familiar with the team, Dan's going to look at film, (and) he'll have to go to practices. He'll visit with Dom and the position coaches and get their evaluations. He'll also visit with Charley and the scouts."
Reeves, 61, has served as head coach of the Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons. He was in charge of personnel for the Broncos and Falcons and has been out of the league since Atlanta fired him with three games remaining in the 2003 season.
Reeves played running back for the Dallas Cowboys, and when his playing career ended, his mentor, Dallas coach Tom Landry, gave him his first coaching job.
Reeves, who had been working as a sports talk show host on Sirius Satellite Radio, had a 201-172-2 record as a head coach. As a player, assistant coach and head coach, Reeves appeared in a record nine Super Bowls.
"Dan knows what the ingredients are of winning teams," McNair said. "His role with us will be as a resource as we evaluate all that we're doing as we go forward."
Reeves, who coached the Broncos to three Super Bowls and the Falcons to one — but lost all of them — is going to be in an awkward situation. He has known Casserly and Capers for years, but he also knows their jobs are in jeopardy.
"I want to be an asset," said Reeves, who resides in Atlanta. "I don't want to be a threat to anybody. I have respect for the job Dom has to do and for the job Charley has to do. I (know) how difficult it really is."
McNair said he consulted other NFL owners to see what they thought of his team. He called Reeves on Thursday to see if he would be interested.
McNair didn't tell his staff about the move until Monday.
'One of the greatest'
Reeves is one of only seven coaches in league history with at least 200 victories. In his 23 seasons, his teams won seven division titles.
Capers and Casserly both appeared at Monday's news conference.
"I've known Dan Reeves a long time," Casserly said. "He is one of the greatest coaches in the history of the league. He's won 200 games. Not many coaches have won 200 games. Anybody who can come in and be an asset to you ... I look forward to hearing his thoughts on our football team."
McNair hopes those thoughts will help fix some of the problems that have developed during a disappointing season.
"You know, this is an opportunity for someone who's not close to the scene to give us an objective view of our team," McNair said. "I have my view as to what we might need in terms of players. Charley has his, and Dom has his. Dan will probably have his, too. But he's going to have to first do his homework and get to learn more about our organization."
Ex-NFL coach Dan Reeves hired as a consultant
By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
<!-- commented out ad <iframe width="1" height="1" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder=0 scrolling=no></iframe> <script></script>
--><!-- A resource box here --><!-- A resource box here --><!-- Mille Photo Reference Type: image ID: a1213reeves Width: 150 Credit: PAT SULLIVAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Caption: NEW ASSET Dan Reeves, left, who has been in nine Super Bowls as a player or coach, talks with Houston Texans coach Dom Capers at Monday's news conference where Reeves' hiring was announced. end of Photo -->Frustrated and disappointed with a team that has the worst record in the National Football League, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair has hired four-time Super Bowl coach Dan Reeves as a consultant in a move that ultimately may determine the fates of embattled general manager Charley Casserly and head coach Dom Capers.
After a 13-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday — the Texans' third consecutive defeat in the final seconds of regulation or in overtime — McNair called on Reeves, a fellow University of South Carolina alumnus, to help evaluate the personnel on his team, which has just one win in 13 games this season.
"None of us are happy with the performance of our team," McNair said Monday while introducing Reeves at a news conference. "We all want to do everything we can to improve our team. That's what this effort is all about."
McNair said he has hired Reeves for "a couple of months" but added that the relationship could last longer.
"It could be that it develops into some sort of longer-term relationship," McNair said. "A lot of that depends on Dan and how he wants to use his time, how productive it's been, how much he enjoys it, and how much value he can bring on a continual basis."
Postseason decisions loom
That also could depend on the futures of Capers and Casserly, who could be fired after what has become the most disastrous season since the Texans joined the NFL in 2002.
McNair has repeatedly said he will not make top-level personnel decisions until the season is over. He also said Monday's move was not made with an eye toward replacing Capers or Casserly, even though Reeves has experience in both men's roles.
"Dan's not here to interview for a coaching job," McNair said. "He's not here to make an evaluation of the coach or the general manager. He's here as a resource to assist me and other people in our organization to help us be a better team.
"To get familiar with the team, Dan's going to look at film, (and) he'll have to go to practices. He'll visit with Dom and the position coaches and get their evaluations. He'll also visit with Charley and the scouts."
Reeves, 61, has served as head coach of the Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons. He was in charge of personnel for the Broncos and Falcons and has been out of the league since Atlanta fired him with three games remaining in the 2003 season.
Reeves played running back for the Dallas Cowboys, and when his playing career ended, his mentor, Dallas coach Tom Landry, gave him his first coaching job.
Reeves, who had been working as a sports talk show host on Sirius Satellite Radio, had a 201-172-2 record as a head coach. As a player, assistant coach and head coach, Reeves appeared in a record nine Super Bowls.
"Dan knows what the ingredients are of winning teams," McNair said. "His role with us will be as a resource as we evaluate all that we're doing as we go forward."
Reeves, who coached the Broncos to three Super Bowls and the Falcons to one — but lost all of them — is going to be in an awkward situation. He has known Casserly and Capers for years, but he also knows their jobs are in jeopardy.
"I want to be an asset," said Reeves, who resides in Atlanta. "I don't want to be a threat to anybody. I have respect for the job Dom has to do and for the job Charley has to do. I (know) how difficult it really is."
McNair said he consulted other NFL owners to see what they thought of his team. He called Reeves on Thursday to see if he would be interested.
McNair didn't tell his staff about the move until Monday.
'One of the greatest'
Reeves is one of only seven coaches in league history with at least 200 victories. In his 23 seasons, his teams won seven division titles.
Capers and Casserly both appeared at Monday's news conference.
"I've known Dan Reeves a long time," Casserly said. "He is one of the greatest coaches in the history of the league. He's won 200 games. Not many coaches have won 200 games. Anybody who can come in and be an asset to you ... I look forward to hearing his thoughts on our football team."
McNair hopes those thoughts will help fix some of the problems that have developed during a disappointing season.
"You know, this is an opportunity for someone who's not close to the scene to give us an objective view of our team," McNair said. "I have my view as to what we might need in terms of players. Charley has his, and Dom has his. Dan will probably have his, too. But he's going to have to first do his homework and get to learn more about our organization."
