NFL Notes: Falcons, Reeves near deal

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

Twenty years after he first applied to be head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Dan Reeves appears to be on the verge of being hired.

Reeves met Monday night and Tuesday with Falcons president Taylor Smith, and various reports said a deal was imminent.

The fired New York Gi ants coach, who interviewed for the Atlanta job in 1977 when the Falcons hired Leeman Bennett, returned to his home in Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J., after Tuesday's meeting.

WBBM-TV in Chicago said Tuesday night it learned that the Falcons could name Reeves as coach as early as today. Reporter Tim Weigel said the information came from a source close to Reeves.

Falcons spokesman Charlie Taylor declined to comment on the report. Atlanta station WAGA-TV and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that no deal was struck.

The newspaper said today its sources confirmed that negotiations were under way and representatives had forwarded various contract proposals. Barring any unexpected stumbling blocks, Reeves will be introduced as new Falcons coach by the end of the week, the paper said.

Reeves had more wins than any other active NFL coach when he was fired by the Giants, but New York had two losing seasons in his four years there. Reeves has said he had little or nothing to do with the Giants' personnel decisions. More control with the Falcons is considered a key to any contact here.

Reeves and former San Diego coach Bobby Ross were the only candidates to replace the fired June Jones who have talked with Smith about the job.

Ross, who also coached at Georgia Tech for five years, was hired Monday by the Detroit Lions.

Reeves, a native of Rome, Ga., has told coaching associates that for several reasons, including family ties to Georgia, he favors the Atlanta job over the coaching vacancy with the St. Louis Rams, who also have expressed an interest.

* CHARGER INTERVIEWS: Bobby Beathard interviewed Carolina defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and Jacksonville offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride on Tuesday for the vacant San Diego Chargers coaching job. The general manager met twice with Fangio during the day and interviewed Gilbride Tuesday night. Beathard said he planned to meet again with Gilbride on Wednesday. The interviews took place in Mobile, Ala., site of Saturday's Senior Bowl. "Both are very impressive guys," Beathard said by telephone. "Both are pretty much the same - they're both organized, are terrific coaches and both are ambitious. Both know where they want to go and how to get there. They see the big picture." Fangio and Gilbride are among the top candidates to replace Bobby Ross, who resigned on Jan. 3 because of differences with Beathard. Ross became head coach of the Detroit Lions on Monday.

* CHIEFS EXTEND CONTRACTS: Speculation that Kansas City Chiefs brass was feuding was denied as contract extensions were granted to chief executive Carl Peterson and head coach Marty Schottenheimer despite a disappointing 1996 season. Peterson, whose contract was due to expire Feb. 1, signed a four-year deal. Schottenheimer, who had a year left on his, was given a four-year extension that would keep him on the Chiefs sidelines through 2001. The Chiefs followed last season's 13-3 record by opening the 1996 season 4-0. The high expectations generated by those numbers just made it harder for fans to bear when the team stumbled to a 9-7 finish, missing the playoffs by losing at Buffalo the last weekend of the season.

* WOMAN FACES ARREST: The former stripper who made up a gang-rape accusation against Dallas Cowboys stars Erik Williams and Michael Irvin had until today to post bond on a charge of filing a false police report. Nina Shahravan, 23, could face six months in jail and a $2,000 fine if convicted of the misdemeanor. Police filed paperwork for the charge with prosecutors Tuesday. A warrant was issued for her arrest, but police said she wouldn't necessarily be arrested at her home. She had until today to post bond before Dallas county deputies begin trying to find her.