Falcons’ line coach walks away again

Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005 | 9:26 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

Alex Gibbs has walked away from coaching again, giving up his job with the Atlanta Falcons.

The team announced Wednesday that Gibbs, 64, would become a consultant after serving this past season as assistant head coach and offensive line coach on Jim Mora's staff.

Gibbs will be replaced by Jeff Jagodzinski, who last season coached the tight ends. Clancy Barone, assistant offensive line coach under Gibbs, was promoted to tight ends coach.

Gibbs, one of the most respected line coaches in the game, previously left his job with the Denver Broncos because of exhaustion and depression. He coached the line on the team that won two Super Bowl.

After three years in semiretirement, Gibbs got back on the sideline last season. He joined Mora's staff in Atlanta.

Signing Bledsoe is not about providing a stopgap until Drew Henson is ready to start. This is about trying to win a Super Bowl while Parcells is still around, as evidenced by Bledsoe's contract.

The deal is structured for three years, but is set up so the Cowboys have to revisit it after two years, which coincides with the amount of years Parcells has remaining on his contract. Neither the Cowboys nor Bledsoe's agent, David Dunn, divulged monetary specifics, but a source said Bledsoe received a $2 million siging bonus in addition to the guaranteed $5 million over the first two years.

If the Eagles choose not to match an offer made to Westbrook, they would get a first-round pick in the National Football League draft from his new team.

Ruskell also will fill the role of general manager.

Ruskell's hiring comes almost six weeks after team owner Paul Allen fired former president Bob Whitsitt.