Packers hire Bates to coach defense

Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005 | 9:19 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

Jim Bates, who coached the Miami Dolphins for the final seven games of the season after Dave Wannstedt quit, was hired as defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers.

Bates replaces Bob Slowik, who hasn't decided if he'll accept a demotion to remain with the team, coach Mike Sherman said in a press release. In Slowik's only season running the defense, the Packers ranked 25th out of 32 National Football League teams in yardage allowed and gave up a team-record 33 touchdown passes.

Bates, 58, spent the past five seasons as the Dolphins' defensive coordinator. He took over as the team's interim coach when Wannstedt resigned following a 1-8 start.

Bates interviewed for the full-time job last month after leading the Dolphins to a 3-4 finish, but the team hired former Louisiana State coach Nick Saban. Bates opted to leave the organization and seek other opportunities.

The move reunites Hackett with Jon Gruden, who spent one season as an assistant under his former mentor when Hackett was the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh in the early 1990s.

Hackett left the Jets last Wednesday, four days after a 20-17 overtime loss to Pittsburgh in the second round of the playoffs. He had been under mounting pressure and constant criticism because of his unimaginative play-calling.

The Chiefs will look at Crouch as a safety and plan to send him to NFL Europe this spring. Crouch, who won the Heisman in 2001 at Nebraska, is committed to defense, Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said. "He said he would do whatever we wanted him to do," Vermeil said.