Rams Up Asking Price for Vermeil

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) â€” If the Kansas City Chiefs want Dick Vermeil as head coach, it might cost them on draft day. <br><br>The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Friday that the St. Louis Rams, who still

Friday, January 5th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) â€” If the Kansas City Chiefs want Dick Vermeil as head coach, it might cost them on draft day.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Friday that the St. Louis Rams, who still have the retired Vermeil under contract for one more year, want a first-round pick in exchange for the right to hire him.

``My interpretation is, he can't go to Kansas City without our consent, which we haven't granted at this point,'' Rams president John Shaw said Thursday. ``Right now, there is some dispute. If a coach still has years remaining (on his contract), he can't go to another club without our permission.''

The Chiefs, meanwhile, refused to confirm reports that they fired Gunther Cunningham on Thursday after two lackluster seasons and want to replace him with Vermeil, who led the Rams to last year's Super Bowl title.

However, Shaw said, the Chiefs telephoned him Wednesday asking for permission to speak to Vermeil.

The matter could wind up being decided by NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue. A league spokesman confirmed Thursday that both parties have taken the dispute over whether the Chiefs can hire Vermeil to the NFL.

``It is a matter of interpretation of a contract, and if the parties can't agree, then it could go to the commissioner. We have had conversations with both teams,'' NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

``If they cannot reach an agreement, then the commissioner could play a role. This is similar to the situations in recent years with the Patriots and Jets involving Bill Belichick and, before that, Bill Parcells.''

Vermeil, 64, was out of football this season after the Rams beat Tennessee in the Super Bowl.

He has been a close friend of Kansas City president Carl Peterson for more than 25 years. They coached together at UCLA in the 1970s, and when Vermeil led the 1980 Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl, Peterson worked in the team's personnel department.

Cunningham, 16-16 in two years as Marty Schottenheimer's successor with the Chiefs, apparently was told Thursday that he would not be retained.

The usually accessible Cunningham could not be reached for comment.

``He's home, but he's not available,'' Rene Cunningham told The Associated Press.

Asked how her husband's spirits were holding up, she said, ``He's doing OK now.''

One source familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AP that Cunningham, a respected defensive coordinator until he became head coach, might take a similar position with St. Louis. This would lessen the compensation due the Rams.

ESPN.com said the Rams denied the Chiefs permission over the past two days to speak with Vermeil. The Rams faxed a copy of Vermeil's resignation letter to the league office.

Neither Vermeil nor Peterson could be reached. The Chiefs posted a statement on their Web site Thursday afternoon quoting Peterson as saying his evaluation of the team was ``an ongoing one.''

``As I stated previously, I will not be constrained by a timetable,'' he was quoted as saying. ``I am in the midst of an in-depth look at our entire football operation and that takes time. The evaluation process includes me, coaches, players, and support staff. When I've concluded, then I will make my decisions. I don't plan to take a great deal of time, but I will take whatever time is necessary.''

Two Kansas City radio stations, WDAF-TV and WHB, said Cunningham had been told he would not be back as head coach.

The Chiefs finished 7-9 this season. Peterson, after voicing support for Cunningham, changed his tone after a demoralizing loss to lowly Atlanta in which many players appeared to be just going through the motions.

Cunningham, 54, was promoted to head coach in 1999 after the resignation of Schottenheimer, who was hired Wednesday as coach of the Washington Redskins.

Cunningham fell out of favor with fans this year and even became a subject of talk radio ridicule for his game management blunders and rambling, disjointed answers to reporters' questions.

One station had begun what it called ``Gunther Jeopardy,'' where a tape was played of Cunningham's response and listeners won prizes by guessing the question.

He was also criticized for mistakes such as misusing timeouts, calling for reviews of plays that were not eligible for review, and for telling his team after the season opener that he had decided to resign, but changed his mind.