"Obviously, I've thought about it," he said Monday. "It's something to be dealt with," he said. "I think the best chance to replace Bill Parcells is to be a Parcells guy."

Groh is exactly that. The 55-year-old New Yorker who grew up 15 minutes from Jets camp, has served with Parcells at five stops --two in college and three as an NFL assistant with the Giants, Patriots and Jets.

Now, after following one of the NFL's best coaches around for more than 30 years, Groh follows Parcells as the leader of the Jets.

"This staff and this team will be my staff and my team," Groh said. "I do not want to be the continuity candidate or the stability candidate. We're dealing with the future."

Jets lose Crennel

CLEVELAND -- Romeo Crennel, defensive line coach for the New York Jets the past three seasons, accepted an offer Sunday to become the Cleveland Browns' new defensive coordinator. "He is an outstanding coach," Browns coach Chris Palmer said in a statement. "It strengthens your organization anytime you can acquire someone with 19 years of NFL experience." Crennel, who worked with Palmer from 1993 to 96 at New England, became an NFL coach in 1981 on the New York Giants staff of Ray Perkins. Crennel replaces Bob Slowik, who might coach the safeties next year. Palmer also has given Slowik permission to search elsewhere for a job as a coordinator.

Parcells will remain with the Jets until midsummer. He will then meet with new owner Robert Wood Johnson IV to discuss his future.

"I'm going to act in a support role, as a consultant to Al, a supporter and adviser," Parcells said. "We are committed to him. He's smart and tough and has the ability to stay focused. He will do a good job."

Groh, whose only previous head coaching experience was at Wake Forest from 1981-86, signed a four-year contract worth $3.2 million.

Groh hadn't expected the job, but that changed when coach-in-waiting Bill Belichick resigned Jan. 4, one day after he was announced as Parcells' replacement.

Belichick wants to coach elsewhere next season, but the NFL ruled he is bound to the Jets for the 2000 season. Any club wishing to hire Belichick must work out a deal with him and the Jets before Feb. 1.

Belichick sued the NFL on Monday, seeking a temporary restraining order that would allow him to negotiate with other teams. A hearing in Newark, N.J., was scheduled for Tuesday.

Groh said he won't deviate much from Parcells' philosophy, one that turned losers like the Jets into playoff contenders. Parcells' teams always "played tough, were strong, extremely well prepared, disciplined, game-smart and game-aware," Groh said.

Parcells won two Super Bowls with the Giants, got the Patriots into a Super Bowl and led the Jets to the AFC title game in 1998.

Groh's first chore is to settle on a staff. On defense, he needs a coordinator and secondary coach to replace Belichick, who could end up as coach/GM of the Patriots; a line coach to replace Romeo Crennel, who left to join the Cleveland Browns; and a linebackers coach to replace himself.

On offense, coordinator Charlie Weis' future has yet to be decided.

"The staff is quickly falling into place," Groh said although he did not announce any new hires. One thing is certain: Groh will not be a position coach.

Parcells said Groh will have final say on hiring and firing coaches, player and free-agent signings and draft decisions.

"A coach must be allowed to shape and form his team the way he wants to," Parcells said. "I've been an advocate of that, and I think it's important."

Groh was clearly enjoying his moment after serving as an NFL assistant for 12 years with five teams. He often joked during his news conference Monday, and he smiled when asked when he first knew he was going to become the coach.

"There are very few brides who were totally surprised to get the ring," he said. "Maybe at that particular moment, but I think in most cases they could see from the development of the relationship what was coming."

When pressed on Parcells' powerful presence, he said: "There was a song a long time ago called 'Me and My Shadow.' This is a shadow. I'm very happy to walk in because it's a very fortuitous one to have."

The Jets finished at .500 by winning seven of their final nine games under quarterback Ray Lucas. Lucas took over when Vinny Testaverde had a season-ending Achilles' tendon injury in the first game and Rick Mirer was unable to generate much offense.

With Testaverde back, along with running back Curtis Martin and a solid defense, the Jets should enter next season among the AFC's best.

"My first choice was Al all along, but I did make inquiries," Parcells said. "I've been on the front line of this thing for a quite awhile and I know what's out there. I think I know who can coach and who realistically might be a viable candidate for the New York Jets. And it came back to the same thing. It came back to Al."

Groh is the fifth Jets coach since 1990, following Bruce Coslet (1990-1993), Pete Carroll (1994), Rich Kotite (1995-96) and Parcells (1997-99).