| | NEWARK, N.J. -- Bill Belichick dropped his antitrust lawsuit
against the NFL on Wednesday, a day after a judge refused to free
him to negotiate to coach other teams.
Belichick lost his attempt to gain a temporary restraining order
against NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue's ruling that keeps him
from coaching another team without the New York Jets' permission.
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Belichick contacted Jets
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A source says Bill Belichick sent a letter to the New York Jets last
Friday, telling the team he would be willing to return as head coach if he were given total control of football operations, pushing Bill Parcells out of the picture.
The letter was sent after Commissioner Paul Tagliabue ruled
that Belichick's Jets contract was valid. On Saturday, the Jets sent a
letter to Belichick saying they had already reached an agreement in
principle to hire someone else.
Belichick's decision not to take the job on Jan. 4 hinged on Parcells'
continued front office role with the team, the source said. Parcells said several times in press conferences after his resignation that he would have a continued role, which did not sit well with Belichick and which Belichick believed violated his contract with the Jets.
-- ESPN.com news services
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U.S. District Judge John Bissell ruled that Belichick could only blame himself for his quandary after quitting the Jets.
"It made sense to withdraw the case and to assess our
position," Belichick lawyer David Feher said Wednesday.
Jets lawyers did not immediately return telephone messages.
The team has left Belichick in an unworkable position, Feher said.
"He cannot work in the NFL because the Jets have indicated they do not want to employ him," he said. "He is not being paid, but he's still restricted from pursuing his livelihood."
Belichick's $1.4 million contract, with three years left on it,
called for him to take over the team upon head coach Bill Parcells
retirement.
Parcells quit Jan. 3 and Belichick stunned the team by resigning the next day, citing uncertainties posed by the impending sale and potential problems from Parcells' continued association with the front office.
Tagliabue's ruling covers only the 2000 season and does not
address the remaining two years on Belichick's contract.
Jets lawyer Glenn Kurtz said Thursday that Belichick asked last Friday if the Jets were willing to let him return as head coach at the same salaries and duties, but was turned down. | |
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