Falcons cut losses, dismiss Reeves as coach

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will take over as head coach for the rest of the season.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank told Reeves -- the sixth-winningest coach in NFL history -- that he would be fired at the end of the season but wanted him to coach the rest of the way. Reeves asked to be let go immediately.

"When Arthur told me he had made the decision about the end of the year, I knew it had to come to a fullness today," Reeves said. "I'm an eternal optimist, so yeah, it was a surprise. But I'm also realistic enough about coaching to understand this is how it is in the NFL."

Said Blank: "I told him he could write the last chapter any way he wanted. He came in through the front door. I wanted him to go out through the front door."

Reeves, 59, is in his 23d consecutive season as an NFL head coach, by far the longest tenure in the league, and he had one year left on his contract. Reeves coached in four Super Bowls, one with the Falcons in 1999 and three with the Denver Broncos, losing each time.

He has a career record of 201-174-2, including the playoffs. He didn't rule out the possibility of coaching somewhere in 2004.

"A window's been closed but a door is open," he said. "I'm interested in seeing what it is."

The Falcons fell from the playoffs a year ago to one of the worst teams in the league after Vick was hurt in the exhibition season. Reeves was let go after the Falcons (3-10) defeated Carolina, 20-14, in overtime in Vick's first start of the season.

"Dan is a sweet guy, very sweet," Vick said. "He's a guy that really cares about his players. I think he went the extra mile for us, and a lot of guys are going to miss him."

Blank said he doesn't expect to hire a new coach until after the regular season. Phillips, a former head coach in Denver and Buffalo, isn't thought to be a leading candidate.

Only Don Shula, George Halas, Tom Landry, Curly Lambeau, and Chuck Noll won more NFL games than Reeves.

New start for Couch?

Cleveland's beleaguered quarterback Tim Couch was given back his starting job -- for at least one week. Couch now says he's willing to take a pay cut to keep it.

Couch, who has been jerked in and out of the starting lineup this season, will start Sunday's game at Denver and expects to be the No. 1 QB for the team's final three games.

As for next season, Couch said for the first time that he would restructure his contract to remain with the Browns.

"I'm open to anything," Couch said. "I want to be here. I've kind of started this thing and I want to be part of it when we make the transition to being an elite football team. I think I can help us get to that point."

The Browns (4-9) were expected to release Couch following the season. He is scheduled to make $7.6 million in 2004 and $8 million in '05. Team president Carmen Policy has said Couch's future with the Browns would depend on him restructuring his deal.

Couch has relieved Kelly Holcomb the past two weeks. He came in late in the first half Monday night against St. Louis after Holcomb threw two interceptions. Couch rallied the Browns with a pair of second-half scoring drives in a 26-20 loss.

Smith says he's done

Bruce Smith, the league's all-time leader in sacks, announced that he will retire after this season, his 19th. The Washington Redskins defensive end made his announcement at the team's practice facility three days after collecting his 199th sack against the New York Giants' Jesse Palmer and surpassing Reggie White's league record of 198. Smith spent 15 seasons with the Buffalo Bills and the past four with the Redskins . . . The Washington Post reported the Redskins have offered a long-term contract extension to linebacker LaVar Arrington. The details of the team's proposal were unclear, but the Redskins apparently are attempting to keep the two-time Pro Bowl selection in the fold for most, if not all, of the remainder of his career while also reducing his impact against the club's salary cap over the next few seasons . . . Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler tested his sore left knee and expects to start against Philadelphia Sunday. During last Sunday's loss at New England, Fiedler aggravated a knee injury that sidelined him for four games this season . . . Rams middle linebacker Robert Thomas has a torn groin and will be sidelined up to a month. Thomas leads the team in tackles and the Rams (10-3) hope he will be back for the playoffs. Jamie Duncan will replace him . . . Fullback Mike Anderson returned to the Broncos after serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Anderson was suspended Nov. 11 after testing positive for marijuana. He claimed the positive test was from secondhand smoke.

Grossman gets call

Rookie Rex Grossman will make his first NFL start at quarterback for the Chicago Bears against the first-place Minnesota Vikings Sunday at Soldier Field. Grossman, Chicago's first-round draft pick, has not played this season. Kordell Stewart was 2-5 as a starter and Chris Chandler 3-3 for the Bears (5-8), who were eliminated from playoff contention last week . . . Aaron Glenn's season ended when a lingering groin injury finally landed the Houston cornerback on injured reserve . . . Defensive tackle John Parrella was placed on injured reserve by the Oakland Raiders with a groin injury, the 10th Raider lost this season . . . Kyle Boller returned to practice, and barring any setbacks, he should be listed as the Baltimore Ravens' No. 3 quarterback Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. Boller started the first nine games of the season before getting injured Nov. 9 in a loss to the Rams. Even when Boller fully recovers he likely will remain a backup to Anthony Wright, who has led the team to a 3-1 record, completing 52.8 percent of his passes, with seven touchdowns and five interceptions . . . Jets general manager Terry Bradway said the team is considering moving Pro Bowl defensive end John Abraham to linebacker next season to improve the club's inconsistent defense.