Blank says loyalty to Redskins swayed Gibbs most

<p>When Joe Gibbs told him he wanted to return to coaching in two face-to-face meetings last week, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank was all ears.</p><p>Blank soon realized, however, that Gibbs either would coach the Washington Redskins or he wouldnt coach at all. The Falcons have been without a head coach since Blank fired Dan Reeves on Dec. 9.</p><p>I think Joes got 12 years of history and tradition and commitment to a franchise and to fans and to a community, Blank said Wednesday. He has friends up there and what have you. I could see that was really a compelling factor with him.</p><p>Gibbs signed a five-year, $25 million contract Wednesday to return to the team he led to three Super Bowl titles from 1981-92. His decision means Gibbs will sell the 1.67 percent stake in the Falcons that he bought for $9 million in March 2002.</p><p>With Atlantas head coaching job vacant, Blank and general manager Rich McKay met last week with Gibbs to gauge his interest. Blank and McKay refused to say where the meetings occurred.</p><p>Dont ask me specific dates, McKay said with a smile. Im not sure, given all thats gone on, but the discussions with Joe were more about getting back into football. Why does he want to do it? The focus and everything else. He wanted to know a lot about us and about the Falcons, but Joe Gibbs is a Washington Redskin.</p><p>Though Gibbs joined Atlanta venture capitalist John Imlay and former Post Properties CEO John Williams in buying 5 percent of the Falcons two years ago, none of the three was ever involved in the daily operations of the club.</p><p>McKay, who left Tampa Bay to become Atlantas team president and GM three weeks ago, spoke Wednesday with NFL officials who assured him Gibbs can take his time divesting his interest in the team. Blank, who owns 95 percent of the team, will buy all of Gibbs equity.</p><p>Blank paid $545 million for the Falcons in a deal that closed Feb. 13, 2002.</p><p>Its something well work through, but its no problem, McKay said. As to how soon or whether its tomorrow or next week, its up to the league office and the Falcons finance guys, and theyll figure it out.</p><p>The Falcons have interviewed six candidates to replace Reeves _ interim head coach Wade Phillips, defensive coordinators Lovie Smith of St. Louis, Jim Mora of San Francisco, Romeo Crennel of New England, Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and former Steelers defensive coordinator Tim Lewis.</p><p>Mora returned to Atlanta Wednesday for the second time in two weeks to meet with Atlanta officials because Blank had been unable to attend his first interview. Blank and McKay would not say if the Falcons are considering anyone else.</p><p>Three college coaches _ LSUs Nick Saban, Iowas Kirk Ferentz and Southern Cals Pete Carroll _ have been mentioned since Reeves was fired, but Blank and McKay declined to discuss the teams intentions.</p><p>Blank, the former Home Depot CEO who co-founded the Atlanta-based company, became friends with Gibbs through NASCAR. Gibbs, a two-time Winston Cup champion, owns the team Home Depot sponsors for Tony Stewarts car.</p><p>Family and racing interests allowed Gibbs to attend just three Atlanta games during the last year _ two playoff games in January and the season-ending victory over Jacksonville two weeks ago at the Georgia Dome.</p><p>During their time together at the game, Gibbs didnt mention to Blank that his interest in coaching again had grown stronger, but the Atlanta owner thought the situation in Washington could develop given the Redskins second straight losing season under coach Steve Spurrier.</p><p>Joe called me a number of weeks ago, Blank said. I actually had chatted with him on a periodic basis with him and the other minority partners to talk about whats going on. We had made a decision about going ahead and talking to Dan. I called Joe and chatted with him about it.</p><p>After I told him that, he said that he was thinking potentially about going back into coaching for a lot of reasons. He missed the game. He had a passion for it _ just a whole lot of variety of issues that had kind of sorted out with him over the last number of months.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/1/179655