EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — George O'Leary got another chance when one of his former high school players — new Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Tice — hired him as assistant head coach Friday.

        Nearly a month ago, O'Leary resigned in disgrace only five days after getting his dream job as head coach at Notre Dame. He quit following revelations he had lied on his resume about his academic and athletic credentials.

        “I've been dealing with a lot of other problems as you know, but I'm looking forward to coaching, and that's what I really enjoy,” he said.

        O'Leary also will coach the Vikings' defensive line.

        At a news conference to announce O'Leary's hiring, Tice asked reporters to stay away from questions about the Notre Dame situation. He called O'Leary both a close friend and “a pretty damn good football coach.”

        Tice played for O'Leary in New York at Central Islip High School in Long Island.

        “Anybody knows I'm going to lean on George tremendously,” Tice said. “He has a lot more head coaching experience than I do. I want to make sure that people understand his role, not only as a defensive line coach, but a sounding board for me and a mentor for me that I'm able to work with at this stage in my career.”

        Asked afterward if the Notre Dame problem weighed on his mind when considering O'Leary, Tice replied: “Not even a bit.”

        O'Leary, the former Georgia Tech coach, was hired by Notre Dame on Dec. 8. He falsely stated in his biographical sketch that he had a master's degree in education from New York University and had earned three letters as a New Hampshire football player. He attended New Hampshire only two years and didn't play in any games.

        “George O'Leary will no doubt be a great addition to the Vikings' staff,” Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White said. “Personally speaking, I am most pleased to learn that he has been offered, and accepted, this opportunity.”

        Earlier Friday, Vikings owner Red McCombs declined comment on O'Leary, but told The Associated Press he was “on board” with Tice on any coaching staff decisions.

        “I like the direction he is going,” McCombs said. “I feel very good about the staff he is proposing.”

        O'Leary was a defensive line coach for the San Diego Chargers from 1992-93 before beginning his second stint at Georgia Tech as a defensive coordinator in 1994. He was 52-33 at Georgia Tech and was twice picked as the Atlantic Coast Conference's coach of the year.

        As defensive line coach, O'Leary will serve under new defensive coordinator Willie Shaw, who was promoted Friday from defensive backs coach.

        Tice, hired to replace Dennis Green, still has to fill the slots for his offensive coordinator, offensive line and special teams coaches. He said Friday he would interview Art Shell, the former Oakland Raiders coach, for the offensive line position.

        Tice said he plans on taking his time filling the offensive coordinator job.

        PACKERS:

        The team might be down to its fifth strong safety Sunday against San Francisco — rookie Bhawoh Jue missed practice with sore ribs and Billy Jenkins, who had one tackle in six games this season, took his place.

        Coach Mike Sherman said he still expects him to play Sunday, but Jue didn't sound so sure.

        “I can't really speculate on that,” he said. “My job right now is to do everything I can to be ready on Sunday and not worry about starting or not starting.”

        PATRIOTS:

        The NFL Players Association filed a grievance against New England, challenging receiver Terry Glenn's playoff suspension. Glenn was suspended Thursday for repeatedly missing practices and meetings. The NFLPA said Glenn was excused from any practices missed because of obligations the team was fully aware of.

        “The discipline in this is clearly excessive,” NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen said. “It is unfortunate that the Patriots are intent on excluding one of their best players from postseason play, but we are confident that when all of the facts come out in arbitration, the discipline will be rescinded by the arbitrator and Terry will be granted his full back pay.”

        BEARS:

        Scott Dragos, waived by the team Nov.13, re-signed with Chicago. He gives the Bears a backup to Stanley Pritchett, who became the starting fullback after Daimon Shelton was suspended four game for violating the league's banned substance policy. Dragos appeared in six games this season, mainly on special teams.

        DOLPHINS:

        Rookie receiver Chris Chambers practiced for the first time this week but on a limited basis, and his status for Sunday's playoff game against Baltimore will be a game-time decision. He has been slowed by sprains in both ankles.

        Chambers leads the Dolphins with 883 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

        “It's going to be close,” coach Dave Wannstedt said. “If he can move around and do things, then he'll go.”

        JAGUARS:

        Owner Wayne Weaver calls the idea of looking into hiring former University of Florida coach Steve Spurrier “absolutely ridiculous,” even though Spurrier is immensely popular in Jacksonville.

        Weaver is in the process of working out a contract extension for Tom Coughlin, who is 13-19 as coach over the past two seasons.

        Many fans have said Weaver should pursue Spurrier.

        “That's absolutely ridiculous. If I did that, it would tell my coach that I have no confidence in him, that I'm running a beauty contest,” Weaver told the Florida Times-Union. “Steve Spurrier is a brilliant football coach, but my situation is that I have a football coach.”

        GIANTS:

        Team chairman Robert Tisch said he was optimistic the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority would help the Giants pay for renovating the stadium, which it leases to the team, in hopes of landing the 2007 Super Bowl.

        “We should not have difficulty doing that,” said Tisch, who has been seeking renovations for about a year.

        NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue met at the stadium with Giants and state officials. He said team owners probably will pick a venue for the 2007 championship game in March 2003.

        The league is considering having the Super Bowl at the Meadowlands or Maryland's FedEx Field to help the New York or Washington areas recover from the Sept.11 terrorist attacks. Either would be the game's first open-air cold-weather site.

        All the Super Bowls through 2006 have been scheduled.

Today's games look like... last week's Wild-card weekend kicks off in Philly O'Leary, banished by Irish, lands with Vikings

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