The Associated Press

KIRKLAND, Wash. - Bob Ferguson thinks the odds are stacked against anyone trying to succeed in the NFL as a coach and general manager at the same time - even Mike Holmgren.

"I'm a little prejudiced obviously, but it's very difficult nowadays because of the demands you have contractually with the players if you're in that seat," said Ferguson, who was introduced Monday as the Seattle Seahawks' new GM.

Holmgren relinquished his title as Seattle's general manager - a job he held for four seasons - on Dec. 31, but will remain as the Seahawks' coach.

"Coaches have to make certain decisions on those contracts and it's really difficult for them to go out and make some decisions on those players as far as the team goes," Ferguson said.

Holmgren, who has compiled a disappointing 31-33 record in four seasons with the Seahawks, did not attend the news conference.

Team president Bob Whitsitt made the decision to hire Ferguson, who was fired as general manager of the Arizona Cardinals after last season.

It was unclear which man, Holmgren or Ferguson, would have more clout with Whitsitt and Seahawks owner Paul Allen. But it's also clear there is pressure on Holmgren to get the Seahawks back to the playoffs and fill the team's new downtown stadium next season.

The Seahawks have missed the playoffs three consecutive seasons.

"I think he's going to be a great fit for the organization," Whitsitt said of the 51-year-old Ferguson, who is a native of Enumclaw in south King County and went to high school in Federal Way.

"Bob's a very good personnel man," Whitsitt said. "If you can get a good personnel person in your organization, you get him. I like his experience."

Whitsitt doesn't expect there to be any problems between Ferguson and Holmgren, who has four seasons left on the $32 million, eight-year contract the Seahawks gave him to lure him away from Green Bay after the 1998 season.

Ferguson and Holmgren have served together on the NFL's prestigious Competition Committee.

"To me, we've become good friends," Ferguson said. "We just hit it off. I understand what he wants and he wants the same thing I do. That's a championship."

Ferguson played linebacker at the University of Washington and worked with the Seahawks as director of sales and special events in the 1970s.

He has spent 29 years in the NFL, including the last seven with the Cardinals, where he was hired as general manager in 1999.

He was fired by Arizona on Jan. 6 after the Cardinals finished with a 5-11 record, losing nine of their last 10 games.

Ferguson said the new opportunity in Seattle came as a surprise.

"I didn't expect to be here," he said. "I was going to retire completely. This kind of opportunity just kind of fell out of a tree."

He thinks he can become a major asset for Holmgren so he can concentrate exclusively on coaching again. In Green Bay, Holmgren coached the Packers to two Super Bowls.

"I think it's the best situation for Mike Holmgren because there are just so many things that can come up that have to be dealt with in a different manner than the head coach," he said.

Before joining the Cardinals in 1996, Ferguson spent 11 seasons in Buffalo and Denver, during which those two teams went to six Super Bowls.

He joined Buffalo in 1985 and was promoted to assistant general manager-director of pro personnel in 1989. The Bills won four consecutive AFC titles from 1990-93.

After his time in Buffalo, Ferguson became director of player personnel for the Broncos from 1993-95.

Seattle ranked last in the league against the run, 28th in overall defense and allowed 10 running backs to rush for at least 100 yards. Ferguson said improving the Seahawks' defense will be his main priority next season.

"If you can't stop the run in this league, you're not going to win consistently," he said.

Ferguson thinks it's a priority for NFL teams to keep their best players, something he couldn't do in Arizona. In Seattle, he will try to keep linebacker Anthony Simmons and Pro Bowl offensive tackle Walter Jones, who could leave as free agents.

Whitsitt said Ferguson would not handle contract negotiations and the salary cap in Seattle. That job will continue to be done by Mike Reinfeldt, a senior vice president.

Rams hang franchise tag on Pace

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Rams were unable to reach a long-term contract with Orlando Pace and placed the franchise player tag on the Pro Bowl offensive tackle.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch quoted Jay Zygmunt, president of football operations, as saying the move was made Monday. Rams spokesman Rick Smith said late Monday night that official word could come Tuesday.

Pace was the first overall pick of the 1997 draft and has completed a six-year, $18 million contract. Last season, Pace made the Pro Bowl despite missing almost half the season with calf and hamstring injuries.

NFL teams have a Feb. 20 deadline for placing franchise tags on players.

The franchise tag means the Rams must offer Pace a one-year contract equal to the average of the five highest-paid offensive tackles in the NFL last season, in this case $5.73 million. That might be too rich for the Rams, who don't want the entire amount to count against the salary cap.

Any multiyear deal the Rams might sign with Pace would include a bonus that is spread out over the length of the deal. That would lessen the 2003 cap hit.

The Rams are entitled to two first-round draft picks as compensation from any team that signs Pace.

Pace would be the second player to get the franchise tag with the Rams in three years. In 2001, they made defensive end Kevin Carter their franchise player, then traded him to Tennessee.

Washington coach: 'not interested' in 49ers job

SEATTLE - Washington football coach Rick Neuheisel said Monday no one with the San Francisco 49ers has contacted him about the team's head coaching job and that he's not interested in the opening.

Neuheisel, who has coached the Huskies for four seasons, issued a statement in response to published reports he's a contender for the job.

"I have been out of town the past three days on a family vacation and had hoped when I returned today that the position at the 49ers would have been filled and this speculation that I was involved would be proven pointless," Neuheisel said.

Neuheisel, who played quarterback at UCLA and spent seven seasons as an assistant with the Bruins, speculated that his name was raised because he talks with Terry Donahue, his old UCLA coach who is now the 49ers general manager.

"I want to reiterate what I have said in the past," Neuheisel said. "I am the football coach at the University of Washington and I am very happy with my position and I am not interested in coaching anywhere else."

49ers cornerback faces trial on DUI charge

MIAMI - San Francisco 49ers cornerback Mike Rumph rejected a plea agreement and decided to go to trial on a charge of drunken driving.

Rumph turned down an offer, usually offered to first-time offenders, that would have kept him out of jail. Miami-Dade County Judge Beth Bloom told Rumph before jury selection that if convicted, he could be sentenced to a maximum of six months in jail, followed by a year of probation.

Rumph told the judge he was aware of the possible penalties. He has maintained his innocence.

The 23-year-old player had 41 tackles and forced one fumble during his rookie season with the 49ers, who selected him in the first round out of Miami. Rumph was a key member of the Hurricanes' 2001 national championship team.

A Miami Beach police officer testified Monday that he stopped Rumph's vehicle early July 6 after watching him roll through two stop signs. The officer said Rumph failed five field sobriety tests.

Rumph's blood-alcohol level was .091 percent; the limit in Florida is .08 percent.

Rumph pleaded innocent to the charge last August. The trial was scheduled to resume Tuesday.

Eagles sign punter Dirk Johnson

PHILADELPHIA - The Eagles signed punter Dirk Johnson to a three-year contract on Monday.

Johnson spent last training camp with New Orleans and was re-signed by the Saints on Sept. 6. Three days later he punted eight times in place of the injured Toby Gowin, for a 38.4 average, and was released.

Johnson was allocated to Rhein of NFL Europe last spring and finished third in the league with a 42.7 yard punting average. He has also had short stints with San Diego, New York and Seattle.

Casserly appointed to NFL competition committee

HOUSTON - Houston Texans general manager Charley Casserly is a new member of the NFL competition committee.

"Charley brings to the committee a wealth of experience and a comprehensive knowledge of the game," commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Monday.

One of the committee's primary duties is to review and, if needed, change rules.

Titans coach Jeff Fisher and Buccaneers general manager Rich McKay are the committee's co-chairs. Other committee members are Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, Giants vice president John Mara, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, Colts president Bill Polian and Panthers president Mark Richardson.

Casserly also served on the committee from 1998-99, when he was with the Washington Redskins.

Browns sign tight end Heiden

CLEVELAND - Tight end Steve Heiden rejoined the Cleveland Browns on Monday, signing a two-year contract.

Heiden, a free agent, played in all 16 regular-season games last season. He caught 17 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. The 6-foot-5, 270-pounder was one of the club's top special teams players.

The Browns also signed free agent quarterback Pat Barnes and defensive tackle Adriano Belli. Defensive end Michael Boireau agreed to terms with the Browns, who were awarded safety Jason Moore on waivers from San Francisco.

Barnes is a former draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs. He has been released by Kansas City, Oakland, San Francisco and New Orleans. A college star at California, Barnes also has played in NFL Europe, the XFL and CFL.

Belli also played in the CFL after being waived by the New York Giants. The 6-foot-5, 289-pounder played at the University of Houston.

Boireau played for Browns coach Butch Davis at the University of Miami and was drafted in 2000 by Minnesota before nearly having his playing career ended by a rare muscle disorder.

Moore played in nine games last season for the 49ers, who waived him last month.

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