By Derek Harper SportsLine NFL Editor

Feb. 3, 2000

DALLAS COWBOYS

Dave Campo has been with Dallas since 1989.(AP)   After firing Chan Gailey, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones flew old friends to Dallas on his private jet to talk about the vacant coaching job. He wasn't interviewing Oakland owner Al Davis or New England offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese, he just wanted to know if there were any assistants in the NFL that could bring back the old Cowboys offense that helped win three Super Bowls in the '90s. Apparently they said "no," because Jones didn't so much as ask permission to talk to an assistant from another team before hiring Dallas defensive coordinator Dave Campo. News on assistants: Reilly, Zimmer hired to run Dallas offense, defense

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Mike Sherman is a relative unknown in coaching circles.(AP)   Upon firing Ray Rhodes after one season, Packers general manager Ron Wolf scoured the college ranks, but Wisconsin's Barry Alvarez and Miami's Butch Davis pulled their hats out of the ring and Wolf became secretive about his search. While the media named candidates, and some coaches named themselves candidates, Wolf apparently was digging further than anyone imagined after talks with Marty Schottenheimer broke off. He finally signed a former Packer assistant -- Mike Sherman -- who spent the 1999 season as Mike Holmgren's offensive coordinator in Seattle.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Dave Wannstedt was waiting in Jimmy Johnson's wings.(AP)   The first shoe dropped in Miami when Jimmy Johnson resigned as the Dolphins coach just a day after the franchise suffered its worst postseason defeat ever in the AFC Championship Game. Whether or not the other shoe drops (QB Dan Marino's possible retirement) is now up to Dave Wannstedt, who signed a three-year deal to succeed J.J. and will have to decide the future of the 17-year veteran, who sounds like he wants to return next season. Wannstedt was on J.J.'s staff at the University of Miami, Dallas and was hired as the Dolphins' defensive coordinator after getting fired as the head man in Chicago last year. News on assistants: Gailey hired to run offense

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Bill Belichick is worth a No. 1 pick to New England.(AP)   After weeks of lawsuits and negotiations, the Patriots and Jets finally agreed on a compensation package and Bill Belichick becomes the new New England coach. The sticking point had been New England's first-round pick in the April NFL Draft, which owner Bob Kraft reluctantly parted with, along with a fourth-rounder in 2001 and a seventh-rounder in 2002. In exchange, the Patriots get a fifth-round pick in 2001, a seventh-round pick in 2002 and the rights to Belichick, who will also serve as the general manager. The next question is, how many coaches will follow him from the Jets? News on assistants: Belichick hires five assistants, including Jets' Weis

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

New GM Randy Mueller has hired an old friend as coach.(AP)   As first reported by SportsLine's Len Pasquarelli on Wednesday, the Saints have hired Jim Haslett as their new coach. The Pittsburgh defensive coordinator has strong ties to new New Orleans general manager Randy Mueller, who was hired away from Seattle and was interested in making Haslett the Seahawks' coach after Dennis Erickson was fired following the 1998 season. Haslett spent three seasons with the Steelers after serving as the Saints' defensive coordinator in 1996, and reportedly turned down an offer to become the Philadelphia Eagles' coach last offseason.

NEW YORK JETS

Al Groh was 26-40 as the coach of Wake Forest.(AP)   Al Groh became the new Jets coach after signing a deal believed to be for five years and $6 million on Jan. 24. New team owner Robert Wood Johnson IV lobbied unsuccessfully to get Bill Parcells to return to the sideline for one more season, but Parcells will remain on board as head of football operations -- for now. Groh, 55, was promoted from linebackers coach after spending the past seven years on Parcells' staff in New England and with the Jets. Parcells pushed hard for Johnson to stay in house, and Groh was his first choice. News on assistants: Nolan named defensive coordinator Henning named offensive coordinator Whisenhunt named tight ends coach

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Mike Martz was coveted by several teams.(AP)   Mike Martz becomes only the fifth coach in NFL history to take over a Super Bowl champion after Dick Vermeil retires just two days after the Rams win Super Bowl XXXIV. Martz, believed to be on the short list of several teams with coaching vacancies after the regular season ended, signed a deal during Super Bowl week guaranteeing he would succeed Vermeil. He just didn't know it would be the next week. Martz was elevated after only one season as the St. Louis offensive coordinator, but managed a unit that averaged 33 points and more than 400 yards of total offense per game. News on assistants: Martz will call plays, but seeks help from other coaches