Jan. 26, 2000 SportsLine wire reports

NEWARK, N.J. -- Bill Belichick dropped his antitrust lawsuit against the NFL on Wednesday, a day after a judge refused to free him to negotiate to coach other teams.

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Belichick lost his attempt to gain a temporary restraining order against NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue's ruling that keeps him from coaching another team without the New York Jets' permission.

U.S. District Judge John Bissell ruled that Belichick could only blame himself for his quandary after quitting the Jets.

"It made sense to withdraw the case and to assess our position," Belichick lawyer David Feher said Wednesday.

Jets lawyers did not immediately return telephone messages.

The team has left Belichick in an unworkable position, Feher said.

"He cannot work in the NFL because the Jets have indicated they do not want to employ him," he said. "He is not being paid, but he's still restricted from pursuing his livelihood."

Belichick's $1.4 million contract, with three years left on it, called for him to take over the team upon head coach Bill Parcells retirement.

Parcells quit Jan. 3 and Belichick stunned the team by resigning the next day, citing uncertainties posed by the impending sale and potential problems from Parcells' continued association with the front office.

Tagliabue's ruling covers only the 2000 season and does not address the remaining two years on Belichick's contract.

Jets lawyer Glenn Kurtz said Thursday that Belichick asked last Friday if the Jets were willing to let him return as head coach at the same salaries and duties, but was turned down.

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