Fassel predicts Giants will return to Super Bowl
■ New York coach Jim Fassel
guarantees his team will get
back to the big game soon
By Tom Canavan
The Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. — You didn’t think
New York Giants coach new Jim
Fassel was through making guaran
tees, did you?
A day after being humbled by the
Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl,
Fassel guaranteed on Monday that
die Giants would return to the NFL
championship game, and soon.
Fassel, whose playoff guarantee
on Nov. 22 ignited the Giants run to
the Super Bowl, said the nucleus of
the team is solid and that, if the
players continue to work hard and
play with the same unselfish atti
tude, they can succeed again.
“I m going to take the same ap
proach as last year,” Fassel said. “I
want tough guys, hard-working
guys, guys who are committed to
coming in here and being together.
That way we can climb right back
up on top and try to get back to this
game, because I think we will. We’ll
get back to this game. We have a bet
ter team right now. ”
When asked if that was a guaran
tee, Fassel didn’t hesitate.
“Yes,” he said in a calm, clear
voice.
He was just as quick when asked
how long it would take the Giants
to get back to the Super Bowl?
“It ain’t going to take 10 years, like
it took last time,” Fassel said referring
to the decade between the Giants last
two Super Bowl appearances.
The Giants never were in this Su
per Bowl in losing 34-7. They fell
behind early and spent the rest of
the game watching Kerry Collins
struggle against the Ravens’ awe
some defense. The quarterback was
intercepted four times. His right
shoulder was partially separated in
the third quarter with the game out
of reach, but he finished the contest.
“I’ve always been able to put
things behind me,” Collins said.
“I’ve faced bigger challenges in my
life. I’ll just circle the wagons again
and comeback.”
Over the next week, Fassel will
meet with his players and coaching
staff and finalize an offseason train
ing program. He may lose defensive
coordinator John Fox, if he lands a
head coaching job.
Fassel said he would like to get
the contract situation off his mind
as soon as possible.
“I don’t see it as being a big, diffi
cult mess,” he said. “They have ex
pressed to me that they want me
here, and they want me to stay here,
and I’m a New York Giant. I never
floated my name or threatened about
this or that or played the politics of it.
I want to be a New York Giant. ”
Like most coaches, Fassel spent
the early morning hours on Mon
day replaying the game.
Having Collins throw an inter
ception late in the first half was cru
cial, as was the interception return
by Duane Starks in the third quar
ter, Fasselsaid.
Fassel was like a proud parent
talking about Collins, even through
the quarterback played his worst
game of the season, throwing the
four interceptions. The two talked
at a team party after the game.
“I told him I was proud as hell of
him,” Fassel said. “I am proud of
everything he has done, the way he
has handled himself this year, and
I’m darn glad he is our quarterback
and that we’ll be around here to
gether for a long time.”
If there was one topic that made
Fassel emotional on the day after, it
was the team party.
When he walked in, everyone
gave him a standing ovation.
“It felt very good,” Fassel said,
his eyes watering as he recounted
the story. “That was very nice, prob
ably as good as I felt.
“It’s a hard pill to swallow. We had
a great year and a bad day. It hurts
right now, but I am not going to let
that take away from everything that
was accomplished this year. We got
to the Super Bowl.”
And the Giants are going back, if
Fassel’s new guarantee is as good as
his last.
Atlanta strikes out
in offseason trading
■Atlanta loses out on key
offseason trades but stays
focussed on next season
By Paul Newberry
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — After getting swept
in the first round of the playoffs, At
lanta had big plans for the offsea
son. Alex Rodriguez was in its
sights. So was Mike Hampton.
But A-Rod went to Texas, Hamp
ton signed with Colorado and At
lanta was left to ponder what might
have been.
Atlanta settled for some minor
tinkering rather than a major over
haul. Andres Galarraga is out. Rico
Brogna is in. John Smoltz, Quilvio
Veras and Eddie Perez are back.
Otherwise, the team that reports
to spring training next month to be
gin the quest for a 10th straight divi
sion title will largely be the same
group that took the field last year.
The quiet offseason had sparked
some grumbling among Atlanta fans,
who wonder if their team’s amazing
postseason run is nearing an end.
“We have a very good team, a
team capable of winning our divi
sion and playing for the league
championship again,” general
manager John Schuerholz said.
After winning another NL East ti
tle, Atlanta lost 3-0 to St. Louis. It
was its earliest exit from the play
offs since the postseason run began
in 1991.
“I don’t think failing to play for
the league championship series
once in a consecutive string of 10
years means the end is near,”
Schuerholz said.
Atlanta made strong pitches for
both Rodriguez and Hampton, only
to find itself unwilling to meet the
market demands.
Rodriguez agreed to a record-set
ting $252 million, 10-year contract
with the Rangers. Hampton, a 15
game winner for the New York
Mets, signed a $121 million, eight
year contract with Colorado.
“We were not going to spend
$252 million for a player and we
were not going to guarantee a pitch
er eight years under any circum
stances,” Schuerholz said.
Atlanta has pledged to keep its
payroll — one of the highest in base
ball — under $90 million. Still fac
ing arbitration hearings with An
druw Jones, Kevin Millwood, John
Rocker and Veras, the team is com
mitted to at least $82.5 million in
salaries, which doesn’t account for a
few fringe players who will fill out of
the 25-man roster.
A year ago, Atlanta had an $84.5
million payroll on opening day and
finished at $95 million.
“The notion that some might
have that weren’t active this winter
is as far from the truth as can be,”
the GM said. “There was an awful
lot of activity we were involved in.
It just didn’t develop into final ac
tion this time.”
Atlanta’s major acquisition —
yawn — turned out to be Brogna, a
first baseman who had only two
homers and 21 RBIs last season.
He’ll replace Galarraga, who went
to Texas after hitting .302 with 28
homers and 100 RBIs.
Atlanta is counting on Brogna to
recapture the form he had from
1997-99, when he averaged 21
homers and 96 RBIs for the Phillies.
Last year, he was hampered by a
broken left forearm.
Comeback will be a theme of
spring training, which begins Feb.
16 at Kissimmee, Fla.
Smoltz missed all of last season
with an elbow injury. Perez, a valu
able backup at catcher, was out
most of the year with a shoulder in
jury. Veras, who played well at sec
ond base, tore up a knee just after
the All-Star break.
“If all the guys we have on the
roster and added to the roster are at
their healthy best, we’ll have a very
strong team coming out of spring
training,” Schuerholz said.
Smoltz will get the most atten
tion, especially since Atlanta de
cided to exercise an $8 million op
tion. Atlanta’s best clutch pitcher,
he had surgery last spring to repair
a chronic elbow problem.
“He’s told me on a number of oc
casions that his arms feels spectac
ular and he can’t wait for spring
training,” Schuerholz said. “But it
makes sense to be cautious.”
To cut costs, Atlanta didn’t re
sign Bobby Bonilla and Wally Joyn
er. Atlanta did pick up 36-year-old
outfielder Dave Martinez and in
fielder Kurt Abbott.
But those two, combined with
Paul Bako and Keith Lockhart, won’t
exactly strike fear in opposing teams.
“Last year might have been the
strongest bench we’ve had in
years,” Schuerholz said. “But I feel
like we have a good solid bench. ”
Schuerholz figures the biggest
battle will be for the last three spots
in the bullpen. Atlanta didn’t bring
back Terry Mulholland, going the
low-cost route by signing Matt
Whiteside, Joe Slusarski, Marc
Valdes and Jake Robbins.
“The middle relief pitching,”
Schuerholz said, “is where we’ll
spend most of our time making de
cisions this spring.”
READY
FOR THE
RIDE
OF YOUR
LIFE?
,v
\
wellsfargo.com jobs
WELLS
FARGO
The Next Stage
©2001 Wells Fargo Banks. Members FDIC EEO/M/F/D/V
It's the call of the wild financial frontier. And at
Wells Fargo, it's never been more exciting.
Working for Wells Fargo means working in an inclu
sive environment with managers driven to be and to
attract the very best. Managers who develop and
retain die most talented people.
When it comes to benefit packages, Wells Fargo
ranks as one of the best companies to work for.
It's more than just great perks; it's a company that
knows you have a life outside of work. Depending
on your situation, you might receive flexible hours,
a lax dress code, tuition reimbursement and more.
It's simply treating people well. So, if you are look
ing to blaze new territory in your career and your
life, this is your ticket.
Join us on campus and learn about our career
opportunities at the:
Information Session
Thursday, February 1st
5:00 p.m. • 7:30 p.m.
Erb Memorial Ballroom
Please visit our website at: wellsfargo.com/jobs and
learn about our various exciting career opportunities.