'Hawks Fire Coach Erickson

Dennis Erickson was fired as coach of the Seattle Seahawks Monday after an 8-8 season left the team out of the playoffs for the 10th consecutive year, The Associated Press has learned.

A team source, who requested anonymity, confirmed the dismissal, which came one day after Seattle closed its season with a 28-21 loss at Denver.

The Seahawks called a news conference for this afternoon but would not immediately confirm the firing. The fate of his coaching staff was unclear.

Erickson was one of five NFL coaches fired Monday, joining Dom Capers of Carolina, Dave Wannstedt of Chicago, Ted Marchibroda of Baltimore and Ray Rhodes of Philadelphia.

Erickson, who was dismissed for the first time in his coaching career, had records of 8-8, 7-9, 8-8 and 8-8 during his four seasons in Seattle.

He was let go with one season left on his five-year contract -- at $1 million -- that was given to him by former Seahawks owner Ken Behring to lure him from the University of Miami in 1995.

Erickson's original contract was for four years, with the team having an option for a fifth season. But the option year was guaranteed in 1996 during Behring's failed attempt to move the franchise to the Los Angeles area.

Paul Allen, in his second year as owner, spent lavishly on free agents but the Seahawks could not deliver. They have not had a winning season since 1990 and no NFL team has gone longer without making the playoffs.

Erickson, a 51-year-old Washington state native, coached Washington State in 1987 and 1988 before moving to Miami, where he coached two national championship teams in six seasons. With the Hurricanes, his coaching record was 63-9, including his 1989 and 1991 national title teams.

After the Seahawks went 8-8 and missed the playoffs a year ago, team president Bob Whitsitt made an unsuccessful search for a general manager. Erickson was allowed to return as coach again this season.

But the pressure and the expectations were even igher this season after Allen, a billionaire who also own the Portland Trail Blazers, opened his wallet for players.

Running back Ricky Watters, linebacker Darrin Smith, guard Brian Habib, center Kevin Glover and punter Jeff Feagles were the latest free-agent additions.

Not since 1983, when the Seahawks made it to the AFC title game, and '84, with a franchise-best 12-win season, had pro football optimism been higher in Seattle. After the losing years under Behring, Seahawks fans were convinced they would have a playoff contender again.

It didn't happen.

Watters, Smith, Habib, Glover and Feagles cost Allen about $15 million in signing bonuses. The Microsoft co-founder spent approximately $23 million in signing bonuses last year to get free agents Chad Brown, Willie Williams, Warren Moon, Bennie Blades and Dan Saleaumua and first-round draft choices Shawn Springs and Walter Jones.

Moon set records for completions and yards passing in 1997, but he lost his starting job to Jon Kitna and did not play the final five weeks of the season.

The 42-year-old quarterback cracked two ribs in the fifth week in Kansas City and did not look like the same player he was last season.

In 13 seasons as a college coach at Miami, Washington State, Wyoming and Idaho, Erickson had a 113-40-1 record. He won coach of the year honors in the Big Sky, Pac-10 and Big East.

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