Reeves Readmitted To Hospital

Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Reeves was re-admitted to Piedmont Hospital Sunday afternoon and will likely remain there for the next three to four days as doctors monitor his condition.

Reeves underwent quadruple bypass surgery last Monday and was released from the hospital four days later. But Reeves was feeling ill on Sunday afternoon and returned to the hospital.

"Word is Dan is not to have contact with anyone for at least a week," said Falcons interim coach Rich Brooks at today's media briefing. "He'll probably be in the hospital for three to four days. The doctors are monitoring him and he's in good shape."

At first, it was believed that Reeves would be able to return for the playoffs, but his status now is uncertain.

"We don't know what his return schedule will be," said Brooks today. "The doctors will determine that."

The Falcons beat the Lions, 24-17, Sunday to clinch only the second NFC West title in the 33-year history of the franchise and later dedicated the win to Reeves.

"This right here is the culmination of Dan's hard work," said Pro Bowl running back Jamal Anderson after the victory. "We won this game for Dan and his family. He came in here and built a winner."

"I was wondering what he (Reeves) was thinking throughout the game," said Falcons Pro Bowl quarterback Chris Chandler. "I think that permeated throughout the team. We weren't going to let him down."

Dan Reeves, right, talks with Falcons director of public relations, Charlie Taylor, after briefly meeting with the team last week. (AP)

Brooks, the defensive coordinator, served as interim coach for the Falcons but worked from the coaches' box. General manager Harold Richardson was positioned on the sidelines and relayed instructions from Brooks.

Brooks will again coach the team for the regular-season finale this weekend against Miami. Atlanta has clinched a first-round bye and plays its first postseason game on the weekend of Jan. 9-10.

The 54-year-old Reeves underwent more than four hours of surgery last Monday after an angiogram revealed he had three blocked arteries. He had undergone angioplasties in 1990 and 1991.

Reeves first experienced heart problems in August 1990 when he had an angioplasty to unclog two arteries. Five months later, he had a second angioplasty to clear another artery branch and had not had any problems since.

A four-time Coach of the Year, Reeves will likely be honored again for transforming a team which finished 3-13 just two years ago.

Reeves, a native of Rome, Georgia, was hired as Falcons coach and executive vice president of football operations in 1997. After a 1-7 start, the Falcons won six of their last eight games to finish 7-9 last season.

This year, the Falcons boast the third-best record in the NFL at 13-2 and have won their last eight games to break a club record for victories set in 1980, when Atlanta went 12-4 and won its only division crown.

Reeves is the NFL's winningest active coach with 160 regular season victories. Over 18 years, including the postseason, he has a career record of 168-124-1, ranking eighth all-time in wins.

Reeves spent the first 12 years of his coaching career with the Denver Broncos, guiding them to three Super Bowls, four AFC Championship games and five AFC West titles. He was named AFC Coach of the Year in 1982, 1988 and 1991 and compiled a record of 117-79 with the Broncos, including postseason.

Reeves' teams in Denver won 10 or more games in a season seven times. However, he was fired after his relationship with quarterback John Elway became strained. He was hired as coach of the New York Giants in 1993 and turned around the team in his first season, taking them from 6-10 to 11-5 and a playoff berth to again earn Coach of the Year honors.

But after a 9-7 finish in 1994, the Giants were a combined 11-21 over the next two years and Reeves was fired following the 1996 season. In his tenure with the Giants, Reeves openly feuded with Giants general manager George Young and player personnel director Tom Boisture, a battle that ultimately ended in his dismissal.

As executive vice president of operations in Atlanta, Reeves has final say in all football-related matters.

© 1998 SportsLine USA, Inc. All rights reserved