Greg Landry wanted to become quarterback coach of the Bears, but the Cleveland Browns beat the Bears to the phone.
The 38-year-old Landry, who joined the Bears for the final two games of the regular season and two playoff games, joined the Browns Tuesday as strictly a coach.
Under National Football League rules designed to prevent bolstering rosters with player-coaches, Landry cannot play quarterback for the Browns in 1985 unless they acquire his playing rights from the Bears and unless they carry him on their roster throughout all cutdowns from 60 to 49.
Because Landry is strictly a coach, the Bears will receive no compensation for him. He became a free agent Feb. 1.
”I was asked by some teams if I was still interested in playing,” said Landry. ”But I had a great experience in Chicago, and it couldn`t have ended up any better. That game in Detroit and then the playoff games were a great way to end a career.”
Bears` coach Mike Ditka said he wanted Landry as a quarterback coach, but the Bears have not decided how they want to spend their money. They still have not signed defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan to a new contract.
”We needed time. We don`t have our budget back. Greg couldn`t afford to pass up the Browns,” said Ditka.
”I wanted to go to Chicago, but Mike said they hadn`t reached a decision,” said Landry.
Landry sees a trend to more quarterback coaches, separate from offensive coordinators.
”The way I look at it, teams are investing over a million dollars in their quarterbacks. They should have someone watching just the quarterbacks,” he said.
Landry started and won the Bears` regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions, his first NFL team. His final pass went for a 55-yard touchdown to Willie Gault in a 30-13 victory.
Landry played 11 seasons in Detroit and three with the Baltimore Colts before joining the Chicago Blitz of the United States Football League in 1983. After the Blitz became the Arizona Wranglers, Landry played in the 1984 USFL title game.
When the Wranglers merged with the Oklahoma Outlaws, Landry became a free agent. At the suggestion of Wranglers` coach George Allen, the Bears signed him on Dec. 5 after Steve Fuller suffered a separated shoulder in a game against San Diego.
Landry`s return to the NFL proved to be a financial windfall. It made him eligible for half of the severance pay negotiated for veterans during the 1982 player strike. He made $70,000 severance plus $28,000 in playoff money on top of whatever salary the Bears paid him, believed to be in the neighborhood of $25,000.
