IRVING, TEXAS ? Bruce Coslet has just what the Dallas Cowboys were looking for: NFL play-calling experience and a vast knowledge of the West Coast offense.

Coslet, the former Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets head coach, was hired Wednesday as the Cowboys’ new offensive coordinator under coach Dave Campo.

The announcement ended a three-week search to replace Jack Reilly, who was reassigned two days after Dallas finished 5-11 for the second straight season.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hopes a more up-tempo offense will be the solution. He decided to abandon the timing-based offense it used for much of the past decade, including their Super Bowl seasons in the 1990s, in favor of a more versatile approach.

Coslett was just 47-78 in nine seasons as coach of the Jets (1990-93) and Cincinnati (1996-2000), and has been out of football since resigning after the Bengals lost their first three games in 2000.

‘Night Train’ Lane dead at 73

Austin, Texas Dick “Night Train” Lane hounded wide receivers with his ferocious tackles and quarterbacks with his interceptions. An undrafted free agent who would become one of the greatest defensive backs in NFL history during his 14-year career, Lane died Tuesday night after a heart attack at the assisted living facility where he lived. He was 73. Lane was an aggressive tackler whose signature hit a clothesline-type move dubbed the “Night Train Necktie” was banned by the league because it was too dangerous.

Parcells granted divorce

New York Former New York Giants coach Bill Parcells and his wife, Judith, were granted a divorce on Jan. 16 by a judge in Monmouth County, N.J. According to court documents, Judith Parcells complained her husband of nearly 40 years had grown “cold and distant.”

Bills re-sign Van Pelt

Orchard Park, N.Y. The Buffalo Bills re-signed quarterback Alex Van Pelt to a five-year contract, rewarding the longtime backup for capably filling in for injured starter Rob Johnson. The deal, agreed to at last weekend’s college Senior Bowl, is worth about $6 million. The contract also includes incentive clauses that would almost triple its value should Van Pelt become the Bills permanent starter.

Glenn files suit against NFL

New York New England wide receiver Terry Glenn sued the NFL Wednesday, saying it discriminated against him for a disability that prevented him from following certain rules in the league’s substance abuse policy. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan alleged that since at least 1999 Glenn has had chronic depression, a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Faulk player of year

New Orleans St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk, who led the NFL in total yards and touchdowns this season, won his second straight NFL Player of the Year award Wednesday. Other finalists for the award, worth $30,000 to the charity of the winning player’s choice, were quarterbacks Kurt Warner of St. Louis, Brett Favre of Green Bay, Rich Gannon of Oakland, and Kordell Stewart of Pittsburgh and defensive end Michael Strahan of the New York Giants.

Lions name coordinator

Pontiac, Mich. Kurt Schottenheimer was hired as defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions. Schottenheimer is the younger brother of Marty Schottenheimer, hired Tuesday as coach of the San Diego Chargers. The Washington Redskins fired the elder Schottenheimer as their coach Jan. 13.