TEMPE, Ariz., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The Arizona Cardinals Monday fired coach Dave McGinnis, who had a 17-40 record with the team since taking over during the 2000 season.

The Cardinals finished a 4-12 season with a come-from-behind 18-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday. Arizona scored two touchdowns in the last two minutes and pulled off the improbable win when Nathan Poole made a leaping 28-yard touchdown catch on the game's final play.

The catch knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs and put Green Bay into the postseason as NFC North Division champions.

Jim Fassel, who was fired as coach of the New York Giants earlier in the month, and former Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green are believed to be the leading candidates.

Dolphins re-sign Wannstedt for two more years

MIAMI, Dec. 30 (UPI) --The Miami Dolphins have decided to restructure their football operations, but Dave Wannstedt will remain the field general.

A second straight playoff-less season was supposed to doom Wannstedt. Instead, the Dolphins gave their coach a two-year extension through the 2006 season on Monday.

Miami owner Wayne Huizenga believes the time has come to hire a general manager. Since taking over as Dolphins coach in 2000, Wannstedt has worked with vice president of football operations Rick Spielman on personnel matters. Now Wannstedt will concentrate more on coaching his team on the field.

Chicago Bears fire Coach Dick Jauron

CHICAGO, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears fired head coach Dick Jauron Monday, ending five years of futility that saw just one winning season and no playoff victories.

The Bears finished 7-9 this season after a 1-5 start.

Jauron, 53, got the axe at a private meeting with General Manager Jerry Angelo. After Sunday's 31-3 whipping by the AFC West Champion Kansas City Chiefs his departure was not unexpected.

Angelo said he decided to fire Jauron based on his 35-46 overall record.

The Bears renewed the contracts of Angelo and team president Ted Philips for four years.

Jauron was Coach of the Year in 2001 when the Bears went 13-3 in the regular season.

Buffalo Bills fire Coach Gregg Williams

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The Buffalo Bills announced Monday that Gregg Williams, who just completed the final year of his contract, will not return in 2004.

Williams compiled a 17-31 record with the Bills, including a 6-10 mark this past season. Buffalo dropped seven of its last nine games.

Williams was done in by an offense which ranked among the league's worst a year after finishing among the NFL's best under coordinator Kevin Gilbride.

Quarterback Drew Bledsoe threw for just 11 touchdowns, his worst total besides the 2001 season, in which he appeared in only two games. The 11-year veteran passed for 2,860 yards, his fewest in a year in which he's started 13 or more games.

The Bills were tied for 30th in the NFL with an average of 15.2 points per game, ranked 30th in total yards with 271.8 and 28th in passing yards with 167.8.