B. Smith, Green could be in fold

Bruce Smith is willing to listen, and Darrell Green’s phone should ring soon.

A pair of future Pro Football Hall of Fame selections could have futures with the Washington Redskins this season — Smith potentially as a player and Green perhaps in some other capacity with the club.

Smith, the defensive end who indicated in December he was ready to retire, yesterday said he would listen if new coach Joe Gibbs and his staff approach him.

“Absolutely,” Smith said at Redskin Park. “I’d listen. I would certainly entertain the thought, but we’ll see what happens.”

Gibbs, meanwhile, said he hopes to speak to Green about a possible return. Gibbs did not specify a role, but a number of sources inside and outside the organization believe any position for the retired cornerback would have to require little time commitment.

“I think we’re going to sit down and talk about some things,” Gibbs said. “Obviously Darrell is very important to the organization. As a matter of fact, I tried to call him two days ago. We’ll probably get together and talk at some point.”

Gibbs was back at work at the team’s headquarters after spending the past few days out of town. The coach and his staff continued to focus on hiring assistant coaches and hoped to begin personnel evaluations today.

Smith’s production declined last season even though he broke Reggie White’s career sack mark. He finished with just five sacks and was angry with coach Steve Spurrier when he was demoted from the starting lineup after seven games.

Smith seemed to come to terms with his impending retirement after breaking the record in a Dec.7 win over the New York Giants, but he refused to close the door completely. And yesterday, Gibbs didn’t rule out Smith’s return.

“When we look at the film and evaluate everything, I’d be interested to see what our defensive coaches think,” Gibbs said. “We’re going to look at everybody.”

Meanwhile, Gibbs made some progress in assembling his staff. John Burrell, recently Jacksonville’s assistant athletic trainer, was hired as head trainer to replace Dean Kleinschmidt. Gibbs also said he has several interviews scheduled for the next few days.

But Gibbs could not meet with the Buffalo Bills assistants he and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams hope to hire. The Bills officially named Mike Mularkey their new coach, but Mularkey was putting together his staff and might retain several of those assistants.

The assistants in question include Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, whom Washington hopes to make defensive backs coach; defensive line coach Tim Krumrie and linebackers coach Donnie Blackmon. The Redskins also were believed to be seeking Bills assistant head coach Dick LeBeau, but he apparently will land the Pittsburgh Steelers’ or Bills’ defensive coordinator job.

If LeBeau is hired by Pittsburgh, Gray could remain in Buffalo as coordinator. Mularkey will be introduced at a news conference today and could announce some hirings.

Gibbs confirmed he is speaking to former New York Giants strength coach John Dunn about a similar position here, and Atlanta Falcons defensive backs coach Emmitt Thomas has decided to remain with the Falcons.

Offensive coordinator remains an uncertain spot. Asked if he will name one or oversee those duties himself, Gibbs indicated he is undecided.

“We’re kind of going through that right now,” Gibbs said. “I have some ideas, but I’m going to go kind of easy on that right now until we see who we end up with.”

Gibbs also is looking forward to recreating the type of home-field advantage at FedEx Field he enjoyed at RFK Stadium. To that end, he said he was eager for the bad-weather games in November and December, and added he again plans to practice outdoors in all sorts of conditions.

“I like the fact that it’s bad weather in November and December,” Gibbs said. “And our team is always going to practice outside. I think in the 12 years I was here, we practiced inside twice.”

Spurrier altered, canceled or cut short several practices this season because of inclement weather (not counting two workouts moved due to floodwaters), and on several occassions he championed the purchase of a bubble, or protected practice area, at Redskin Park.

A team source said the club planned to discuss with Spurrier the prospect of a bubble during the offseason, but the matter was dropped when he resigned.

Meanwhile, wide receiver Darnerien McCants underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery. He said he was injured in the Oct.19 loss at Buffalo when he landed awkwardly.