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Report: Black coaches last hired, first fired

BALTIMORE -- Attorney Johnnie Cochran Jr. released a report Monday that criticizes the NFL's hiring practice involving black head coaches, and he threatened to sue the league if it does not adhere to suggestions to remedy the situation.

The report, "Black Coaches in the National Football League: Superior Performance, Inferior Opportunities," was compiled by the Washington law firm of Mehri & Skalet.

It addresses the league's hiring and firing of minority coaches, using statistical information compiled over the past 15 years.

Calls to the NFL on Monday night were not returned.

Dr. Janice Madden, a labor economist, determined that black coaches had 1.1 more wins per season than white coaches and led their teams to the playoffs 67 percent of the time compared with 39 percent of the time for white coaches.

But Cochran noted there have been only five black head coaches since 1986: Art Shell, Dennis Green, Tony Dungy, Ray Rhodes and Herman Edwards. Only Indianapolis' Dungy and Edwards of the New York Jets currently are employed as head coaches.

"Black coaches are being held to a higher standard," Cochran said at a news conference. "Now is the time for the NFL to step up and make a change."

To stimulate the hiring of African-Americans as head coaches, Cochran proposed that commissioner Paul Tagliabue "reward at least one team each year for developing a diverse front office" with a draft pick.

He also asked the NFL to require team owners to include "diverse racial groups" when interviewing candidates for coaching positions. According to the report, "owners can choose to opt out of this requirement ... but to do so they must forfeit a draft pick."

Cochran suggested teams surrender a first-round pick for refusing to interview minorities for head-coaching jobs, and a third-round pick for not interviewing minorities for assistant head coach or coordinator.

The creators of the report plan to talk to Tagliabue about their proposal in the next few days. Cochran said he is prepared to take legal action.

"We can litigate this. We can bring a lawsuit," Cochran said. "I think the NFL is reasonable. They understand that this can end up in the courts, and they'd rather not see that happen. But let's see if we can have a dialogue. You only litigate after you've done everything you can to negotiate."

STEWART: I SHOULD START: Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart wasn't told by coach Bill Cowher whether he will start Sunday in New Orleans.

In Stewart's mind, he didn't need to be told.

"Do I expect to start? Of course I do," Stewart said. "Why? because I'm the starter on this football team. Otherwise it would be a situation where Coach Cowher would tell us we're going in another direction. As far as I know, I'm the starter."

Stewart started the Steelers' 16-13 overtime victory Sunday over Cleveland but didn't finish, giving way as Tommy Maddox led two scoring drives to rally Pittsburgh from a 13-6 deficit late in the fourth quarter.

BEARS: Linebacker Warrick Holdman will miss the rest of the season after surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.

Holdman, the team's second-leading tackler last season, was hurt during the first quarter of Sunday's overtime loss in Buffalo. He will need three months to recover, coach Dick Jauron said. Last season, just one defensive starter, cornerback Walt Harris, missed one game.

REDSKINS: Coach Steve Spurrier said Kevin Lockett will start at wide receiver against the Titans and either Danny Wuerffel or rookie Patrick Ramsey will get the start at quarterback. "We'll announce a quarterback a little later in the week," Spurrier said.

Lockett, who's caught four passes for 39 yards and one touchdown, likely will replace Derrius Thompson, who has seven catches for 75 yards and a TD. Spurrier said Rod Gardner "probably" will start on the other side.

"He could play if he had to, but he's still banged up a little bit," Spurrier said of quarterback Shane Matthews, who is 55-for-90 for 558 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions as the starter in Washington's first three games.

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