Dungy Wonders Why Blacks Aren’t Considered

As seven NFL teams searched for new head coaches Tuesday, one of the league’s two remaining black coaches raised a question: Why aren’t more blacks high on the list of candidates?

“It’s baffling,” the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Tony Dungy said. “There still seems to be a perception out there clouding owners’ minds.”

Dungy’s comment came a day after five head coaches were fired, including the Philadelphia Eagles’ Ray Rhodes.

In a league where 70% of the players are black, Rhodes, Dungy, the Minnesota Vikings’ Dennis Green and former Raider coach Art Shell are the only black head coaches in modern NFL history. The 16 head coaches hired since Dungy went to the Buccaneers after the 1995 season all are white.

The search heated up Tuesday.

George Seifert, the former San Francisco 49er coach, was in Carolina interviewing for the Panthers’ job that opened when Dom Capers was fired. Seifert also will be interviewed by the Baltimore Ravens and is considered a front-runner in Seattle, where the Seahawks fired Dennis Erickson on Monday.

Gary Kubiak, the Denver Broncos’ offensive coordinator, was in Cleveland visiting the expansion Browns, who interviewed Viking offensive coordinator Brian Billick on Monday.

Seifert, Kubiak and Billick are at the top of most teams’ lists, along with Green Bay Packer Coach Mike Holmgren, who can seek a head coach-general manager job when the Packers’ season ends.

All are white, as are the rest of the leading candidates--Jacksonville Jaguar offensive coordinator Chris Palmer, Capers and defensive coordinators Greg Robinson of the Broncos and Jim Haslett of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Dungy said he thinks much of the perception is fueled by the media.

“I was watching the Monday night game, and Al Michaels and Dan Dierdorf were talking about Capers being a prospect for a head coaching job,” Dungy said.

“Then they said Ray Rhodes would make someone a good defensive coordinator. Both were coaches of the year. Why is Ray only qualified for a coordinator’s job? Owners watch games and they absorb that.”

There are some black candidates.

Carmen Policy, president of the Browns, said he will speak to Rhodes, who was defensive coordinator in San Francisco when Policy was the 49er president.

The Ravens, who fired Ted Marchibroda on Monday, are expected to talk to Stanford Coach Tyrone Willingham, and they also are interested in Rhodes. In addition, Rhodes could be a candidate for the Packer job if Holmgren leaves.

Willie Shaw, the Raiders’ defensive coordinator, has also been mentioned as a candidate for one of the vacancies.

The Chicago Bears, who fired Dave Wannstedt, may be interested in Mike Singletary, the Bears’ Hall of Fame middle linebacker, although he has no coaching experience at any level and has consistently told friends he’s not interested in coaching.

Then there’s Sherm Lewis, Green Bay’s offensive coordinator, who has been bypassed for two seasons.

Saint Lineman Charged With Heroin Possession

Offensive lineman Keno Hills of the New Orleans Saints was charged with heroin and weapon charges after police in Metairie, La., said he was observed in a “hand-to- hand” drug deal.

Hills, 25, was booked with possession of heroin with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during a drug transaction. If convicted on the charges, he could face life in jail.

Col. Bob Garner of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office said Hills and another man were arrested as the result of routine surveillance of a suburban New Orleans area known for drug traffic.

“It’s a routine matter for us in this area,” Garner said. “It appears though that a hand-to-hand buy was going down. And they were in possession of narcotics and the firearm.”

The firearm was a 9 millimeter pistol equipped with a laser, Garner said.

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Deion Sanders’ left big toe is still a big pain.

Sanders, who has sat out the Dallas Cowboys’ last six games because of his hurting toe, was examined Monday night by specialist Dr. Bill Hamilton in Palm Beach., Fla. Hamilton said the Cowboy cornerback has a severely sprained toe.

“It reconfirmed the earlier diagnosis that the toe was sprained and it will be just a week-to-week thing,” Cowboy spokesman Rich Dalrymple said.

Sanders was listed as “out” on the injury list. He didn’t practice Tuesday for Saturday’s NFC playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals.