Rainbow Coalition Seeing Red Over Packers’ Firing of Rhodes

Jesse Jackson’s civil rights group criticized the firing of Green Bay Packer coach Ray Rhodes as a setback in the NFL’s efforts toward racial equality.

Rainbow Sports director Charles Farrell, who promotes sports opportunities for minorities for the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, intends to outline his concerns in a letter to the Packers next week. Jackson is the coalition’s president.

The coalition also wants to meet with NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue to discuss the dismissal of Rhodes, who is black, and the league’s work on minority hiring for management and coaching jobs.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Tagliabue probably will attend a coalition conference Friday at which he has been invited to speak. NBA Commissioner David Stern, former Toronto Raptor general manager Isiah Thomas and former National League president Len Coleman also are expected to participate. Farrell hopes to meet with Tagliabue at that time in New York.

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Starting defensive tackle Sam Adams and practice squad center Jason McEndoo got into a spirited fight at the Seattle Seahawks’ final practice on Friday before the team’s first playoff game in 11 seasons.

Backup center Frank Beede came to McEndoo’s defense before he was pulled off by other defensive players.

The Seahawks play the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in the Kingdome.

“That was good,” said Coach Mike Holmgren, who did not break up the fight. “They’re a little cranky. I think we’re ready to play the game.”

Miami tight end Troy Drayton, who had arthroscopic knee surgery Dec. 23, was declared inactive for Sunday’s game.

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Stephen Davis, the NFC’s leading rusher, probably will play in the Washington Redskins’ playoff opener against the Detroit Lions today, but his participation could be limited.

Davis “looked the best he’s looked all week” during a walk-through, Coach Norv Turner said.

Davis, bothered by a sprained ankle, is listed as probable on the injury list and will start the game, even though he won’t be 100%.

“Once the adrenaline gets going and he gets revved up, he’ll be ready to go,” Turner said.

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Dallas Cowboy cornerbacks Kevin Smith and Kevin Mathis practiced for a third day in a row, but their availability for Sunday’s playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings remained uncertain.

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Stepping gingerly on rain-soaked turf, Jacksonville Jaguar quarterback Mark Brunell threw lightly in practice for the first time since suffering a knee injury.

Brunell, who has vowed a return for the playoffs from the strained medial collateral ligament that sidelined him for Jacksonville’s final regular-season game, said his left knee was getting better.

“It felt good,” he said.

The Jaguars have a first-round bye.

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Buffalo Bill wide receiver Andre Reed answered for disparaging remarks he made on his Internet site, and he wasn’t contrite.

“I’m not going to duck anything about how I feel about the situation this year,” he said. “People have their own feelings about things. Sometimes you close your mouth so many times and it eats you up. And it’s been eating me up all year. I just said how I feel.”

How he feels is not good. He’s angry at management over his diminished role on the team and let his feelings boil over on his Internet site this week.

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Pittsburgh wide receiver Troy Edwards has been fined $5,000 by the NFL for a fight during the Steelers’ 47-36 loss to the Tennessee Titans. . . . The Denver Broncos have signed free-agent quarterback Steve Buck to a contract for the 2000 season. . . . A not-guilty plea was entered for suspended Dolphin running back Cecil Collins on a felony burglary charge filed after he allegedly broke into a neighbor’s bedroom last month.

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Funeral services for Tom Fears, the Hall of Fame receiver with the L.A. Rams, will be held Wednesday at St. Killian’s Church in Mission Viejo.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the NFL Alumni Dire Need Fund, P.O. Box 1181, Palos Verdes Estates, CA, 90274.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Playoff Matchups

WILD-CARD GAMES

TODAY

* Buffalo at Tennessee: 9:30 a.m., Ch. 7

* Detroit at Washington: 1 p.m., Ch. 7

SUNDAY

* Dallas at Minnesota: 9:30 a.m., Ch. 11

* Miami at Seattle: 1 p.m., Ch. 2

DIVISIONAL GAMES

JAN. 15

* Buffalo, Miami or Tenn. at Jacksonville: 9:30 a.m., Ch. 2

* Dallas, Minn. or Wash. at Tampa Bay: 1:15 p.m., Ch. 11

JAN. 16

* Dallas, Detroit or Minn. at St. Louis: 9:30 a.m., Ch. 11

* Buffalo, Seattle or Tenn. at Indianapolis: 1 p.m., Ch. 2

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

JAN. 23

* AFC championship: TBA, Ch. 2

* NFC championship: TBA, Ch. 11

SUPER BOWL

JAN. 30

* At Atlanta: 3:15 p.m., Ch. 7