Steelers give Cowher an extension
PITTSBURGH — Many NFL teams have a ready solution for bad teams or bad times: Fire the coach. The Pittsburgh Steelers choose to fix matters in a different way.
They might get rid of assistant coaches or players, but the coach doesn’t change.
The Steelers stayed on Monday with the steady-as-he-goes system they adopted upon coach Chuck Noll’s hiring in 1969 by extending coach Bill Cowher’s contract through 2007. Cowher previously was signed through 2005, but the team traditionally reworks his contract when it has two seasons remaining.
“I can’t think of a better job,” said Cowher, a Pittsburgh native. “To me, it’s not about the market or the money, to me it’s about winning. … I never could have imagined coaching another team.”
If Cowher works through the contract — and there is nothing in recent team history to suggest he won’t — the Steelers will have had only two coaches in 39 seasons — an astonishing run of continuity during a time when most coaches are hired to be fired.
By contrast, the Colts have had 16 coaches and the Chargers 14 since Noll’s hiring, including interim coaches.
•Clark Haggans must wait at least a month longer to take over Jason Gildon’s vacated starting job at inside linebacker.
Haggans, who is entering his fifth NFL season, needed surgery last week to repair a broken right hand sustained during a weightlifting accident and will miss at least the first four weeks of training camp. Two pins were placed in the hand during the operation.
The Steelers hope to get Haggans back by Aug. 19, two days before they play Houston in the third of their four exhibition games.
•Former Florida Gators offensive tackle Max Starks signed a three-year contract worth $1.45 million with the Steelers, leaving Pittsburgh with just one unsigned draft pick.
Niners’ Peterson to hold out
The San Francisco 49ers’ contract talks with All-Pro linebacker Julian Peterson are in a stalemate, and he is expected to hold out when training camp opens Friday.
The 49ers are preparing for life without their two-time Pro Bowler while clinging to hope he’ll accept their proposal or a one-year franchise tender offer to end what could quickly become a nasty holdout.
“I’m hoping he’ll come in and play football,” general manager Terry Donahue said. “He deserves a great contract, and we’ve given him a great contract offer.”
Peterson skipped the 49ers’ minicamps to protest his negotiations with the club.
Around the league
The Ravens signed former Washington State wide receiver Devard Darling, a third-round pick, to a three-year deal. Baltimore also reached an agreement on a five-year contract with defensive end Dwan Edwards, their first-round pick out of Oregon State. … Vikings defensive end Kenny Mixon has been suspended for two games by the NFL for violating its substance abuse policy. … Defensive tackle Darrell Russell, released two weeks ago by the Buccaneers, has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL after testing positive for drugs. … The Bengals claimed punter Eddie Johnson off waivers from the Vikings. … Fifth-round draft pick Claude Harriott of Pitt agreed to terms on a four-year contract with the Bears. …Third-round draft choice Tim Anderson, a defensive tackle out of Ohio State, reached an agreement with the Buffalo Bills. … Cowboys safety Darren Woodson will have surgery on his injured back today. He will miss all of training camp and probably the start of the regular season. … Texans safety Marcus Coleman was convicted in Houston of a misdemeanor drunken driving charge. Coleman testified he wasn’t intoxicated and blamed the crash on being distracted while adjusting his car radio. But he refused to take a breath test.