Wannstedt

The price of losing at home to the Arizona Cardinals was Dave Wannstedt's job as coach of the Miami Dolphins, served on a plate of retribution last week for a season gone awry. Wannstedt officially stepped down as coach on Tuesday, two days after the Dolphins blew a pair of leads against Arizona, one day after he was told by team owner Wayne Huizenga that he would not be back next season. Call it what you want. In effect, Wannstedt got off easy. He leaves behind an organization in shambles.

Dave Wannstedt is out as coach at Pittsburgh. Wannstedt, who coached the Dolphins and Bears in the NFL, resigned under pressure after the Panthers finished 7-5 and qualified for the minor BBVA Compass Bowl. Pitt was favored to win the Big East title. Wannstedt got a two-year extension in March after Pitt went 10-3 in 2009, the program's most wins since 1981. He finished 42-31 in six seasons at his alma mater. Athletic director Steve Pederson said the search for a new coach will begin immediately and that Wannstedt will remain with the school as his special assistant.

MIAMI - Dave Wannstedt will resign as Miami Dolphins head coach today amid his team's 1-8 season, two NFL sources said. Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga met late yesterday afternoon with Wannstedt at team headquarters in Davie, Fla. Huizenga hired Wannstedt in January 2000 to replace the retiring Jimmy Johnson. Wannstedt could not be reached for comment despite several attempts by telephone. Defensive coordinator Jim Bates will serve as Wannstedt's interim replacement, the sources said.

Five coaches who could be job-hunting by the end of the year:Cowboys' Barry Switzer: At least Barry can always say he won a Super Bowl.Bears' Dave Wannstedt: Unsettled quarterback situation and working on third personnel man in five years. (Got contract extension through 2000.)Raiders' Joe Bugel: The puppet coach for Al Davis.dTC Seahawks' Dennis Erickson: Paul Allen didn't put up all that money for mediocrity.Vikings' Dennis Green: After four playoff losses, he needs a postseason win desperately.

Charlie Taaffe, Maryland's former offensive coordinator, has been hired as an offensive assistant at the University of Pittsburgh on an interim basis, a school spokesman confirmed today. Taaffe was hired to help the Panthers in the absence of assistant head coach Bob Junko, who had heart surgery in February and has taken a leave of absence from his on-field responsibilities. "We were fortunate to be able to gain the services of a highly knowledgeable coach in Charlie Taaffe," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt stated in a news release.

IRVING, Texas -- The No. 1 defense in the NFL will send no representatives to the Pro Bowl."I really don't care," said Cowboys defensive tackle Russell Maryland, who used to terrorize running backs and quarterbacks for the University of Miami. "We may not have the names, the individuals, but it doesn't matter as long as we play together as a unit."As a unit, the Cowboys shut down Randall Cunningham and the Eagles yesterday in a 34-10 victory. Dallas advances to Sunday's NFC championship game against the 49ers in San Francisco.

Ricky Williams' NFL career has gone up in smoke. Six days after telling Miami Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt of his plans to retire, it was learned yesterday that Williams faced a four-game suspension this season after failing his third NFL-mandated drug test for marijuana. His attorney, Gary Ostrow, said Williams told him yesterday of the positive result. Ostrow also said Williams recently lost his appeal of a second failed drug test from December and that his decision to quit stemmed largely from his desire for "freedom from the [NFL's drug-testing]

CENTRAL%Division predictionIf Scott Mitchell picks up where he left off in the exhibition season, the Lions should win the division. The other four teams -- Green Bay, Chicago, Minnesota and Tampa Bay, yes Tampa Bay -- should be in a wide-open battle for the other four spots. Tampa Bay could get out of the cellar for the first time since 1988.1. Detroit Lions1994 record: Earned a wild-card spot with a 9-7 record, lost a first-round game to Green Bay.Coach: Wayne Fontes (52-53).Key additions: DT Henry Thomas, CB Corey Raymond, OT Zefross Moss, P Mark Royals and DE Luther Elliss.

Dan Marino couldn't scratch his competitive itch in the TV studio, so the retired quarterback great will rejoin the Miami Dolphins as senior vice president of football operations, the team announced yesterday. Marino will chase the Super Bowl championship that eluded him as a player in the team's No. 2 management position under owner H. Wayne Huizenga. "I want to do whatever I can and whatever is necessary to help this team get back to where we need to be, to win a championship that I never won," he said during a news conference.

Last seasonThe Minnesota Vikings were the surprise champions last year at 11-5, but they were blown out at home, 24-7, by the Washington Redskins in their first playoff game. The only other team in this division with a winning record was the Green Bay Packers at 9-7. The other three teams staggered to 5-11 finishes. Now that's a definition of mediocre.New coachesDave Wannstedt went from first to one of the worst when he left Dallas to become the Bears' head coach. Like Mike Ditka, he's a native of the Pittsburgh area and played at Pitt, but the comparisons end there.