Harrison Is Defensive Player of Year; Tomlinson Could Be Out

Roethlisberger didn't practice last week after being taken from the field on a stretcher during the final game of the regular season. Roethlisberger had his head slammed to the turf on a hit by two Browns defenders after throwing a pass.

The Steelers are coming off a first-round playoff bye.

· PACKERS: Green Bay dismissed defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and five other assistant coaches.

Also fired were secondary coach Kurt Schottenheimer, cornerbacks coach Lionel Washington, defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn, defensive ends coach Carl Hairston and strength and conditioning coordinator Rock Gullickson.

"These are difficult decisions," Packers Coach Mike McCarthy said in a written statement. "I hold each of these men in high regard on a personal level, and I want to thank them for their service to the Green Bay Packers."

· BRONCOS: Denver was scheduled to interview Raheem Morris for its head coaching job yesterday, the league-owned NFL Network reported.

The interview with the Buccaneers' defensive coordinator originally had been scheduled for tomorrow.

Morris just was promoted from secondary coach to defensive coordinator in Tampa to replace the departing Monte Kiffin.

· EAGLES: Owner Jeffrey Lurie told the Boston Globe he intends to bring back both Coach Andy Reid and QB Donovan McNabb next season.

The future of both with the organization has seemed unclear at times this season, particularly when Reid benched McNabb for the second half of a game in Baltimore.

"That's exciting," McNabb told reporters Sunday in Minneapolis. "I won't have to answer questions from you guys anymore about whether I'll be here."

· VIKINGS: President Mark Wilf told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune following Sunday's first-round playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that Minnesota will retain Brad Childress as its coach.

"To win 10 in the regular season and win the division is a start," Childress said after the game Sunday. "Obviously I don't like the way it ended in the postseason."

· RAMS: According to the league-owned NFL Network, former Giants coach Jim Fassel is scheduled to be interviewed Thursday by St. Louis for its head coaching vacancy. Fassel previously had been linked to the Raiders' head coaching job.

-- Mark Maske

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