Sports

Newsome high on Rooney Rule

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Though eight NFL teams fired their head coaches at the end of the regular season, there were no minorities hired to fill any of the positions.

The teams complied with the Rooney Rule, which requires at least one minority to be interviewed for head coach and general manager openings, and Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said he thinks that still is a positive tool that can result in a diverse set of coaches. Sometimes, other coaches are just better.

“Is the opportunity there? Yes it is,” Newsome, who is black, said yesterday at the Ravens’ practice facility. “I’ve had conversations among the diversity working group committee myself. Are we going to work to get it better? Yes, but all we can do is to put people in front of people. [Steelers coach] Mike Tomlin got in front of the Rooneys and got that job. I think that opportunity is there.

“I’d like for African-Americans to get an opportunity, but John Harbaugh is a good football coach. Jim Harbaugh is a good football coach. And [Browns coach] Rob Chudzinski is a good football coach. So, they’re not making bad decisions. There’s just a good pool of candidates out there that people have to choose from.”

If it weren’t for the Ravens’ success this season, Newsome said he thinks offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell would have been a prime target for several teams. While at the Senior Bowl, Newsome was approached by several general managers expressing interest.

“I have had a couple of GMs tell me, ‘If it wasn’t for your guys’ success in the playoffs, that [Caldwell] would have been someone that we would have interviewed,’ ” Newsome said. “Hopefully next year we’ll be in the same spot and it will be tough for him to get interviews again. But I can see him getting that opportunity a year from now.”

Caldwell’s promotion came after the Ravens fired Cam Cameron on Dec. 10, but Newsome said yesterday the decision was not influenced in any way by the front office or ownership.

* Newsome briefly addressed the upcoming free agency of quarterback Joe Flacco — who could be signed to an extension or have the franchise tag placed upon him — but wouldn’t reveal the team’s plans.

“I’ve gone on record. Joe and I have a very good understanding about his contract, where we are, end of story,” Newsome said.

* Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe was the only player not to participate in practice, sitting out for the second straight day with a sprained right ankle and back injury.

When asked how banged up he was on a scale of 1 to 10, Ellerbe said he felt like a 10, but it still wouldn’t prevent him from playing in the Super Bowl.

“Any time off is good when you’re hurting,” Ellerbe said. “I’m going to need a couple more days. Glad we got two weeks. Glad we’re not playing this Sunday … if I had to find a way, I’d do it. Can’t sit out the Super Bowl.”