The Associated Press

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.

• Offensive tackle Max Starks signed a three-year contract worth $1.45 million, leaving Pittsburgh with just one unsigned draft pick.

RAVENS: Baltimore reached an agreement on a five-year contract with second-round pick defensive end Dwan Edwards, assuring that their first draft pick will be in uniform for the first practice of training camp.

The Ravens also signed third-round pick Devard Darling to a three-year deal, and reached an agreement with fifth-round selection Roderick Green on a three-year contract. Darling is a wide receiver and Green is a linebacker.

Only Derek Abney (7th round, 244th overall), and Clarence Moore (6th round, 199th overall) have not agreed to contracts.

COWBOYS: Dallas safety Darren Woodson will have surgery on his injured back today. He will miss all of training camp and likely the start of the regular season.

The 35-year-old Woodson visited a doctor Monday, and the decision was made to perform surgery to remove a herniated disk. He will be sidelined six to eight weeks, a period that extends past the Cowboys' regular season opener Sept. 12.

• Receiver Antonio Bryant is keeping his job, despite having thrown a sweaty jersey at coach Bill Parcells. Bryant met Monday with Parcells and team owner Jerry Jones to clear the air before the start of training camp this weekend in Oxnard, Calif.

RUSSELL SUSPENDED: Defensive tackle Darrell Russell, released two weeks ago by Tampa Bay, has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL after testing positive for drugs.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the troubled former Pro Bowler, the second overall pick in the 1997 draft, can apply for reinstatement after eight games if he is signed by a team.

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