Dallas head coach Barry Switzer, who has seen the Cowboys get off to a 4-5 start this year, could be out of a job as he reportedly could be fired as early as next week.

The Washington Post quoted NFL sources in Wednesday’s edition as saying that Switzer could be on his way out and would be replaced by scouting director Larry Lacewell, who would then serve as an interim coach.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones denied the allegations. However, Jones could not guarantee that Switzer would be back for next season.

Advertisement

Switzer, who became the third head coach in Cowboys history March 30, 1994, has compiled a 38-19 regular season mark in his 3 1/2 seasons in Irving. The club went to the NFC Championship Game in his first season, and won the club’s third Super Bowl in four seasons in his second year (1995).

However, the club fell to 10-6 last season, its worst record since 1990, and lost in the divisional playoffs to Carolina.

The Cowboys continued to struggle this season and are off to their worst start since going 7-9 in 1990.

Mack placed on non-football reserve list

The Cincinnati Bengals placed starting safety Tremain Mack on the Non-Football Illness/Reserve list Wednesday. The club replaced his spot on the roster by activating safety Lawrence Wright from the practice squad.

Mack was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol Oct. 27 in Clermont County, Ohio. He is undergoing evaluation and treatment under the jurisdiction of the NFL’s substance abuse program.

Mack, in his first year out of the University of Miami, has one interception for the 2-7 Bengals this season.

Advertisement*

Whitaker denies positive drug test

Four-time world champion Pernell Sweetpea Whitaker has denied a claim by his promoter that the boxer tested positive for cocaine before a bout last month.

Whitaker, who lives in the Norfolk area, told the Virginian-Pilot Tuesday that the allegation is not true, but did not make an additional comment.

The newspaper said Whitaker’s handlers learned Friday that he had tested positive, but did not receive written notification about the substance until Tuesday.

Dino Duva of Main Events, the promoter for Whitaker, said additional information and documentation will be gathered, and the test result likely will be appealed. The positive result brings an automatic 30-day suspension, pending the possible appeal.

Whitaker was not impressive in his unanimous decision win over Andrei Pestriaev Oct. 17 at the Foxwoods Casino and Resort in Connecticut. It was his first non-title bout in five years, and hiked his record to 41-2-1.

It was Whitaker’s first appearance in the ring since he lost the WBC welterweight title to Oscar De La Hoya in April. His other career loss was against lightweight champ Jose Ramirez in France in 1988, while the draw was a controversial bout against Julio Cesar Chavez in 1993. Whitaker has won world titles at lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight and junior middleweight classes that span 135 to 154 pounds.

The 33-year-old Whitaker is scheduled to fight Slick Willy Wise in December. That bout would be followed by a WBA welterweight title fight against unbeaten Ike Quartey in the spring.