31.   One possible coaching candidate might be Isiah Thomas, a star at Indiana University, where Cuban went to college.

32.   Owner Tom Benson, a car dealer, sent a questionnaire to prospective coaching candidates, asking whether they would work weekends.

33.   Owner Al Lerner lobbied- Tuesday for a relaxing of the rules so Browns president Carmen Policy might get a jump on interviewing head coaching candidates.

34.   Rhodes, the defensive coordinator, has been mentioned as a head coaching candidate in Philadelphia and with the Rams.

35.   Shell is a head coaching candidate.

36.   Someone asked Seahawks president Bob Whitsitt Monday if he had a short list of coaching candidates to replace the dismissed Dennis Erickson.

37.   That left Riley, who has become a hot coaching candidate in the past week.

38.   The coaching candidates, for one.

39.   The Mariners are contacting coaching candidates from inside and outside the organization, and former Colorado Rockies manager Don Baylor is a possible addition.

40.   The success the Mavericks have enjoyed under Donnie Nelson could make him a head coaching candidate once the season is over.