PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Panthers Told Not to Talk With Capers

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue on Friday ordered the expansion Carolina Panthers to end discussions with Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Dom Capers regarding possible employment with the team.

Capers and fired Philadelphia coach Rich Kotite have emerged as the top candidates for the Carolina coaching job. The Panthers previously failed to convince former Washington coach Joe Gibbs to take the job.

Tagliabue sent a letter to Panther owner Jerry Richardson, summoning team officials to a hearing in New York next week to review reports that the club has violated anti-tampering policies.

The NFL has longstanding rules prohibiting discussions between a team and coaches working for another team under an ongoing contract. The rules bar such discussions with assistant coaches or coordinators until their teams finish their seasons. The Steelers are involved in the NFL playoffs.

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Nick Nicolau was fired as offensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts.

“We felt a change was necessary,� said Bill Tobin, Colt vice president of football operations.

Nicolau, 61, came to the Colts in 1992 with Coach Ted Marchibroda from the Buffalo Bills, where he was the receivers coach. Before that, he was the receivers coach for the Raiders.

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Dallas Cowboy running back Emmitt Smith is spending this week doing conditioning work and avoiding taking hits on his injured left hamstring. He said his leg is “feeling OK--it’s definitely not ready, though.� . . . Former Green Bay Packer fullback Dexter McNabb signed a free-agent contract with the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars. Terms were not disclosed.