Dungy's goal - Rebuild Colts' defense

INDIANAPOLIS -- On his first day on the job, Tony Dungy promised to rebuild Indianapolis' defense and lead the Colts to the playoffs and eventually the Super Bowl.

Dungy was introduced as the Colts coach Wednesday, one day after signing a five-year, $13 million contract.

He pledged to concentrate his efforts on improving a defense that allowed a league-high 486 points last season.

"Hopefully, it's pretty simple," Dungy said of his defensive strategy. "It's not what you do, but how you do it. You have to get guys to play hard down in and down out. It's attitude."

The 46-year-old Dungy is the Colts' sixth coach in 11 seasons. He replaces Jim Mora, who was fired Jan. 8 after going 6-10 this season and 32-34 in four years.

Dungy, fired by Tampa Bay on Jan. 14 after going 54-42 and leading the Buccaneers to four playoff appearances in six seasons, has a track record of quick successes.

In his first season as the Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinator, Dungy's defense led the league in interceptions. The next season, Minnesota was ranked No. 1 in defense.

In 1996, Tampa Bay's defense, ranked 27th the previous season, finished the year rated 11th. In each of the next five years, the Bucs' defense ranked among the league's top 10.

That success is what attracted the Colts to Dungy.

"When Tony Dungy and I got together last week, the thing that struck me was his accent on fundamentals," Colts president Bill Polian said. "Tony Dungy is the right man at the right time with the right approach to take us the rest of the way."

Bears tab five for draft

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Bears made five players eligible for the expansion draft of the Texans.

Included on Chicago's list were third-string quarterback Danny Wuerffel and kick returner Autry Denson, who had a key fumble on a kickoff in the Bears' 33-19 playoff loss to the Eagles last Saturday.

Wuerffel led the team in passing during the pre-season but appeared in only one regular-season game. That appearance came on a fake punt formation against Atlanta on Oct. 7. He did not attempt a pass.

Also on the list are offensive lineman Kevin Dogins, safety Than Merrill and defensive tackle Robert Newkirk, all reserves. Newkirk was put on injured reserve Dec. 29 with a left knee injury.

The expansion draft will be Feb. 18. Houston will be allowed to draft 30-to-42 players from the roster of other NFL teams.

Douglas fined $35,000 for hit

Eagles defensive end Hugh Douglas was fined $35,000 by the NFL for the hit that knocked Bears quarterback Jim Miller out of the weekend's playoff game.

Douglas plans to appeal the penalty.

"The refs didn't call it and I don't think it fair," Douglas said. "That is how we have always been coached, that he's fair game. I don't understand. He was right in front of me. I felt he was trying to get around me to try and make the tackle and I blocked him. In any other situation, a quarterback never moves. They run out of bounds or get out of the way."

--From wire services