Bill Cowher can look across the field Sunday night and spot what might be his twin in Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio.

Both were overachieving former NFL linebackers, and Del Rio, in his second season as the Jaguars' coach, has been described as "Cowher without the spit" in Jacksonville, a fiery coach who shows his emotions. Del Rio regards that as a compliment.

"I think so," he said yesterday. "I think Bill has done a great job."

And with that, Del Rio gave an unprompted pat on the back to the Steelers for their foresight in not pushing Cowher out the door after a 6-10 record last season.

"I would like to commend Mr. [Dan] Rooney for sticking with Bill because I know there was a lot of speculation about how that wouldn't be the smart thing to do. I think the consistency has been good and I think the fact that you have somebody there that you believe in and allow him to work through what they worked through in terms of having a down year.

"I am happy to see that, especially in today's climate where everybody wants immediate gratification. I think Bill does a great job and I think he has done a good job of bringing them back and having them at the top right now in the AFC."

Iwuoma fined

Like Antwaan Randle El before him, special teams ace Chidi Iwuoma was fined $5,000 by the NFL this week for tossing a football in the direction of an opponent.

"I'm not too happy about it," he said. "I had no intent at all. I didn't even know the ball hit the dude. He came in on a late hit, the play was over, he kind of hit me in my bad hamstring. I wasn't try to taunt him. I felt worse about the penalty than anything."

Iwuoma downed a Steelers punt at the 6 in the third quarter but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave Washington the ball on the 21.

Randle El was fined $5,000 for tossing a ball to the ref that accidently hit a Philadelphia Eagles player. He appealed but said yesterday he has heard nothing yet from the league. Iwuoma said he also would appeal his fine.

Said Cowher: "It is a judgment call, and if they feel that the intent was to taunt a guy or to show him up by doing that then they are going to call it."

Gildon might start?

Former Steelers linebacker Jason Gildon could make his first non-Steelers NFL start Sunday night at defensive end for Jacksonville.

"He's ready for that role," said Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, who keeps in touch with his friend. "He's a pass rusher at heart anyway, so giving him a chance just to put his hand on the ground and rush the passer all day, I pretty much think he likes that situation."

Porter said he talks to Gildon all the time, including this week when he told him "not to be telling them too much stuff we do. I know he's over there telling them."

Gildon, the Steelers' career sack leader with 77, was released in June, picked up by Buffalo and released by the Bills before the season. He has been with the Jaguars for a month and has one sack. Del Rio said he's not sure if he will start Gildon or rookie Bobby McCray at defensive end Sunday night for Rob Meier, placed on injured reserve with a broken ankle.

"He was more excited for us to get that New England game," Porter said. "He called me right when the game was over because he felt a part of it because the hurt was still in his heart from when we lost that [2001] championship game. Jason's just a longtime Steeler no matter where he plays at. When he comes back to Pittsburgh, the fans and the city of Pittsburgh will still always love Jason."

Quick outs

Defensive end Aaron Smith leads the Steelers with eight sacks after a sack by James Farrior against Washington was taken away from the linebacker yesterday and given to Smith. Smith's eight sacks ties him for his career high.

Steelers Plaxico Burress, Verron Haynes, Iwuoma, Jerome Bettis, James Harrison and Jeff Hartings did not practice yesterday because of injuries, and Clint Kriewaldt was given the day off for personal reasons.