Nfl Report 1-3-06

[HEAV]

One NFL source said the Steelers are leaning toward hiring Russ Grimm if Bill Cowher does leave.


The Falcons wasted little time beginning their search to replace fired head coach Jim Mora as they received permission Tuesday to speak to Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, according to a person familiar with the situation. The Falcons would not comment. President and general manager Rich McKay said he was too busy working through the search process and directed all questions about the search and other team issues to vice president of communications Reggie Roberts. ... The Falcons, per NFL rules, can interview coordinators under contract with other teams that are not involved in playoff games this weekend, such as San Diego offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, through Sunday. Coordinators on teams that have playoff games this weekend, such as Indianapolis Colts assistant head coach Jim Caldwell, can be interviewed next week. Candidates who are under contract on non-playoff teams can be interviewed at any time.



Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera will interview Wednesday in Chicago with executives of the Cardinals for the head-coaching job left vacant when Dennis Green was fired. ... Lovie Smith will be working to help Rivera become the first of his assistants to rise to head coach. "I'm proud to be a part of Tony Dungy's and Mike Martz's tree," Smith said. "That would definitely be a sense of pride for me for one of the guys on our staff to become a head coach.



The 49ers figure to be active in the free-agent market, with a cool $40 million in salary-cap room to use judiciously. Improving the defense will be a priority, Mike Nolan said. He also implied that bigger is better, even in lieu of pursuing an elite pass rusher such as Dwight Freeney of the Indianapolis Colts.


Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio was asked if the Jaguars would go for players with baggage, such as wide receivers Terrell Owens, Randy Moss and Jerry Porter. Del Rio said he wouldn't rule it out, but he also said, "We like to find guys that fit what we do here.''


Quarterback Brett Favre's ankle surgery remains on hold and no one in the Green Bay Packers organization is saying when or if he'll have it. It appears it was Favre's decision not to have the surgery as scheduled Monday, and although there were reports Monday that he had left for Mississippi, it's thought he was still in town on New Year's Day. Favre has put off the surgery for four years despite the urging of his wife, Deanna, to have the ankle cleaned out so it stops aggravating him during the off-season. But he's generally eager to get home immediately after the season ends and it's possible he chose to delay it until another time. Coach Mike McCarthy is scheduled to conduct his season-ending news conference today and might shed some light on it. General manager Ted Thompson said he wasn't reading anything into the delay in the surgery and he didn't think it was related to whether Favre would return next season. He said no specific deadline was given to Favre for making a decision, although Favre agreed not to let it drag on.


Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron will interview this week for the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job, league sources said yesterday. It is also believed Cameron is on the Atlanta Falcons' short list, but they have not formally requested permission to speak to Cameron.


The Falcons offense with Michael Vick at the controls has been flawed. While the Falcons were first in rushing (183.7 yards per game), they were last in passing (148.2) and 25th in scoring (18.2 points). Vick was also sacked 45 times, the sixth highest total in the league. The inability to pass contributed to Falcons 0-16 record in games where they trailed entering the fourth quarter over the last two seasons under Jim Mora and to a streak of 24 consecutive games where they did not score a touchdown on the game's opening drive. "Michael Vick is not a good football player, he's a great football player," Falcons president and general manager Rich McKay said. "He's won a lot of games in the league and he's played at a very high level. But he is a lightning rod. He plays the game in a way that others don't. There are some, but not very many. You are constantly trying to find ways to maximize his talents." The new coach will have to plan on how best to utilize Vick and develop an effective passing attack. "At the same token, there are certain things that you have to do in a conventional fashion because of the defenses you face," McKay said. "This is a year that is very disappointing for Michael and very disappointing for us and Arthur, but he still put up a lot of yards. "But do I think Michael Vick can be a successful quarterback in the league, absolutely," McKay said.


Nick Saban will announce this morning whether he will remain Dolphins coach or leave for the same position at the University of Alabama, but his mind may already be made up. Despite team owner H. Wayne Huizenga saying he was "optimistic" Saban would stay with the Dolphins, two sources said Tuesday night they expect Saban to accept a contract offer that would make him the highest paid coach in college football. "Saban is gone for sure," one source said. Sources said Saban told Dolphins assistant coaches that he was uncertain about what his final decision would be. But Saban did try to gauge whether several current assistants would follow him to Alabama if he accepted the offer.


Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio also said the team hopes to work something out with running back Fred Taylor, but Del Rio said contract negotiations are a private matter. Taylor has gone public and said he wants a deal in the $5 million-a-year range, or he'll demand a trade.


Marvin Lewis on Tuesday said he will start using a heavier hand when it comes to disciplining the Bengals, and he might start with linebacker Odell Thurman. Thurman, who led the team in tackles as a rookie in 2005, was suspended twice by the NFL and missed the entire 2006 season. Thurman is expected to be eligible to return by summer, but Lewis isn't factoring the linebacker into the Bengals' 2007 plans at the moment. "I'm not going to spend any time talking about Odell," he said. "We're talking about our 2007 season. He's not a part of this football team."


When Trent Green made his return six weeks ago, coach Herm Edwards said he’d stick with his quarterback through rain, snow, picks, sacks, and, ultimately, boos. That mantra has changed a little. The Chiefs are in the playoffs now, and Edwards said if the offense struggles and needs a jolt Saturday in Indianapolis, he’d be willing to insert Damon Huard. “You have to win the game,” Edwards said Tuesday. “There’s no tomorrow. And you have to do whatever is best for the football team at that point. I’ll do whatever I have to do. When you’re in the playoffs, you’re desperate. “I think these players trust that whatever I decide to do, it’s always in the best interest of the football team. It’s never personal. The team knows that.”


The Cardinals’ head coaching interview process will begin today, when vice president of football operations Rod Graves and vice president Michael Bidwill meet with Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera in Chicago. They must visit Rivera because the Bears are in the playoffs. The same goes for Colts assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell, whom Graves and Bidwill will visit in Indianapolis Sunday — the day after the Colts play Kansas City. A third playoff assistant — Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron — was added to the Cards’ potential coaches list Tuesday. Like Rivera, Cameron must be interviewed by the end of the weekend, and the Cardinals will talk to him Saturday in San Diego. As for the other candidates, Graves said it is important to bring them to Arizona. ... Texans assistant head coach Mike Sherman will visit the team’s Tempe complex Thursday. The Cards are finalizing an interview with Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt for Friday.


Vikings owner Ziggy Wilf said Tuesday he plans to get "much more" involved in the team's football operations, either by spending more time at Winter Park or through videoconferencing technology. He will not move into a daily decision-making role, but Wilf said his involvement should spur vibrant internal debate and bring another perspective to discussions. He expressed strong support for Brad Childress but acknowledged the coach's "painful first step" this season. Wilf said Childress might have taken on more than he could handle in his first year and took issue with the timing of receiver Marcus Robinson's release, which occurred on Christmas Eve. "In the future," Wilf said, "I think that issues like this will be handled in a more consistent level and hopefully we will not let certain passions overcome us."


Cornerback Jimmy Williams will miss the playoffs with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, forcing the Seahawks to turn to two newcomers -- neither of whom was in the NFL as of Monday -- to bolster their depleted defensive secondary. Pete Hunter, a cornerback who arrived in Seattle on Monday and worked out for the team Tuesday before signing, was working as a loan officer out of his home near Dallas and was being recruited by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an investigative branch of Homeland Security. John Howell, a safety who also signed Tuesday and played 10 games for the Seahawks last season, was running his own hunting-tour business in rural Nebraska. They, along with cornerback Rich Gardner, who was signed last week, will serve as fill-ins for a defensive backfield that has lost three of its top four cornerbacks in the past two weeks.


Then there's Antonio Bryant. The 49ers wide receiver will serve the remaining two games of his four-game suspension at the start of the 2007 season and rejoin the team in the third game. Mike Nolan remains committed to the wide receiver who is hands-down his most challenging player. "We are playing a football game first,'' the coach said, implying a team of Boy Scouts is not the answer.


Coach Marty Schottenheimer said Philip Rivers might not practice this week because of a sprained right foot, but if the Chargers had a game, “there's no doubt” his quarterback would play. An MRI exam showed “no damage” to the foot's structure, Schottenheimer said. “It's soft tissue, is my understanding,” he said.


Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow could interview for the head coaching position with the Arizona Cardinals as early as this weekend. The Titans on Monday granted the Cardinals permission to talk to Chow, who just finished his second season with Tennessee.


The Broncos had grief and trauma counselors available for players Tuesday. Wide receiver Javon Walker, who was in a limousine with Darrent Williams when he was killed and who was seen entering Dove Valley hours after the incident in blood-covered clothing, is among the players who received grief counseling. "I think Javon is holding up as good as he could possibly hold up under the circumstances," Shanahan said. "I talked to Javon today. He just went through a tragic experience. A lot of times when somebody has that happen to them, they wonder why it happened to him - to Darrent - and not to him. It's just human nature. Obviously, the counselors are talking with him about that. It's a process. It takes some time. I'm not an expert in that area, by no means, but it was interesting to talk to these people." Team chaplain Bill Rader, who regularly works with several players, has been available to the Broncos since the early Monday morning calls were made spreading the horrible news of Williams' death.


An argument before the killing of Denver Broncos player Darrent Williams could have been sparked by trash talking over the team's New Year's Eve defeat, an attempt to steal the young athlete's jewelry or the flashing of gang signs, according to witnesses, family members and sources close to the team. A team of Denver police detectives is tracking down dozens of leads, said police spokesman Sonny Jackson. Investigators are reviewing surveillance tapes from the New Year's Eve party that Williams attended at the Shelter nightclub at 1037 Broadway shortly before he was shot to death. The party was in part a birthday celebration for Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin. Several Broncos players attended, including Javon Walker, D.J. Williams and Brandon Marshall, according to witnesses.


A meeting between Vikings coach Brad Childress and quarterback Brad Johnson on Tuesday did not lead to the veteran's release but all indications are Johnson will move on before the start of the NFL's free-agency period in March. "You don't want to hold somebody here against their will if he doesn't want to be here," Childress said. Childress told reporters at this season-ending news conference Tuesday that Tarvaris Jackson and Brooks Bollinger would compete for the starting quarterback job in training camp. Asked about Johnson's potential future with the team, Childress said, "My thought would be that he would be in a mentoring role."

[HEAV]

It's unclear whether Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy is seriously considering going outside the organization to hire an offensive coordinator. McCarthy and General Manager Ted Thompson have discussed candidates for the job, but Thompson wouldn't comment on those talks. The top candidate might be offensive line coach Joe Philbin, especially if McCarthy wants an offensive coordinator who, like his predecessor, new Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski, is well-schooled in the zone-blocking scheme. Other in-house candidates include quarterbacks coach Tom Clements and perhaps tight ends coach Ben McAdoo. If McCarthy goes outside the organization, possible candidates include Bill Musgrave, who is the lame-duck quarterbacks coach for Atlanta. Musgrave just finished his first season with the Falcons, who on Monday fired coach Jim Mora. The Falcons have run the zone scheme the past three years.


Tony Dungy confirmed the Cardinals have been granted permission to interview his assistant to fill the vacancy created Monday when coach Dennis Green was fired. Since the Colts are preparing for Saturday's AFC wild-card playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the RCA Dome, the meeting probably won't take place until after the game.
The Arizona Republic is reporting Cardinals officials will interview Caldwell on Sunday in Indianapolis. "I think Jim Caldwell is fantastic,'' Dungy said. "Obviously we wouldn't want to lose him, but he's going to be a very, very good head coach for someone.''


With the NFL regular season ending this past weekend, Koy Detmer was thinking his pro football career was over. And then, it wasn't. Detmer, released by the Eagles at the end of training camp, came back to the team yesterday to reclaim his role as David Akers' holder, and presumably to serve as the third-string quarterback behind Jeff Garcia and A.J. Feeley.


Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is organized. He keeps background on every assistant coach in the league, tucking the information into blue folders that hang without moving in his desk drawer. He keeps these, he says, in case he "ever gets stupid" and wants to be a head coach again in the NFL, as he was for three seasons in Buffalo. Not that he does. No way, not now, he says in his clipped western Missouri accent, in which words such as "you" come out as "ya." He is here for Gibbs because he wants to be around Gibbs, because he sees Gibbs as the best person at pulling men together that he has ever known. He wants to learn from this.


How bad was the NFC this year? The Cowboys were the ONLY team in the conference to finish with a winning record against the AFC (3-1).

Matt Millen reiterated he understands people are upset that he has not produced a winner, and winning is the only thing that will change anyone's opinion. The Lions were 9-7 in 2000, the season before Millen arrived. "I can't say anything to change anybody's opinion," Millen said. "Rod has said it a million times, and we're on the same page 100 percent. It's a show-me game. It's the way it is. So what can I say? "The only thing you can do is go out and win, and until you do that, they can take their shots. They can say what they want. They can yell at me. I have nothing to say. "I only think there's one winner a year (the Super Bowl winner). I've always believed that. There's one winner, and everybody else fails. The rest of it's just draft status."


Texans rookie Charles Spencer has a metal plate and about eight screws in his knee. The fracture that ended his season after just two starts has healed. That doesn't mean the Texans will have their starting left offensive tackle back any time soon, though. In fact, what appeared to be a bright NFL future for Spencer is now in question because of cartilage around his knee that was damaged as a result of the injury. "It's certainly an injury that threatens a guy's career, especially a guy like Spencer," said Dr. Walter Lowe, the team physician who performed Spencer's surgery Sept. 18.


Brad Childress said it's "inevitable that" defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin will get a head coaching job at some point. Tomlin spoke with Childress and Wilf on Tuesday and the Vikings could enhance Tomlin's contract, which expires after the 2008 season. The Vikings defense improved to eighth in the NFL this season. The unit was first in the league against the run but tied for last vs. the pass.


The Dolphins signed tight end Doug Rader and wide receiver P.K. Sam to contracts. Both players were on the practice squad in 2006.


The Cowboys running game has become punchless, and 1,000-yard back Julius Jones is trying to figure out his role. In his past six games, Jones has averaged 11 carries and rushed for more than 40 yards once. "I don't know what my role is," said Jones, who had one carry in the second half against Detroit. Backup Marion Barber, who led the NFC with 14 rushing touchdowns, has earned more significant carries down the stretch and was the Cowboys primary back in the second half against Detroit. "I'm not worried about it," Jones said. "I know what I can do, and these coaches know what I can do."


As a pointed and parting comment to his players as they scattered to their offseason destinations, Mike Nolan had this to say about the 49ers: "It will be a disappointment to me if we don't make the playoffs.'' Thus is the bar set for 2007. "Two years ago, we were a team that just hoped to win,'' the 49ers' coach said Tuesday in his season-ending news conference. "We thought we had a chance. We (won) four times. This past season, we went past that and believed we can win ... In '07, it's a year we begin to expect to win.''


The Giants are in the postseason despite the No. 24 scoring defense (worst of any playoff team) and a quarterback ranked 18th in passer rating (E. Manning, 77.0).

Eagles star Brian Westbrook was second only to Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew with an average of 6.0 yards per touch (running/receiving). Jones-Drew averaged 6.5.



Saturday morning, nearly the entire Broncos organization, including wives of players and coaches, will fly on a chartered plane to Fort Worth, Texas, for Williams' funeral. Numerous representatives from the NFL and Oklahoma State, where Williams played collegiately, are expected to join the Broncos at public services in Fort Worth. Former Oklahoma State coach Les Miles, now at LSU, also may attend. The Broncos have received hundreds of phone messages in addition to several makeshift memorials, including two at Dove Valley. The outpouring of support likely will assist the Broncos as they deal with the grieving process. Shanahan, often fighting back tears, acknowledged that the grieving period will take time.


Lions coach Rod Marinelli won't be swayed by receiver Mike Williams ' comments late in the season that he ought to be allowed to play at a weight higher than what has been assigned to him. The Lions want him at 220 pounds, but he has been closer to 240. "He can be special," Marinelli said. "The last thing you want to do with a man who can be special is lower the standards for him."


The results weren't so good on the other side of the ball: The Rams finished 23rd in total defense (335.1 yards a game): No. 8 vs. the pass (189.7) but a dreadful 31st vs. the run (145.4). "Obviously, that's the biggest disappointment and an issue we're going to have to address," defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said. "To play really well in this league, you have to stop the run." The search for solutions starts today at Rams Park, he added. "We'll assess our own personnel, and then who's available in the draft" and via free agency. "We have some needs, and we'll fulfill them. And I know the club's willing to do that."


Colts star Marvin Harrison has averaged 1,402 yards over the last eight seasons, second-best in NFL history behind Jerry Rice, who averaged 1,443 yards from 1988-95.



Vikings coach Brad Childress didn't make it through his season-ending news conference Tuesday without a couple of questions about the team's latest off-the-field incident. Wide receiver Travis Taylor was arrested early Monday morning outside a downtown Minneapolis nightclub and booked on misdemeanor charges of fifth-degree assault, disorderly conduct and interfering with pedestrian traffic. "I don't want to comment specifically on Travis," Childress said, "although I will tell you that supervision-wise he was with his mother and another player and his mother while he was down there."


The Giants had the most difficult schedule of all the teams to make the playoffs. Their opponents' winning percentage was .520. All the other playoff teams' opponents were .500 or below.



Players return to Chargers Park today, two days after completing the best regular season in franchise history (14-2). They will practice for about 90 minutes on each of the next three days before getting the weekend off. After 14 straight weeks of playing a game, the rest will be welcome. “It's interesting when you look back that our bye week was in Week 3, and that seems like another lifetime ago,” said Marty Schottenheimer, who is 2-2 after playoff byes, with the two wins coming in Cleveland. “So we can certainly use the time. We'll make sure we'll err to caution. This is far, far different than in my early career, where the only way to get better was to work harder.” That's typical of the way Schottenheimer changed over the last several years. His teams rarely practice in pads once the season begins, and rarely becomes never at midseason.


Perhaps the best reason to feel good about the Patriots is that they’ve cleaned up their turnover problem heading into the postseason. They went the final three weeks without a single giveaway, finishing the year tied for fourth in the NFL with a +8 turnover margin.


Saints QB Drew Brees finished with a passer rating of 90 or better in 11 of his 16 starts, tying Peyton Manning (Colts) for the league lead.


NBC/HBO's Peter King, who drew Nick Saban's wrath weeks ago when he reported Saban wouldn't assure his return: ``It just goes to show you should not trust what head coaches say. He's getting caught with his pants down. He's one of the top five coaches, but this shows he's a flawed man.''


Defensive end Phillip Daniels underwent surgery on both ankles yesterday, and three other Washington Redskins players are facing offseason surgery.

With Arizona and Atlanta ready to talk to two top Steelers assistant coaches, Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm, about head coaching jobs, the Steelers can't afford to wait too long to hear from Bill Cowher. "I think he understands the time frame, he understands this business," Art Rooney II said. "From my understanding in our talks, I don't think he's going to drag this out to a point where we can't deal with it, let's put it that way. "It will be a sad day for me if he does decide to step down. I've enjoyed working with him and we've had success. Yes, it will be a sad day if he decides to step down, but the other side of it is I certainly would respect his decision and where he is in his career and his life. "I couldn't ask for any more from him and I told him that. I think he's given us everything he's had every year and I appreciate what he's done." Cowher drove to his new home in Raleigh, N.C., to spend at least several days before deciding if he will step down as the team's coach.


Vikings coach Brad Childress led the NFL in challenging officials' calls by throwing the red flag 12 times this season, according to an independent study by the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune. Those challenges resulted in four reversals.


The Falcons got the first pick of the three teams that finished 7-9, with San Francisco and Buffalo, because they had the worst strength of schedule and opponent's record. The Falcons will have an extra fourth-round pick this year after the trade for receiver Ashley Lelie.


Did You Know?

Over the last 11 games, Falcons RB Warrick Dunn averaged 57 yards, 3.3 a carry.

QB Marc Bulger’s career completion percentage of 64.4 is better than Steve Young's (64.3), Peyton Manning's (64.0) and Joe Montana's (63.2).

For the first time since 1996, the Seahawks failed to post a 1,000-yard runner (Shaun Alexander had 896) or receiver (Darrell Jackson had 956).

Arizona's Anquan Boldin has had a league-high 323 passes thrown his way the last two seasons.

The Jaguars ended up +97 in scoring differential, the second-best for an 8-8 team in NFL history (1988 Bengals, +119).

The Chiefs finished the season 11th in scoring defense, their best showing since 1997.

The Bears allowed more points in their last six games (135) than they did in their first 10 (120).

After throwing seven picks in his first six games and raising questions about his effectiveness, QB Steve McNair threw just five more in the Ravens’ last 10 games.

Chargers tailbacks LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner had 2,317 yards, 30 TDs and a 5.41 average.

The Vikes had a league-worst 123 penalties.

Trifecta! The Redskins’ defense was last in INTs (6), fumbles forced (eight) and sacks (19).

Titans fearless punt returner Pacman Jones had as many touchdowns (3) as he did fair catches.

Miami's Olindo Mare led the league with 37.5 percent of his kickoffs going for touchbacks.

11 different Niners had 40+ tackles, which would lead the league in that category if it were a category.

Bills receivers had the fewest drops in the NFL (9), but also the fewest first downs (132).

The Panthers were last in both kickoff return average (19.4) and punt return average (4.6).

Taking a page from Bill Belichick’s bend-but-don’t-break philosophy, the Jets finished with the No. 6 scoring defense despite allowing 4.6 yards a carry (27th) and 5,306 yards (20th).

Bengals RB Rudi Johnson has averaged 4.06 a carry since Corey Dillon left town in 2003; Dillon has averaged 4.22 a carry in New England.


Thanks to Benmaller.com

[plummershelper]

Nice, thanks Heav

[OrangeShadow]

Man its going to be tough for javon to get over that. I couldnt imagine witnessing something that tragic.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Thanks Heav. Been missing those reports.

A shame about Spencer. He was a beast before he got hurt and Kubiak certainly needs him.

[ZachKC]

Vikings, what a mess that turned out to be.

[chaz]

thanks heav...always love the reports.

anyone interested in brad johnson as our backup here?

[shakenbake]

Originally Posted by chaz

thanks heav...always love the reports.

anyone interested in brad johnson as our backup here?

No

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Originally Posted by chaz

thanks heav...always love the reports.

anyone interested in brad johnson as our backup here?

Sure - as long as he doesn't have to play. He has a great mind and could be an extra coach for Cutler

[Jetmeck]

First thing I thought was Darrent was argueing with someone over the poor play of the team. Sad thought but maybe if we'd won he'd still be alive.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by Jetmeck

First thing I thought was Darrent was argueing with someone over the poor play of the team. Sad thought but maybe if we'd won he'd still be alive.

Don't even go there.

[broncogary]

Originally Posted by Big Guy

Thanks Heav. Been missing those reports.

A shame about Spencer. He was a beast before he got hurt and Kubiak certainly needs him.

I think they said on the radio here yesterday that he had no cartilige left and the knee and that it was a career-ending injury. Hope not.

[heydensmom]

Originally Posted by chaz

thanks heav...always love the reports.

anyone interested in brad johnson as our backup here?

Yes, we need someone with experience at back up, not another rook.

[HEAV]

Originally Posted by heydensmom

Yes, we need someone with experience at back up, not another rook.

I agree with Brad Johnson as a backup/mentor for Cutler. He could start in spot duty also.

[cmhargrove]

I would be really happy with Cam Cameron leaving the Chargers for the NFC. I know they still have the talent, but I think we proved that changing a successful O-Coordinator can really mess with your team (and losing your star left tackle).