Vilma To Play In Pro Bowl

New York City – The New York Jets announced Wednesday that middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma, the Club’s MVP, will play for the AFC squad in the Pro Bowl on February 12, 2006. Vilma will join defensive teammate CB Ty Law in Hawaii.

“It’s an honor for me to be selected to play in the Pro Bowl,” Vilma said. “It was one of my goals when I set my sights on playing in the National Football League and I am excited to play with all the great players that have also been selected. I want to thank my teammates, coaches and particularly Bob Sutton (Jets’ linebacker coach) and Donnie Henderson as well as for the fans of the New York Jets that voted for me throughout the course of the season. I truly appreciate the honor and look forward to playing the game.”

Vilma, selected by the Jets in the first round (#12 overall) of the 2004 Draft, was named the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year last season. The Miami native finished as the NFL’s leading tackler in 2005 (with 187 from coaches film and 173 from press box statistics) and was tied for seventh in the NFL in fumbles forced. Vilma became the first Jets’ defender to lead the league in tackles since S Victor Green racked up 207 stops in 1996.

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Live Event Schedule

All times Eastern

Sunday, January 29

7:45-8:45 p.m. -- Seattle Seahawks Press Conference

Monday, January 30

8:00 a.m. -- Sirius Satellite Radio



3:30-4:30 p.m. -- Pittsburgh Steelers Press Conference

4:30-5:30 p.m. -- Seattle Seahawks Press Conference

Tuesday, January 31

9:30-11:30 a.m. -- Pittsburgh Steelers Media Day

1:00-2:30 p.m. -- Seattle Seahawks Media Day

Wednesday, February 1

8:00-9:15 a.m. -- Pittsburgh Steelers Press Conference

10:45 a.m.-Noon -- Seattle Seahawks Press Conference

1:15-2:15 p.m. -- FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Year Press Conference

3:00-4:00 p.m. -- Pro Bowl Press Conference

Thursday, February 2

8:00-9:15 a.m. -- Pittsburgh Steelers Press Conference 10:45 a.m.-Noon -- Seattle Seahawks Press Conference

1:30-2:30 p.m. -- Pre-game and National Anthem Press Conference

2:30-3:30 p.m. -- Halftime Show Press Conference

4:00-5:00 p.m. -- Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year Press Conference

Friday, February 3

8:30-9:00 a.m. -- Bill Cowher (Steelers) Press Conference

9:00-9:30 a.m. -- NFL Man of the Year Press Conference

9:30-10:0 a.m. -- Mike Holmgren (Seahawks) Press Conference

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. -- Commissioner's State of the NFL

Saturday, February 4

2:00-3:00 p.m. -- Hall of Fame Announcement Press Conference

10:00-11:00 p.m. -- Pepsi Smash Concert Series

Sunday, February 5

Seattle Seahawks radio game broadcast

Pittsburgh Steelers radio game broadcast

6:30 p.m. -- Press Box Audio

6:30 p.m. -- Ford Field PA Announcer

6:30 p.m. -- BBC Radio (English)

6:30 p.m. -- Canal + Spain (Spanish)

6:30 p.m. -- TV 2 Denmark (Danish)

6:30 p.m. -- NTV + Russia (Russian)

6:30 p.m. -- BeTV (French)

6:30 p.m. -- SMG (Chinese Mandarin)

6:30 p.m. -- NTV Japan (Japanese)

10:00 p.m.-Midnight -- Post-game NFL Network show

Monday, February 6

8:30-9:30 a.m. -- MVP and Winning Coach Press Conference

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Stoerner Passes Kats Past Dragons

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Clint Stoerner threw for 254 yards and four touchdowns and the Nashville Kats beat the New York Dragons 57-28 Saturday night in the season opener for both Arena Football League teams.
T.T. Toliver had nine receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns for the Kats, who outscored the Dragons 17-0 in the fourth quarter. Nashville's Jarrick Hillery also scored three touchdowns.
Aaron Garcia completed 27 of 41 passes for 270 yards and four scores for New York, which trailed 26-14 at halftime.
Frank Carter had four of Nashville's seven sacks and Monty Montgomery had 10 tackles and two interceptions.
Kevin Swayne had nine catches for 91 yards and three scores for New York.

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Short sees long term success

Three days have passed since Panthers linebacker Brandon Short and his teammates packed up their things and said their goodbyes. Most of the goodbyes are short term, but the players know that some are not.

Brandon Short brings down Shaun Alexander in the NFC Championship at Seattle last Sunday. (Getty Images) "It's one of the worst days in football because teams change in the NFL from year to year," said Short, who posted 69 tackles in 16 games with 15 starts at strongside linebacker during the regular season. "This is a close group of guys and you know it will never be the same again."

At his own position, Short has seen changes aplenty in the locker room. In 2004, he arrived in Carolina with former Giants teammate Jessie Armstead and played alongside Mark Fields. This year he welcomed new teammates Chris Draft and Thomas Davis. So he knows that faces and locker room nameplates change.

One thing that hasn't changed is the unwavering fan support the Panthers have enjoyed recently. Huge crowds welcomed the team back after playoff victories at New York and Chicago, and a decent sized throng awaited them at 5 a.m. when they returned from Seattle.

It was awesome to see the fan support," said Short. "Sometimes as a player, you come into work every day and do everything you can to prepare for the game, and you don't realize how much it means to the entire community. Our fans showed really strong support and it meant a lot. To see them out here at five o'clock in the morning after a loss was a pickup that we needed.

The team was down, Short said, because it knew it had played much better the previous three games in road victories over the Falcons, Giants and Bears.

We didn't give (Seattle) our best," said Short. "The team that played the best won. They played a lot better. But we didn't give our best. We're disappointed in ourselves, but hopefully, we can keep the core of this team together and use it as a learning experience. We know what it takes."
Can they contend for the Super Bowl for the foreseeable future?

I believe so," said Short. "In the NFL, players change from year to year, but what we have here in Carolina is a way of going about business, a philosophy that is good for winning.

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Cat Stats: Regular Season

Wide receiver Steve Smith won the NFL's receiving triple crown with 103 receptions (tied with Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald), 1,563 receiving yards, and 12 receiving touchdowns (tied with Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison). Smith became the first player to lead all three categories since Green Bay's Sterling Sharpe in 1992.

Quarterback Jake Delhomme led the NFL with 13 completions of 40 yards or more. Seven of them were completions to Steve Smith, three to Ricky Proehl, and one each to DeShaun Foster, Keary Colbert and Drew Carter.

* The Panthers finished third in total defense, their second highest ranking ever and highest since 2002 when they were second. Ironically, division rival Tampa Bay was ranked first both seasons.




* Carolina was flagged for the fewest penalties in the League with 91. They gave up the second fewest yards to yellow flags with 732, behind only Indianapolis (690).

* Punter Jason Baker set a team record with a 38.9-yard net average. Baker also established career highs with a gross average of 43.3 yards and 23 punts inside the 20 yard line.

* Carolina's 6-2 road record was the best in the NFC as well as the best in team history, bettering the 5-3 marks posted in 1997 and 2003.

* Running back Stephen Davis shattered the team mark for rushing touchdowns with 12, breaking the previous standard of eight, which he set in 2003.

* Smith and Davis were the highest scoring tandem in team history with a combined 25 touchdowns. Smith accounted for 12 of those scores receiving and one rushing. All of Davis' touchdowns were rushing.

* For the first time ever, the Panthers started the same five players in the same positions on the offensive line for all 16 games.

* The Panthers were second in the NFL with 42 take-aways and third in turnover margin at plus 16.

* Defensive end Mike Rucker became the team's all-time leader in sacks this season. By posting 7.5 sacks in 2005, Rucker now has 47.5 career quarterback takedowns. Right behind him, however, is teammate Julius Peppers. Peppers posted a team-leading 10.5 sacks this season and has 40.5 in his four-year career.

* The Panthers have the third-best regular season record in the NFC over the last three years and the eighth-best in the NFL. Carolina is 29-19 in that span.

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Jauron officially hired as Buffalo coach

Dick Jauron will get a second chance to prove himself as a head coach after being hired by the Buffalo Bills.

Jauron's hiring was announced by Bills owner Ralph Wilson and general manager Marv Levy at a news conference.

This is Jauron's second time as a head coach after going 35-46 -- including one playoff loss -- in five years with the Chicago Bears. Fired by the Bears after the 2003 season, he had only one winning season, going 13-3 in 2001 when he was chosen NFL coach of the year.



"The only thing I'll promise to do is everything I can to fulfill my obligation to bring a winning team back to Buffalo," Jauron said. "There's a great winning tradition here, we know the fans are very passionate and it's something we're very passionate about."

Jauron spent the past two years as the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator, and finished last season as the team's interim coach after Steve Mariucci was fired in late November.
He replaces Mike Mularkey, who abruptly resigned 10 days ago, and becomes Buffalo's fourth coach since Levy, the Hall of Famer who retired after the 1997 season.

Jauron takes over a team that underachieved with a 5-11 finish last season, missing the playoffs for the sixth straight year -- the team's longest drought since the NFL merger.

The Bills have gone 31-49 since 2001, tied with Cleveland for the third worst record in the NFL over that span -- not including Houston, which joined the league in 2002. That's a significant drop off for the AFC's winningest franchise in the 1990s. The team made an unprecedented four straight Super Bowl appearances under Levy.

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Coaching still a black-and-white issue in NFL

If there was ever a year when minority coaches should have earned their warmest welcome into the NFL's coaching fraternity, it was this one.

This was the most successful year ever for the coaches of color. There was a league-high six black head coaches and nearly all of them experienced some measure of achievement.



Three black coaches were in the playoffs - Tony Dungy, Marvin Lewis and Lovie Smith - and Smith was NFL coach of the year. Dungy finished second.

So why then have NFL general managers and owners stuck to the NFL's copycat nature and hired more minorities as head coaches?

Owners and GMs are on the verge of pitching a shutout. If it weren't for Herman Edwards leaving the Jets for the Kansas City Chiefs, virtually all of the NFL's open head coaching positions would have gone to white men.

As it is, seven of the 10 coaching vacancies went to white guys. Nothing would be wrong with that if they were the most qualified candidates.
Problem is, they aren't.

Eric Mangini replaced Edwards in New York. At 35, he's the youngest head coach in the NFL and has been coaching in the league 11 years. After one season as Bill Belichick's defensive coordinator, he became a head coach.

I understand Belichick's acumen is so highly regarded, his gardener probably could get a head-coaching job.

But minorities rarely are rewarded as quickly as Mangini. It took Romeo Crennel, who is black, three Super Bowl rings with the Patriots, two stints as a defensive coordinator - including three years under Belichick - and almost 25 years of NFL experience before the Browns gave him his first head-coaching job last February.

And while we're on the subject, how can the Green Bay Packers justify giving their head coaching job to a man who was the brains behind the NFL's worst offense?

Mike McCarthy, who is white, was the 49ers' offensive coordinator this season. The same 49ers who finished 4-12. Under McCarthy, rookie quarterback Alex Smith was no better than Krusty the Clown. Yet McCarthy was put in charge of one of the most storied franchises in NFL history.
Things certainly weren't that easy for Marvin Lewis, who was passed over repeatedly before getting the Bengals job.

Lewis was the architect of the stingiest defense in NFL history, and it powered the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl victory after the 2000 season.
But after that superb season, Lewis could only land one interview. There were seven openings that year.

"You have minority coaches who have more experience, and they're not getting the jobs," said ex-Denver Bronco Terrell Davis, an analyst for the NFL Network. "It's disconcerting. There has got to be minorities that have more experience than what's been hired."

NFL teams have sent the message that if you're a minority, you must be twice as good just to get the same opportunity as someone who is white.

And don't tell me there weren't enough qualified minorities out there for NFL teams to consider.
What about UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell, a former player and position coach with the Denver Broncos who took the Bruins to a 9-2 record in his third season?

What about Norm Chow, the Titans' offensive coordinator who has 32 years of coaching experience and helped USC become a national power?

If fresh blood was what the NFL wanted, there was 49ers assistant and Chicago Bears legend Mike Singletary and Browns offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon. Their resumes are just as good, if not better, than McCarthy's and Mangini's.

Unfortunately, Singletary and Carthon only were the honorary token interviews teams needed to comply with the Rooney rule, which requires NFL teams to interview at least one minority for a head coaching position.

But that rule isn't getting to the heart of the matter. Or, rather the brain.
Because in the minds of GMs and owners, minorities still aren't good enough.

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Seahawks WRs Jackson, Engram back to practice

Seattle wide receivers Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram both will play in the NFC championship game against Carolina -- despite still being listed as questionable.



The Seahawks' top two receivers both practiced Jan. 20 for the first time this week.
Jackson, who had surgery Oct. 12 on his right knee, has had only one full week of practice in the last 11 weeks. But Seattle's leading receiver did play Dec. 18 at Tennessee and Dec. 24 against Indianapolis.




His latest pain was from a bruised lower back, the result of a hit during the playoff win over Washington.

Engram, who led the Seahawks with 67 catches, also has a bruised back.

"I'm not worried at all about Bobby. I'm not worried at all about Darrell," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "In the past, Darrell hasn't practiced at all with the team and come out and had the best games of his career."

Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, who had a career-high 8 1/2 sacks in the regular season, also practiced for the first time this week. He is also questionable with a sore left foot.

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Lucrative payday may elude Seahawks MVP Alexander

He set an NFL single-season scoring record, won the league's Most Valuable Player honor and proved himself statistically as the best player at his position in 2005.
Still, Seattle's Shaun Alexander might not be able to land the kind of lucrative contract he is seeking in the offseason.

Such is the life of a tailback in today's NFL, where the championship round of the playoffs is showing that teams might be better off spending big money elsewhere.



Mind you, Alexander was brilliant during the regular season with 1,880 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns to help lead the Seahawks (14-3) to the NFC's best record. If Seattle is to reach Super Bowl XL, Alexander will almost certainly need another extra-large outing in Sunday's conference title game against visiting Carolina (12-6).

Based solely on performance, Alexander was worth the $6.32 million he earned this season. And considering the megadeals signed by fellow tailbacks LaDainian Tomlinson (eight years, $60 million) in 2004 and Deuce McAllister (eight years, $50.4 million) in 2005, Alexander isn't out of line asking for a raise.

But the Panthers and AFC finalists Denver and Pittsburgh also fielded effective ground attacks at a much lower cost through a two-tailback system.

The combined 2005 salaries of the top two rushers from those three teams - Pittsburgh's Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis, Denver's Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell, and Carolina's Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster - totaled $5.82 million. That translates to an average salary of just $970,000, which gave those franchises financial flexibility to bolster other parts of their rosters.
Anderson and Bell had more combined rushing yards (1,935) than Alexander and posted 21 touchdowns. Parker and Bettis had 1,570 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns; Foster and Davis, both of whom are now on injured reserve, had 1,428 rushing yards and 15 scores.
The tandems complemented each other well. Bell, Foster and Parker add speed in the backfield; Bettis, Davis and Anderson provide the power.

The dual success of those backs doesn't detract from what Alexander has accomplished. However, it does help explain why big-ticket tailbacks like Alexander and Indianapolis' Edgerrin James didn't receive much interest when shopped in trades by their respective teams during the 2005 offseason.

Alexander is slated to become an unrestricted free agent because Seahawks management promised he wouldn't be named their franchise player in 2006. Despite having an NFL-best 7,504 rushing yards since 2001, assessing Alexander's value on the open market is difficult. He can provide an instant upgrade for a team with an anemic rushing attack. But Alexander will be 29 entering next season and has some wear and tear from logging more than 300 touches (rushes and catches) each of the past five seasons.

Alexander said Thursday that how he performs in the postseason won't affect his offseason value. Alexander, though, certainly can help his public standing in Seattle by rebounding from last Saturday's 20-10 second-round playoff victory over Washington in which he lost a fumble inside the red zone before being knocked out of the game with a first-quarter concussion.
If he carries Seattle to its first Super Bowl, Seahawks fans will understandably clamor for the team to re-sign Alexander. Under that scenario, a sizeable three- or four-year contract offer would be reasonable.

Such a deal might not be everything that Alexander desires, but it could beat the alternatives in free agency, especially with the well-stocked Seahawks poised to remain a title contender in future seasons.
source: mercurynews.com

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NFL: Saints fill head coach vacancy with hire of former Dallas assistant Sean Payton

Loomis hire takes over as the 14th Head Coach in Club History
The New Orleans Saints have hired Sean Payton as Head Coach, it was announced today by Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis. Payton, who served as Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys in 2005, has forged a reputation throughout his NFL coaching career for bringing a disciplined, high-energy approach to the game and building productive offensive attacks.



"Sean is the right fit for our organization from every perspective -- leadership, discipline, game-planning, relating to players and developing talent," said Loomis. "We took our time to find the coach who will take us forward, and we interviewed several impressive candidates. But Sean's experience and the success he has had made him the coach we targeted, and we're excited to have him in New Orleans."

The 42-year old Payton enters his 10th season as an NFL coach.
"During our meeting, I was impressed with Sean's attention to detail and work ethic, and his desire to work together with the entire organization as we move forward," said Owner Tom Benson. "I am pleased Mickey went through this process so thoroughly and I am very confident Sean is ready to take this step in his career. With this hire, we have put a staff in place that will be successful on the field and be a club the fans in New Orleans can be proud of for many years to come."

Payton has been a key member of Bill Parcells' coaching staff in Dallas since 2003. After starting with the Cowboys initially as Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Coach, he was promoted by Parcells to Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator prior to last season.

"I think New Orleans fans will find Sean to be a bright and energetic coach who will work very hard to improve the fortunes of the Saints," said Parcells. "I know he will be diligent and determined, and the organization will get the best he has at all times."

Before joining Parcells in Dallas, Payton was offensive coordinator for the New York Giants from 2000-02, promoted to that position by former Coach Jim Fassel after serving as the Giants' quarterbacks coach in 1999. He was also the quarterbacks coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1997-98, working with then-coordinator and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Jon Gruden.
"Sean has had success at every stop and he has worked with some of the top coaches in the game," said Loomis. "But what was particularly impressive is that he's taken these influences and created his own philosophy and approach on what it takes to be a successful head coach."
Payton has polished the talents of several quarterbacks during his stint in the NFL, both veterans and young signal-callers. Since 2000, each passer under his guidance has thrown for at least 3,300 yards. With the Cowboys, Payton guided three different quarterbacks -- Drew Bledsoe, Vinny Testaverde in 2004 and Quincy Carter in 2003 -- to seasons of over 3,000 yards passing. In 2005, Bledsoe completed 300 of 499 passes for 3,639 yards and 23 touchdowns. The yardage total ranks third in club history and the veteran quarterback posted an 83.7 passer rating, among the best of his career.

"Sean is a very smart coach," said Bledsoe. "He is an exceptional play-caller and a creative game-planner. I'm going to miss him, as is the rest of our team, but I know he is deserving of this opportunity. The Saints organization is lucky to have him as their head coach, and I'm certain he'll have a positive long-term impact on their team."

Also in 2005, the Cowboys had the NFL's 13th-ranked offense, with WR Terry Glenn recording 62 receptions for 1,136 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns. TE Jason Witten had 66 grabs for 757 yards and six TDs, ranking second in the NFC among tight ends.

While in New York, Payton worked with QB Kerry Collins and the passer's NFL career reached new heights. Collins had a career-high and club-record 4,073 yards in 2002 as the Giants finished sixth in the league in offense. In 2001, Collins completed 327 of 568 attempts for 3,764 yards and 19 touchdowns as New York posted the league's eighth-ranked passing attack.

Under Payton, Collins became one of the most productive quarterbacks in Giants history, standing third on the team's career list in pass attempts (1,973), third in completions (1,163), fourth in passing yards (13,765) and fifth in touchdown passes (68) before Payton's departure. Collins set an NFL record by becoming the first quarterback in league history to throw each of his team's passes in consecutive seasons (2000-2001).

Payton solidified his reputation as one of the NFL's brightest offensive coaches in 2000 when the Giants went 12-4 and captured the NFC Championship in his first full season as offensive coordinator. With Payton forming game plans and calling plays, the Giants scored 328 points, the team's highest total since the 1990 Super Bowl Champions had 335.
The Giants' rushing yardage jumped from 24th to 11th in the NFL, sparking a rise from 17th to 13th in total offense.

In 2000, Collins established then career-highs as the Giants captured the NFC Championship and went to Super Bowl XXXV. During Payton's stint in New York, WR Amani Toomer caught 311 passes and became the first player in team history to record four-straight seasons of 70-plus receptions and over 1,000 yards. And RB Tiki Barber emerged as one of the NFL's top rushers under Payton's guidance, including finishing second in the NFC with 1,387 rushing yards in 2002.

Payton wrapped two coaching stints at San Diego State University (1988-89 and 1992-93) around a stop at Indiana State (1990-91). During his second stretch with the Aztecs, Payton served as the running backs coach initially, working directly with Heisman Trophy runner-up RB Marshall Faulk before becoming the quarterbacks coach the following year Following the 1993 season, Payton moved to Miami of Ohio (1994-95) where he was the quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator. He spent the 1996 season as quarterbacks coach at Illinois prior to entering the NFL with Philadelphia.

Payton earned a degree in communications at Eastern Illinois, where as a quarterback he posted 10,665 passing yards. After leading Division I-AA in passing in 1986, the three-time Associated Press All-American had stints with Chicago of the Arena Football League, Ottawa of the Canadian Football League and the Chicago Bears in 1987. Payton was inducted into the Eastern Illinois Hall of Fame in September of 2000.

Born Dec. 29, 1963, Payton and his wife, Beth, have two children: daughter, Meghan, and son, Connor Thomas.

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Delhomme, Smith expect big things of each other

Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith seem, at times, to know what each other is thinking. Into their third season together, they have established themselves as one of the most formidable quarterback-receiver duos in NFL postseason history.

But, both acknowledge, they don't always see eye-to-eye.

"We argue at times," Smith said Wednesday. "It's almost like two women. I won't talk to him for a couple of hours. Then he'll say, `What's the matter?' I'll say, `Nothing.'




There was a playful twinkle in Smith's eyes as he told the story, which Delhomme didn't dispute.

"We argue about a lot of things," Delhomme said. "It's quick stuff. Nothing ever lingers. That's part of the relationship.

"We expect good things out of each other. I expect great things out of him." -- Ron Green Jr.
Delhomme rises to postseason occasion

Delhomme is carving himself a place among the most productive quarterbacks in postseason.
Two former quarterbacks -- Dallas' Troy Aikman and Washington's Joe Theismann -- produced better ratings numbers in their first six postseason games.

Delhomme has a passer rating of 108.4, the highest through six games since Aikman's 115.7 rating in 1994.

In six postseason games, Delhomme has thrown 10 touchdown passes and two interceptions. In three of the games, he and the offense have not committed a turnover.

"Twice I've been on a team that's started to play its best football this time of year," Delhomme said. "I try to be me. Not anybody else. I try to do what I can do.

"I have an idea of what got us here, so why change?"

Delhomme is one of three quarterbacks to lead four road victories in the postseason -- Kansas City's Len Dawson and Dallas' Roger Staubach are the others -- and the only one to win four consecutive on the road. -- R.G.

Weather or not

With all the attention given to the unrelenting rain in Seattle the past four weeks, the Panthers aren't concerned about whether it rains Sunday.The long-range forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-40s.

"Hopefully, it will be sunny and beautiful, but I can't worry about that," Delhomme said. "They've got (Grant) Wistrom on one side and (Bryce) Fisher on the other. I can't worry about the weather." -- R.G.

Alexander could be a free-agent tease

Maybe it was a slip or maybe Shaun Alexander was sending a message. Whatever, the Seattle running back and NFL's most valuable player said he wouldn't mind playing for the Panthers. Alexander can become a free agent after the season.

When asked if he was sad when cornerback Ken Lucas left the Seahawks for the Panthers in March, Alexander made a statement that might be music to the ears of wishful-thinking Carolina fans.

"I definitely was," he said in a conference call with reporters in Charlotte. "But at the same time, who knows if I am going to be here or not? I told him you never know, I might be out there with you. Whenever you lose a teammate, it's rough. When you lose a friend, it's worse."

The Panthers could be in the market for a running back next season. But Alexander is likely to command huge money and the Panthers already have nearly $97 million committed toward a salary cap that's likely to be about $92 million. -- Pat Yasinskas

Injury update

Defensive end Julius Peppers was one of seven Panthers who missed practice Wednesday, as Carolina attempted to recover from a hard-hitting game in Chicago.Peppers, who hurt his shoulder late in the third quarter and didn't return, is listed as questionable for Sunday's game.
Also missing practice were fullback Brad Hoover (ankle), center Jeff Mitchell (knee), defensive tackle Kindal Moorehead (ankle), guard Tutan Reyes (toe), defensive tackle Jordan Carstens (illness) and safety Mike Minter (wrist). All were listed as questionable except Carstens and Minter, who are probable. -- Stan Olson

30 the magic number

Think the ground game isn't important to Carolina's success? The Panthers have topped 30 carries in their running game 11 times this season, counting the playoffs. They've won every one of those games. When they don't reach that figure, they are 2-5. "It is really a key to our offense," said guard Mike Wahle. "It opens up a lot of other things, especially with Steve (Smith)." -- S.O.

On the Seahawks

Holmgren says Locklear will play
Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said Wednesday that offensive lineman Sean Locklear, arrested this week on domestic violence charges, will play Sunday."There is some misinformation floating around, and something as serious as this issue, it's important to let the facts come out and what will be done, will be done," said Holmgren.

Locklear, who played at N.C. State, has a hearing in February. He was arrested early Sunday morning for allegedly grabbing his girlfriend by the neck. He was released without bail Tuesday.
"I want to apologize to the community and everybody," said Locklear, who is from Lumberton. "I'm not proud of what I've done. It's not characteristic of (me)." -- David Scott

Notes

• Peter Warrick will replace Jimmy Williams as the Seahawks' punt returner against the Panthers. Williams struggled in the divisional playoff game last week against the Washington Redskins.

• Holmgren said tailback Alexander, who missed much of the Redskins game with a concussion, would practice normally this week and be ready for the Panthers. Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (foot), and wide receivers Bobby Engram (back) and Darrell Jackson (knee) didn't practice and are questionable for Sunday. -- D.S.

Scott Says Scott Fowler

• The Sports Illustrated cover jinx has lost a bit of its power, which should be good news to Panthers fans getting their issues with No. 89 (Steve Smith) this week. Jerome Bettis, last week's subject, had a terrible fumble Sunday, but Pittsburgh won anyway.

• Not to be overlooked at Chicago -- that was one of the jewels in offensive coordinator Dan Henning's crown. I've never seen Henning call a better game.

GAME TIME: 6:30 p.m. Sunday. TV: Fox, WCCB (Ch. 18)

WEATHER FOR SUNDAY: High 45, low 36, partly cloudy, 20 percent chance of rain.
FOOTBALL
NFL
Injury Report

PITTSBURGH (13-5) AT DENVER (14-3) -- Steelers: D: LB James Harrison (ankle). P: LB James Farrior (calf); LB Larry Foote (knee); CB Chidi Iwuoma (shoulder); DE Travis Kirschke (groin); LB Joey Porter (hip); QB Ben Roethlisberger (right thumb); CB Deshea Townsend (knee); DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen (knee). Broncos: P: TE Stephen Alexander (toe); DE Courtney Brown (shoulder/knee); LB Keith Burns (knee); WR Todd Devoe (wrist); CB Darrent Williams (groin); LB Al Wilson (thumb).

CAROLINA (13-5) AT SEATTLE (14-3) -- Panthers: O: RB DeShaun Foster (ankle/IR). Q: RB Brad Hoover (ankle); C Jeff Mitchell (knee); DT Kindal Moorehead (ankle); DE Julius Peppers (shoulder); G Tutan Reyes (toe). P: DT Jordan Carstens (illness); S Mike Minter (wrist). Seahawks: Q: DT Rocky Bernard (foot); WR Bobby Engram (lower back); WR Darrell Jackson (knee). P: RB Shaun Alexander (concussion).

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NFL Playoffs - NFC Title Game Betting - 01-19-06

The NFC Championship title game will see the Carolina Panthers face the Seattle Seahawks. There has been a lot of sports betting activity for this game already, and online sportsbooks have been swamped with bets for the Panthers to cover the spread. The line opened at Seattle -6 points but steady betting on the Panthers has moved the line to -3.5 points at present.



Nine.com still has the Panthers listed as +4 points, but that cannot last for long as a lot of "wiseguy" shrewd bets have come for Carolina. The Panthers played well all season long and they have been tremendous on the road throughout the NFL playoffs. They started out by crushing the Giants in New York, shutting them out, and then beat the Bears last week, in a game that Mycapper.com gave away as their free NFL playoff pick of the week.


This weekend's game looks a lot tougher to handicap, however, and experts are divided as to which team will advance against the spread. The Seahawks have been unbeatable at home this season, but this is definitely their toughest test to date.

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Hill shuns NFL, will stay at Fresno State

Fresno State coach Pat Hill agreed to a contract extension through 2010 on Wednesday after interviewing for several NFL head coaching positions this month.



Hill is 72-43 in nine seasons at Fresno State, leading the Bulldogs to seven straight postseason appearances and a national reputation. But after finishing last season with four straight losses, Hill — a former assistant to Bill Belichick in Cleveland — interviewed with Houston and St. Louis, and later spoke to several other teams about NFL jobs.



“It was a great process and learning experience,” Hill said. “I think it speaks volumes about the quality of our program at Fresno State. With the schemes we run and type of young men who come through our program, it’s a great testament to our overall program that several NFL teams had a genuine interest.”

The Bulldogs were 8-1 and ranked No. 16 in November before a 50-42 loss to top-ranked USC, which began a tailspin ending in an upset loss to Tulsa in the Liberty Bowl.

Fresno State returns 18 starters in 2006, including four all-Western Athletic Conference players, but loses quarterback Paul Pinegar, running backs Wendell Mathis and Bryson Sumlin and defensive end Garrett McIntyre, the WAC’s defensive player of the year.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Mangini to be Introduced as New Jets' Head Coach

New York Jets Executive Vice President/General Manager Terry Bradway will hold a press conference at 4:00 p.m. today to introduce new Jets’ Head Coach Eric Mangini. The press conference will be held in the auditorium at Weeb Ewbank Hall located on the campus of Hofstra University.

Mangini joins the Jets following six seasons with the New England Patriots, the first of five which he served as the team’s defensive backs coach. He was promoted to defensive coordinator last offseason after Romeo Crennel took the head coaching position in Cleveland. The Patriots played great defense down the stretch in ’05, including a three-game December stretch when they held the Jets, the Bills, and the Buccaneers to just 10 points combined.



The 34-year old Mangini is no stranger to the Jets. He worked as a defensive assistant/quality control coach for the Green & White from 1997-’99. That talented Bill Parcells’ coaching staff also included Bill Belilchick who was the Jets’ assistant head coach/secondary coach.

In 1999, the Jets defense ranked third in the AFC with 24 interceptions, the team’s highest total since 1969 (29). The defensive backs recorded 18 of those 24 interceptions. In 1998, the Jets defense surrendered just 16.6 points per game, ranking third in franchise history and helping the Jets to a 12-4 overall record and their first division title.

This will be Mangini’s first season as a head coach, but 12th season coaching in the NFL. In Mangini’s short career, he has already been a part of five division winners and three Super Bowl champions.

Mangini becomes the 14th full-time coach in Jets’ history. The front office interviewed a deep pool of candidates including the likes of former Saints coach Jim Haslett, Rams interim coach Joe Vitt, former Vikings head coach Mike Tice, Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, and the team’s three coordinators: offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, special teams coach/assistant head coach Mike Westhoff, and Henderson. Late Monday night, Bradway released a statement and signs pointed to a decision.

"No other candidates are expected at this point," Bradway said. "At this point, we are going to huddle up and review our process to this point and decide what our next plan of action is."
source : newyorkjets.com

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24' scores even if Chicago doesn't

Jack Bauer may or may not save the world, but Kiefer Sutherland's secret agent is already doing his part to buck up Fox's midseason. Sunday's season premiere of "24" was the drama's most-watched episode ever, with an average of 17 million viewers, according to early data from Nielsen Media Research.

The debut was undoubtedly helped in many markets by an NFL playoff between Carolina and Chicago that ran long. But a special second episode of "24," airing right after the first hour, also scored well, with 15.5 million viewers.

Fox's good fortune spelled trouble for its network rivals. NBC's "The West Wing" sank to record lows in total viewers (6.4 million) and in the key demographic of adults aged 18 to 49.

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Lions get moving on coach search

The NFL's coaching carousel is spinning rapidly, and the Lions have jumped aboard.
The Lions are one of eight teams in the market to hire a new head coach, and they will be in direct competition with teams considering the same candidates.

The Lions reportedly have confirmed interviews with at least three candidates -- assistant coaches Gary Kubiak of Denver and Mike Singletary of San Francisco and Jim Haslett, recently fired after six seasons as coach of the Saints.



Others are sure to follow, even if they are with out-of-work coaches hoping to throw their name into the job market. Among the assistant coaches likely to be on the short list of Lions president Matt Millen are Russ Grimm, assistant head coach of the Steelers and a teammate on the 1991 Washington team that won the Super Bowl, and Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis. Millen has not eliminated interim head coach Dick Jauron as a candidate.

It is difficult at this time to separate fact from fantasy as coaches and their agents seek to have their names attached to openings.

Haslett confirmed in New Orleans on Wednesday that he has an interview set up with the Lions, and there were reports that Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is a candidate.

"I'm looking forward to hearing what they have to say," Haslett told the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

One potential high-profile candidate is Mike Martz, who was fired on Monday after six seasons as head coach of the Rams. Martz reportedly has told people in St. Louis that he is intrigued by the potential of the Lions' young offensive players.

However, that does not mean that the Lions will have an interest in Martz, who is highly regarded for his ability to develop quarterbacks and build offenses, both as an assistant and head coach.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is Singletary. He has only three years of experience -- two as Baltimore's linebackers coach and the 2005 season as assistant head coach and linebackers coach in San Francisco. Singletary, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, played linebacker for 12 seasons with the Bears.

Singletary's interview with the Lions will be his first for a head coaching position in the NFL.
"I feel very excited," Singletary said in a phone interview Wednesday. "I'm looking forward to what they have to say. The most important thing is, is it right? Is it right for them and is it right for me? If that's the case, going forward, I'm tremendously excited."

Singletary has gotten support from 49ers coach Mike Nolan, who was Baltimore's defensive coordinator for the two seasons Singletary was with the Ravens. Nolan hired Singletary as assistant head coach when he took the San Francisco job in 2005.

Singletary is aware that the experience issue might work against him in the eyes of some teams.
"I don't think a head coach is something you become," Singletary said. "I think it's something you are. At some point in time, it's discovered by somebody else. One of my strengths is leadership."

Denver Broncos officials have confirmed that Kubiak has been contacted by the Lions and Houston Texans. The Texans reportedly will talk to Kubiak Friday. Kubiak is a Houston native.
In an interview on Tuesday, Millen would not speak specifically about any candidates.
More Lions-NFL Headlines

Edwards close to joining Chiefs

More Detroit Lions news, Weblog, commentary, photo galleries and a Lions Talk forum are available at The Detroit News

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Seahawks expect Alexander to play in NFC title game

After Shaun Alexander told enough people he felt fine, all eventually became right with the Seattle Seahawks.

The NFL MVP missed the last three-plus quarters of the Seahawks' 20-10 playoff victory against the Washington Redskins after sustaining a concussion. For a while, his injury was the only downer to soaring Seattle winning its first playoff game since 1984.
After the game, coach Mike Holmgren said, "I think he's going to be fine" for the NFC championship game Jan. 22.



"I think if I had showed him a picture of a truck, he would have said it was a truck -- and not a butterfly," Holmgren said, adding doctors will run more tests on Alexander in the coming days.
Alexander didn't talk publicly after the game. But on his way off the field at halftime, Alexander had a brief chat with team president Tim Ruskell. That ended with both men nodding their heads assuredly. Seconds later, with his team coat over his shoulder pads and his hood over his head, he flashed an "OK" sign to fans before he entered the tunnel to the locker room.

He also left the field smiling and pumping his fists after the victory. Inside the locker room, he kept on smiling and looked exactly as he has after each game of his 1,880-yard season.
But the Seahawks weren't smiling when Alexander was hit in the side of the head as he was falling during a 1-yard loss. Washington defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin immediately signaled to the Seattle sideline for medical attention for Alexander, who was face down on the turf while propped up on both knees. Griffin made the initial hit into Alexander's legs that brought down the league rushing champion.

"I mean, you always take a deep breath when the MVP of the league goes down," said 13-year veteran fullback Mack Strong, Alexander's personal protector for the past six seasons.
After a few hushed moments inside the otherwise roaring stadium, Alexander walked to the sideline. He spent the next series sitting on the bench and occasionally moving his head around while trainers talked to him. A series after that, he looked less likely to return. Alexander, still seated, wore a Seahawks coat with the hood pulled up over his head. At the time, the Seahawks announced his return was questionable.

He had 9 yards on six carries when he left. Maurice Morris replaced him and had 12 yards on his first six carries and finished with 49 yards on 18 carries.

It was hardly the day Alexander anticipated, after carrying Seattle the entire season while setting an NFL single-season record for touchdowns with 28. But he put on his best face and became the most accomplished cheerleader in the NFL.

When his team was on offense, Alexander stood near Holmgren, his effervescent smile as steady as the daylong rain. By then, a blue team skull cap replaced the hood on his head.
He was also a coat valet for Morris when the backup would come to the sideline.
"Yeah. And he was making sure my hands stayed dry," Morris said, marveling at the personal service.

After Matt Hasselbeck's 6-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave the Seahawks a 14-3 lead, Alexander marched out to the numbers on the field to hug his quarterback. During timeouts, he poked his head into conferences between Hasselbeck and Holmgren.

Seattle had another injury to a starter, left cornerback Andre Dyson. He left in the second quarter with a right ankle injury. Jordan Babineaux took Dyson's place until 13:10 was left in the game. One play later, a Mark Brunell pass skipped off Dyson's helmet in the end zone and into Santana Moss' hands for a touchdown. That cut Seattle's lead to 17-10.

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Smith's big game against Bears puts Panthers in NFC title game

Steve Smith racked up a career-best 218 receiving yards on 12 catches and hauled in two touchdown passes from Jake Delhomme, as Carolina advanced to the NFC Championship game with a 29-21 victory over Chicago in a divisional playoff game at Soldier Field.

Delhomme threw for 319 yards and three scores with one interception for the fifth-seeded Panthers, who built an early 13-0 lead and held on to reach the NFC title game for the second time in three years. He completed 24-of-33 passes.



The Panthers rolled up 434 total yards against the NFL's second-ranked defense and scored the most points by an opponent at Soldier Field this season.

Carolina will visit top-seeded Seattle next Sunday to decide the conference's representative in Super Bowl XL.

However, the Panthers will have to face the Seahawks without their top running back, as DeShaun Foster broke his right ankle early in the third quarter after putting up 54 yards on 16 carries.

Rex Grossman went 17-of-41 for 192 yards with a touchdown and interception in his first career playoff start. Thomas Jones compiled 80 yards on 20 carries for second-seeded Chicago, which hasn't won a postseason game since the 1994 campaign.

The Bears, who had set an NFL record by surrendering only 61 total points in their eight home regular-season games, allowed seven before a minute had ticked off the clock.

On the second play from scrimmage, Smith burned Charles Tillman and Delhomme hit him in stride down the right sideline for a 58-yard touchdown just 55 seconds into the contest.
Smith set up the Panthers' next points when he took an up-for-grabs pass from Delhomme away from Nathan Vasher for a 46-yard gain to the Chicago two. However, the Bears stuffed Foster twice and Delhomme overthrew Michael Gaines to force John Kasay to kick a 20-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter.

Kasay drilled a 38-yarder with 6:26 left in the period to extend the lead to 13-0. Foster ran three times for 26 yards on the eight-play drive, including a 17-yard burst that put Carolina in scoring range.

Grossman had thrown for only two net yards over Chicago's first five possessions, but finally caught fire late in the first half.

The young signal-caller hit Bernard Berrian for 17 yards before finding ex- Panther Muhsin Muhammad down the middle for a 24-yard gain that put the ball inside the Carolina 20. A 13-yard catch-and-run by Berrian then gave the Bears a 1st-and-goal, and Adrian Peterson crossed the goal line from a yard out on fourth down to bring Chicago within 13-7 with 1:57 remaining before intermission.

However, Delhomme marched the Panthers down field in the closing moments. The veteran completed 5-of-6 throws for 58 yards, including a 20-yard strike to Smith with just under a minute to go, to allow Kasay to boot his third field goal of the half. The 37-yard kick as time expired sent Carolina into the locker room with a 16-7 advantage.

The nine-point bulge at the break could have been more. Panthers' star defensive end Julius Peppers had a 37-yard fumble return for a touchdown overturned by replay in the first-quarter, while Brian Urlacher stopped another scoring opportunity when he picked off Delhomme deep in Chicago territory later on.

Those missed opportunities nearly cost Carolina, as the Bears opened the second half with an eight-play, 68-yard touchdown drive to cut the deficit to two.

Jones ripped off a 24-yard run into Panther territory and Berrian later made a 12-yard grab on 3rd-and-6 to move Chicago to the 25-yard line. A 17-yard connection from Grossman to Berrian preceded Desmond Clark's one-yard catch in the end zone that made it a 16-14 game.

After the teams traded punts, the Panthers gained some breathing room when Delhomme found Smith wide open down the left sideline for a 39-yard touchdown with 2:07 remaining in the third quarter. However, Chicago answered on the ensuing possession.

Grossman delivered a 24-yard pass to Justin Gage and later an 18-yarder to Muhammad which gave the Bears a 1st-and-goal. Jones nearly killed the drive when he fumbled out of the end zone two plays later, but Carolina's Marlon McCree was flagged for a face mask to prevent the turnover.

Fullback Jason McKie then scored from three yards out to pull the hosts within 23-21 with over 12 minutes still to play.

However, Chicago's normally reliable defense failed to stop the Panthers on their next series.
Carolina marched 62 yards in seven plays, highlighted by a 22-yard end around by Smith that put the ball deep in the Bears' end. A pair of strong runs by Nick Goings moved the Panthers inside the five-yard line before Delhomme capped the drive with a one-yard toss to Kris Mangum with 8:04 remaining.

Kasay slipped on the extra point try and the ball landed off the upright, keeping the score at 29-21 and making it a one-possession game.

The Bears got inside the Carolina 40 with around 2 1/2 minutes to go, but Grossman was intercepted by Ken Lucas to thwart the threat.

Still, Chicago had one last chance after its defense forced a three-and-out and got the ball back with 1:36 remaining. However, Grossman hurried a 4th- and-1 throw for Muhammad and the pass sailed past the receiver.

Game Notes

Chicago Pro Bowl safety Mike Brown, who missed the final four regular-season games with a calf injury, aggravated the ailment late in the first half and didn't return...Chicago has lost its last three playoff games, the last two of which have come at home. The Bears' last postseason win came on January 1, 1995, a 35-18 decision at Minnesota in the wild-card round...Smith's previous career best of 201 yards was set October 30 against the Vikings. He had 14 receptions for 169 yards in Carolina's 13-3 regular-season loss to the Bears in November...Delhomme has thrown 10 touchdowns and just two picks in six career playoff games...Chicago has lost 12 straight games in which it has trailed by more than six points.
source: sportsnetwork.com

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nfl standings : Levy rules self out as Bills coach

Football

Buffalo Bills general manager Marv Levy clarified yesterday that he's not a candidate for the team's vacant coaching job. ''I want to say unequivocally that I am here to serve as the general manager/football operations," Levy said in a statement on the team's website. Meanwhile, Jim Haslett's agent, Peter Schaffer, told the Associated Press his client has had preliminary contact with the Bills.



The Bills declined comment on Haslett . . . Tennessee defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, sued this week for injuring a fellow student, will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft, coach Phillip Fulmer said. A student McDaniel hit in the face during a pickup basketball game last year filed an $800,000 lawsuit Thursday for damages in Knox County Circuit Court. McDaniel said Wednesday he wanted to remain in school to repay Fulmer and defensive line coach Dan Brooks for standing up for him after he was arrested. McDaniel pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault, and was placed under supervised probation . . . Clemson junior defensive end Gaines Adams ended weeks of speculation about his future, forgoing the NFL draft to remain in college.

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Coaching Search Continues as Jets Look to Reload

You can forget about last season because the New York Jets have already begun their 2006 campaign. There are eight teams competing for the championship, but the Green & White have their eyes on the future and a speedy return to winning football.

“We've never used the word ‘rebuilding’ since we've been here,” says New York GM Terry Bradway. “We did not do it after the '03 season; we are not going to do it now.

“I don't understand what ‘rebuilding’ is. I think we've got good football players here. I think we'll get some injured guys back; I think we'll add to it with a good draft and we have a chance to get back on track pretty quick.”

Bradway’s first offseason task is hiring a head coach. The Jets allowed Herman Edwards to move to Kansas City in exchange for a 2006 fourth round draft selection as compensation. Difficult personnel decisions lie ahead, but nothing more important than picking the right man to lead the team.




“We'll start moving forward, but the most important thing I can do right now is hire the new head coach,” said Bradway. “The big free agency season doesn't start until March 2. Our college guys are working hard on the draft. I was actually hoping that I could get to San Antonio next week for the East/West game and it kind of looks like that's not going to happen. Hopefully, I'll be able to make it down to the Senior Bowl.”

The Jets’ coaching staff remains intact for now minus Edwards. Defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson interviewed for the Saints’ head job and will also interview with the Jets. Bradway would like to give the new coach a chance to evaluate the current staff.

“We have received requests for some of our guys already, and I would expect we would probably get some more,” he said. “We've got good coaches here and we've committed to them, so I want to give the new guy an opportunity to look at those coaches.”

The Jets have already met with former Saints coach Jim Haslett and they also plan on discussing their top vacancy with the team’s three coordinators: offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, special teams coach/assistant head coach Mike Westhoff, and Henderson. Others who could receive consideration include Rams interim coach Joe Vitt, former Vikings head coach Mike Tice, Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, and Patriots defensive coordinator Eric Mangini.

“The biggest thing is I think we want to bring a football coach in here who is all about football and who has a good technical knowledge of the game,” Bradway said. “And obviously you want someone with a good work ethic who can handle the staff and the players.”
Bradway has not set a timetable for his new hire.

“I just want to make sure I'm as thorough and as complete as we can be in this process. That's what we're going to do,” he said. “So to say by the end of the week or end of next week, I don't want to do that. We've got coaches that are under contract here. We like our coaches, and I'm not going to be in a hurry to give any of them up at this point in time.”

On Monday, Bradway said the Jets would not comment publicly on their search other than confirming coaches they’ve visited with. Bradway, an Atlantic City native, is conducting interviews with Assistant GM Mike Tannebaum, and Team Owner Woody Johnson will also provide input.

“He's owned this team for six years now, and he's been in personnel meetings with us, and he sits in on our interviews with the coaches,” Bradway said of Johnson. “He knows what he's talking about and he knows more than people say that he knows in the public. He couldn't have been more supportive to us and he will continue to be that way, and he's involved in the process.”

There has been a noticeable change in Bradway’s attitude in recent days. He is genuinely excited about this process and appears reinvigorated by the opportunity in front of him.
“I know there are a lot of people in this building that bust their tail. And when I met with the staff last Friday, I could see that they were excited and that they were ready to go and that they were ready to pull their weight and do whatever they can,” Bradway said. “There's a lot of things we want to do a little bit differently and we're excited about doing that. Change is good and we have a chance to do that.”

Bradway is a true football man who may never truly embrace the spotlight, but he is willing to step up and become more of the face for the organization. Edwards was a dominant presence in media circles, but the New York demands may have worn him out.

“Maybe in my role now, I've got to be a little more active with the media,” Bradway said this week. “Maybe I have to take a little pressure off the new head coach and I'm totally prepared to do that.

“But I'm excited, and my situation is my situation. I know this: I've got the confidence of Woody, and I've got the confidence of Jay Cross to go ahead with this search and hire this head coach. I'm not worried about my situation at all.”

Trace Terry Bradway’s history and you will never find back-to-back losing seasons on his 20-year NFL resume. You should believe him when he says “rebuilding” is not a word in his vocabulary.
source :.newyorkjets.com

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Tomorrow's games

Steelers at Colts

1 p.m., CBS, Global

After a physical battle in Cincinnati a week ago, the Steelers now must return to Indy -- where they were beaten soundly in late November -- to play a rested Colts team that is heavily favoured.

As impressive as the Colts were in their 14-2 regular season, however, remember that quarterback Peyton Manning is just 5-8 in career post-season games.
In the Colts' most recent playoff losses, both at New England, Manning threw five interceptions and only one TD.



The skinny: In their regular-season clash, a 26-7 Colts win in Indy, the Steelers had just 86 rushing yards . . . The Steelers have more playoff wins versus the Colts than any opponent (four) . . . The Colts are making an NFL-best fourth playoff appearance in a row and sixth in the last seven years . . . The Steelers allowed just eight TDs on the road, an NFL best . . . The Colts rolled to 366 yards of total offence in first meeting.

For Steelers to win: Somehow they must weather the Colts surge early and not get behind.
The Steelers are far and away at their best with a lead, when they can let the running game dictate the flow and control the clock.

Used judiciously, the Steelers have as much success as any team in the league with gadget plays. Second-year quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is looking more poised than he did last post-season and can't get rattled by the din in the dome and speedy attack of the Colts defence.
For Colts to win: The AFC's top seed must make sure there is no rust from a month without a meaningful game, then just do their thing.

With an explosive yet balanced offence, the Colts like to get their opponent in a hole early. Though he has struggled on the road in the post-season, Manning has been stellar at home.
The extra ace this time is an enhanced defence that makes a comeback next to impossible should Indy sprint out to an early lead.

Bottom line: On paper and according to the oddsmakers, the Colts are the clear standout. Though the Steelers were the top seed in last year's playoffs, it's hard to imagine them keeping this one close.

Panthers at Bears

4:30 p.m., Fox, Global

Defence anyone? When the over-under line comes out at about 30, you know not to expect the scoreboard to light up.

That's fine with Bears fans, who are celebrating the latest incarnation of the Monsters of the Midway defence. Led by NFL defensive player of the year linebacker Brian Urlacher, the Bears begin their quest to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1988.

The Panthers reached the big game two years ago. They were dominant in a shutout road win over the Giants last week.

The skinny: With a win, the Panthers would lay claim to the best winning percentage in NFL playoff history (6-2, .750) . . . The Bears allowed the least points at home since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978 (61 points, 7.6 a game) . . . The Panthers are 3-0 on the road in the post-season since 2003 . . . Key stat: The Bears rushed for 122 yards in their first meeting . . . The Bears scored just 22 offensive TDs in the regular season . . . Carolina's defence was ranked No. 2, Chicago's No. 3 . . . The Panthers catch a break in that unseasonably mild temperatures are expected tomorrow in Chicago.

For Panthers to win: A repeat of last week's performance against the Giants wouldn't hurt. Now that DeShaun Foster has established himself as the feature back, the run game is to be feared.
More and more quarterback Jake Delhomme is looking like a big-game player, though he will have to avoid his tendency to throw interceptions.

For Bears to win: The Bears had eight sacks in their 13-3 regular-season win over the Panthers and need to bring that dominance again. But they still will need to score.

Even though he has played just one game this season, quarterback Rex Grossman brings at least a threat of the passing game.

Bottom line: If the Panthers can match the Bears on defence, they have enough of an edge on offence to prevail, but it won't be pretty.
source:lfpress.ca

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Bears, Panthers play respect cards

If the Chicago Bears want to get to Detroit in a few weeks, they have to beat a team that was in the Super Bowl just two years ago, a team not unlike themselves, a team looking for respect.

That was the theme this week as players and coaches talked about the second-round NFC playoff game Sunday between the Carolina Panthers and the host Bears.
Respect.

Who has it? Who gives it? Who wants it?

Here's a question: Exactly what does respect mean?

Well, listen to Bears receiver and former Michigan State Spartan Muhsin Muhammad, who suggested one of the keys to the Bears' 11-5 season was the respect they earned after beating the 12-5 Panthers Nov. 20. Chicago won, 13-3, at Soldier Field.



"Among the media, there were some people who said we hadn't won against a team with a winning record. I guess (beating them) was one of the steps that (made) us ... respectable, if you want to call it that," Muhammad said. "We gained some momentum after that game."

On the Panthers side, check out head coach John Fox, who spent much of his mid-week news conference answering questions from Chicago media about whether quarterback Jake Delhomme gets enough respect.

Someone went so far as to suggest that much of the country has forgotten Delhomme took his team to the Super Bowl two years ago, battling the Patriots' Tom Brady to the final seconds before losing, 32-29.

"I think he's done an outstanding job," Fox said. "He took us to a Super Bowl his first year."
Both sides spent the week praising the other, marveling at each other's defense, underrated offenses, and coaching.

Said Delhomme: "Their front four, they really bring pressure."
Said Bears defensive lineman Alex Brown: "When they have the run and they can throw the ball and use a play-action in there, then they are definitely a great team. We are going to have our hands full. I really do believe that."

Everyone seemed interested in giving respect, and avoiding bulletin-board material. Except, of course, Bears defensive lineman Adewale Ogunleye, who said earlier in the week that the Panthers get too much respect.

"I just don't think that they deserve that credit. I think that they have to prove it," he said. "We proved it one time. What we have to do is prove it again."Fox is less worried about Ogunleye's statement than he is about his team's challenge Sunday: playing a well-rested, talented team in a hostile situation. The Bears had a bye last week.

"There's no question it's going to be a huge challenge," Fox said. "They whipped up on us pretty good a while back. I think our guys understand that."

The Panthers beat the host New York Giants, 23-0, in a first-round game last Sunday. They had their way on the ground, pounding the Giants for 223 yards, while giving up only 132 total yards.

Fox doesn't expect a shutout at Soldier Field Sunday. How could he? In their previous meeting, the Bears held the Panthers to 55 yards on the ground and sacked Delhomme eight times.
Panthers running back DeShaun Foster didn't play much in that game -- Stephen Davis was the featured back. And Bears quarterback Rex Grossman hadn't come back to take over for struggling rookie Kyle Orton.

Foster is a bit more elusive than Davis and gained 151 yards against the Giants last week. Grossman gives the Bears the ability to chuck the ball downfield and take a few more chances.
Whatever the differences, Bears coach Lovie Smith said he was excited to be involved in a playoff game in football-mad Chicago:

"It's been a long time coming and a long time for our franchise. It feels good to be back in the race."

Respect, alas, hasn't much to do with that.
Contact SHAWN WINDSOR at 313-222-6487 or
swindsor@freepress.com.

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Meier proud product

Join jaguars.com senior editor Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.

Joe from Orange Park, FL: We've been talking a lot about what the team will do in big-picture terms (free agency, trades, drafts, etc.). I'm interested in something smaller. Can you give a general rundown of what players do from this point until spring camps begin? For example, how much training, film prep, etc. do players do during these dead months? I've always been curious about how much off-time they spend working toward the next season.



Vic: The next couple of months represent the players' offseason. They're gone from the building and will not return until the offseason conditioning program begins in late March or early April. Following the draft, all teams conduct a mini-camp. That's when the pace starts to quicken. Teams conduct spring OTA (organized team activity) practices that run through the end of June. Then they take most of July off before the start of training camp.

Nick from Las Vegas, NV: If you were making the pick for the Jags in the first round of the draft would you draft for need or best player available period? Who would you be leaning toward as of right now?

Vic: I would be leaning toward the best available player, whoever that would be. When the best available player is at a position that absolutely won't allow you to select him, then you have to trade out of that spot. The most important thing is to recoup the value of that spot and sometimes that's not possible. Ben Roethlisberger is the perfect example. He was available when the Jaguars picked ninth in 2004 and the Jaguars wanted to trade out of that spot but couldn't swing a deal. It's not a perfect science and sometimes you get trapped but I am a firm believer in drafting the best available player.

Bill from Ware, MA: Do you believe it would be beneficial to send Matt Jones and Reggie Williams to Europe for more experience?

Vic: You don't risk injury to players who command the kind of salary cap room Jones and Williams will next season. The two combined will represent nearly $12 million in bonus amortization.

Michael from El Paso, TX: I am curious as to how long until we know who the Jaguars are going to send to NFL Europe. Do you happen to know how many players have improved their skills dramatically by playing in NFL Europe?

Vic: I expect the Jaguars to make their NFL Europe allocations on Monday. Paul Spicer, Quinn Gray, Deke Cooper and Tony Gilbert are Jaguars players who improved their skills in Europe. On a league-wide level, NFL Europe boasts these alumni: Jake Delhomme, Dante Hall, Kurt Warner and Adam Vinatieri.

James from Miami, FL: What is your take on Rob Meier? Should we re-sign him?Vic: Absolutely, the Jaguars should re-sign him. He had a great season in 2005. He is playing the best football of his life; better than most people ever thought he was capable of playing. Meier is a proud product of the Jaguars draft-and-develop program. You don't wanna lose those guys.
Sharon from Jacksonville: How long did it take Elway to get into his groove?

Vic: His rookie season was a disaster. I'm not even going to go into his passer rating and other stats; they were terrible and he had to be benched. In his second year, he made gains and quarterbacked the Broncos to the playoffs but played poorly in the team's first playoff game, a home loss to the Steelers. Elway took a step back in his third year, as his passer rating fell from 76.8 in his second season to 70.0 in his third season. His fourth season began a steady climb to greatness. Don't make the mistake of applying those passer ratings to today's game. It was a different game back then.

Jeff from Erie PA: Are the two to-be-determined games for next season, at Kansas City and home against Pittsburgh, based on final standings?

Vic: Yes; the second-place team (Jaguars) in the AFC South plays the second-place teams in the AFC West (KC) and AFC North (Pittsburgh).
Rajiv from Simsbury,

CT: Do you think Lendale White would be a good draft choice if he sticks around until the Jags' selection. Vic: Yeah, he'd probably be a good pick, but I don't see him lasting that long. He's not only a very good player but he has a name people really like to say and that should shoot his stock up.

William from Savannah, GA: I just saw the news on Carson Palmer and what could be a possible career-ending injury. I read the news flash and got an unsettling feeling in my stomach. As a reporter, are you able to remain unaffected when you read a story like this?

Vic: No way; the news stunned me. I hope Palmer can make it all the way back, not only for his sake but for the Bengals'. That franchise suffered for a long time and they finally found the guy who would lead them to a run of success. I'd hate for it to end just as it was beginning. I also can't help but think of Greg Cook, a Bengals quarterback who had his career ended just as it was beginning. It would be a cruel twist of fate if it happened to Palmer.

Malosi from Valencia, CA: “If the backup begins playing better than the starter then the roles will be reversed.” That seems naive. You don't feel that money invested in a player can sway a decision on a depth chart?

Vic: I think you're being naïve. Money invested absolutely affects decisions teams make on players, especially in the early years after that money is invested. Byron Leftwich, however, is heading into the final two years of his contract and most of his amortization has expired. He will go into next season as the Jaguars' starting quarterback but he knows he has to play well to hold his job. Ask Hugh Douglas how long money invested will protect you.

Ryan from Hamilton, Ontario: With Donovin Darius being on injured reserve, there hasn't been a lot of talk about his status for next season. I know he wasn't in favor of the franchise tag this year, so do you see him returning to the Jaguars next season?
Vic: He was signed to a long-term contract before last season began.

D.J. from Jacmel, Haiti: Correction on Pete's comment about winning every game in which we scored 20 points or more. We lost to the Rams, 24-21.

Vic: You're right and your correction serves to make Pete's point more strongly. The Jaguars allowed a punt to be blocked and returned for a touchdown in that game. Take that away and the final score is 21-17 in the Jaguars' favor.

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NFL ON TV SATURDAY

WASHINGTON

AT SEATTLE 1:30 p.m. Ch. 2 Ch. 35

Favorite: Seahawks by 9 1/2.

Regular-season records: Redskins 10-6, Seahawks 13-3.

How they got here: Washington defeated Tampa Bay 17-10 in the first round. Seattle had a first-round bye.




Game notes: The Redskins will have to bring some offense with them this week if they hope to advance. A total of 120 yards and one offensive touchdown -- a 6-yard ``drive'' set up by an interception -- was enough to get past Tampa Bay. But that won't get the job done against Seattle. The Seahawks have a lot going for them. They are the NFC's top seed in the playoffs, feature the league's MVP in running back Shaun Alexander and are undefeated at home. These teams met in the regular season, with the Redskins beating the Seahawks 20-17 in overtime Oct. 2.

Redskins injury: WR James Thrash (thumb) is questionable.

Seahawks injuries: T Wayne Hunter (ankle), LB D.D. Lewis (foot), T Sean Locklear (hip), DE Joe Tafoya (hamstring) and CB Marcus Trufant (back) are questionable.

NEW ENGLAND

AT DENVER 5 p.m. Ch. 5 Ch. 46

Favorite: Broncos by 3.

Regular-season records: Patriots 10-6, Broncos 13-3.

How they got here: New England defeated Jacksonville 28-3 in the first round. Denver had a first-round bye.

Game notes: This is the most intriguing game of the weekend. The Broncos were 8-0 at home this season, with one of those victories coming Oct. 16 against the Patriots, 28-20. New England, winner of three of the past four Super Bowls, served notice that it is ready for another title run after destroying Jacksonville last week. Denver's Jake Plummer, who had an eight-game interception-less streak this season, will need to keep his mistakes to a minimum. Since his streak ended, he has thrown four interceptions vs. only five touchdown passes.

Patriots injuries: No serious injuries reported.

Broncos injuries: No serious injuries reported.

NFL ON TV SUNDAY

PITTSBURGH AT INDIANAPOLIS

10 a.m. Ch. 5 Ch. 46

Favorite: Colts by 9 1/2.

Regular-season records: Steelers 11-5, Colts 14-2.

How they got here: Pittsburgh defeated Cincinnati 31-17 in the first round. Indianapolis had a first-round bye.

Game notes: The past month has been tough for the Colts. After beating Jacksonville 26-18 on Dec. 11, they lost to San Diego and Seattle, and went through an emotionally rough period when Coach Tony Dungy lost his son. Still, the Colts must be considered Super Bowl favorites. With Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison, the offense will be formidable. Th