Ravens tab Pees to run ‘D’, keep Cameron
January 27, 2012
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP)—The Baltimore Ravens have promoted linebackerscoach Dean Pees to defensive coordinator and retained Cam Cameron as theiroffensive coordinator.
Pees replaced Chuck Pagano, who left to grow to be head coach of theIndianapolis Colts.
Baltimore’s defense ranked third in the NFL under Pagano, and coach JohnHarbaugh stated Monday that below Pees, “the tradition of this defense willcontinue, and it will flourish and it will get even better.”
Pees is the former defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots.
Cameron coached the Ravens to a No. 15 ranking in total offense. Hisfour-year contract was set to expire subsequent month.
Baltimore lost to New England 23-20 in the AFC title game last Sunday.
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Colts owner unhappy Manning went public
January 27, 2012
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)—The NFL’s most watched offseason drama has turnedstunningly ugly.
Two days right after Peyton Manning complained about the dour atmosphere aroundthe Colts’ complex, team owner Jim Irsay referred to as his 4-time league MVP a“politician” and mentioned he didn’t appreciate Manning’s public campaign.
The comments upstaged the introduction of Irsay’s new coach, Chuck Pagano,and came six weeks prior to Irsay ought to make a decision whether to pay the still-recoveringManning a $28 million bonus. Manning missed the entire 2011 season immediately after havinghis third neck surgery in September.
“I don’t feel it’s in the ideal interest to paint the horseshoe in anegative light, I actually don’t,” Irsay told reporters following Pagano’sintroduction. “The horseshoe often comes initially, and I feel one particular thing he’salways recognized, because he’s been around it so lengthy, is that, you know, you keepit in the family members. If you’ve got a dilemma you talk to every other, it’s not aboutcampaigning or something like that.”
Apparently, Manning got the message.
Peyton Manning watches preseason action.(AP)
Just a couple of hours right after Irsay responded to questions from reporters, Manningtried to dial issues back by telling The Indianapolis Star that he didn’t intendto produce a public spat. Rather, Manning said he was speaking from the heartafter watching so several of his pals shed their jobs.
“At this point, Mr. Irsay and I owe it to every single other and to the fans of theorganization to handle this appropriately and professionally, and I believe wewill. I’ve currently reached out to Mr. Irsay,” Manning stated. “I wasn’t tryingto paint the Colts in a bad light, but it’s tough when so numerous persons you’veknown for so long are suddenly leaving. I really feel really close to a lot of these guysand we’ve carried out excellent items together. It’s tough to watch an old buddy clean outhis office. That’s all I was trying to say.
“I just want to keep rehabbing and operating difficult, and when the time is rightfor Mr. Irsay and I to sit down, I appear forward to a healthy conversation aboutmy future. I’ve worked too difficult and have such excellent respect and have so manygreat relationships inside the building and out, and it’s incredibly importantthat those remain.”
Clearly, Irsay desires the similar type of relationship.
But over the past month, the Colts have been as dysfunctional as a Hollywoodmarriage.
Irsay, the team owner, has fired vice chairman Bill Polian, general managerChris Polian, coach Jim Caldwell and most of his staff over the last threeweeks. Social media has suddenly grow to be the platform of choice to update fans onpending choices, to shoot down rumors or fan the speculation.
Last week, actor Rob Lowe triggered a media frenzy by tweeting that Manning wasabout to retire. The story got so considerably attention even Pagano, who was busypreparing for the Ravens’ AFC title game against New England, noticed.
“You know, I’ve got a text or a call out to Rob Lowe and I haven’t heardback but, so I’m going to have get back to you on that a single,” Pagano said whenasked if he expected to be coaching Manning subsequent season.
The newest twist could be the most damaging.
On Tuesday, Manning told The Star that his only genuinely conversation with thefirst-time basic manager Ryan Grigson had come in passing and the flurry ofmoves had these about the team complex walking on “eggshells.”
Quite a few think Manning’s comments indicated how unhappy he was inIndianapolis, prompting speculation he was looking for a way out.
Irsay didn’t like it that Manning went public with his frustrations.
“I have so substantially affection and appreciation for Peyton. I mean we’re household.We always will be and we are,” Irsay stated. “He’s a politician. I mean look at,when it comes to becoming competitive, let’s just say on a scale of 1 to 10, 10being the highest, we’re both 11s, OK? So there’s been a lot of egg shellsscattered about this constructing by him with his competitive desire to win.”
The drama could only be starting.
With Irsay’s males in spot in the front office and on the coaching staff,Pagano can focus his attention on selecting a staff. Grigson stated Pagano willmake these alternatives.
Irsay’s choices will become significantly more difficult.
Indy’s horrendous two-14 season has given it the No. 1 general pick, whichIrsay has mentioned they will use for their quarterback of the future—presumablyStanford’s Andrew Luck.
If so, Irsay have to decide how substantially dollars he desires to invest in 1 position.Manning signed a 5-year, $90 million contract in July and is due the bonus inMarch. Soon to be 36, the perennial Pro Bowler is also coming off his third necksurgery in less than two years.
Irsay reiterated Thursday that his selection will come down to Manning’shealth, not money.
“I think fans already realize that,” Irsay stated when asked whetherManning may well have played his final game in Colts’ blue. “This isn’t an ankle, itisn’t a shoulder. Often occasions the NFL is criticized for placing somebody outthere at risk, and I’m not going to carrying out that. I consider he and I just want tosee exactly where his well being is mainly because this isn’t about dollars or something else. It’sabout his life and his long-term health.”
These answers nonetheless may possibly not be determined by the March 8 deadline.
That’s only the start out of the Colts’ concerns.
Grigson and Irsay have to figure out how to no cost up salary cap space and whatto do with a group of high-priced veterans such as Gary Brackett and MelvinBullitt, and whether or not they want to bring back some of their important no cost agents suchas Robert Mathis, Jeff Saturday and Reggie Wayne.
Not surprisingly, Pagano desires as many of these guys back as he can get,including Manning.
“I just came from a terrific organization and just spent some time with one ofthe greatest leaders (Ray Lewis) to ever play this game,” Pagano mentioned. “Andthere’s one of these leaders appropriate here (Manning) and these are the kinds ofindividuals and persons that you have to surround yourself with.”
But it’s Irsay who need to make that selection, and it’s apparent that the twohaven’t been talking a lot lately—something Irsay acknowledged will changebetween now and March 8.
“It’s a very straightforward issue, it’s a wellness problem,” the owner said.
“It’s one particular of these factors exactly where just when you believe it’s going in the rightdirection, items alter,” he stated, explaining later there was no indicationManning had had a setback over the final month. “It’s been quite difficult on everyonearound right here, and it’s been incredibly hard on Peyton, too.”
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Brady’s personal QB coach needs kidney
January 27, 2012
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP)—Tom Brady hopes that Tom Martinez, his personalquarterback coach, can soon locate the kidney he wants for a transplant.
Martinez lives in northern California and has been operating with Brady sincethe New England Patriots quarterback was about 13. Brady has stayed in touchwith Martinez and received guidance from him all through his NFL profession.
“He’s been a excellent buddy of mine for a long time,” Brady stated Thursdayafter the Patriots’ initial practice for the Super Bowl against the New YorkGiants on Feb. 5. He mentioned Martinez has been looking for a kidney for some time.
“A lot of people are searching for kidneys or some unique sort oftransplants, but he’s quite deserving,” Brady said. “He’s a excellent man.”
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Bears interview Licht again for GM job
January 27, 2012
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP)—New England Patriots director of pro personnelJason Licht got a second interview Thursday for the Chicago Bears’ generalmanager’s job.
Licht is one particular of two finalists. Kansas City director of college scouting PhilEmery is the other and is expected to have his second interview Friday as theBears look for a replacement for Jerry Angelo, who was fired following an 8-8season.
The Bears also interviewed San Diego Chargers director of player personnelJimmy Raye, New York Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross, and currentdirector of player personnel Tim Ruskell.
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Bucs hire Rutgers’ Schiano as coach
January 27, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—The Buccaneers are counting on Greg Schiano to lead themback to respectability and transform Tampa Bay into constant winners—much inthe similar way he made Rutgers matter once again.
The 45-year-old former Scarlet Knights coach was hired Thursday, much more thanthree weeks following the Bucs fired Raheem Morris following a 4-12 finish.
The team scheduled a press conference for Friday to introduce Schiano, whoinherits a team that allowed the most points in the NFL this season.
Associated coverage Forde: Major East brain drain Recruiting class in peril 
The Bucs conducted an exhaustive search before deciding on Rutgers coach Greg Schiano.(US Presswire)
“Coach Schiano is a bright, meticulous teacher who knows how to get themost out of his players,” basic manager Mark Dominik stated. “He built and rana pro-style program at Rutgers, and he’s a defensive-minded coach whose teamshave constantly been characterized by toughness and a physical style of play.”
Schiano was at Rutgers for 11 seasons, taking them from college footballlaughingstocks to a plan that has had winning records in six of the lastseven years. He was an assistant coach in the NFL with Chicago from 1996-98.
The Scarlet Knights appointed offensive line coach Kyle Flood as interimhead coach whilst the school searches for Schiano’s replacement.
The Bucs fired Morris on Jan. 2 soon after Tampa Bay lost ten straight to end theseason, most of them by double-digit margins. The collapse following a promising4-two begin came only a year after the NFL’s youngest team went 10-6 and narrowlymissed the playoffs.
The Glazer loved ones that owns the team interviewed at least 10 candidates forthe opening, such as Oregon’s Chip Kelly, who was supplied the position beforeturning it down earlier this week.
[Related: Greg Schiano’s departure from Rutgers is latest Huge East ‘brain drain’]
The Bucs also talked to former NFL head coaches Mike Sherman, Brad Childressand Marty Schottenheimer Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator RobChudzinski Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray CincinnatiBengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer Green Bay quarterbacks coach TomClements and former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, who accepted thehead coaching opening with the Miami Dolphins.
An 11th identified candidate, ex-Dallas Cowboys coach and present Houstondefensive coordinator Wade Phillips, canceled a scheduled interview with theBucs that would have taken spot even though the Texans had been in the playoffs.
Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer said the club was thrilled to entrust theteam’s rebuilding project to Schiano.
“During our thorough search, we met with a lot of impressive candidates,but coach Schiano surely distinguished himself,” Glazer said. “From hisleadership abilities to his considerable track record, he is, just put, the rightman for the job.”
It’s not the first exhaustive search the Glazers have conducted for a coach.
The Bucs pursued Steve Spurrier just before hiring Tony Dungy in 1996, then triedto lure Bill Parcells and Steve Mariucci to Tampa Bay just before trading twofirst-round draft picks, as properly as a pair of second-rounders and $8 millioncash to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for the opportunity to negotiate acontract with Jon Gruden after the 2001 season.
Gruden led the Bucs to their only Super Bowl title the following season, butTampa Bay hasn’t won a playoff game due to the fact. The Glazers fired him three weeksafter the Bucs lost the final 4 games of 2008 to miss the playoffs, andpromoted Morris as his successor.
[Related: Rutger’s prized recruiting class in peril right after Greg Schiano exits]
Tampa Bay went 17-31 beneath Morris, who served as his personal defensivecoordinator. The Bucs allowed a franchise-record 494 points in 2011, including31 of more in seven of the final eight games.
In addition to fixing a defense that’s been rebuilt more than the past twodrafts, obtaining young quarterback Josh Freeman back on track will be a prioritythis offseason.
Freeman threw for 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions in 2010, hissecond year in the league and his very first as a full-time starter. The 24-year-oldpassed for 16 TDs vs. 22 interceptions this season.
The timing of the move could put Rutgers in a bind with national signing dayless than a week away. This is a pivotal time in the recruiting procedure, withcoaches locking up commitments from high school prospects who make thoseagreements official by signing national letters of intent beginning Wednesday.
Schiano’s contract with Rutgers runs via 2016 and pays him around $two.35million per year.
He played linebacker at Bucknell, but never in the NFL. His 1st huge breakin coaching came at Penn State, where Joe Paterno hired him to coach defensivebacks in 1991. He was at Penn State by way of 1995, before becoming hired by theBears.
Mainly because of his good results at Rutgers, there had typically been speculation foryears about Schiano possibly replacing Paterno when the Hall of Famer was donecoaching. But when Penn State was searching for a replacement immediately after firing Paternoamid a youngster sex-abuse scandal involving 1 of his former longtime assistants,the school hired Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.
Schiano has been courted by numerous other colleges throughout his time atRutgers, most notably Miami in 2006 and Michigan in 2007.
“I’ve had several possibilities more than the years and none of them feltright,” Schiano told The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., as he left Rutgers’football facility Thursday night “This time, this one particular felt appropriate.”
Schiano’s first 4 seasons at Rutgers made losing seasons, but theprogram he took more than was practically at rock bottom in significant college football.Ahead of he was hired, the Scarlet Knights played in only one particular bowl game in theirhistory.
Schiano brought structure and discipline to a system that sorely lackedboth on every single level. Not only has Rutgers turn into a constant winner in the BigEast, but the Scarlet Knights have frequently been amongst the top teams in thecountry when it comes to graduating players. He also encouraged the school tosecure funding for multimillion dollar upgrades to Rutgers’ facilities,including a major stadium renovation.
In 2005, Rutgers went 7-five and the subsequent season the Scarlet Knights had been 11-two.They played in six bowls below Schiano, winning 5, including a victory overIowa state in the Pinstripe Bowl to cap a 9-four season in 2011.
———
AP College Football Writer Ralph Russo in New York contributed to thisreport.
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Raiders finalize 4-year deal with Allen
January 27, 2012
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP)—The Oakland Raiders have announced the hiring of newcoach Dennis Allen, who will be formally introduced Monday.
Allen, the former Denver defensive coordinator, is acquiring a four-yearcontract.
New general manager Reggie McKenzie decided Tuesday to employ Allen to replacethe fired Hue Jackson as head coach. The two sides finalized the detailsThursday.
Allen is Oakland’s seventh head coach since 2003. The Raiders have gone ninestraight seasons without a winning record or a playoff berth, just missing outon the AFC West title on tiebreakers with an 8-8 record last season.
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WR Nicks among Giants to miss practice
January 26, 2012
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)—Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and rookielinebacker Jacquian Williams had been among seven New York Giants who missed theteam’s initially practice for the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots onFeb. 5.
Nicks hurt his shoulder in the Giants’ win over the San Francisco 49ers inthe NFC championship game. The Giants listed Williams, their fastest linebacker,with a foot injury.
“Just resting my physique, finding my physique back and prepared. It’s a tiny beatup,” Nicks mentioned.
Also out had been center David Baas (abdomen-neck), linebacker Chase Blackburn(calf), backup cornerback Will Blackmon (knee), operating back Ahmad Bradshaw(foot) and cornerback Corey Webster (hamstring).
Bradshaw and Webster have had their injuries for weeks and it has notstopped them from playing.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin expects all his injured players to be prepared forthe Super Bowl.
“Trying to be smart,” Coughlin said. “Trying not to aggravate somethingthat’s there.”
Backup safety Tyler Sash practiced on Thursday after passing the concussionprotocol for a blow he took Sunday.
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Alleged assault victim sues LB McClain
January 26, 2012
DECATUR, Ala. (AP)—An Alabama man who was allegedly assaulted by RolandoMcClain and yet another man has sued the Oakland Raiders linebacker alleging“brutal and prolonged assault and battery.”
Christian Tapscott of Decatur filed suit Wednesday in Morgan County CircuitCourt searching for unspecified punitive and compensatory damages from McClain andJadarious Willingham.
The suit says Tapscott sustained broken bones, bruises and lacerations. Italleges that McClain “smiled and laughed as he pointed a gun at Mr. Tapscottand Mr. Tapscott begged him not to kill him.”
McClain’s lawyer, Billy C. Burney II, says McClain denies there was a guninvolved or that he assaulted Tapscott. Burney contends income “was a motivatingfactor in the criminal charges being filed.”
McClain and Willingham have pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges. Trialis scheduled for May.
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Injured Gronkowski misses Pats practice
January 26, 2012
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP)—New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski isbeing held out of practice with an injured left ankle.
Gronkowski, who set an NFL record for tight ends with 17 touchdown catchesthis season, limped off the field in the third quarter of Sunday’s 23-20 winover Baltimore in the AFC championship game but returned about five minuteslater. On Monday he was seen wearing a removable boot on his left foot.
Coach Bill Belichick stated that Gronkowski would not take part Thursday inthe team’s 1st practice for the Super Bowl against the New York Giants on Feb.5.
Asked how Gronkowski was progressing, Belichick said, “good, excellent.”
He was noncommittal on how the Patriots would be affected if Gronkowskiplays in the Super Bowl without practicing for it.
“We’ll just have to see, you know,” Belichick mentioned. “He’s not going topractice these days, so take it day by day. I’m not going to attempt to forecast wherethings will be ten days from now. We’ll just take it day by day.”
Gronkowski started all 16 standard-season games and two playoff games.Belichick stated he believed Gronkowski took portion in just about every practicethis season.
Also on Thursday, the Patriots signed to the practice squad tight end CarsonButler, who spent most of the 2010 season on their practice squad and wasreleased Sept. 2. The only other tight end on the roster is Aaron Hernandez.Another tight end, Garrett Mills, is on the practice squad.
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Eagles TE Celek uninjured in car crash
January 26, 2012
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—State police say Philadelphia Eagles tight finish BrentCelek was a passenger in a car involved in an early-morning DUI crash.
No one was hurt in Thursday morning’s crash on a highway off-ramp near theteam’s stadium in South Philadelphia.
Police say the car’s driver was driving too quickly when he spun out and hit aconcrete barrier about 2:30 a.m. The driver failed field sobriety testing andwas arrested on DUI charges.
Celek turned 27 on Wednesday. He caught 62 passes for the Eagles lastseason, such as 5 touchdown catches.
Celek released a statement by means of the team saying he exhibited “extremelypoor judgment.” He says he didn’t know the driver was drunk but that’s not anexcuse. He promises to by no means let it occur once more.
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