Ravens tab Pees to run ‘D’, keep Cameron

January 27, 2012

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP)&#8212The 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&#8217s defense ranked third in the NFL under Pagano, and coach JohnHarbaugh stated Monday that below Pees, &#8220the tradition of this defense willcontinue, and it will flourish and it will get even better.&#8221

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)&#8212The NFL&#8217s most watched offseason drama has turnedstunningly ugly.

Two days right after Peyton Manning complained about the dour atmosphere aroundthe Colts&#8217 complex, team owner Jim Irsay referred to as his 4-time league MVP a&#8220politician&#8221 and mentioned he didn&#8217t appreciate Manning&#8217s public campaign.

The comments upstaged the introduction of Irsay&#8217s 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.

&#8220I don&#8217t feel it&#8217s in the ideal interest to paint the horseshoe in anegative light, I actually don&#8217t,&#8221 Irsay told reporters following Pagano&#8217sintroduction. &#8220The horseshoe often comes initially, and I feel one particular thing he&#8217salways recognized, because he&#8217s been around it so lengthy, is that, you know, you keepit in the family members. If you&#8217ve got a dilemma you talk to every other, it&#8217s not aboutcampaigning or something like that.&#8221

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&#8217t intendto produce a public spat. Rather, Manning said he was speaking from the heartafter watching so several of his pals shed their jobs.

&#8220At 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&#8217ve currently reached out to Mr. Irsay,&#8221 Manning stated. &#8220I wasn&#8217t tryingto paint the Colts in a bad light, but it&#8217s tough when so numerous persons you&#8217veknown for so long are suddenly leaving. I really feel really close to a lot of these guysand we&#8217ve carried out excellent items together. It&#8217s tough to watch an old buddy clean outhis office. That&#8217s all I was trying to say.

&#8220I 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&#8217ve worked too difficult and have such excellent respect and have so manygreat relationships inside the building and out, and it&#8217s incredibly importantthat those remain.&#8221

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&#8217 AFC title game against New England, noticed.

&#8220You know, I&#8217ve got a text or a call out to Rob Lowe and I haven&#8217t heardback but, so I&#8217m going to have get back to you on that a single,&#8221 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 &#8220eggshells.&#8221

Quite a few think Manning&#8217s comments indicated how unhappy he was inIndianapolis, prompting speculation he was looking for a way out.

Irsay didn&#8217t like it that Manning went public with his frustrations.

&#8220I have so substantially affection and appreciation for Peyton. I mean we&#8217re household.We always will be and we are,&#8221 Irsay stated. &#8220He&#8217s a politician. I mean look at,when it comes to becoming competitive, let&#8217s just say on a scale of 1 to 10, 10being the highest, we&#8217re both 11s, OK? So there&#8217s been a lot of egg shellsscattered about this constructing by him with his competitive desire to win.&#8221

The drama could only be starting.

With Irsay&#8217s 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&#8217s choices will become significantly more difficult.

Indy&#8217s horrendous two-14 season has given it the No. 1 general pick, whichIrsay has mentioned they will use for their quarterback of the future&#8212presumablyStanford&#8217s 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&#8217shealth, not money.

&#8220I think fans already realize that,&#8221 Irsay stated when asked whetherManning may well have played his final game in Colts&#8217 blue. &#8220This isn&#8217t an ankle, itisn&#8217t a shoulder. Often occasions the NFL is criticized for placing somebody outthere at risk, and I&#8217m not going to carrying out that. I consider he and I just want tosee exactly where his well being is mainly because this isn&#8217t about dollars or something else. It&#8217sabout his life and his long-term health.&#8221

These answers nonetheless may possibly not be determined by the March 8 deadline.

That&#8217s only the start out of the Colts&#8217 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.

&#8220I just came from a terrific organization and just spent some time with one ofthe greatest leaders (Ray Lewis) to ever play this game,&#8221 Pagano mentioned. &#8220Andthere&#8217s one of these leaders appropriate here (Manning) and these are the kinds ofindividuals and persons that you have to surround yourself with.&#8221

But it&#8217s Irsay who need to make that selection, and it&#8217s apparent that the twohaven&#8217t been talking a lot lately&#8212something Irsay acknowledged will changebetween now and March 8.

&#8220It&#8217s a very straightforward issue, it&#8217s a wellness problem,&#8221 the owner said.

&#8220It&#8217s one particular of these factors exactly where just when you believe it&#8217s going in the rightdirection, items alter,&#8221 he stated, explaining later there was no indicationManning had had a setback over the final month. &#8220It&#8217s been quite difficult on everyonearound right here, and it&#8217s been incredibly hard on Peyton, too.&#8221

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Brady’s personal QB coach needs kidney

January 27, 2012

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP)&#8212Tom 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.

&#8220He&#8217s been a excellent buddy of mine for a long time,&#8221 Brady stated Thursdayafter the Patriots&#8217 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.

&#8220A lot of people are searching for kidneys or some unique sort oftransplants, but he&#8217s quite deserving,&#8221 Brady said. &#8220He&#8217s a excellent man.&#8221

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Bears interview Licht again for GM job

January 27, 2012

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP)&#8212New England Patriots director of pro personnelJason Licht got a second interview Thursday for the Chicago Bears&#8217 generalmanager&#8217s 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)&#8212The Buccaneers are counting on Greg Schiano to lead themback to respectability and transform Tampa Bay into constant winners&#8212much 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)

&#8220Coach Schiano is a bright, meticulous teacher who knows how to get themost out of his players,&#8221 basic manager Mark Dominik stated. &#8220He built and rana pro-style program at Rutgers, and he&#8217s a defensive-minded coach whose teamshave constantly been characterized by toughness and a physical style of play.&#8221

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&#8217s 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&#8217s 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&#8217s Chip Kelly, who was supplied the position beforeturning it down earlier this week.

[Related: Greg Schiano&#8217s departure from Rutgers is latest Huge East &#8216brain drain&#8217]

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&#8217s rebuilding project to Schiano.

&#8220During our thorough search, we met with a lot of impressive candidates,but coach Schiano surely distinguished himself,&#8221 Glazer said. &#8220From hisleadership abilities to his considerable track record, he is, just put, the rightman for the job.&#8221

It&#8217s 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&#8217t 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&#8217s 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&#8217s 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&#8217s 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&#8217Brien.

Schiano has been courted by numerous other colleges throughout his time atRutgers, most notably Miami in 2006 and Michigan in 2007.

&#8220I&#8217ve had several possibilities more than the years and none of them feltright,&#8221 Schiano told The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., as he left Rutgers&#8217football facility Thursday night &#8220This time, this one particular felt appropriate.&#8221

Schiano&#8217s 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&#8217 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.

&#8212&#8212&#8212

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)&#8212The 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&#8217s 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)&#8212Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and rookielinebacker Jacquian Williams had been among seven New York Giants who missed theteam&#8217s initially practice for the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots onFeb. 5.

Nicks hurt his shoulder in the Giants&#8217 win over the San Francisco 49ers inthe NFC championship game. The Giants listed Williams, their fastest linebacker,with a foot injury.

&#8220Just resting my physique, finding my physique back and prepared. It&#8217s a tiny beatup,&#8221 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.

&#8220Trying to be smart,&#8221 Coughlin said. &#8220Trying not to aggravate somethingthat&#8217s there.&#8221

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)&#8212An Alabama man who was allegedly assaulted by RolandoMcClain and yet another man has sued the Oakland Raiders linebacker alleging&#8220brutal and prolonged assault and battery.&#8221

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 &#8220smiled and laughed as he pointed a gun at Mr. Tapscottand Mr. Tapscott begged him not to kill him.&#8221

McClain&#8217s lawyer, Billy C. Burney II, says McClain denies there was a guninvolved or that he assaulted Tapscott. Burney contends income &#8220was a motivatingfactor in the criminal charges being filed.&#8221

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)&#8212New 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&#8217s 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&#8217s 1st practice for the Super Bowl against the New York Giants on Feb.5.

Asked how Gronkowski was progressing, Belichick said, &#8220good, excellent.&#8221

He was noncommittal on how the Patriots would be affected if Gronkowskiplays in the Super Bowl without practicing for it.

&#8220We&#8217ll just have to see, you know,&#8221 Belichick mentioned. &#8220He&#8217s not going topractice these days, so take it day by day. I&#8217m not going to attempt to forecast wherethings will be ten days from now. We&#8217ll just take it day by day.&#8221

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)&#8212State 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&#8217s crash on a highway off-ramp near theteam&#8217s stadium in South Philadelphia.

Police say the car&#8217s 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 &#8220extremelypoor judgment.&#8221 He says he didn&#8217t know the driver was drunk but that&#8217s not anexcuse. He promises to by no means let it occur once more.

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