Newsgroup: it.sport.americani
Titolo: ladies & gentlemen: Infobeat

Ogni tanto Felice Caccamo si ripropone:
Ho sentito che i Chargers hanno pigliato niente meno che Mike Riley come
allenatore.
Scusate, lo comunico al vicolo....
Vicolo! O' ssapete che i Chargers hanno preso Mike Riley?
Completate voi......
Mauro
            News and Notes
                 Chargers begin life under Riley 
                 Kentucky's Couch declares for NFL draft 
                 Holmgren talks with Seahawks 
                 Flutie named AP Comeback Player of the Year 
                 Agent wants Flutie among top-paid players in the NFL 
                 Steelers hire Gilbride as offensive coordinator 
                 'Other' knee injury complicates Rice's comeback season 
                 Oilers fire two assistant coaches, won't re-sign a
third 
                 Bengals to protect quarterbacks from Browns 
                 Cardinals mum about plans to cover Vikings receivers 
                 Big challenge awaits Jets cornerbacks 
                                         Return to Top
            Chargers begin life under Riley
            (AP) - Mike Riley got Oregon State headed back toward
            respectability, and now he's been hired to try and do the
same
            thing for the San Diego Chargers. Riley signed a five-year
            contract on Thursday, becoming the Chargers' fourth coach in
four
            years. This is his first NFL job and he inherits a team that
            hasn't had a winning record in three seasons. Riley was 8-14
in
            two seasons at Oregon State, which one of his predecessors
called
            "a coach's graveyard." The same might be said of the
Chargers,
            who were 5-11 in 1998. "I'm relieved," Riley said as he
entered
            Chargers headquarters to sign the deal. "These are agonizing
            things for me, especially when you talk about moving your
family.
            I haven't been at Corvallis that long. It's a little
disruptive,
            but it's exciting."
            Riley followed his father, Bud, into coaching and has known
San
            Diego general manager Bobby Beathard for years, even
coaching his
            son, Jeff, in the Canadian Football League. Riley had a
two-day
            interview with the Chargers that included meeting with the
            assistant coaches, many of them remaining at Beathard's
            insistence. Among them are those who coached the NFL's
top-ranked
            defense, plus Joe Bugel (offensive line) and Ollie Wilson
            (running backs). The Chargers have no first-round draft
picks
            until 2001 and a quarterback, Ryan Leaf, who was a bust on
the
            field and a problem off it. Interim coach June Jones left
for the
            University of Hawaii. Riley most likely is the last head
coach to
            be hired by Beathard, who turns 62 later this month and
recently
            got a two-year contract extension through 2001. Beathard
said he
            singled out Riley long ago as a possible candidate.
            *** For the full story, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557934013-174
                                 Return to Top | News and Notes Index
            Kentucky's Couch declares for NFL draft
            (AP) - Late in the season, Kentucky football fans chanted,
"One
            more year." It was not to be -- Tim Couch is heading to the
NFL.
            He is skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft,
where
            millions of dollars await him as a potential No. 1 pick.
"I've
            made my decision and I'm going into the NFL draft," Couch
said at
            a news conference Thursday. Couch's announcement, just one
day
            before the NFL's deadline for early entries to its draft,
ended
            months of questions and weeks of speculation that had
reached
            high pitch in the days since Kentucky's season ended Jan. 1
with
            a 26-14 loss in the Outback Bowl. Couch's decision to turn
pro
            will give the expansion Cleveland Browns an opportunity to
make
            him the No. 1 pick. Browns president Carmen Policy has said
he is
            open to taking a franchise quarterback if one is available.
            The NFL prohibits teams from commenting on underclassmen who
are
            leaving school early until the league releases its list of
            players on Monday. So the Browns, who could be torn between
            taking Couch or Texas running back Ricky Williams, won't be
able
            to discuss their plans with the No. 1 pick until next week.
Many
            scouts believe Couch -- with his size (6-foot-5, 225
pounds),
            accuracy, touch and experience in Kentucky's pro-style
passing
            offense -- is that kind of prospect. As recently as last
Friday,
            after the Outback Bowl, Couch said he was "50-50" on whether
to
            turn pro or return to Lexington for a fourth season. "I've
always
            been a competitive person, and I want to compete at the
highest
            level," Couch said Thursday.
            *** For the full story, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557934245-c5f
                                 Return to Top | News and Notes Index
            Holmgren talks with Seahawks
            (AP) - Amid speculation that he might become the next coach
of
            the Seattle Seahawks, Mike Holmgren talked for hours
Thursday
            with club president Bob Whitsitt, then moved on to dinner
with
            billionaire owner Paul Allen. Holmgren, coach of the Green
Bay
            Packers for seven seasons, left Seahawks headquarters with
his
            agent Bob LaMonte and Whitsitt shortly after 6 p.m. PT,
after
            about five hours of talks. Only Whitsitt spoke. "The meeting
was
            productive," he said. "Obviously, we still have more
            conversations to continue with, which we will be doing into
the
            evening. As I said earlier, we're not going to give you a
big
            play-by-play every time we're interviewing people. But I
guess
            you know he's here and we're talking." Whitsitt refused to
say
            whether the talks would continue Friday. Holmgren has said
he
            would like a position in which he would be general manager
as
            well as coach.
            "We have had a good day getting to know Bob, Randy (Mueller,
the
            Seahawks' vice president of football operations) and the
            organization and we will continue to talk," Holmgren said in
an
            issued statement. "I've been impressed with a number of
things,
            including the design of the new stadium." Whitsitt and
Holmgren
            also met for several hours Thursday morning. The Seahawks
            wouldn't confirm that the next move involved meeting with
Allen,
            but LaMonte told ESPN that dinner with the Microsoft
co-founder
            was planned. LaMonte told ESPN the Seahawks' interest in
Holmgren
            was "deadly serious," but emphasized no formal offer had yet
been
            extended. ESPN said Holmgren had put scheduled trips to
Baltimore
            and Philadelphia on hold. The Seahawks reportedly are
willing to
            give Holmgren a $21 million, five-year contract to replace
the
            fired Dennis Erickson.
            *** For the full story, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557938184-169
                                 Return to Top | News and Notes Index
            Flutie named AP Comeback Player of the Year
            (AP) - For anyone wondering where Doug Flutie went, he
answered
            so emphatically in his return to the NFL that he was honored
as
            The Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Flutie, who
            won the Heisman Trophy in college and six most outstanding
player
            awards in Canada, was selected Thursday as the first winner
of
            the award. He easily outdistanced a strong field in what was
a
            banner year for comebacks. The Buffalo Bills quarterback
received
            23 votes from a nationwide panel of sports writers and
            broadcasters. Two other quarterbacks who revitalized their
            careers, Randall Cunningham of Minnesota and Vinny
Testaverde of
            the New York Jets, were next with six and five votes,
            respectively. Cunningham was retired and laying tile just
two
            years ago. Testaverde, a Pro Bowler in 1996, was cut by
Baltimore
            after a mediocre 1997 season.
            "They all had phenomenal years," Flutie said. "Mine is a
bigger
            comeback story because of my absence from the league for so
long.
            Vinny had a better year than I did throwing the ball;
Randall had
            a phenomenal year throwing the ball. ... The only difference
is
            that I was way away. Randall might have retired for a year
or
            two, but people lost sight of Doug Flutie and what he was
doing
            for eight years. I had to really come back from a long way
away.
            I wasn't even in the stadium. They were sitting in the
bleachers
            and jumped back down. I was outside selling popcorn and had
to
            come in." Flutie, signed as a free agent to back up Rob
Johnson,
            became a starter in the sixth game of the season after
Johnson
            went down with a rib injury. He replaced Johnson early in a
            victory over Indianapolis and led the Bills to a 10-6 record
and
            a wild-card playoff berth after they started the season 0-3.
            *** For the full story, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557933138-a49/
                                 Return to Top | News and Notes Index
            Agent wants Flutie among top-paid players in the NFL
            (AP) - Doug Flutie's agent is preparing to discuss a
contract
            extension with the Buffalo Bills that could increase the
            quarterback's salary to $5 million or $6 million a year.
Jack
            Mula told The Buffalo News he plans to discuss Flutie with
Bills
            general manager John Butler in Mobile, Ala., during the week
            leading up to the Jan. 23 Senior Bowl college all-star game.
            "Obviously, I think that Doug has earned his way into an
            extension," Mula said. "I want to find out how committed
they are
            to him." Flutie, who guided the Bills to the playoffs after
            replacing Rob Johnson as the starter, signed a two-year
            incentive-laced contract last January that will pay him
about
            $2.4 million for the 1998 season and a minimum of about
$2.75
            million in 1999. With an extension, Flutie could move ahead
of
            Johnson, who gets $5 million per season, on the Bills'
payroll.
            Mula would not discuss specifics about the kind of deal he
would
            seek for Flutie, but said his client deserved to be in the
same
            pay range as fellow Pro Bowl and playoff quarterbacks Vinny
            Testaverde of the New York Jets and Randall Cunningham of
the
            Minnesota Vikings. Testaverde recently received a new
contract
            that reportedly will pay him an average of $6.2 million per
            season. Cunningham's deal pays him an average of $5.6
million per
            year. 
                                 Return to Top | News and Notes Index
            Steelers hire Gilbride as offensive coordinator
            (AP) - Kevin Gilbride, one of the finalists when Pittsburgh
chose
            Bill Cowher as coach seven years ago, finally was hired
Thursday
            by the Steelers as their offensive coordinator. Gilbride,
fired
            as San Diego's coach in October after going 6-16 and
clashing
            with general manager Bobby Beathard, was picked by Cowher to
            replace Ray Sherman only hours after arriving for an
interview.
            "There was no timetable on this thing, but the more I talked
            around the league the last couple of days, this man was the
right
            man for the job," Cowher said. Sherman quit after the
Steelers'
            offense collapsed during their first losing season since
1991,
            scoring only three touchdowns in the last 6 1/2 games. After
the
            offense slumped from sixth in the NFL in 1997 to 25th and
            quarterback Kordell Stewart struggled mightily during a 7-9
            season, Cowher wanted a coordinator skilled with QBs.
            Stewart had only 11 TD passes and two TD runs after throwing
for
            21 and running for 11 in his first season as a starter in
1997.
            Gilbride, who has a reputation as one of the NFL's most
            innovative offensive minds, developed quarterbacks Warren
Moon in
            Houston and Mark Brunell in Jacksonville while coaching
            league-leading passing offenses in both cities. The
47-year-old
            Gilbride also will hold the title of quarterbacks coach, the
            first Steelers' assistant coach to do so since Babe Parilli
            worked with a young Terry Bradshaw from 1971-73. "We were
very
            fortunate he was available," said Cowher, who had a shortage
of
            candidates last February when Chan Gailey left to coach the
            Cowboys. "He's done a great job with every quarterback he's
been
            around, a guy from an offensive coordinator's standpoint
whose
            record speaks for itself."
            *** For the full story, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557935085-26d
                                 Return to Top | News and Notes Index
            'Other' knee injury complicates Rice's comeback season
            (AP) - Jerry Rice is fighting another knee injury. He's also
            fighting a growing sense of frustration. "It's hard," said
the
            49ers receiver who expects to play in Saturday's divisional
            playoff at Atlanta despite lingering soreness from a
partially
            torn ligament in his right knee. "It's been a very, very
trying
            season for me. There's nothing I can do. You say to
yourself,
            'Why is this happening?' Because, this is the type of year I
            really love. We're in the playoffs, where I can just go out
there
            and have a good time, but it's been different this year."
The
            36-year-old Rice, the NFL's career leader in touchdowns,
            receptions and yards receiving, missed virtually all of last
            season when he blew out his left knee in the opener and then
            cracked the kneecap in his first game back 3 1/2 months
later.
            Rice earned his 12th trip to the Pro Bowl this season,
finishing
            with a team-high 82 catches. But he has struggled in the
last
            seven weeks since banging his right knee on the Georgia
Dome's
            artificial turf Nov. 15 and causing the latest injury. "I
feel
            like I've been in rehab for a year and a half," Rice
complained.
            The partial tear won't heal completely until he has a chance
to
            rest it after San Francisco's season ends. "I have never
endured
            anything like this," said Rice, who never missed a game due
to
            injury in his first 12 seasons. "It's strange, but you try
to
            justify it. You say to yourself, 'You're not 100 percent.
You're
            banged up.' But still, that fire inside, you want to go out
there
            and you want to really help the team so it's been very
            frustrating. I've just got to work through it."
            *** For the full story, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557933238-bf8
                                 Return to Top | News and Notes Index
            Oilers fire two assistant coaches, won't re-sign a third
            (AP) - The Tennessee Oilers fired defensive backs coach Greg
            Brown and defensive line coach Rex Norris Thursday and said
they
            would not re-sign special teams coach Russ Purnell. "Changes
are
            a constant whenever expectations are not met," said Oilers
head
            coach Jeff Fisher, who promised a shakeup after his team
finished
            8-8 for the third straight year. He gave no indication who
might
            replace them. Purnell was the Oilers' special teams coach
for
            four years after spending nine seasons with Seattle. Oilers
            punter Craig Hentrich made the Pro Bowl and kicker Al Del
Greco
            had his best year, but the special teams struggled on
returns.
            Norris, who has been with the Oilers for four seasons, was
            criticized for not producing a consistent pass rush as the
Oilers
            totaled just 30 sacks. Brown joined the Oilers as defensive
backs
            coach in 1997 after stints in San Diego and Atlanta.
                                 Return to Top | News and Notes Index
            Bengals to protect quarterbacks from Browns
            (AP) - General manager Mike Brown doesn't want to get the
new
            Cleveland Browns started, so he plans to protect all four
            quarterbacks on the Cincinnati Bengals' roster when the
Browns
            draft players from established teams next month. NFL teams
must
            submit their list of five unprotected roster players next
week
            for the Browns' Feb. 9 expansion draft. "We don't want to
help
            Cleveland. If they get a quarterback, we would prefer it
isn't
            one of ours," Brown said. "The thing we've found in this
league
            is quarterbacks are hard to find. You're awfully reluctant
to
            surrender them unless you have somebody else who can do
better.
            Until we do, I think we'll have to hold onto those guys."
            Neil O'Donnell, Jeff Blake and Paul Justin all were given
chances
            as the starter last season, but the Bengals wound up
somewhat
            dissatisfied with all of them. The fourth quarterback on the
            roster is little-used backup Eric Kresser. Before the season
            began, Blake lost the starting job to O'Donnell. But after
            O'Donnell went down late in the season with a broken hand,
Blake
            started and made a good impression in Cincinnati's 25-24 win
at
            Pittsburgh before he, too, injured his throwing hand and
missed
            the season's final game. Bengals players who could be left
            unprotected include wide receivers James Hundon and Damon
Gibson,
            defensive lineman Mike Thompson, long snapper Greg Truitt
and
            linebackers James Francis and Tom Tumulty.
            *** For the full story, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557925661-44b
                                 Return to Top | News and Notes Index
            Cardinals mum about plans to cover Vikings receivers
            (AP) - The routine rarely changes for Aeneas Williams.
            The Pro Bowl cornerback of the Arizona Cardinals usually is
asked
            to shut down the other team's best receiver. More times than
not,
            he succeeds.
            The mystery about Arizona's second-round playoff game
against
            Minnesota is which one of the Vikings' talented wideouts the
            Cardinals consider the best. Minnesota set an NFL scoring
record
            (556 points) and tied San Francisco for most touchdown
passes
            (41) this season because of targets like Randy Moss, Cris
Carter
            and Jake Reed.
            Williams says outsiders won't know until after the kickoff
            Sunday.
            "I didn't talk about what we were going to do against the
Cowboys
            from a secondary standpoint," he said. "All I know is we
will be
            ready to play."
            Defensive coordinator Dave McGinnis was just as secretive.
            "We're going to have 11 players on the field, and every one
of
            them playing like hell," he said.
            Moss, a rookie, owns 28 Minnesota records, including 17 TD
            catches that tied the number Carter put up three years ago.
Moss
            is 6-foot-4, and both Carter and Reed are 6-3, a daunting
array
            of size and speed for any secondary.
            The Cardinals, who finished 17th against the pass this
season and
            start a rookie, Corey Chavous, at the corner opposite
Williams.
            But they are quietly confident that they can handle the
Vikings.
            *** For the full Cardinals feature, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557935028-72e
                                 Return to Top | News and Notes Index
            Big challenge awaits Jets cornerbacks
            (AP) - Every day during practice, the New York Jets'
cornerbacks
            see dangerous receivers: Keyshawn Johnson, Wayne Chrebet and
            Dedric Ward. So why should Jimmy Smith, Keenan McCardell and
            Jacksonville's wideouts present an imposing challenge for
            cornerbacks Aaron Glenn, Otis Smith and Ray Mickens?
            "Because they're as good as any group in the league,"
Mickens
            said Thursday as the Jets prepared for Sunday's home playoff
game
            against the Jaguars.
            They are. Smith caught 78 passes for 1,182 yards and eight
            touchdowns, averaging 15.2 yards a catch. McCardell,
bothered by
            injuries all year, still managed 64 catches for a 13.9
average
            and six scores. Both did it with starting quarterback Mark
            Brunell missing the final three games.
            But New York's cornerbacks have been solid and stingy all
year.
            Smith, burned for nine touchdowns last season, allowed one
all
            year, despite getting lots of attention from opposing
passers
            because Glenn is a Pro Bowler.
            Glenn, who missed the last three games with an ankle injury,
            surrendered four touchdowns, two in the first half against
            Seattle to Joey Galloway before Glenn got hurt making his
            team-leading sixth interception. He nearly always covers the
best
            receiver.
            Mickens, normally the nickel back who covers the slot
receiver,
            took over for Glenn, his college teammate at Texas A&M, and
was
            superb. He allowed only one TD all season, to Jerry Rice in
the
            opener, and was virtually unbeatable down the stretch
playing in
            Glenn's stead.
            "Our chemistry is good," said Mickens, who had three
            interceptions. "I didn't know how it would be in the Seattle
game
            when I came in, and then with me working with the starters.
But
            we gelled together pretty good."
            *** For the full Jets feature, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557933295-8a8
                                 Return to Top | News and Notes Index
            Transactions
            MIAMI DOLPHINS-Signed CB Emmanuel McDaniel from the practice
            squad.
            PITTSBURGH STEELERS-Named Kevin Gilbride offensive
coordinator.
            SAN DIEGO CHARGERS-Named Mike Riley coach.
            TENNESSEE OILERS-Fired Greg Brown, defensive backs coach,
and Rex
            Norris, defensive line coach. Announced Russ Purnell,
special
            teams coach, will not return.
                                    Return to Top | Transactions
            Weekly Team Reports
                 Buffalo Bills 
                 Denver Broncos 
                 Jacksonville Jaguars 
                 Miami Dolphins 
                 New England Patriots 
                 New York Jets 
                 Arizona Cardinals 
                 Atlanta Falcons 
                 Dallas Cowboys 
                 Green Bay Packers 
                 Minnesota Vikings 
                 San Francisco 49ers 
                                         Return to Top
            Buffalo Bills
            WILD CARD: Miami DE Trace Armstrong jarred the ball loose
from QB
            Doug Flutie and DT Shane Burton recovered to clinch the
Dolphins'
            24-17 playoff victory Saturday. Weird plays dominated the
game
            beginning with a 65-yard pass on the first play that WR Eric
            Moulds caught, then fumbled away. There was also a failed
onside
            kick by the Dolphins when they led 6-0 and an
unsportsmanlike
            conduct penalty on WR Andre Reed when Buffalo had the ball
at the
            Miami 1 with 1:47 left. Reed was ejected for bumping an
official,
            and the penalty forced Buffalo to settle for K Steve
Christie's
            field goal that made it 24-17. After Christie kicked the
33-yard
            field goal with 1:33 left, the Bills recovered an onside
kick and
            drove 64 yards in 10 plays. On first down at the 5-yard
line,
            Flutie pumped to throw, cocked his arm again and was leveled
by
            Armstrong, knocking the ball loose. Buffalo couldn't
overcome
            five turnovers and 93 yards in penalties. Moulds' nine
receptions
            for 240 yards -- an NFL playoff record -- and a 32-yard
touchdown
            weren't enough. Flutie finished 21-for-36 for 360 yards, but
he
            lost in his first NFL playoff game in 12 years.
            NOTES: Flutie's agent is preparing to discuss a contract
            extension with the Bills that could increase the
quarterback's
            salary to $5 million or $6 million a year. Jack Mula said he
            plans to discuss Flutie with Bills general manager John
Butler.
            Flutie signed a two-year incentive-laced contract last
January
            that will pay him about $2.4 million for the 1998 season and
a
            minimum of about $2.75 million in 1999. ... Flutie was
selected
            Thursday as the first winner of the NFL Comeback Player of
the
            Year award. He received 23 votes from a nationwide panel of
            sports writers and broadcasters. Two other QBs who
revitalized
            their careers, Randall Cunningham of Minnesota and Vinny
            Testaverde of the New York Jets, were next with six and five
            votes, respectively. ... LB Mark Pike retired Sunday. Pike,
a
            special-teams standout, played his entire 13-year career
with the
            Bills. As captain of special teams coverage, the 35-year-old
Pike
            led the unit in tackles for the eighth time in nine years
this
            season with 28.
            *** For Buffalo's playoff statistics, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557891736-420
            *** For the NFL playoff schedule, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557915583-a7c
                                Return to Top | Weekly Team Reports
Index
            Denver Broncos
            LAST WEEK: First-Round Bye.
            NOTES: RB Terrell Davis was selected Tuesday as The
Associated
            Press Offensive Player of the Year for the second time in
three
            seasons. Davis, the fourth player to rush for more than
2,000
            yards in a season, succeeds another 2,000-yard rusher,
Detroit's
            Barry Sanders, in taking the award. He received 19 votes
from a
            nationwide panel of 47 sports writers and broadcasters,
beating
            Minnesota QB Randall Cunningham, who got 15 votes. "I don't
go on
            the field striving to shoot for goals like that. But it's
            definitely rewarding, when you go out there and work hard
and
            people recognize the effort you've put forth." Davis rushed
for
            2,008 yards and 21 touchdowns, both league highs. He had two
more
            scores on receptions. Davis' work sparked the Broncos to the
            AFC's most prolific offense, scoring 501 points.
            *** For Denver's final regular-season stats, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557920226-059
            *** For Denver's playoff roster, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557934387-b09
            *** For the NFL playoff injury report, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557928133-457
            *** For the NFL playoff schedule, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557915583-a7c
                                Return to Top | Weekly Team Reports
Index
            Jacksonville Jaguars
            WILD CARD: WR Jimmy Smith beat New England CB Ty Law for a
            momentum-shifting touchdown, leading the Jaguars to a 25-10
            victory over the Patriots in the wild-card playoffs Sunday.
            Returning from a sprained ankle he sustained five weeks ago,
QB
            Mark Brunell never really got into a groove, finishing
14-for-34
            for 161 yards. But RB Fred Taylor ran for 162 yards and a
            touchdown and Brunell completed a great pass in the fourth
            quarter to Smith, who simply outran Law on a sideline
pattern for
            a 37-yard touchdown after the Patriots cut a 12-point
halftime
            deficit to 12-10. Taylor easily won the matchup against
fellow
            1,000-yard rookie RB Robert Edwards. He had 115 yards in the
            first half, while Edwards finished the game with just 28.
After
            winning the first home playoff game in team history, the
Jaguars
            will travel to New York to play the Jets Sunday. It will
mark
            coach Tom Coughlin's first meeting with his old mentor, Bill
            Parcells, since the Jaguars lost to the Parcells-coached
Patriots
            in the 1996 AFC Championship game. Coughlin coached with
Parcells
            from 1988 to 1990, when the New York Giants won their second
            Super Bowl title.
            NOTES: Taylor was named the NFL Offensive Player of the
Week. ...
            Coughlin fined two rookies $500 each for being late to a
team
            meeting even though their tardiness was caused by a car
accident
            that sent both to the hospital. RB Tavian Banks and DB
Cordell
            Taylor were on their way to a team meeting Saturday night
when
            Taylor's car was involved in a one-car accident, flipping
four
            times before hitting a guard rail on a downtown bridge. The
            players were 30 minutes late to the team meeting at a
downtown
            hotel. After the meeting, they were taken to a nearby
hospital
            for observation. Neither suffered major injuries and nobody
else
            was involved.
            *** For Jacksonville's playoff statistics, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557891738-134
            *** For Jacksonville's playoff roster, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557934388-541
            *** For the NFL injury report, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557928133-457
            *** For the NFL schedule, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557915583-a7c
                                Return to Top | Weekly Team Reports
Index
            Miami Dolphins
            WILD CARD: DE Trace Armstrong shook the ball loose from
Buffalo
            QB Doug Flutie and DT Shane Burton recovered to seal the
Dolphins
            24-17 wild-card playoff victory over the Bills. Miami now
travels
            to Denver to take on the Broncos Saturday. K Olindo Mare
            connected on field goals from 31, 40 and 23 yards despite
missing
            from 26 yards following a "Hail Mary" completion by QB Dan
Marino
            just before halftime. The Bills twice erased deficits before
            falling behind 24-14, then rallied again. After a 33-yard
field
            goal with 1:33 left, Buffalo recovered an onside kick and
drove
            64 yards in 10 plays. But on first down at the 5-yard line,
            Flutie pumped to throw, cocked his arm again and was leveled
by
            Armstrong, knocking the ball loose. Burton's recovery with
nine
            seconds left clinched coach Jimmy Johnson's first postseason
            victory since his Dallas Cowboys beat the Bills in the 1994
Super
            Bowl. RB Karim Abdul-Jabbar rushed for 95 yards and a TD.
Marino
            completed 23-of-34 for 235 yards with one interception. He
hit WR
            Lamar Thomas on an 11-yard touchdown pass in the final
quarter.
            NOTES: WR O.J. McDuffie may miss Saturday's playoff game at
            Denver. McDuffie, who led the NFL in catches, was one of
three
            starters to miss practice Tuesday. He sprained his right
foot
            last Saturday against the Bills. McDuffie had 90 receptions
this
            season for 1,050 yards and seven touchdowns. ... TE Troy
Drayton
            (sprained ankle), T Richmond Webb (arm) and LB Larry Izzo
(knee)
            also missed practice. ... The Dolphins also lost DT Tim
Bowens
            Saturday to a season-ending arm injury. ... The Dolphins
averted
            the NFL's first local playoff blackout in five years when
Miami
            station WPLG-TV agreed to purchase any unsold tickets for
last
            Saturday's game. The league has not enforced a local
blackout of
            a playoff game since the Green Bay Packers played at Detroit
in
            January 1994.
            *** For Miami's playoff statistics, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557891740-e6c
            *** For Miami's playoff roster, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557906695-80a
            *** For the NFL playoff injury report, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557928133-457
            *** For the NFL playoff schedule, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557915583-a7c
                                Return to Top | Weekly Team Reports
Index
            New England Patriots
            WILD CARD: Pro Bowl CB Ty Law was beaten by Jacksonville WR
Jimmy
            Smith for a momentum-shifting touchdown, as the Patriots
lost
            25-10 to the Jaguars in the wild-card playoffs. Smith simply
            outran Law on a sideline pattern for a 37-yard touchdown
after
            the Patriots had cut a 12-point halftime deficit to 12-10.
QB
            Scott Zolak, who completed 21-of-44 passes for 190 yards,
led the
            Patriots on two long drives in the third quarter. The first
cut
            Jacksonville's lead to 12-7. On New England's next
possession,
            Zolak led the Patriots to the Jacksonville 9. But a drop by
TE
            Lovett Purnell on third down stalled the drive and they
settled
            for K Adam Vinatieri's field goal. New England's up-and-down
            season ended at 9-8 because of a rash of injuries suffered
to key
            players. The Patriots were not only missing QB Drew Bledsoe,
but
            also WR Terry Glenn and LB Ted Johnson, who were placed on
            injured reserve last month. Rookie RB Robert Edwards, who
rushed
            for over 1,000-yards in the regular season, was held to just
28
            yards total for the game.
            NOTES: Pete Carroll said Monday there is no doubt he will
remain
            coach of the Patriots. He said there was no need to address
            reports that his job depended upon how the Patriots
performed
            last week. "The Krafts have made it very clear about where
we're
            going and how we're going to go about doing it," said
Carroll,
            who has three years left on a five-year contract. "(Kraft)
            already said all this conversation is hogwash. We don't even
need
            to talk about it anymore." Several players on Monday spoke
of
            their desire for Carroll to remain as coach, despite
rumblings
            that many New England players had stated otherwise.
            *** For New England playoff statistics, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557891741-cef
            *** For the NFL playoff schedule, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557915583-a7c
                                Return to Top | Weekly Team Reports
Index
            New York Jets
            LAST WEEK: First-Round Bye.
            NOTES: CB Aaron Glenn has been sidelined with a sprained
ankle
            since the first half of a victory over Seattle on Dec. 6. He
            resumed practicing last week on a limited basis and is
hoping to
            go all-out this week in preparation for Sunday's playoff
game
            with Jacksonville. But he isn't sure just how much he'll be
able
            to do. "I've got to be smart about it," Glenn said. "I want
to
            push it, but I don't want to set myself back." All of the
Jets
            expect Glenn to be at his best when he is ready. "If he's
back,
            that's a big boost for us," fellow CB Otis Smith said.
            *** For New York's final regular-season stats, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557934422-963
            *** For New York's playoff roster, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557934394-7b9
            *** For the NFL playoff injury report, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557928133-457
            *** For the NFL playoff schedule, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557915583-a7c
                                Return to Top | Weekly Team Reports
Index
            Arizona Cardinals
            WILD CARD: QB Jake Plummer burned the heavily favored
Cowboys
            with two TD passes in a runaway 20-7 wild-card victory
Saturday.
            The Cardinals, playing in the playoffs for the first time
since
            1982, will now meet the NFC Central champion Minnesota
Vikings
            Sunday. Arizona had lost nine straight in Dallas and
16-of-17
            overall against the Cowboys. The Cardinals last won a
playoff
            game when they were in Chicago and beat Philadelphia, 28-21,
in
            the 1947 NFL championship game. They last made the playoffs
in
            1982, a strike year, and 1975 before that, both times in St.
            Louis. On Arizona's second possession, Plummer hit WR Frank
            Sanders with a 59-yard pass to position the Cards for their
first
            playoff TD in 16 years. Facing a third-and-8, Plummer caught
the
            Cowboys in an all-out blitz and shoveled a short pass to RB
            Adrian Murrell, who scored from the 12. Arizona, which led
10-0
            at halftime, shocked the Cowboys to start the second half on
a
            74-yard run by Murrell, followed by a 3-yard TD pass by
Plummer
            to a wide-open RB Larry Centers. Cowboys QB Troy Aikman was
            sacked four times -- twice by LB Jamir Miller (who had 12
            tackles) -- and intercepted three times -- twice by CB
Aeneas
            Williams.
            NOTES: Williams was named the NFL Defensive Player of the
Week
            for his efforts in the Cardinals' wild-card victory.
            *** For Arizona's playoff statistics, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557891742-830
            *** For Arizona's playoff roster, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557934385-6d2
            *** For the NFL playoff injury report, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557928133-457
            *** For the NFL playoff schedule, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557915583-a7c
                                Return to Top | Weekly Team Reports
Index
            Atlanta Falcons
            LAST WEEK: First-Round Bye.
            NOTES: Dan Reeves was selected AP NFL Coach of the Year on
            Saturday. Reeves, sidelined for the final two regular-season
            games after undergoing heart surgery, led the Falcons to
their
            best season (14-2) and their first NFC West title since
1980.
            Reeves, 54, won the top coach award for the second time; he
also
            got the honor in 1993 with the New York Giants. Reeves also
led
            the Denver Broncos to three AFC championships. He is the
NFL's
            winningest active coach (170-124-1). Reeves received 23 1/2
votes
            from a panel of 47 sports writers and broadcasters.
Minnesota's
            Dennis Green was next with 14 1/2 and the Jets' Bill
Parcells got
            nine votes. ... Reeves resumed his normal routine Tuesday.
He
            held a briefing for the media, reclaimed his on-field
coaching
            duties in practice and made plans to be on the sidelines for
            Saturday's playoff game against the 49ers. ... Art Shell,
            offensive line coach for the Falcons, will interview for the
            Cleveland Browns head coaching job Sunday. Shell, the first
black
            NFL head coach in the modern era, will be the third coaching
            candidate interviewed by the Browns, who will return to the
NFL
            next season as an expansion team after a three-year hiatus.
            *** For Atlanta's final regular-season stats, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557934409-15a
            *** For Atlanta's playoff roster, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557934386-ada
            *** For the NFL playoff injury report, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557928133-457
            *** For the NFL playoff schedule, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557915583-a7c
                                Return to Top | Weekly Team Reports
Index
            Dallas Cowboys
            WILD CARD: Arizona QB Jake Plummer burned the heavily
favored
            Cowboys with two TD passes as the Cardinals raced to a
stunning
            20-7 wild-card victory. Arizona had lost nine straight in
Dallas
            and 16-of-17 overall against the Cowboys. On Arizona's
second
            possession, Plummer hit WR Frank Sanders with a 59-yard pass
to
            position the Cards for their first playoff TD in 16 years.
Facing
            a third-and-8, Plummer caught the Cowboys in an all-out
blitz and
            shoveled a short pass to RB Adrian Murrell, who scored from
the
            12. Arizona, which led 10-0 at halftime, shocked the
            playoff-hardened Cowboys to start the second half on a
74-yard
            run by Murrell, followed by a 3-yard TD pass by Plummer to a
            wide-open RB Larry Centers. The run was the longest against
the
            Cowboys in their 52-game playoff history. QB Troy Aikman,
who was
            11-2 as a starter in playoff games, was sacked four times
and
            intercepted three times. Aikman completed only 22-of-49
passes
            for 191 yards and RB Emmitt Smith ran for only 74 yards on
16
            carries. CB Deion Sanders returned to the lineup after not
            starting for five weeks with a toe injury. His 41-yard punt
            return with 4:37 to go led to Dallas' lone TD -- a 6-yard TD
pass
            to WR Billy Davis.
            *** For the NFL playoff schedule, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557915583-a7c
                                Return to Top | Weekly Team Reports
Index
            Green Bay Packers
            WILD CARD: WR Terrell Owens, who had four drops and a fumble
            earlier, leaped in a crowd to catch QB Steve Young's 25-yard
TD
            pass with three seconds remaining, giving the San Francisco
49ers
            a 30-27 NFC wild-card victory over the Packers. The victory
ended
            San Francisco's run of five straight losses to the Packers,
            including the last three playoffs, and to their head coach,
            former San Francisco offensive coordinator Mike Holmgren.
Owens,
            in a reception rivaling Dwight Clark's fabled catch to beat
            Dallas for the 1981 NFC championship, snagged the ball amid
three
            defenders. They immediately leveled him, but it was too
late. The
            score capped a nine-play, 76-yard drive after QB Brett Favre
put
            the Packers up, 27-23, on a 15-yard TD pass to WR Antonio
Freeman
            with 1:56 remaining. The Packers (11-6) were attempting to
become
            the first NFC team to reach three straight Super Bowls.
49ers WR
            Jerry Rice fumbled after making a 6-yard reception on the
final
            drive that was recovered by LB Bernardo Harris with 40
seconds to
            play, but line judge Jeff Bergman said Rice never fumbled,
and
            although field judge Kevin Mack had a better view, he didn't
            overrule. "That was clearly a fumble," Packers GM Ron Wolf
fumed.
            "We clearly recovered. The game's over."
            NOTES: The Mike Holmgren whirlwind tour is headed for
Seattle,
            and possibly Baltimore and Philadelphia as he searches for a
team
            that will give him total control. The Seahawks appear to be
the
            strongest suitor for the Packers coach, but he denied he was
            close to signing with them. "We just finished our season
Sunday
            and I really expected our season to last longer," Holmgren
said
            Tuesday. "The clubs contacted the Packers yesterday. Now the
            process starts." He interviewed in Seattle on Thursday, and
has
            put trips to Baltimore and Philadelphia on hold. He also
            emphasized his happiness working with Packers general
manager Ron
            Wolf and said he still might decide to stay in Green Bay and
sign
            an extension that would make him the NFL's highest-paid
coach at
            about $4 million a season. ... DE Reggie White was selected
the
            AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday. White, who
            planned to retire a year ago, came back for one last season
and
            led the NFC with 16 sacks. The 37-year-old is the career
sacks
            leader with 192 1/2.
            *** For Green Bay's playoff statistics, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557891745-817
            *** For the NFL playoff schedule, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557915583-a7c
                                Return to Top | Weekly Team Reports
Index
            Minnesota Vikings
            LAST WEEK: First-Round Bye.
            NOTES: WR Randy Moss was a landslide winner for The
Associated
            Press' NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award Sunday. Moss,
who
            led the NFL with 17 touchdown receptions and averaged 19
yards
            per catch, received 44 votes from a nationwide panel of 47
sports
            writers and broadcasters. Indianapolis quarterback Peyton
            Manning, the top overall pick in the 1998 draft, got two
votes.
            The other vote went to Jacksonville running back Fred
Taylor.
            Although he was an All-American and a dangerous receiver at
            Marshall, off-field problems made most NFL teams leery of
taking
            him. The Vikings had no reservations, and were rewarded with
an
            All-Pro year in which Moss made 69 receptions for 1,313
yards.
            *** For Minnesota's final regular-season stats, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557934401-bb8
            *** For Minnesota's playoff roster, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557934391-c5a
            *** For the NFL playoff injury report, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557928133-457
            *** For the NFL playoff schedule, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557915583-a7c
                                Return to Top | Weekly Team Reports
Index
            San Francisco 49ers
            WILD CARD: Just call it "The Catch, Part II". WR Terrell
Owens,
            who had four drops and a fumble earlier, leaped in a crowd
to
            catch QB Steve Young's 25-yard TD pass with three seconds
            remaining, giving the 49ers a 30-27 NFC wild-card victory
over
            the Green Bay Packers Sunday. The victory ended San
Francisco's
            run of five straight losses to the Packers, including the
last
            three playoffs, and to their head coach, former San
Francisco
            offensive coordinator Mike Holmgren. Owens, in a reception
            rivaling Dwight Clark's fabled catch to beat Dallas for the
1981
            NFC championship, snagged the ball amid three defenders.
They
            immediately leveled him, but it was too late. The score
capped a
            nine-play, 76-yard drive after QB Brett Favre put the
Packers up
            27-23 on a 15-yard touchdown pass to WR Antonio Freeman with
1:56
            remaining. The 49ers (13-4) travel to Atlanta for a
divisional
            playoff game Saturday. The Falcons displaced the 49ers as
NFC
            West champions. Young was 18-of-32 for 182 yards and two
            interceptions while RB Garrison Hearst gained 128 yards
rushing
            on 22 carries.
            NOTES: Trying to quiet rumors over his job security, 49ers
coach
            Steve Mariucci said Monday talks with club management over
his
            stalled contract extension had resumed and he's confident a
deal
            will be reached. "I think we both know what we want,"
Mariucci
            said, without giving a specific timetable on when the deal
could
            be completed. "It's a matter of getting it worked out. I'm
            committed to being here and the club has told me that they
want
            me here long-term. It's a matter of getting it hammered
out." In
            the week leading up to San Francisco's playoff victory,
there had
            been rampant speculation that Mariucci was coaching for his
job.
            The rumors were fueled by the 49ers' ownership picture --
Eddie
            DeBartolo is still awaiting NFL clearance to resume control
of
            the team -- and the failure of interim team president Larry
            Thrailkill to make public assurances regarding Mariucci's
status.
            ... K Wade Richey, who hit all three field-goal attempts
(34, 48
            and 40 yards) in Sunday's win, was the named the NFL Special
            Teams Player of the Week.
            *** For San Francisco's playoff statistics, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557891751-331
            *** For San Francisco's playoff roster, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557934398-ce4
            *** For the NFL playoff injury report, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557928133-457
            *** For the NFL playoff schedule, see
 
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2557915583-a7c

Mauro
Saluti
Gino