After second interview in Atlanta, Jason Garrett decided to stay with Cowboys
ATLANTA (AP) -- The Falcons lost one of the top candidates for their head coaching job when Jason Garrett decided Thursday to remain in Dallas as the Cowboys' offensive coordinator.
Garrett had his second interview with the Falcons a day earlier, but withdrew from consideration in both Atlanta and Baltimore after returning to Texas for a meeting with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Former Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is the only other candidate to meet twice with the Falcons, but there was no indication he was on the verge of getting the job. The team has yet to schedule any additional interviews, perhaps a sign that new general manager Thomas Dimitroff wants to expand the search.
The 41-year-old Garrett was an obvious target, guiding a Dallas offense that ranked second in the NFL with 455 points and third in total offense (365.7 yards). Quarterback Tony Romo set franchise records with 36 touchdown passes and 4,211 yards passing as the Cowboys went 13-3 during the regular season.
But Garrett is a favorite of Jones and widely viewed in Dallas as the designated successor to head coach Wade Phillips.
"Jason is an impressive individual, and a talented football coach," Dimitroff said. "I can tell you that we had great conversations and discussions with him yesterday. He has a terrific future ahead of him in the National Football League, and we wish him all the best."
Garrett was accompanied by his wife, Brill, during the interview process. They decided to stay in Dallas after returning late Wednesday.
"We told ourselves that we wanted to go through the process and fully investigate these opportunities," Garrett said. "For a variety of reasons, this is the best place for us."
In addition to Ryan and Garrett, the Falcons have met with Indianapolis assistant head coach Jim Caldwell, Jacksonville defensive coordinator Mike Smith and Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
Former Dallas assistant head coach Tony Sparano also interviewed with the Falcons, but he was hired Wednesday as Miami's head coach.
After a dismal 4-12 season marred by star quarterback Michael Vick going to prison and coach Bobby Petrino bolting for Arkansas after just 13 games, the Falcons began a dual search for a coach and GM.
They took care of the front office post last weekend by hiring Dimitroff, New England's director of college scouting.
During his introductory news conference Tuesday, Dimitroff seemed on board with the candidates already interviewed by owner Arthur Blank and said a new coach could be hired by the weekend. Now, it looks as though the search will take longer.
The Falcons could be waiting to talk with someone such as New York defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. They were denied permission to interview him while the Giants were in the playoffs; they face Green Bay on Sunday in the NFC championship game.
"Our focus today is no different than yesterday," Dimitroff said. "We are continuing our process of finding the best head coach for the Atlanta Falcons, and will concentrate all of our efforts and energies toward that goal."
Ryan might be a fallback candidate. He certainly comes from a football family.
His father, Buddy Ryan, is best known as the cantankerous mastermind of the "46" defense that helped the Chicago Bears win a Super Bowl title in 1986. Rex's twin brother, Rob, is defensive coordinator of the Oakland Raiders.
Rex Ryan spent nine years as an assistant coach at Baltimore, the last three as defensive coordinator. While the Ravens perennially ranked among the top defenses in the league, he was let go along with the entire staff after head coach Brian Billick was fired at the end of a 5-11 season.
The 45-year-old Ryan has met with the Ravens as part of their coaching search, but the team appears committed to making a totally fresh start.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Everett thanks Port Arthur at high school football banquet
PORT ARTHUR, Texas (AP) -- Kevin Everett, the Buffalo tight end recovering from a severe spinal cord injury, spoke at a high school football banquet in his hometown Thursday night.
"I didn't come prepared for a big speech," Everett said. "But thank you all of Port Arthur for your support. Just with your support, you've lifted me up. Let everyone know, you've lifted me up."
His comments were reported in Friday editions of the Port Arthur News.
The appearance by Everett, who showed little indication of his injury, was the latest step in his incredible recovery. Doctors initially feared he would never walk again after what was described as a life-threatening injury suffered while making a tackle on Domenik Hixon on Sept. 9.
Everett's helmet struck Hixon's helmet and shoulder pad, and Everett immediately collapsed face-down on the turf, remaining motionless for several minutes while medical personnel worked furiously to ascertain what was wrong.
Everett was paralyzed from the neck down when he arrived at Buffalo's Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital and spent the first few days on life support. He underwent four hours of surgery as a team of doctors realigned his neck and stabilized it with screws, rods and a titanium plate.
The prognosis was far more positive a few days later when Everett showed movement in his legs and arms and was sensitive to touch. He improved so steadily during the first two weeks he was transferred to Houston for the next stage of rehab.
"I feel blessed entirely," Everett said Thursday before addressing the Memorial High School football banquet. "I deal with some pain sleeping but not to the point where I can't sleep. I take my medicine and I'm good to go."
Everett, who attended Jefferson High School and the University of Miami, spoke briefly. His audience included high school football players, and others such as NFL-bound running back Jamaal Charles from the University of Texas and New Mexico quarterback Donovan Porterie.
"I just wanted to let everybody know I'm OK. I've been keeping up with all the positive things that have been happening in Port Arthur," he said. "I want all of you to know that you have got choices. You can make it good or bad. These teachers and coaches who are constantly on you about doing the right thing, you should take heed to that. I've surrounded myself with positive people and I can tell you that nothing's impossible."
Everett said his weight dropped to as low as 220 pounds after his injury, but that he now weighed 240.
"Every night, especially in that first week, I was offering up a prayer after I heard about his injury," Porterie said. "It was all over ESPN and the NFL Network and being from Port Arthur, it was a real big blow ... a real heartbreaker."
"So it meant a lot to see a guy of his status to bounce back and be here like this," he said. "It was a big lift. Jesus came through and delivered him from his obstacle."
Everett was introduced by friend Kenny Harrison, the offensive coordinator at Memorial.
"This guy is amazing," Harrison said. "Kevin has taught me two things. First, he's taught me that nothing is too bad and second, that with God you can overcome anything."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Holmgren says playoff-bound Seahawks will play starters in finale
KIRKLAND, Wash. -- The Seahawks won't be cruising into the playoffs this time. At least that's the plan of Mike Holmgren right now.
The Seahawks coach welcomed his NFC West champions back from a two-day Christmas break on Wednesday with the message that Seattle's veterans will start Sunday at Atlanta. He said he wants them to play it as if it was Week 2 -- not a meaningless game inside a half-empty dome, with Seattle already locked into the No. 3 seed for the NFC playoffs.
"We kicked it around a lot," Holmgren said of meetings with his assistants on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, where they weighed maintaining momentum for the postseason versus resting starters to avoid the possibility of injury.
"We're going to play the game just as we've played every game so far this season," he said.
He particularly hopes to continue an improved rushing offense from last Sunday's win over Baltimore.
"We want to go into the playoffs as strong as we can be," he said. "We're going to play the guys hard ... and keep our fingers crossed."
Holmgren said the only players who may not play are already injured. Wide receiver Deion Branch (calf), defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (groin) and Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones (sore shoulder) missed all or part of practice Wednesday.
That practice showed Holmgren's conflict between playing and preservation, as he substituted more liberally than usual with the starting units.
Holmgren also said it's probable quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, now even more important while having a career year for what has become a pass-first offense, would exit the game early in favor of Seneca Wallace if Seattle (10-5) gets a big lead on the Falcons (3-12).
"It will be talked about -- not just with us but a lot of teams -- this week on how to do this," Holmgren said, thinking of the perfect New England Patriots and other playoff teams. "I'm not sure there's a right way to do it.
"I believe in momentum going into the playoffs. At the same time, everyone hold their breath that no one gets hurt. So how do you balance that?"
His players say they want to have business as usual.
"They pay us to play," veteran guard Chris Gray said.
"Any kind of a letdown, though it might be human nature, is not what you can do at this level, especially with the competition that will happen in the playoffs," defensive end Patrick Kerney said.
Kerney holds a half-sack lead on Mario Williams of Houston for the league lead. He is also returning to the city in which he played eight seasons until signing with Seattle last offseason. It is still home to his charitable foundation and many friends he hopes to see Saturday afternoon.
"Certainly don't want to let this week pass by," he said. "It will definitely be a special time for me to get back to Atlanta and play."
Shaun Alexander is a native of Florence, Ky., who played at the University of Alabama. He said "pretty much the whole state of Kentucky is invited, and the whole state of Alabama," to Sunday's game. But the running back, coming off his best game since September, is playing with a wrist that he broke in Week 1.
"It's more important just to make sure that we have everything ready to go for the playoffs," he said. "There are little things that we've got to do. But at the same time, the risk (is) always there."
Holmgren's decision may prove to be similar to the one he made two years ago entering the finale at Green Bay. Those Seahawks had already wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Holmgren rested only nicked-up starters, including Jones and cornerback Marcus Trufant. He then pulled the first-team offense at halftime, after Alexander scored his league-record 28th touchdown.
He said it was the only time in his 16 seasons as an NFL head coach he's done that. Seattle lost to Green Bay -- then went on to its first Super Bowl.
Yet Holmgren still doesn't like that he made "wholesale changes" for a meaningless game.
"We were able to keep guys healthy, but that particular Sunday wasn't much fun," Holmgren said. "I'm going to push them hard, just like I always do. And I'm going to go at the game hard and try to set an example that way."
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Parcells signs 4-year deal to lead Dolphins' football operations
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -- Wayne Huizenga gave an extremely simple description of Bill Parcells' new job with the Miami Dolphins.
"He's got the ultimate responsibility," said Huizenga, the team's title-starved owner.
Parcells welcomes the challenge.
The two-time Super Bowl champion coach signed a four-year contract Thursday to become the Dolphins' executive vice president of football operations, a fancy title meaning he'll oversee "anything that has to do with football, directly or indirectly," Huizenga said.
The two-time Super Bowl champion coach will report directly to Huizenga, whose affinity for big-name help has led him to a 66-year-old former coach of four NFL clubs who owns a home in South Florida and now has a job there, too.
"I'm honored to join such an illustrious franchise as the Miami Dolphins and to work for one of the best owners in the league in Wayne Huizenga," Parcells said. "He shares my same commitment to winning, and I told him I would do everything I can to help turn around the team's fortunes."
That will be a massive undertaking -- much like when Parcells went to the Giants, the Jets, the Patriots and the Cowboys.
His coaching plan helped turn those teams around.
Miami hopes Parcells can do the same thing from the front office.
"The guy's a legend," running back Lorenzo Booker said. "There's no doubt about it. He knows what he's doing. Obviously, his resume is a mile long. But I'm a new guy in this league, so I don't even know what a vice president does, to be honest with you."
On Wednesday, many believed Parcells would take over in Atlanta. By afternoon, that deal fell apart, and the Dolphins and Parcells closed in on a contract Huizenga started brokering before the Falcons contacted the former coach.
They met in upstate New York -- the former coach has a home in Saratoga Springs -- last week, around the time Huizenga was reportedly considering selling the team for $1.1 billion. But Parcells said he was assured the owner would remain in control of the franchise, whether he takes on minority shareholders or not.
"That was a very, very big factor because I did not want to go work for somebody I didn't know," Parcells told ESPN, where he is employed as an analyst.
So now, he's taking on a very, very big job.
Miami started 0-13 before beating Baltimore last weekend. The roster already seemed certain for an offseason overhaul. The Dolphins likely will have the No. 1 pick in next year's draft, and the franchise is in the midst of its longest postseason drought, six years and counting.
Parcells insisted that he will not coach in Miami -- but could see himself helping the coach, whomever it is.
"It's a young man's game in terms of coaching, and I know it's time for someone else to be doing those things," Parcells said. "If I can assist that person in any manner of speaking with my experience or even in the technical aspect and he would seek out that, then I'm happy to contribute."
Let the questions begin.
What happens to first-year coach Cam Cameron, who sidestepped all Parcells questions Thursday?
What happens to general manger Randy Mueller?
"Well, I'm not going to be doing either one of those jobs," Parcells said. "So when I get down there, I'm going to just have to look at the situation and speak with those fellas and evaluate things and see where we go from there."
Huizenga said Parcells will decide both fates.
"As far as I know, both of those guys are secure," Huizenga said. "But it's not my decision."
Huizenga's desire to get the Dolphins back to Super Bowl form is no secret. He's spared little expense in that quest, and Parcells' hiring is just the latest leap of faith the owner has taken.
In January 2004, Huizenga hired the Dolphins' greatest player, Dan Marino, as senior vice president of football operations, a job created just for him. Marino lasted 22 days before resigning.
In December 2004, Huizenga wooed Nick Saban away from LSU with a massive contract and gave him complete control of the football team. Saban stayed two years, went 15-17 in those seasons and quit to become coach at Alabama.
Now comes maybe the biggest catch -- a Tuna.
"We've got a lot of work to do," Huizenga said.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Redskins guard Randy Thomas shuts down for the season
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Washington Redskins right guard Randy Thomas will not play again this season because of his ailing left arm.
Thomas missed 10 games with a torn triceps and didn't make it past the first quarter when he tried to return in last week's game against Chicago. He hoped to continue to play as the Redskins made a push for the playoffs, but he continued to have swelling in the arm. Thomas will have an MRI to determine if there has been any further damage.
Thomas was placed on injured reserve Thursday following a meeting with coach Joe Gibbs.
"Me and Gibbs figured it was pretty obvious not to be foolish with the situation," Thomas said, "and to look forward to another year."
Thomas was injured in Week 2 against Philadelphia. His spot has been filled by 10-year veteran Jason Fabini, one of several upheavals in an injury-plagued season for the offensive line.
Right tackle Jon Jansen was lost for the season with a broken leg in Week 1, and center Casey Rabach and right tackle Todd Wade also have missed time with injuries.
To fill Thomas' roster spot, the Redskins re-signed seventh-year guard Rick DeMulling. DeMulling spent eight weeks on the roster earlier this season, appearing in three games.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved
Bucs still waiting on QB Garcia
TAMPA, FLORIDA (TICKER) -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia could be a game-time decision Sunday against the Houston Texans.
Garcia missed Sunday's win over New Orleans with a back injury that he suffered the week before against Washington, but he returned to practice this week.
"There's a chance (he will play)," Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said. "But we're going to, again, wait until we get to Houston, see how the weather is, see how he feels.
"It's a day-to-day operation right now, but he is getting better and I can only make the decision on Sunday when we get to the stadium."
Luke McCown filled in for Garcia against the Saints and was impressive, passing for 313 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 17 seconds left, in a 27-23 victory at New Orleans.
Gruden said Monday that Garcia would start if healthy.
Garcia has thrown for 2,135 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions in 11 games this season.
Copyright 2007 PA SportsTicker. All Rights Reserved
Bears return man is focus of Giants preparations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- With each snap, Tom Coughlin exhorted the New York Giants' punt coverage team at practice on Wednesday.
"You got to get down there and tackle him," Coughlin screamed. "Do not let him get started."
The him, of course, is Devin Hester, and there wasn't a Giants special teams player who wasn't concerned about facing him on Sunday in Chicago.
"He's scary, I've never seen anything like it," said placekicker Lawrence Tynes, who filmed a commercial three weeks ago in Chicago with Hester for Samsung.
Tynes described Hester as a quiet guy.
But what the second-year pro from Miami does on the field has NFL crowds roaring. The special teams phenom returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown and a kickoff 88 yards for a score in a win over Denver on Sunday, giving him 10 career kickoff and punt return touchdowns.
The Giants saw the last two on videotape this week. They also have the memory from last season, when Hester returned a missed field goal a then-record-tying 108 yards for a touchdown.
"This guy is pretty special," said Giants punter Jeff Feagles, who has seen his share of great return men in 20 years in the NFL. "You have to go back so far to compare anybody in the old days and it would be like Deion Sanders, who you always had to worry about when the ball was in his hands."
While Hester has returned six punts for touchdowns in his short career, he will have a hard time doing it against the Giants.
Feagles might be the best directional punter in the league. His goal on every punt is to get it 40 to 45 yards downfield and have it land out of bounds.
Hester fielded two of Feagles' five punts last season and did not have a return yard. The other three punts went out of bounds.
Hester, who did not participate in practice on Wednesday because of a foot injury, has averaged 15.9 yards on punt returns, bringing three back all the way.
The kickoffs are a bigger concern for the Giants because Tynes has not been able to get any touchbacks.
His goal is to kick the ball with some hang time and have it land outside the numbers at around the 15- or 20-yard line. He also has the option to mortar kick, which is like a lob in tennis. It allows the coverage team to get downfield. Tynes said squib kicks are not as effective because the ball gets in Hester's hands too fast.
"I asked (trainer) Ronnie Barnes for Ambien to get some sleep this week," Tynes said. "It's scary. The guy is phenomenal. What they do as a unit, you know, a lot of it has to do with the whole special teams, they are really good."
Tynes and special teams coach Tom Quinn spent Wednesday going over every kickoff return by Hester, who has averaged 24.8 yards on 31 returns. Two have gone for touchdowns.
Hester didn't field any of the Giants' five kickoffs last season when Jay Feely was kicking. The Bears averaged 20 yards on those returns.
Of course, the return on the missed field goal early in the fourth quarter put the Bears in command.
Giants special teams star David Tyree, who went to the Pro Bowl in 2005, said the fundamentals of special team coverage are simple: You stay in your lane, you keep leverage on the blocker and you make a play. He also noted you don't kick the ball to Hester every time. That's playing with fire.
"We shut him down last year, but he found a way to make a play," Tyree said. "He went and took a field goal back, so he still looked good. Overall, we did a great job. We didn't win the game, so it didn't help."
If there is a cardinal sin for the coverage team player, it's getting out of his assigned lane or being blocked out of it.
"He will exploit that," said Domenik Hixon, whose seven tackles are third best on special teams. "If you are a little out of your lane, he has great vision and will make that move to where you're supposed to be."
Tynes said the good thing about his commercial with Hester is that it never shows Hester scoring on a return.
The Giants are hoping that plays out in real life on Sunday.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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