NFL Capsules: Buccaneers introduce Rutgers' Schiano as new coach
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Greg Schiano couldn't resist the challenge of trying to transform the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into winners.
The 45-year-old architect of a stunning college football turnaround at Rutgers was formally introduced Friday as the "right man" to the lead the NFL's youngest team to playoff contention — and beyond.
"I don't believe in doing anything except to be the best," Schiano told a packed auditorium inside the team's posh headquarters and training facility. "We're going to try to be the best starting today. How long that's going to take, I can't tell you that. ... But when our best is the best, we'll be Super Bowl champs."
Schiano took over a struggling program at Rutgers and turned it into a Big East contender during an 11-year run with the Scarlet Knights.
The Bucs are banking on him to have the same kind of impact in Tampa Bay, which has not won a playoff game since winning it's only NFL title in 2002.
"He's a person who came into a program and built it from the ground up. ... He went in there, rolled up his sleeves, cut no corners, did the hard work that was necessary to put it where it is today," Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer said.
"He has a vision for what he wants to do, how he wants to coach football," Glazer added. "We spoke to a lot of people in football. The more people we spoke to, whether it be college or the pros or scouts, it was amazing the feedback you got."
There have been numerous suitors for Schiano over the past decade, however he said none of the opportunities seemed right for him. That is until the Bucs called during a 24-day search that began when Raheem Morris was fired on Jan. 2.
The Glazer family, along with general manager Mark Dominik, convinced Schiano they share a common vision of what it will take to build a consistent winner.
"I've been in the NFL" as an assistant, Schiano said. "I've been a head coach for 11 years. I did not need to be a head coach in the National Football league today. ... So I really studied the team, I studied the situation, I studied the ownership, I studied mark. That's what makes me comfortable" taking the job.
"There's been several opportunities to go to places that were quote, unquote bigger names or bigger programs," the coach added. "And at times I listened. But when I tried to put myself there, it just didn't feel good. ... This felt right."
The Bucs have fielded the league's youngest team the past two years with dramatically different results. After going 10-6 and nearly earning a playoff berth in 2010, they slumped to 4-12 for this season, ending the 35-year-old Morris' run as the NFL's youngest head coach on a 10-game losing streak.
A porous defense allowed 31 of more points in seven of the team's last eight games and the offense sputtered, in part because of the inconsistent play of Josh Freeman, who threw took a step back in his development with a career-high 22 interceptions after throwing just six the previous season.
Schiano was one of at least 10 candidates the Glazer family interviewed during a 24-day search. Oregon coach Chip Kelly turned down the job earlier this week, leaving Schiano, former Green Bay Packers and Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman and Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski as finalists for the Tampa Bay opening.
"The more time we had a chance to spend with him, the more evident and clear it was that he was going to be the man to lead our football team going forward," Dominik said.
In addition to getting Freeman back on track, Schiano faces the challenge of improving a defense that yielded a franchise-record 494 points while also ranking near the bottom of the NFL in sacks and yards allowed.
The Bucs used first- and second-round selections in each of the past two drafts to rebuild the defense line, yet still have not been able to generate a consistent pass rush.
Schiano was a defensive assistant in the NFL with the Chicago Bears for three seasons and was the University of Miami's defensive coordinator for two years before moving to Rutgers.
"You talk about how our team is going to look. ... Our team will be built around a humble, unselfish, attitude and sacrifice," Schiano said. "It's hard to find that in today's world. But that's who we'll be."
This season revealed glaring weaknesses throughout the team. Still, Schiano likes the foundation that Dominik and Morris laid the past two years.
"It a young core of very talented guys. But until you actually coach them, how do you know how talented? I've watched video, I talked to people I know in the National Football League and I'm very impressed," he said, adding that he's confident he'll be able to assemble a coaching staff that will help players grow.
Raiders announce hiring of coach Allen
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Hiring a new coach has become almost commonplace for the Raiders, who will have their seventh coach in the past 10 seasons in 2012. As the first coach hired in the post-Al Davis era in Oakland, Dennis Allen will have a much different task than his predecessors.
The Raiders officially announced Allen's hiring on Friday, three days after reports initially emerged that he was new general manager Reggie McKenzie's choice to lead the franchise. Allen will be officially introduced at a news conference Monday but has likely already started the process of putting together his first staff as a head coach at any level.
Davis made almost all the key decisions for the Raiders in his nearly half-century with the franchise before he died Oct. 8. He made most of the personnel moves, hired the coaches and hand-picked many of the assistants in a process that contributed to three Super Bowl titles and plenty of playoff trips when it worked, as well as a current nine-year playoff drought.
There is now a new structure in place in 2012 with Davis' son, Mark, serving as managing general partner. Mark Davis hired McKenzie as his general manager earlier this month and gave him the power to make all football decisions.
McKenzie immediately fired Hue Jackson, who went 8-8 in his only season as head coach, and began a search for a replacement that led to the decision to hire Allen.
Allen got a longer deal than the two-year contracts with options that Raiders coaches had traditionally be given by Davis in the past. Allen's contract is for four years, a person familiar with the deal said on condition of anonymity because the team did not announce the length.
Allen will also be allowed to pick his coaching staff in a change from how things operated under Davis. He often picked many of the assistants, some whom stayed on from regime to regime, in a process that was criticized by the head coaches.
McKenzie made clear at his introductory news conference that that practice would change.
"What I'm going to do is empower the head coach to hire his staff, the best possible staff that he can hire," McKenzie said. "We're not going to tie the guy's hands and tell him he has to hire this guy or this guy. It wouldn't be fair to the new head coach. The head coach will have the right to hire any coach that he wants."
Offensive coordinator Al Saunders is the only assistant under contract for next season and it is uncertain whether he will return for a second season in Oakland. Receivers coach Sanjay Lal has joined the New York Jets and defensive line coach Mike Waufle has reportedly been hired by St. Louis.
The status of the other assistants is up in the air as they have been told they are free to look for other jobs but could be asked to stay by the new coach.
Allen, 39, will be the first new Raiders coach to come from the defensive side of the ball since Davis hired linebackers coach John Madden in 1969.
In his first season as coordinator in Denver, Allen helped the Broncos improve from allowing a league-worst 29.4 points and 390.8 yards per game to ranking 20th in yards (357.8) and 24th in points (24.4) this season on the way to an AFC West title.
Before serving as Denver's defensive coordinator last season, Allen spent five years as a defensive assistant in New Orleans and also coached for Atlanta.
Denver head coach John Fox said he was happy for Allen and was not surprised he got a promotion after just one year as a coordinator.
"He's a sharp guy who knows football, has a way of relating to his players and carries himself very well," Fox said in a statement. "Dennis is a strong motivator and teacher with an aggressive style of coaching. He will approach the job with tremendous energy and passion to get the most out of his team. His thorough understanding of defense, from the back to the front, and his ability to teach fundamentally and assignment-wise really helped us get better. He's been around a lot of good people during his NFL career and has a very bright future ahead of him."
The Raiders are coming off one of their worst defensive seasons ever. Oakland had franchise worsts in touchdown passes allowed (31), yards per carry (5.1), yards passing (4,262) and total yards (6,201), while giving up the third-most points (433) in team history.
The Raiders joined this year's Tampa Bay team as one of the four teams to allow at least 30 TD passes and 5.0 yards per carry in a season, a distinction last reached by the 1952 Dallas Texans. The Raiders also became the sixth team since the 1970 merger to allow at least 2,000 yards rushing and 4,000 yards passing in a season.
The Raiders also set an NFL record last season with 163 penalties for 1,358 yards.
-- Josh Dubow
Browns hire Childress as OC
CLEVELAND (AP) — Pat Shurmur brought in a close friend to help him fix Cleveland's broken offense. Shurmur hired former Minnesota coach Brad Childress as his first offensive coordinator on Friday, reuniting two coaches who spent seven seasons together on Andy Reid's staff with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Browns confirmed Childress' hiring with a release that did not include any quotes.
Childress, who spent nearly five seasons with the Vikings before he was fired in 2010, will try to improve the Browns' dismal offense, which scored just 218 points last season, finished 29th in total yardage, 28th in rushing and 24th in passing. He'll also have input in the team's vital decision at starting quarterback. — a choice that could impact the club for years.
The 55-year-old Childress was a logical choice to join the Browns, who went 4-12 in their first season under Shurmur. In addition to being tight with Shurmur, Childress is familiar with the West Coast offense the Browns installed last year and he's represented by agent Bob Lamonte, who also has Shurmur and Browns president Mike Holmgren as clients.
Shurmur juggled both head coach and coordinator duties during a troublesome first season in Cleveland. It's believed Shurmur will initially call Cleveland's plays next season but he intends to turn things over to Childress, who recently interviewed for Tampa Bay's head coaching job. Childress has only one season (2006) of experience calling plays.
Childress is the third former NFL head coach on Shurmur's staff, joining defensive coordinator Dick Jauron and senior defensive assistant Ray Rhodes.
Childress was Philadelphia's offensive coordinator from 2003-05 when Shurmur coached the Eagles quarterbacks. While he was with the Eagles, Childress went to three straight NFC title games and the Super Bowl in 2004.
Shurmur was asked about Childress during his season-ending news conference on Jan. 3.
"I know Brad very well," Shurmur said. "He and I worked together for a long time. He's a terrific coach."
Childress went 39-35 in four-plus seasons with the Vikings, twice leading them to the playoffs and going 1-2. Minnesota won division titles in 2008 and 2009, when the Vikings made it to the NFC title game with quarterback Brett Favre, whom Childress had famously picked up at the airport. But after a 3-7 start in 2010, Childress was fired by owner Zygi Wilf one day after the Vikings were blown out at home by rival Green Bay.
The Browns considered hiring an offensive coordinator before last season but didn't find a suitable candidate. Holmgren suggested Shurmur maintain play-calling duties to control the offense and build a stronger bond with second-year quarterback Colt McCoy. Shurmur, though, seemed overwhelmed at times as the Browns had some communication breakdowns and time-management issues.
The addition of Childress should free up Shurmur during the week as he prepares for games.
"I think what it will do is allow me to just step back and look down one some things in some areas that I may be able to contribute more," Shurmur said after the season. "That's a key piece."
-- Tom Withers
Ravens promote Pees to D-coordinator, keep Cameron
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens opted for continuity in their coaching staff, promoting from linebackers coach Dean Pees to replace defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano and retaining offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.
Coach John Harbaugh also announced Friday that special-teams coordinator and assistant head coach Jerry Rosburg also will be back.
"Cam Cameron has been our offensive coordinator and will continue to be our defensive coordinator, and Dean will be our defensive coordinator," Harbaugh said . "The tradition of this defense will continue, and it will flourish and it will get even better."
Pees, 62, was defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots from 2006-09. He replaced Chuck Pagano, who left after one year to become head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.
"I'm not going to be the same as Chuck," Pees said. "You got to be who you are. It is an incredible opportunity to be a defensive coordinator for anybody in this league, but it's especially humble to be one for the Ravens."
Harbaugh said he only looked at internal candidates for the job. Pees was secondary coach at Miami of Ohio when Harbaugh was a defensive back at the school.
"We go back a long way," Harbaugh said. "If Dean can make me any kind of a player, that shows you the kind of great coach he really is. I've always respected his work, always respected the kind of person he is."
Cameron coached the Ravens to a No. 15 ranking in total offense, improving from 22nd in 2010.
"It was a good year," Harbaugh said. "We turned a lot of things over on offense. We had all young receivers out there for the first time. We had new tight ends for the first time. I thought our players and coaches did a great job."
The Ravens lost 23-20 to New England in the AFC championship game on Sunday to finish a 13-5 season. Quarterback Joe Flacco threw for two touchdowns and 306 yards against the Patriots, and the offense performed well enough over the season for the Ravens to retain Cameron. Cameron's current four-year contract expires next month. He said the length of his new deal is still being determined.
"I'm obviously thrilled," Cameron said. "When you've got the support of (owner) Steve Bisciotti, (general manager) Ozzie Newsome and John ... all our guys, it's exciting. I called Ozzie and said, 'Hey, I'm just thrilled to be back.' And Ozzie said, 'Cam, in our minds, you were never gone.' And that means the world. Obviously, we've got a lot of unfinished business."
Criticized often, Cameron understands that's part of the job.
"I know that goes with the territory," Cameron said. "Criticism is part of the game. It goes with the coordinators, it goes with the quarterbacks. We've got to go out and prove ourselves every week."
Harbaugh said hiring a quarterbacks coach is a possibility.
"I think the quarterback and the offensive coordinator have to be one mind," Harbaugh said. "That really helped Joe grow in this offense. It was direct communication every single day all day long. Whether that will be the best thing to do next year, we're talking about that. Joe will have a tremendous amount of input in that, along with Cam, obviously."
Dolphins hire Sherman, Coyle as coordinators
MIAMI (AP) — Joe Philbin was once hired by Mike Sherman in Green Bay. On Friday, Philbin returned the favor.
The new coach of the Miami Dolphins hired Sherman as offensive coordinator on Friday, also adding Kevin Coyle as the team's defensive coordinator. Combined, the 57-year-old Sherman and the 56-year-old Coyle have 68 years of football coaching experience.
"They are exactly what I am looking for in terms of leadership, character, and teaching ability," Philbin said. "They are both very passionate about the game of football and the players they coach, and that enthusiasm is evident in the meeting rooms and on the field. They are excellent family men and I'm thrilled they are joining the Dolphins' football family. I can't wait to get started to work with them."
In Sherman's case, that's more like a reunion than anything else.
Sherman and Philbin have a relationship that goes back decades — Sherman was once Philbin's high school English teacher. When Sherman was head coach at Green Bay, he gave Philbin his first NFL coaching job.
Sherman joins Miami after four years as head coach at Texas A&M. He also has been on the staffs at Seattle and Houston, along with college stops at Tulane, Holy Cross and UCLA.
Coyle has been a coach in Cincinnati since 2001, serving the last nine of those years as the Bengals' defensive backs coach. He has been a defensive coordinator at the college level at schools including Syracuse, Maryland, Fresno State, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and Holy Cross, and has also worked as a collegiate assistant at Cincinnati and Arkansas.
Broncos hire Del Rio as defensive coordinator
DENVER (AP) — John Fox and Jack Del Rio are together again. The Denver Broncos announced Friday night they had agreed to terms with Del Rio to become the club's new defensive coordinator.
Del Rio was Fox's first defensive coordinator in Carolina in 2002 before leaving after one year to coach the Jacksonville Jaguars, who fired him in November. Del Rio replaces Dennis Allen, who left after one year in Denver to coach the Oakland Raiders.
Del Rio is the Broncos' seventh defensive coordinator in seven seasons. Other men who have filled the Mile High musical chair in the last six seasons are Larry Coyer (2006), Jim Bates (2007), Bob Slowik (2008), Mike Nolan (2009) and Don Martindale (2010). Allen was the only one who left for a head coaching job.
"We are thrilled to be able to add such a well-respected defensive coach to our staff," Fox said in a statement issued through the team's Twitter account.
"He was an integral part of our turnaround on defense during my first year with the Panthers in 2002," Fox added. "His defenses with the Jaguars have ranked among the NFL's best, and we are excited he's a Bronco."
The Broncos also hired Luke Richesson as their head strength and conditioning coach. Richesson spent the last three seasons with the Jaguars.
-- Arnie Stapleton
Jaguars' Mularkey completes coaching staff
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — New Jacksonville Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey has completed his staff by hiring Tom Myslinski as strength and conditioning coach.
Mularkey also named his son, Patrick, as strength assistant. Patrick Mularkey joins the coaching staff after spending the past two seasons as a scouting assistant in Jacksonville's personnel department.
Myslinski played nine seasons in the NFL and then spent the last seven years as a strength and conditioning coordinator, beginning at Robert Morris (2005-06) and continuing with the Cleveland Browns (2007-09), Memphis (2010) and North Carolina (2011).
While playing in the NFL, Myslinski served as a volunteer assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Pittsburgh (1998-2001). Prior to his stint at Pitt, he spent 1996 as the volunteer strength and conditioning coach at the University of North Florida.
Polian to host shows on satellite radio
NEW YORK (AP) — Former Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian is joining SiriusXM radio as a regular host. Polian will make his debut on the satellite network's NFL Radio channel on Monday night, and also will host a show on Wednesday and next Friday. He will be joined by former NFL quarterback Jim Miller as his co-host.
Pollan and his son, then-general manager Chris Polian, were fired by the Colts after they finished a 2-14 season. In addition to his work during Super Bowl week, Polian will regularly host shows on the channel in the offseason.
Known for his strong talent evaluations, Polian built the Bills, Panthers and Colts into Super Bowl contenders. In his 24 seasons as a general manager with Indianapolis, Carolina and Buffalo, Polian's teams made 17 playoffs, eight championship games and five Super Bowls.
Polian hosted a local radio show in Indianapolis while working for the Colts.
St. Louis says London games violate lease
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission says the Rams' plans to play one home game in London the next three years violates the team's stadium lease.
The CVC said in a release Friday that the lease requires the team to play all its home games at the Edward Jones Dome, and was awaiting a response from the team. Rams chief operating officer Kevin Demoff did not respond to a telephone message from the Associated Press..
The London announcement last week came not far from a Feb. 1 deadline for the CVC to submit its proposal for stadium improvements required in the lease. The team can opt out of the lease after the 2014 season if the stadium is not judged among the top quarter in the NFL. Rams owner Stan Kroenke is the majority shareholder of the Arsenal soccer team in London.
Emery gets second interview for Bears' GM job
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery got his second interview Friday for the Chicago Bears' vacant general manager's position.
Emery and New England Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht, who was interviewed a second time Thursday, are the finalists. Jerry Angelo was fired after an 8-8 finish.
The announcement on who gets the job could come as early as next week. The Bears also interviewed San Diego Chargers director of player personnel Jimmy Raye, New York Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross, and current director of player personnel Tim Ruskell.
Player Capsules
Manning, Irsay insist they are on same page
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Peyton Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay insist they are just fine after a week filled with complaints and comments suggesting a rift had developed following one of the most miserable seasons in team history.
"We would like to dispel any misperception that there might be any hard feelings between us," the two said Friday in a statement issued by the team. "Since 1998, we have enjoyed a great relationship, based upon mutual respect and trust. We have always been able to talk and address matters we've faced over the years, not just as owner and player, but as friends.
"We had a long talk today and we want to assure Colts fans everywhere that we are both committed to maintaining our close relationship and to working together through any challenges the future may bring."
That would be welcome news to Colts fans, who first watched Manning publicly complain about the down-in-the-mouth atmosphere at team headquarters and then two days later saw Irsay call out his franchise quarterback at a news conference intended to focus on the new head coach.
It's been a dizzying week.
On Tuesday, Manning told The Indianapolis Star that his only real conversation so far with the new general manager Ryan Grigson had come in passing and the flurry of firings had those around the team complex walking on "eggshells."
Irsay didn't like that Manning went public with his frustrations and he said so Thursday, calling Manning a "politician."
"I don't think it's in the best interest to paint the horseshoe in a negative light, I really don't," Irsay told reporters following Chuck Pagano's introduction as coach. "The horseshoe always comes first, and I think one thing he's always known, because he's been around it so long, is that, you know, you keep it in the family. If you've got a problem you talk to each other, it's not about campaigning or anything like that."
Apparently, Manning got the message.
Just a few hours later, Manning told the newspaper that he didn't intend to create a public spat. Instead, Manning said he was speaking from the heart after watching so many of his friends lose their jobs.
"At this point, Mr. Irsay and I owe it to each other and to the fans of the organization to handle this appropriately and professionally, and I think we will. I've already reached out to Mr. Irsay," Manning said. "I wasn't trying to paint the Colts in a bad light, but it's tough when so many people you've known for so long are suddenly leaving. I feel very close to a lot of these guys and we've done great things together. It's hard to watch an old friend clean out his office. That's all I was trying to say."
And Irsay tweeted after that: "Peyton and I love each other,that goes without saying..I humbly serve n protect the Horseshoe..it is bigger than any individual,including me."
Whether the two have mended their misunderstanding, there are still huge questions pending. Irsay must decide by March 8 whether to pay Manning a $28 million bonus. Manning missed the entire 2011 season after having his third neck surgery in September.
Irsay just this month has fired vice chairman Bill Polian, general manager Chris Polian, coach Jim Caldwell and most of the staff. Pagano, the Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator this past season, is just getting started, as is Grigson.
Indy's poor season has given it the No. 1 overall pick, which Irsay has said they will use for their quarterback of the future, presumably Stanford's Andrew Luck. If so, Irsay must decide if he wants to pay a No. 1 quarterback and Manning, who signed a five-year, $90 million contract in July and will be 36 in late March.
Irsay has said his choice will come down to Manning's health, not money.
-- Michael Marot
Kitna to coach football at Tacoma high school
TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Jon Kitna was hired as the football coach at Lincoln High School in Tacoma after retiring from a 15-year NFL career.
Kitna was introduced Thursday. He was recently hired at his old high school as a math teacher. Kitna received his math education degree at Central Washington University, where he was a standout quarterback and led the Wildcats to a share of the 1995 NAIA national title. Kitna went on to an NFL career with Seattle, Cincinnati, Detroit and wrapped up his career as a backup with Dallas.
Kitna was first contacted about the job three years ago, but decided to keep his NFL career going then. Kitna believes the Abes can become a state and possibly national power.
League Capsules
Numbers game at the Pro Bowl
KAPOLEI, Hawaii (AP) — The Pro Bowl has turned into a numbers game.
The AFC features five players who wear No. 24, including three corners, which has caused some confusion with autograph seekers and photographers leading up to Sunday's all-star game.
The quintet of 24s include New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph, San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews and Jacksonville Jaguars special teamer Montell Owens. They all posed for photos together after Friday's practice. So will real No. 24 please stand up?
"They're all the real No. 24s on their own team," Mathews said. "On the Chargers, I'm the real No. 24."
Mathews wore No. 21 at Fresno State, but changed to 24 when he arrived at San Diego.
"(LaDainian Tomlinson) was No. 21, so I had to change my number," he said. "I'm sure he wouldn't have minded if I wore it, though. But that's L.T.'s number. I wanted to make my own brand."
Numbers often become a part of a player's brand or identity, especially for superstars in their respective sports. Michael Jordan is 23, even though he also wore 45. Jerry Rice's No. 80 San Francisco 49ers jersey is a classic.
Besides serving as a player's brand, numbers often carry a story behind it and can represent something they've carried since childhood, the number of a player they admired or simply a special number. Or it could mean nothing at all.
"It's my first year wearing 24 and I made it to the Pro Bowl," said Joseph, who switched from 22 when he left the Cincinnati Bengals after five seasons and joined the Texans.
"I wouldn't say it's my lucky number, but it's working for me."
Bailey, on the other hand, is making his 11th Pro Bowl and has worn 24 since joining the NFL 13 years ago. He wore No. 4 at Georgia. Bailey acknowledges having so many 24s may create some confusion with fans, but not with the coaches or players.
"We all know each other and we're all going to represent the number real well," he said.
At Friday's practice on the grounds of the players' hotel at the Ko Olina Resort, Revis played the left side while Bailey was on the right.
Revis said there are some similarities between the 24s.
"All of us are great at we do and that's play great football," he said.
While some are selective about their numbers, Owens was willing to take whatever he could get after playing his collegiate ball as No. 33 at Maine.
"I noticed all the 24s out here, but for me, it wasn't even the number I selected at Jacksonville. It was given to me," he said. "I was a guy who came out undrafted and so when you come out undrafted, you better take any number they give you."
For the NFC, there's only a pair of 24s — Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson and Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch. But there are four 21s.
Cardinals rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson wore No. 7 at LSU, changed to the standard double-digit NFL number after being selected fifth overall in the 2011 draft.
"It (21) is definitely the hottest number out there and a lot of guys are representing it well," Peterson said. "I obviously wanted to follow that trend as well."
But it came at a cost, which Peterson wouldn't disclose. He purchased the number because another Cardinal already had it.
Safety Hamza Abdullah wore No. 21 before Peterson. Abdullah is now 23, but apparently still has his old number in his heart. He still tweets from (at)HamzaAbdullah21.
Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson is among the four 21s for the NFC.
"But there's an elder statesman 21 and that would be me," he said.
Woodson wanted to be 21 back when he first joined the Raiders, but that number was taken by Eric Allen. So he picked 24, which became one of the more popular Raiders jerseys. But he nabbed No. 21 when he joined the Packers.
"I was leaving Oakland behind and moving on to another chapter of my life so I wanted to change it and 21 was there, so I took it," he said. "(In the end), it's all about the names on the jersey. That's what counts."
-- Jaymes Song
Former NFL players help raise concussion awareness
CHICAGO (AP) — Efforts to raise awareness about concussion dangers are getting an boost from a collection of former National Football League players.
The five-month old Chicago Concussion Coalition announced on Friday they've enlisted and trained 10 former players to talk to young athletes, coaches and parents about causes and recognition and avoiding traumatic brain incidents.
"Concussions are an incredibly neglected problem," said Chris Nowinski, coalition chairman and co-founder and CEO of the Sports Legacy Institute. "They've ruined a lot of lives. The list in Chicago is quite striking of athletes who have been diagnosed with degenerative brain diseases from too much head trauma that hadn't been taken care of."
Among the players are former Bears Otis Wilson, Jerry Azumah, Major Hazelton, Brian Glascow and Charlie Brown.
Chicago is the center of Nowinski's efforts, which include a 90-minute program he developed in 2007 in Boston with partner Dr. Robert Cantu. Nowinski hosted two presentations on Friday at a South Side middle school.
The rapidly-growing coalition — now with 48 individuals, government officials, companies and medical concerns — partnered first with the Chicago Public School system and hopes to expand education efforts beyond the city limits.
"Ten years ago nobody cared about this," said Nowinski, a 33-year-old Arlington Heights, Ill. native. "Now Chicago is a model for the rest of the country. It's an honor to find organizations and hundreds of people really committed to this issue -- to protect young athletes."
Nowinski played high school football at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, was an all-Ivy League defensive tackle at Harvard and then embarked on a short-lived run with World Wrestling Entertainment.
A 2003 concussion ended his pro wrestling career and led to a new calling as a spokesman for concussion issues. Nowinski's 2006 book "Head Games: Football's Concussion Crisis," chronicled his experiences and concerns about trauma.
In 2007, he founded Boston-based SLI to advance brain study, treatment and prevention among athletes and military personnel.
The February 2011 suicide of former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duersen spotlighted brain trauma after an autopsy discovered significant brain damage possibly attributed to hits sustained during his football career.
"Dave Duersen's tragedy catapulted this to the forefront," said Reggie L. Smith, the Chicago chapter president of the NFL Retired Player's Association. "People (now) understand that from outside, someone looks OK, but internally there can be damage that was done years ago."
Smith said he recently completed training and will soon begin making public appearances to promote concussion awareness.
In January 2011 the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting public school athletes with concussions from returning to sports without medical permission.
The concussion coalition plans seven more training sessions through early August at the South Side Illinois Eye Institute. Nowinski, meanwhile, will return to Illinois in May to address a conference of state high school athletic directors in Peoria.
"This is the gold standard (in Chicago) and we'll talk a lot about what we've done here," he said.
Goodell: Recession has helped NFL
NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the recession has helped build TV audiences for NFL games.
Speaking on CBS' "60 Minutes," to be aired Sunday, Goodell says the nearly 60 million people tuning in to watch last Sunday's conference championships show that.
"People want to feel part of a group . feel like they're connected, and right now during these difficult times, they can turn on free television and watch the greatest entertainment that's out there," Goodell says. "They can forget their worries.for just a few hours."
Goodell also expresses his concern about getting fans to come to the stadium rather than watching at home.
"Our biggest challenge going forward is how do we get people to come to our stadiums . because the experience is so great at home," he says. "When you turn on (a football game), you want to see a full stadium."
Goodell was given a five-year contract extension this week, through March 2019.
The NFL recently signed nine-year extensions with its broadcast partners and could bring in as much as $3 billion in broadcast revenues by 2022. The league's overall revenues for this year are projected to exceed $10 billion.
Goodell also discusses officiating on the program, mentioning meetings "to understand where we've made mistakes, where we can improve.
"The fastest way to hear from an owner is when a referee blows a call on the field, even after reviewing the videotape on a challenge," Goodell says.
