NFL Capsules: Dorrell hired as Texans QB coach
HOUSTON (AP) — Karl Dorrell has joined the Houston Texans as quarterbacks coach.
A former head coach at UCLA, Dorrell spent the last four seasons with the Miami Dolphins as QB coach. From 2008-10, Dorrell served as Miami's wide receivers coach.
In his five years at UCLA he compiled a 35-27 record and led the Bruins to a bowl appearance each year. In 2005, Dorrell was the Pac-10 Conference co-Coach of the Year after leading UCLA to a 10-2 record, a No. 16 ranking and a Sun Bowl victory against Northwestern.
Dorrell also served as wide receivers coach with Denver from 2000-02, working with several current Houston coaches, including head coach Gary Kubiak.
Team Capsules
49ers reward GM Baalke with three-year extension
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers have confidence in Trent Baalke leading them for the long haul.
The general manager on Friday received a three-year contract extension through the 2016 season. CEO Jed York tweeted that negotiations were finalized over a recent dinner.
"Contentious contract negotiation w/Trent over dinner. Didn't finalize terms until after we finished the chips & salsa," York tweeted.
York also formally announced Friday the addition of Gideon Yu as president and co-owner after tweeting it last week, when NFL owners at the Super Bowl in Indianapolis approved a $200 million loan to help the 49ers build a stadium near their current training site.
NFC West champion San Francisco went 13-3 in 2011 and advanced to the NFC title game before losing in overtime to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
Not only did Baalke hire away NFL Coach of the Year Jim Harbaugh from nearby Stanford in January 2011, in perhaps his best signing of all, he also acquired All-Pro placekicker David Akers and brought in two Pro Bowl defensive backs — re-signing safety Dashon Goldson and adding cornerback Carlos Rogers. Not to mention safety Donte Whitner, who dealt his share of blows in a victory against the favored Saints in the NFC divisional round.
They all made key impacts during a turnaround season as the 49ers ended an eight-year drought without a playoff berth or winning record.
"Trent has distinguished himself as the man to direct our football operations for years to come," York said. "Since taking over as general manager last January, we have made great strides on the football field under Trent's leadership. It gives me great pleasure to watch Trent and Jim work arm in arm with the common goal of leading the 49ers to championships."
The 49ers earned the NFC's No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff bye and went 6-2 on the road, with four of those victories coming in comeback fashion.
All that after Baalke drew criticism over whether he had made enough splashy moves in free agency to improve his roster after the lockout.
Baalke has been with the team in various jobs since 2005, when he was hired as a regional scout. He moved up to director of player personnel in 2008, to vice president in the same capacity in 2010 and to general manager last year.
The reserved Baalke expressed his gratitude to the York family, Harbaugh, the other coaches and football operations staff as well as the players.
"The success we experienced on the field was a direct result of their efforts," Baalke said. "It is a privilege to work for the 49ers organization, alongside this group, as we continue our pursuit of championships."
When York began looking for a GM, he vowed to open an exhaustive national search, then ultimately decided to go with the familiar face who had shown plenty of leadership and reliable decision-making. York took heat for it, too, as some believed he had settled for Baalke over a bigger name.
Yet it was Baalke who orchestrated the contract extensions for two key 49ers before the 2010 season: All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis and tight end Vernon Davis. Running back Frank Gore got his coveted new deal before the 2011 season.
Baalke, a former college coach who also worked four years in the scouting department for the Washington Redskins before coming to San Francisco, made two first-round picks in 2010 — offensive linemen Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati — and both became instant starters. Last season's rookies also shined: Aldon Smith with 14 sacks, Kendall Hunter as Gore's reliable backup, and Bruce Miller as a defensive end turned fullback.
Akers' 44 field goals set an NFL record — Baalke scooped him up when the Eagles decided he was expendable.
"He had a plan, and he stuck with it," Goldson said late in the year. "And look where we're at now."
-- Janie McCauley
Vikings say new Ramsey stadium plan unworkable
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota Vikings spokesman said Friday that team owners don't like a new proposal to fund a $1 billion stadium in the Twin Cities suburbs using ticket fees and other game-related charges.
The latest proposal floated by several Ramsey County commissioners was meant to replace a previous stadium financing plan that relied on a county food and liquor sales tax. Instead, it would draw $20.6 million annually from stadium user fees, an admissions surcharge, a stadium sales tax and parking lot naming rights.
The county board said the plan would generate $618 million over 30 years.
Lester Bagley, the Vikings vice president for stadium development, called the plan problematic. While Vikings owners have favored the Ramsey County site in the community of Arden Hills over options in downtown Minneapolis, Bagley said a prior agreement between the Vikings and Ramsey County hinged on the team receiving parking revenue and naming rights -- and on the condition of no admissions taxes.
"When you change those things you change the underlying agreement between the team and the county," Bagley said. "We need to refine it because of those reasons."
Ramsey County Commissioner Tony Bennett had called the new plan a "game changer" after meeting with Gov. Mark Dayton on Friday. He later acknowledged the Vikings may not like elements of the new plan.
Dayton did not comment specifically on details of the new plan, but praised Ramsey County leaders for remaining consistent in their stadium efforts. He contrasted that with city council members in Minneapolis, who have been reluctant to throw full support behind a new stadium there.
"They all sit on the sidelines and carp about everything," Dayton said. Later, he added: "They don't have ... the proper perspective on what's best for all of Minneapolis."
Earlier this week, Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission Chairman Ted Mondale and stadium negotiators unveiled a new plan to quickly build a new stadium on a parking lot just east of the Metrodome. So far, stadium supporters in the Legislature have not put their weight behind any of the numerous stadium proposals batted around in recent weeks.
Bagley said a decision is far from made.
"The Minneapolis proposal has its share of issues as well," Bagley said.
The Vikings have wanted out of the Metrodome for years, calling the 30-year-old stadium no longer sufficiently profitable compared to other NFL venues. The team's lease at the Metrodome expired Feb. 1, and hanging over their new stadium push has been the fear among fans that the team will leave Minnesota.
Team owner Zygi Wilf has said the Vikings want a new stadium in the Twin Cities, even if it means building on the current site of the Metrodome.
-- Alexandra Tempus
Super Bowl champs plan return to Albany for camp
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The Super Bowl champion New York Giants say they're planning to return their training camp to Albany this summer.
Pat Hanlon, the team's vice president for communications, told Albany-area media outlets Thursday that the Giants plan to follow up on franchise President and CEO John Mara's pledge to bring the camp back to upstate New York.
The Giants decided during last year's NFL labor lockout to hold the 2011 training camp at their headquarters in East Rutherford, N.J. Mara had said then that the team intended to return its training camp to Albany in the summer of 2012.
The Giants trained at the University at Albany for 15 years, their longest stay at one training camp site in the 87-year history of the franchise.
Bucs hire Sullivan as offensive coordinator
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Giants quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan is leaving the Super Bowl champions to become the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs announced Friday night that Sullivan is joining the staff of new coach Greg Schiano.
Sullivan spent the last eight seasons with the Giants. He has coached Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning and the rest of New York's quarterbacks for the past two years. Prior to becoming quarterbacks coach, Sullivan spent six seasons leading the Giants' wide receivers.
Player Capsules
Report: Patriots TE Gronkowski has ankle surgery
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had arthroscopic surgery Friday on the left ankle that hampered him in the Super Bowl, according to the Sports Business Journal. The Patriots declined comment.
Gronkowski, who set an NFL single-season record for tight ends with 17 touchdown receptions, had just two catches for 26 yards in the 21-17 loss to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl in Indianapolis last Sunday. His recovery is expected to last 10-12 weeks and end before the Patriots begin organized team activities in the spring.
Messages left for Gronkowski's representatives were not immediately returned. The All-Pro tight end, a second-round draft pick in 2010 out of Arizona, suffered a high-ankle sprain in the AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens in Foxborough, a 23-20 victory.
Gronkowski's injury and playing status became a major story during an otherwise slow Super Bowl week. He was listed as questionable on Friday, 48 hours before the game. He had worn a walking boot for a week before shedding it the Monday before the Super Bowl.
He said he had been making progress every day, but he participated in just one practice, on the Thursday before the game, and that was on a limited basis.
On the final play of the Super Bowl, Gronkowski was involved in a desperation pass by Tom Brady into the end zone on a third-and-5 at the Patriots 49-yard line. Tight end Aaron Hernandez and three Giants went up for the ball and it landed just out of the reach of a lunging Gronkowski.
"I felt like I was close," Gronkowski said. "But close isn't there."
He also was the intended receiver on a long pass by Brady that was intercepted by Chase Blackburn at the Giants 8-yard line on the second play of the fourth quarter with the Patriots leading 17-15.
During the regular season, Gronkowski had 90 receptions for 1,327 yards with 21 of those catches gaining more than 20 yards. He had three touchdowns in a seven-point win over Indianapolis and three more in a 45-10 divisional playoff victory over Denver,
He and Hernandez combined for 169 receptions and 24 touchdowns as the Patriots went 13-3 and won the AFC East. Gronkowski had started every regular-season game and was healthy for nearly every practice before the ankle injury.
In the first two postseason games, Gronkowski had 15 catches for 232 yards and three touchdowns, while Hernandez had 11 catches for 121 yards and one touchdown. In the Super Bowl, Hernandez scored one of the Patriots two touchdowns and finished with team highs of eight receptions for 67 yards.
At 6-feet-6 and 265 pounds, also emerged as an outstanding blocker.
Gronkowski joined the Patriots after missing the entire 2009 season at Arizona following back surgery. In his two college seasons, he set school career records of 75 catches and 1,191 yards receiving.
Packers LB Walden reaches deal to resolve charge
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Green Bay Packers linebacker Erik Walden has reached a deferred judgment agreement to resolve a disorderly conduct-domestic abuse charge without pleading guilty.
Defense attorney Steve Richards said Walden has agreed to perform 50 hours of community service and continue counseling.
"He's not found guilty of anything at this time," Richards said Friday.
Richards said the charge will be dismissed in a year as long as Walden stays out of trouble. The plea deal was reported on the Green Bay Press-Gazette's website Friday afternoon.
"There's no conviction," Richards said. "It satisfies our objectives."
It's not clear if Walden will be subject to discipline by the NFL. League spokesman Greg Aiello said Walden's status "will be reviewed under our policy."
Walden spent the weekend after Thanksgiving in jail after a Nov. 25 dispute with his girlfriend. He made a public apology to the Packers, his teammates and fans after he was released and continued to play for the team.
He was charged in December, entering a not guilty plea. If convicted, Walden would have faced up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Walden originally was arrested on a more serious charge, suspicion of felony domestic violence-substantial battery.
According to the complaint against Walden, girlfriend Erika T. Palmer originally told police that Walden pushed her, causing her to fall and hit a bed post and cut her forehead. Palmer said she then attempted to punch Walden in self-defense.
The complaint said that once Palmer found out Walden would be arrested, she began to change her story to say instead that she provoked Walden.
-- Chris Jenkins
Bengals LB Maualuga charged with assault in Ohio
CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga (mow-uh-LOO'-guh) has been charged with assault stemming from a downtown Cincinnati bar incident.
Police cited the 25-year-old Maualuga with the misdemeanor count on Friday after investigating allegations by a bar employee that Maualuga punched him in the face early Sunday morning. Maualuga's arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 17. No attorney was listed for him.
Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan said the club doesn't comment on unresolved legal matters.
The former Southern Cal star was fined by the NFL two game checks and part of his signing bonus in 2010 after he pleaded guilty to drunken driving charges in northern Kentucky. In that case, he got a suspended seven-day jail sentence, had his driver's license suspended for 90 days, and was sent to an alcohol/drug program.
Titans agree to terms with WR Hawkins
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins, making him their third pending free agent kept off the market. The Titans announced Friday that Hawkins had agreed to a multi-year contract.
Hawkins is coming off his best season yet. A fourth-round pick in 2008 out of California, Hawkins played in 16 games with two starts, and he caught 47 passes for 470 yards with a touchdown. He ranked fourth in receptions and second with 17 catches on third down. In his four seasons, Hawkins has 66 catches in 45 games.
The Titans now have 15 players set to become free agents on March 13 after reaching deals with tight end Craig Stevens and offensive tackle Mike Otto.
Seattle signs OL Breno Giacomini to two-year deal
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seahawks and free agent offensive lineman Breno Giacomini have agreed to a two-year contract extension after Giacomini proved to be a valuable backup on Seattle's offensive line.
The Seahawks confirmed the deal on Friday. According to the NFL Players Association website, Giacomini will make $1.5 million in base salary for the 2012 season and $3 million in 2013.
Giacomini played in 15 games and made eight starts on the Seahawks offensive line last season, filling in at a variety of spots after Seattle lost starters Russell Okung, James Carpenter and John Moffitt to injuries. Giacomini made $600,000 in base salary last season. Giacomini is the first of Seattle's 18 unrestricted free agents to re-sign with the club.
League Capsules
Belichick wanted Giants to throw toward Manningham
NEW YORK (AP) — The Patriots got exactly what they wanted when the Giants threw to Mario Manningham on New York's last Super Bowl drive.
Then the receiver New England deemed less dangerous than Victor Cruz or Hakeem Nicks made a catch that will be replayed over and over for years to come.
"This is still a Cruz and Nicks game," Patriots coach Bill Belichick tells his defenders in audio captured for "Sound FX," which first aired Wednesday night on NFL Network. "I know we're right on them; it's tight. But those are still the guys. Make them go to Manningham; make them go to (tight end Bear) Pascoe. Let's make sure we get Cruz and Nicks."
Manningham's 38-yard reception — over-the-shoulder, between two defenders and along the sideline — was the key play on the Giants' winning drive. New England challenged the catch, but as the video review is going on, a dejected Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is heard muttering, "He caught it."
Cruz had 82 catches for 1,536 yards this season, while Nicks had 76 receptions for 1,192 yards. Manningham caught 39 passes for 523 yards and was slowed by injuries.
With New York in position to run down the clock and kick the winning field goal later in the drive, New England linebacker Jerod Mayo tells his fellow defenders in the huddle, "We've got to let 'em score." Tackle Vince Wilfork then assures a teammate as the players are lining up, "Yeah, yeah, let 'em score."
But on the sideline, Brady laments, "They're not going to score."
He was wrong. Ahmad Bradshaw fell into the end zone after trying to stop himself, putting the Giants up 21-17 with 57 seconds left. With one timeout and needing a touchdown, Brady couldn't lead the Patriots on a winning drive.
''Sound FX" replays will air on NFL Network on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.
Officials: Person with measles visited storefront
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Health officials say a person diagnosed with measles may have exposed others at a downtown Indianapolis storefront that housed a television studio, a hat shop and a nightclub during last week's Super Bowl festivities.
WISH-TV reported Friday that Marion County health officials say the person on Feb. 3 visited the Huddle in the former Nordstrom's store, which included the station's Super Bowl studios. Officials previously said the person had visited the Super Bowl Village but hadn't entered any buildings.
More than 200,000 people visited the Super Bowl Village that day, two days before the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
Indiana health officials notified the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and health departments in New York and Massachusetts.
Elsewhere
Man charged with bomb threat during Saints game
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Michigan man was indicted Friday by a federal grand jury on a charge he phoned in a bomb threat to the Superdome during the New Orleans Saints' playoff win over the Detroit Lions in January.
Shawn H. Payton, 34, of Jackson, Mich., is charged with one count of sending threatening communications through interstate commerce, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI arrested Payton last month on a criminal complaint. He was freed on bond. Payton is scheduled to make his initial court appearance in New Orleans on Feb. 14.
Prosecutors said Payton called the Superdome reception desk during the Jan.7 game and claimed there was a bomb in the building.
In a second call, which was recorded, he allegedly said, "Hi, I want you to relay a message to the sideline. If your stupid Southern team keeps winning, there will be reper.severe consequences, okay?"
Prosecutors said Payton admitted making the phone calls when he was questioned by the FBI.
"We will not tolerate anyone causing the waste of our precious law enforcement resources or the potential panic of our citizens through the communication of threats," U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said in a statement.
