NFL Capsules - NFC: Angelo fired as Bears' GM after team crumbles
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears borrowed a page from the Indianapolis Colts in end-of-season house cleaning: fire the GM and keep the coach.
Chicago won four division titles and reached the Super Bowl while Jerry Angelo was general manager. The Bears also crumbled in a big way this season.
Now Angelo's out. Coach Lovie Smith, however, will remain.
Angelo was fired Tuesday following a team collapse marked by injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte and a drug scandal involving Sam Hurd.
One day after the Colts parted with vice chairman Bill Polian and his son, Chris, the general manager, the Bears called for change after an 8-8 season. A questionable draft record and an inability to fill big holes, particularly on offense, led the ouster of Angelo, who had been on the job 11 years.
"I think Jerry achieved a lot as general manager," Bears President Ted Phillips said. "He's a wonderful man, high character. I've enjoyed every day working with him. He's put his life's blood into the Bears."
Phillips also said Smith would keep his job, adding, "The one restriction that will be placed on any candidate is Lovie Smith's our head coach for 2012."
Phillips said he decided to let Angelo go on Monday and informed him the following morning. Phillips insisted the timing was coincidental, that he wasn't aware they had been let go when he decided to make a change.
Angelo's dismissal comes after a wild season in which the Bears at one point seemed a lock to make the playoffs. A five-game losing streak spoiled a 7-3 start, keeping Chicago out of the playoffs for the fourth time in five years, and Angelo wasn't the only one on his way out Tuesday.
The Bears also confirmed that offensive coordinator Mike Martz and quarterbacks coach Shane Day won't be back. Martz had an expiring contract, and there had been plenty of speculation he would be gone after two seasons.
Angelo was signed through the 2013 season, but he was undone on a number of fronts. The next GM will inherit a team that could use help on the offensive and defensive lines, at wide receiver and in the secondary. Forte's rookie contract is up. Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs would like a new one even though he has two years left on his six-year deal.
Still, the Bears believe they can make a run next season. Angelo won't be the one overseeing it, though.
"I have tremendous respect for him and am sorry to see him go," Smith said in a statement. "But I also will embrace the opportunity that comes with change. As I said yesterday, we have an excellent core in place. I look forward to working with a new general manager to bring a championship to Chicago."
Phillips said he's "not anywhere close" to having a list of finalists, and he declined comment when asked if he planned to call the Polians. He also said Smith will pick Martz's replacement.
As for why he kept Smith, Phillips said, "We felt that Lovie is the right head coach for this team. We like his staff that's in place. We want to close that talent gap with our division rivals and that's why the decision was made."
McCaskey, who took over as chairman last spring, insisted he has "complete faith" in Phillips and dismissed the idea that he was the driving force behind the changes.
"It was Ted's decision," he said. "He asked for my input. I gave it to him."
Angelo's firing caps a season that crumbled just when the Bears appeared to be poised for another playoff run after reaching the NFC title game last year. Cutler broke his right thumb trying to help make a tackle following an interception during a victory over San Diego on Nov. 20, and Chicago didn't win again until the season-finale at Minnesota on Sunday.
It didn't help that Forte sprained a ligament in his right knee against Kansas City on Dec. 4, leaving the offense without its two best players. Those would be blows for any team, but they were crippling for Chicago. Throw in Hurd's arrest on federal drug charges in mid-December, and what looked like a promising season turned into a nightmare for the team and organization.
The injuries exposed a glaring lack of depth as the Bears tumbled out of playoff contention.
The low point might have been the loss at Denver when Marion Barber ran out of bounds late in regulation. That stopped the clock, giving the Broncos enough time to tie the score. If that weren't enough, he lost a fumble in overtime, helping set up the winning field goal.
Meanwhile, backup quarterback Caleb Hanie was a bust filling in for Cutler, going 0-4 as the starter before the Bears turned to Josh McCown.
Chicago claimed Kyle Orton off waivers after Cutler went down, but Kansas City had priority and got him. The Bears then brought in Josh McCown, and Angelo left himself open to second-guessing when he decided not to go after Donovan McNabb once Minnesota let him go.
The lack of a reliable backup quarterback, continuing issues on the offensive line and the inability to land a top-tier receiver increased the heat on the general manager.
Roy Williams struggled to hold onto the ball and get open in his first season with the Bears after an unsuccessful run in Dallas. Hurd, another Cowboys import, was quickly waived after being charged with trying to set up a drug-dealing network following his arrest with more than a pound of cocaine, although Phillips insisted that ordeal played no role in the decision to fire the general manager.
For all the criticism, Angelo did have successes. The Bears won those four division championships, including the 2006 team's run to the Super Bowl and last year's trip to the NFC title game.
He traded for Cutler and signed Julius Peppers. But he also had a spotty draft record that included such high-profile disappointments as Cedric Benson and Rex Grossman.
The 2008 first-rounder Chris Williams has mostly struggled, and 2011 first-round pick Gabe Carimi missed most of his rookie season with a right knee injury. Angelo also was unable to find a top receiver, through the draft, a trade or free agency.
Chicago didn't have anyone ready to step in when a solid but aging line that helped the Bears reach the playoffs in 2005 and 2006 began to go downhill.
Martz called for deep drops and Cutler took repeated poundings. That changed after Cutler made his feelings clear. The Bears started getting the ball out of his hands quicker, handing the ball off more to Forte and piling up wins. But just when it looked as if they had saved their season, everything came apart.
''Bears fans deserve a championship team and we're doing everything we can to achieve that goal," McCaskey said.
Martz out as Bears' offensive coordinator
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Mike Martz is out after two seasons as the Chicago Bears' offensive coordinator. The team confirmed Tuesday that Martz will not be back. Hours earlier, general manager Jerry Angelo was fired.
The changes come after the Bears finished 8-8 following a collapse marked by season-ending injuries to quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte, along with the arrest of backup receiver Sam Hurd on federal drug charges.
Chicago dropped five in a row following a 7-3 start before closing out the season with a win at Minnesota.
Martz had an expiring contract, and speculation that he might be on his way out mounted as the losses piled up. Quarterbacks coach Shane Day will not be back, either.
"After meeting with Mike this afternoon, we both felt it was best to move in different directions," coach Lovie Smith said in a statement. "I appreciate the job he and Shane did for us over the last two years."
The Bears averaged 21.5 points the past two years, and they ran for 2,015 yards this season with Forte leading the way, just the second time in 21 years they passed the 2,000-yard rushing mark.
Things were clicking in a big way until Cutler broke his right thumb against San Diego on Nov. 20. The Bears were closing out their fifth straight win to improve to 7-3 when he was injured trying to help make a tackle following an interception late in a 31-20 victory.
From there, everything fell apart.
As if losing Cutler wasn't bad enough, the Bears took another hit two weeks later when Forte sprained a ligament in his right knee early in a loss to Kansas City, leaving Chicago without its two best offensive players.
Caleb Hanie struggled in a big way filling in for Cutler, going 0-4 as the starter before Josh McCown got the nod. There were costly mistakes by backup running back Marion Barber in back-to-back close losses to the Chiefs and Denver, and Roy Williams also dropped a touchdown pass in that seven-point loss to Kansas City.
Meanwhile, Martz's name was linked to head-coaching openings at UCLA and Arizona State, as well as the Jacksonville Jaguars, and just last week Smith snapped when he was asked about his offensive coordinator's future.
He fired back, "What kind of question is that anyway? At this time, what kind of question is that? Why would you ask a question like that anyway?"
He was also noncommittal when asked about his coordinator's status on Monday.
Martz, who hired Smith as his defensive coordinator when he was the coach in St. Louis, said he would like to be back, but that's not happening. Now, Smith is looking for his fourth offensive coordinator as he prepares for his ninth season.
Offensive line coach Mike Tice might be first in line for an interview even though he has never been an offensive coordinator. He was heavily involved with the offense as the Minnesota Vikings' head coach for four seasons.
Martz, the mastermind of "The Greatest Show On Turf" as offensive coordinator and head coach of the Rams, was viewed by many as an odd fit for Chicago, someone who tried to force his system on a team that simply didn't have players such as Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and Orlando Pace.
In Chicago, he left himself open to second-guessing at times, whether he was calling a failed end-around for Earl Bennett in the NFC championship game last year against Green Bay or having Hanie attempt a throwback screen that got intercepted in his first start against Oakland.
The biggest point of contention was his reliance on deep drops in the early going each of the past two years, leaving Cutler to take a big beating. The Bears turned it around when they committed more to the run and allowed Cutler to move around and get rid of the ball quicker. Chicago won five straight before the big collapse and averaged about 32 points during that stretch, with Cutler leading the way.
-- Andrew Seligman
Zygi Wilf: Stadium deal getting closer to fruition
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have spent more than a decade trying to get public funding to help them build a new stadium to replace the drab and outdated Metrodome.
After a meeting with two prominent state senators on Tuesday, owner Zygi Wilf feels the team is getting closer and closer to making that happen.
Zygi and brother Mark Wilf met with Sens. Julie Rosen and Dave Senjem to discuss the team's work on presenting a package to the Legislature for a vote.
"They're very encouraged on the progress we're making," Zygi Wilf said. "And we feel that a deal is going to be in the works shortly."
Rosen said they talked about moving the stadium issue forward in the next legislative session.
"People do want a resolution on this; it's either up or down. A lot of people are working on getting this thing done," she said.
Rosen, R-Fairmont, has been the lead Senate sponsor of stadium legislation. Senjem last week was elected Senate majority leader after a leadership shuffle among Senate Republicans, and his elevation to that post has been seen as a positive for stadium prospects since he's been more open to partial public funding than have other prominent GOP lawmakers.
Stadium backers in the Legislature hope to release a proposal in bill form, identifying both a specific site and a way to cover the state's share, in advance of the legislative session that begins on Jan. 24.
The team's lease at the Metrodome expires on Feb. 1, essentially turning the Vikings into a free agent without a home. The Wilf family has said all along that they are committed to getting a deal done to keep the team in Minnesota long-term.
"We want to make sure, as many as the people we've met on the Legislature, the governor, and the fans, to establish a home that will ensure this franchise for generations to come," Zygi Wilf said. "A home that we can be proud of, a home we can enjoy with our families and also to keep on the traditions of Minnesota Vikings football."
The Vikings are proposing a $1.1 billion stadium in the St. Paul suburb of Arden Hills. But some state leaders have urged the team to also consider sites in downtown Minneapolis.
Zygi Wilf said the team remains committed to getting a deal done with Ramsey County and Arden Hills, but is keeping all of its options open as they try to secure public funding to help pay for it. The only sure thing, he said, is that all the sites are in Minnesota.
For now, the team is working to make sure it has a proposal to present before the next session begins.
"Our goal is to be making sure that we have a viable plan and we're working as we speak on a deal," Zygi Wilf said.
The Wilfs met with Rosen and Senjem on the same day they announced a new power structure with the team, handing over all football-related decisions to Rick Spielman, who was promoted to general manager. Spielman and coach Leslie Frazier shared the decision-making powers this season.
The decision to make Spielman the point man for the football operations comes on the heels of a 3-13 season — tied for the worst record in the 51-year history of the franchise.
Zygi Wilf called the season "really gut-wrenching."
"A year like this year makes you really sit back and re-evaluate what has to be done, because we as owners and the players, and certainly our fans, want to make sure we get back on track to where we were just a couple years ago," Wilf said, referring to their trip to the NFC title game in 2009. "We're not far from it, and I think the structure goes a long way to establishing our goals and where the decisions have to be made."
Mark Wilf said the decision to change the structure of the football operations was not related to the team's pursuit of a new stadium.
"Obviously we're trying to work toward a solution, a stadium solution in Minnesota," Mark Wilf said. "But when it comes to the football, that's why the general manager and the coach are fully focused and our whole organization is focused on a championship. That's the number one goal of our ownership."
-- Jon Krawczynski
Vikings promote Spielman to general manager
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — The leaders of the Minnesota Vikings looked around the league and decided the traditional front office has proven to work for many other teams. The frustration and embarrassment of finishing 3-13 finally put that into focus.
The Vikings elevated Rick Spielman Tuesday to general manager, streamlining a nebulous power structure and making the first move toward reviving a team that matched the worst record in franchise history.
Spielman was promoted from his previous role as vice president of player personnel, which he held since his hire in May 2006. He will now have final authority over all roster-related decisions, in addition to his previous duties running the scouting departments and the draft, instead of the by-committee approach to player transactions with head coach Leslie Frazier.
"We thought long and hard through the season, and we feel this is the right way. Knowing Rick and his body of work, we're confident he's the man to do it," team President Mark Wilf team.
The Vikings haven't had a true general manager since Mike Lynn in the 1980s. They've won a lot of games since then and been in legitimate contention for several Super Bowls, but snags in the group-decision system were exposed when Frazier's predecessor, Brad Childress, hastily cut malcontent wide receiver Randy Moss without consultation last November. Frazier also pushed last summer for the Vikings to acquire veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb to give rookie Christian Ponder more time to learn, but the offense was stagnant during six games under McNabb and Ponder took over in October.
The sharp decline from NFC runner-up two years ago to consecutive last-place finishes with a 9-23 combined record pushed this parting from the preferred collaborative management style the Wilfs have used. They acknowledged that back-to-back division titles in 2008 and 2009 clouded their judgment of the current structure.
"It's a long-term solution for the franchise. We've been successful in the past, but we felt like for the long-term progress and success of the ballclub the model that exists pretty much throughout the league for those successful teams is a model we would follow," team Chairman Zygi Wilf said. He added: "Speaking to other owners and learning from other teams and seeing how their systems have worked, we came to the conclusion that this is the way this has to work."
The power to hire and fire head coaches will stay with the lead owners, the Wilf brothers. Mark Wilf said the organization has "full confidence" in Frazier, and all of the officials who spoke to the media Tuesday expressed confidence the Vikings can turn around quickly. They have the third pick in this year's draft.
"Three and 13 is not acceptable for our fans of the Minnesota Vikings. It's not acceptable for our ownership. It's not acceptable for this organization. I'll take my share of responsibility in that 3-13 record," Spielman said, his voice cracking.
He was emotional earlier in the day, too, when he addressed the staff, and he appeared a bit nervous during his news conference, at one point accidentally referring to Frazier as "Leslie Football." But he expressed plenty of confidence in his ability to help rebuild the Vikings.
"The coaches will still be heavily involved through all our personnel. But it's my responsibility in the end to decide what's best for this organization moving forward. I know I've had a great conversation with Leslie. I have no doubt moving forward that this is even going to grow stronger in our relationship to put a winner on the field," Spielman said.
Frazier praised the move, too. He said it only "enhances" his role.
"The biggest thing is you just want to know what the lines of demarcation are. For me, I know exactly where I need to go when I have to talk about certain matters and get those things handled, and that's good. It's really good for me," Frazier said.
Frazier will still have the final word on his coaching staff, with the defense under particular scrutiny. Frazier said he has no timetable for any changes, however, noting "ongoing discussions." He left open the possibility of switching to a 3-4 scheme, but he reiterated his comfort with their current 4-3 system.
Spielman, the older brother of former NFL linebacker and current college TV analyst Chris Spielman, will start his 22nd season as an NFL executive. He was a scout for the Detroit Lions from 1990-96 and the director of pro personnel for the Chicago Bears from 1997-99 before heading to Miami with head coach Dave Wannstedt in 2000 to be the vice president of player personnel for the Dolphins.
Spielman served mostly as an adviser to Wannstedt on draft, trade and free agency decisions, but Wannstedt's authority was reduced after the 2003 season and Spielman was promoted to general manager over six other candidates. Wannstedt resigned in the middle of a messy 2004 season, when Spielman's moves drew plenty of criticism, including the trade of a second-round draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback A.J. Feeley, who never panned out. Nick Saban took over as Miami's head coach in 2005, and Spielman was squeezed out.
Spielman spent one year as a television analyst for ESPN before coming to Minnesota to replace the fired Fran Foley. He was mostly behind the scenes, addressing the media only around draft time, but he said he's "very excited" about the pressure that will come with the new title and increased responsibility.
"Identify where we can get better and come up with that plan of action on to how to get better. Not just say, 'Yeah, we made a mistake here, what are you going to do?' No, it's going to be, 'Yeah, we made a mistake. Now what are we going to do to make sure that doesn't happen again?'" Spielman said.
-- Dave Campbell
Lurie says Reid will return to Eagles
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Big Red isn't going anywhere yet.
Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie said coach Andy Reid will return for his 14th season in Philadelphia, though he left open the possibility for changes on the coaching staff.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday for the first time since training camp, Lurie expressed his displeasure with the team's 8-8 record and explained in detail why he chose to retain Reid after weeks of serious deliberation.
"This was, without question, the most disappointing season since I've owned the team," Lurie said. "It's completely unacceptable."
The Eagles were strong favorites to reach the Super Bowl after winning the NFC East title last year and adding several accomplished players in the offseason. But they started 1-4 and were 4-8 before closing out the year with four consecutive wins against non-playoff teams.
Lurie called the poor start "dismal" and "unfathomable" and also described some of the losses as "ludicrous" and "terrible." The Eagles blew fourth-quarter leads five times.
Reid is the longest-tenured coach in the NFL. He's led the Eagles to nine playoff appearances, six division titles, five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl loss in 13 seasons. Lurie said he considered Reid's track record, both long-term and short-term, and his intangibles when deciding to keep him.
"Andy Reid not only has the love of his players and their respect, but he also has the fire in his belly to be the best," Lurie said. "You've got to have the anger. You've got to have the motivation, the dedication, and the focus and the talent. My answer to those questions is yes. That's why I want to see our team coached by Andy Reid next year, and I can't wait to see that team play. There's no doubt in my mind, if our focus is on trying to win a championship next year, the best coach for that is Andy."
Team president Joe Banner and general manager Howie Roseman also will return. Lurie said Reid has final say on all moves, and will decide whether to make changes on his staff.
Defensive coordinator Juan Castillo's job could be in jeopardy, especially with former Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo available. Castillo struggled after making the unusual transition from coaching offense to defense.
"There was a miscalculation in implementing big scheme changes," Lurie said, referring to several new defensive players having to learn a new system in a short period due to the lockout.
Reid has two years remaining on his contract, and Lurie said he doesn't plan to extend it at this point. He also declined to give Reid a win-or-else directive.
"Every year the goal is to win the Super Bowl," he said. "We'll let the process play out. There's no ultimatum."
Reid has a career record of 136-90-1 and his 10 playoff wins are the 11th most in NFL history. But the Eagles haven't won a playoff game since beating Minnesota and the New York Giants in consecutive road games in 2008. They were eliminated in the wild-card round the next two seasons before failing to advance this year.
''You've got to be in the tournament to be able to win the Super Bowl, that's the singular goal," Lurie said. "This coach and his staff have a superb track record of getting to the tournament."
-- Rob Maaddi
Bulk of Panthers roster under contract through '12
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Panthers general manager Marty Hurney's offseason workload should be significantly less stressful than a year ago when it comes to re-signing free agents.
With 57 players either under contract or set to be tendered — including 20 of 22 projected starters — the Panthers are in pretty good shape personnel-wise as they look toward a promising future behind quarterback Cam Newton.
They don't have nearly as many unanswered questions as a year ago.
After the NFL lockout ended last summer, the Panthers invested more than $200 million in their so-called "core players." They re-signed free agents like running back DeAngelo Williams, center Ryan Kalil, defensive end Charles Johnson and linebacker James Anderson, extended the contracts of linebackers Jon Beason and Thomas Davis and safety Charles Godfrey and traded for and then extended the contract of tight end Greg Olsen.
With so many of the team's core players under contract, Hurney won't have quite as much on his free agency plate in the coming months.
But he'll still be looking to upgrade a Panthers team that went 6-10 this season and has plenty of holes.
As always, that starts with the focus on the Panthers developing their own players and won't be big players when it comes to signing free agents from other teams.
"It's been our philosophy for a long time to keep our core together and try to build through the draft and supplement through other avenues like free agency, the waiver wire and trades," Hurney said.
Most of Carolina's 11 soon-to-be unrestricted free agents are role players, although some like linebackers Dan Connor and Jordan Senn, wide receiver Legedu Naanee and guard Geoff Hangartner were forced into more prominent roles this past year due to injuries.
However, all of them face the likely prospect that the players they replaced in 2011 will be back to reclaim their starting job next season.
Connor has been a reliable backup for the Panthers over the past four years, but when Beason returns he'll lose his spot at middle linebacker to the three-time Pro Bowler.
The same goes for Senn if the team decides to restructure Davis' contract and bring him back after three torn ACLs in three years. Naanee started 10 games for the Panthers at wide receiver but the team has high hopes for David Gettis, a 15-game starter in 2010 before tearing his ACL in training camp last summer.
And if Hangartner decides to return to Carolina he'll face a stiff challenge from Geoff Schwartz, a restricted free agent who'd been expected to start at right guard before a hip injury sidelined him for the year in the preseason.
All four might have the option of going somewhere else and starting.
Connor, for one, said he wants to stick around, even if it means accepting a backup role in Carolina.
"I'd like to come back here ideally because I believe next year this team is going to be a top level team, a Super bowl caliber team, and I'd like to be a part of that," Connor said.
As far as playing time, Connor said injuries are a part of the game and points out that he's seen plenty of action over the last two years so he figures one way or another there's a spot for him on the team.
"It's tough when we have so many linebackers, but I would definitely like to be a part of it," Connor said. "Any depth we've had has ended up playing over the past few years because of injuries. So it's hard tough to think we just have three guys locked in. Maybe next year there would be a rotation if they want to keep me around. You never know how it's going to work out."
The most recognizable name on Carolina's list of unrestricted free agents is starting tight end Jeremy Shockey, who fits well in the offense but turns 32 in August. He had 35 catches for 477 yards receiving and four touchdowns in his first season playing opposite Greg Olsen.
Coach Ron Rivera likes what Shockey brings in terms of energy, but the Panthers are high on former draft pick Gary Barnidge, who broke his leg last year but might be better at stretching the defense than Shockey.
Other unrestricted free agents include backup quarterback Derek Anderson, defensive end Antwan Applewhite, linebacker Omar Gaither, guard Mackenzy Bernadeau, long snapper J.J. Jansen and cornerback Cletis Gordon.
Notes: The Panthers will pick either eighth or ninth in the 2012 NFL draft, depending upon the outcome of a coin flip with the Miami Dolphins. ... Former Panthers coach John Fox will be on the opposing sidelines next year when the Denver Broncos visit Charlotte.
-- Steve Reed
Carroll says Seahawks have settled on foundation
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — When Pete Carroll and John Schneider took control of the Seahawks, Carroll firmly remembers Schneider believing it would take three or four years to complete an overhaul of Seattle's roster and create the foundation the duo wanted going forward.
At the end of two years, Carroll believes the Seahawks are there, even after a second straight 7-9 regular season.
"We know the formula, we know the style, we love the toughness, the way we prepare the mentality in the locker room, the communication between the coaches and the players," Carroll said. "It gives us a chance to really grow. Now we have to grow up. We have to do something with it. We haven't done anything yet, but we feel like we're at the point where we can go from."
Carroll held his season-ending news conference on Tuesday, a wide-ranging 45 minutes that touched on nearly every aspect of the Seahawks two years after Carroll and Schneider took command of an aging, high-priced roster and replaced it with a younger team that has salary cap room heading into free agency.
But most of the makeover is complete and the swiftness with which it happened is partly why the Seahawks have so much optimism moving forward after coming back from a 2-6 start to close the 2011 season with a 5-3 flourish.
"I'm pleased at this point because I'm really enthusiastic and excited about what we can do now," Carroll said. "We have to go do it. Saying all that doesn't mean a darn thing until we go out and do something with this offseason and come into preseason raring to go."
While Carroll can exude optimism about the Seahawks' strong finish, during which two of their losses came by a combined five points to San Francisco and Arizona, much of the focus was on the play of quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and whether he's the best option moving forward. During Seattle's impressive second-half turnaround, all three of the Seahawks losses were highlighted by their inability to mount a late drive for a winning score and much of the blame was placed on Jackson.
Carroll tried to deflect some of the criticism of his quarterback, noting Jackson was playing through a pectoral injury that nearly ended his season when he was hurt in early October. Carroll also placed blame on himself for not putting enough focus on late-game situations in practice, saying it was already an area that was being re-examined for next year.
"We've already made big statements and declarations of how we're going to adjust practice issues so that we can prepare our guys more so and just give them an overload of scenarios — for the coaches and the players — so that we can just function more clearly," Carroll said. "That's the part I regret the most looking back at the season."
Seattle is likely to address its quarterback situation in some manner this offseason, either through free agency or the draft. Jackson has one year remaining on his deal, but the only other quarterback under contract is undrafted rookie Josh Portis. Backup Charlie Whitehurst, whom Seattle traded for before Carroll's first season, never developed and likely will not be back.
Jackson was at peace on Monday with the idea that Seattle could add competition at his spot for next season.
"I've been through different situations close to that, so I know how to handle the situation. It won't be a problem," he said.
Carroll also reiterated the importance of getting running back Marshawn Lynch back after he became the trigger for the Seahawks' turnaround. Lynch finished the year with a career-high 1,204 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. He highlights a group of 18 unrestricted free agents that includes fullback Michael Robinson, defensive end Red Bryant and linebackers David Hawthorne and Leroy Hill.
"I think he (Lynch) added everything we could hope a guy could add, so we're going to try to hold on to him," Carroll said.
Carroll also announced that wide receiver Sidney Rice underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder and that cornerback Richard Sherman will have arthroscopic surgery on his knee.
Rice is expected to have three to four months of recovery for an injury originally suffered during training camp. Rice was placed on injured reserve Nov. 30 after suffering a severe concussion.
-- Tim Booth
News & Notes
Fired Spagnuolo thanks Rams for giving him a shot
ST. LOUIS (AP) — One day after he was fired as St. Louis Rams coach, Steve Spagnuolo took the high road.
In a statement issued by the team, Spagnuolo thanked his players and assistant coaches for their dedication, the owners for giving him a shot and the fans for their support.
Though the Rams were just 2-14 last season and 10-38 in his three seasons, Spagnuolo believes a solid foundation is in place. He apologized to fans for not winning enough games and said he'd always pull for the Rams.
