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Pro Bowl's future, excess Cowboys and more
February 6, 2008 8:13 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike McAllister
HONOLULU -- Just returned from Wednesday's practices at Kapolei High School. Bengals WR Chad Johnson was expected to show up today, but he was not with the team. He's now schedule to work out on Thursday, which no doubt will liven up the festivities a little bit.
Other observations:
• NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was at the practice sessions and took questions about the latest Spygate developments concerning former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh. You can read Chris Mortensen's report here.
Goodell also answered questions about how long the NFL will continue to hold the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. The current contract expires after the 2009 game. Goodell said the league will look at all options, including the possibility of alternating the Pro Bowl site among several cities, Honolulu included. "I think that's a viable option," he said. But he added: "Hawaii is important to us."
The NFL needs to inject some life into the event. While it offers what amounts to a league-paid vacation for the participants (along with financial rewards of $40,000 to each player on the winning team, $20,000 each for the losing team), many worthy players bail out each season. This year, 17 players -- roughly 20 percent -- of the players had to be replaced, include Tom Brady and Brett Favre.
Yet, there probably isn't a solution that will bring the Pro Bowl up to the level of the other three major sports' all-star games, simply because it can't be played during the course of the regular season.
And moving the game on the "dead week" Sunday between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl has several obstacles, not the least of which would be the lack of players from the two Super Bowl teams. If the Giants' Osi Umenyiora gave up a chance to participate in the victory parade in order to spend a week in Hawaii, you can bet others would do the same if faced with the same choice.
• Speaking of Goodell, he spent several minutes with Colts QB Peyton Manning on the sideline near the end of the AFC practice. Would love to have been a fly on the wall during that conversation.
• Are there too many Cowboys in Hawaii? Probably. Dallas has 13 players on the 43-man NFC roster, 10 voted in. Certainly, it's a reflection of the Cowboys' 13-3 season, but perhaps there needs to be limits on the amount of players representating a single team.
For now, though, NFC practices might as well be held at the Cowboys' training facility in Valley Ranch. "Honestly, it feels like we're back in Dallas," said safety Roy Williams.
• Speaking of the Cowboys, since 1971, they've sent 187 players to the Pro Bowl, most of any NFL team. Rest of the top five: Steelers (172), 49ers (160), Raiders (157) and Vikings (156). The fewest five includes: Texans (5), Jaguars (28), Panthers (37), Ravens (51) and Browns (64).
• NFC special-teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo of the Bears is nearly as good with a microphone as he is at covering kicks. While doing video segments for mouthpiecesports.com, he interviewed our boy John Clayton (who's covering his first Pro Bowl, by the way) on Wednesday.
The best line of questioning concerned a dinner that fellow ESPNer Sean Salisbury owes Ayanbadejo. No surprise that Clayton was only too happy to help.
2008 Pro Bowl
Jim Mora, the Seahawks and the Rooney Rule
February 6, 2008 5:02 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The Seattle Seahawks became the latest team to sacrifice flexibility for continuity by naming their next head coach before the current one finishes his term.
Jim Mora will replace Mike Holmgren for the 2009 season in Seattle, just as Jim Caldwell will take over in Indianapolis once Tony Dungy is finished.
This isn't quite a trend, but the concept does invite questions.
If the coach-in-waiting somehow compromises his ability to perform his duties as promised, an organization could find itself in a tough spot. Why take that chance with an early commitment?
And if teams can name head coaches without opening up the process to minorities -- a non-issue in the Colts' case because Caldwell is black -- then why have the Rooney Rule?
The first question comes down to organizational preference. The second one begs explanation.
"Look, we don't want anyone to do any end-run around the Rooney Rule," said civil-rights attorney Cyrus Mehri, whose work on behalf of the Fritz Pollard Alliance helped shape the process, "but if you already had contractual succession planned, and that means in writing, then we don't have a problem with that."
Most teams simply aren't willing or able to name their next coach in advance.
The situation isn't practical without approval from the current head coach. Holmgren and Dungy are special men in that way. Both are comfortable enough to conduct their jobs without feeling threatened having the next guy on staff.
In Seattle, CEO Tod Leiweke and president Tim Ruskell have brought stability to the Seahawks in recent seasons, helping Holmgren do a better job on the field. The Colts will have strong leadership as long as president Bill Polian is running their operation.
"Those who crafted the (Rooney Rule) said that this is how an organization should perform," Leiweke told reporters today. "If you can have succession from within an organization, that is what a team should aspire to. That is how enlightened companies operate."
The Rooney Rule sought to improve a process marked by good-old-boy attitudes.
"We're just trying to be consistent," Mehri said. "Consistent with what happened with Mike Martz following Dick Vermeil (with the Rams) and Caldwell following Dungy.
"What has happened in Seattle seems to be following exactly the same approach. And I got reassurances today from the league that it follows the exact same language as with Caldwell, so really it's the identical situation."
Three players, one jersey number
February 6, 2008 12:08 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike McAllister
HONOLULU -- Offensive tackle Chris Samuels wears No. 60 when he suits up for the Washington Commanders. Ethan Albright, a long snapper, wears No. 67. Tight end Chris Cooley wears No. 47.
But each one will wear No. 21 at the Pro Bowl in memory of Sean Taylor, their former teammate who was killed in November when he was shot by what police say were intruders at his home in Florida.
"The last time I wore a number like that, I was in ninth grade in high school," Samuels said.
Added Albright: "I've never worn 21 before, but it's an honor. When I got the invitation for the Pro Bowl, the Commanders called and asked me about the idea. I said, let's do it."
Taylor, the Commanders' fourth-year free safety, was voted into the Pro Bowl posthumously. He played in the Pro Bowl last year after a 2006 season in which he led the Commanders in tackles with 129. (You may remember the crushing blow he delivered on Bills punter Brian Moorman on a fake punt. Here's the YouTube clip. Cover your eyes if you're squeamish.)
In addition to wearing No. 21, the three Commanders in Sunday's game will serve as team captains for the NFC. Samuels said several members of Taylor's family are flying to Hawaii to attend the game.
Asked what it was like to be here this week without Taylor, Samuels replied: "It's tough. Sean was an outstanding football player. It's such a tragedy. he was definitely supposed to be here before any one of us [Commanders] were."
Ironically, the NFL approved the Commanders' jersey tribute a year after not allowing the Broncos' trio of Champ Bailey, John Lynch and Al Wilson to wear No. 27 in honor of Darrent Williams, who died on New Year's Day in 2007 in a drive-by shooting.
Unlike Taylor, Williams had not made the Pro Bowl team.
"We wanted to do that and they said we couldn't," Bailey told the Denver Post. "The league can be funny about things sometimes."
Lynch told the Post that there were certainly no hard feelings about Taylor's tribute. "Instead of having sour grapes," Lynch said, "we are just happy for those guys."
2008 Pro Bowl
February 6, 2008 8:13 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike McAllister
HONOLULU -- Just returned from Wednesday's practices at Kapolei High School. Bengals WR Chad Johnson was expected to show up today, but he was not with the team. He's now schedule to work out on Thursday, which no doubt will liven up the festivities a little bit.
Other observations:
• NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was at the practice sessions and took questions about the latest Spygate developments concerning former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh. You can read Chris Mortensen's report here.
Goodell also answered questions about how long the NFL will continue to hold the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. The current contract expires after the 2009 game. Goodell said the league will look at all options, including the possibility of alternating the Pro Bowl site among several cities, Honolulu included. "I think that's a viable option," he said. But he added: "Hawaii is important to us."
The NFL needs to inject some life into the event. While it offers what amounts to a league-paid vacation for the participants (along with financial rewards of $40,000 to each player on the winning team, $20,000 each for the losing team), many worthy players bail out each season. This year, 17 players -- roughly 20 percent -- of the players had to be replaced, include Tom Brady and Brett Favre.
Yet, there probably isn't a solution that will bring the Pro Bowl up to the level of the other three major sports' all-star games, simply because it can't be played during the course of the regular season.
And moving the game on the "dead week" Sunday between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl has several obstacles, not the least of which would be the lack of players from the two Super Bowl teams. If the Giants' Osi Umenyiora gave up a chance to participate in the victory parade in order to spend a week in Hawaii, you can bet others would do the same if faced with the same choice.
• Speaking of Goodell, he spent several minutes with Colts QB Peyton Manning on the sideline near the end of the AFC practice. Would love to have been a fly on the wall during that conversation.
• Are there too many Cowboys in Hawaii? Probably. Dallas has 13 players on the 43-man NFC roster, 10 voted in. Certainly, it's a reflection of the Cowboys' 13-3 season, but perhaps there needs to be limits on the amount of players representating a single team.
For now, though, NFC practices might as well be held at the Cowboys' training facility in Valley Ranch. "Honestly, it feels like we're back in Dallas," said safety Roy Williams.
• Speaking of the Cowboys, since 1971, they've sent 187 players to the Pro Bowl, most of any NFL team. Rest of the top five: Steelers (172), 49ers (160), Raiders (157) and Vikings (156). The fewest five includes: Texans (5), Jaguars (28), Panthers (37), Ravens (51) and Browns (64).
• NFC special-teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo of the Bears is nearly as good with a microphone as he is at covering kicks. While doing video segments for mouthpiecesports.com, he interviewed our boy John Clayton (who's covering his first Pro Bowl, by the way) on Wednesday.
The best line of questioning concerned a dinner that fellow ESPNer Sean Salisbury owes Ayanbadejo. No surprise that Clayton was only too happy to help.
2008 Pro Bowl
Jim Mora, the Seahawks and the Rooney Rule
February 6, 2008 5:02 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The Seattle Seahawks became the latest team to sacrifice flexibility for continuity by naming their next head coach before the current one finishes his term.
Jim Mora will replace Mike Holmgren for the 2009 season in Seattle, just as Jim Caldwell will take over in Indianapolis once Tony Dungy is finished.
This isn't quite a trend, but the concept does invite questions.
If the coach-in-waiting somehow compromises his ability to perform his duties as promised, an organization could find itself in a tough spot. Why take that chance with an early commitment?
And if teams can name head coaches without opening up the process to minorities -- a non-issue in the Colts' case because Caldwell is black -- then why have the Rooney Rule?
The first question comes down to organizational preference. The second one begs explanation.
"Look, we don't want anyone to do any end-run around the Rooney Rule," said civil-rights attorney Cyrus Mehri, whose work on behalf of the Fritz Pollard Alliance helped shape the process, "but if you already had contractual succession planned, and that means in writing, then we don't have a problem with that."
Most teams simply aren't willing or able to name their next coach in advance.
The situation isn't practical without approval from the current head coach. Holmgren and Dungy are special men in that way. Both are comfortable enough to conduct their jobs without feeling threatened having the next guy on staff.
In Seattle, CEO Tod Leiweke and president Tim Ruskell have brought stability to the Seahawks in recent seasons, helping Holmgren do a better job on the field. The Colts will have strong leadership as long as president Bill Polian is running their operation.
"Those who crafted the (Rooney Rule) said that this is how an organization should perform," Leiweke told reporters today. "If you can have succession from within an organization, that is what a team should aspire to. That is how enlightened companies operate."
The Rooney Rule sought to improve a process marked by good-old-boy attitudes.
"We're just trying to be consistent," Mehri said. "Consistent with what happened with Mike Martz following Dick Vermeil (with the Rams) and Caldwell following Dungy.
"What has happened in Seattle seems to be following exactly the same approach. And I got reassurances today from the league that it follows the exact same language as with Caldwell, so really it's the identical situation."
Three players, one jersey number
February 6, 2008 12:08 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike McAllister
HONOLULU -- Offensive tackle Chris Samuels wears No. 60 when he suits up for the Washington Commanders. Ethan Albright, a long snapper, wears No. 67. Tight end Chris Cooley wears No. 47.
But each one will wear No. 21 at the Pro Bowl in memory of Sean Taylor, their former teammate who was killed in November when he was shot by what police say were intruders at his home in Florida.
"The last time I wore a number like that, I was in ninth grade in high school," Samuels said.
Added Albright: "I've never worn 21 before, but it's an honor. When I got the invitation for the Pro Bowl, the Commanders called and asked me about the idea. I said, let's do it."
Taylor, the Commanders' fourth-year free safety, was voted into the Pro Bowl posthumously. He played in the Pro Bowl last year after a 2006 season in which he led the Commanders in tackles with 129. (You may remember the crushing blow he delivered on Bills punter Brian Moorman on a fake punt. Here's the YouTube clip. Cover your eyes if you're squeamish.)
In addition to wearing No. 21, the three Commanders in Sunday's game will serve as team captains for the NFC. Samuels said several members of Taylor's family are flying to Hawaii to attend the game.
Asked what it was like to be here this week without Taylor, Samuels replied: "It's tough. Sean was an outstanding football player. It's such a tragedy. he was definitely supposed to be here before any one of us [Commanders] were."
Ironically, the NFL approved the Commanders' jersey tribute a year after not allowing the Broncos' trio of Champ Bailey, John Lynch and Al Wilson to wear No. 27 in honor of Darrent Williams, who died on New Year's Day in 2007 in a drive-by shooting.
Unlike Taylor, Williams had not made the Pro Bowl team.
"We wanted to do that and they said we couldn't," Bailey told the Denver Post. "The league can be funny about things sometimes."
Lynch told the Post that there were certainly no hard feelings about Taylor's tribute. "Instead of having sour grapes," Lynch said, "we are just happy for those guys."
2008 Pro Bowl
