BALTIMORE: "The Maryland community has been wonderful to our franchise," said Ravens owner ART MODELL in February after the Super Bowl XXXV champions took the Lombardi Trophy to the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates, and to the offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Modell was joined on the visit by son and club president DAVID MODELL, head coach BRIAN BILLICK, and vice president of player personnel OZZIE NEWSOME.

BUFFALO: New head coach GREGG WILLIAMS is making changes on both sides of the ball – installing the west coast offense and switching the front seven defensive alignment from a 3-4 to a 4-3 – while stressing team unity. "The guys are extremely excited about meeting the coaches and beginning to learn the language and systems," Williams says. "Attitude and camaraderie start in the offseason. Trust and confidence start in the offseason."

CINCINNATI: Quarterback JON KITNA has always been up for a challenge. He began his NFL career in 1996 with Seattle as an undrafted free agent out of Central Washington. He gained valuable game experience playing for the NFL Europe League’s Barcelona Dragons in 1997 and earned World Bowl MVP honors. Now he’ll battle AKILI SMITH for the Bengals’ starting job. "That’s what sports are about," says Kitna. "This will bring out the best in all of us."

CLEVELAND: New offensive coordinator BRUCE ARIANS helped PEYTON MANNING to three consecutive 3,000-yard seasons as the Indianapolis quarterbacks coach. He will work to develop Browns quarterback TIM COUCH in the same way, improving upon the mechanics of his drop-backs and throwing release. "It’s going to be exciting to work with Bruce," Couch says. "I talked to Peyton the day Bruce was hired and he told me I was going to learn a lot from him."

DENVER: Retired Broncos quarterback JOHN ELWAY is expanding his knowledge of NFL team operations in weekly sessions with team scouts as they prepare for the NFL Draft. In the past, Elway has shown interest in team ownership or upper management and maintains a close friendship with Broncos owner PAT BOWLEN.

INDIANAPOLIS: On March 17, quarterback PEYTON MANNING was wed to college girlfriend ASHLEY THOMPSON in Memphis, Tennessee. "It was a pretty big wedding, probably 600 people or so," said the groom’s father, former NFL quarterback ARCHIE MANNING. Peyton Manning kept his wedding plans to himself during the season. "He did not want it to be a story during the football season, so they kind of kept it quiet," says Archie.

JACKSONVILLE: In preparation for the upcoming draft, head coach TOM COUGHLIN is attending the workouts of players the Jaguars have interest in selecting. Coughlin has been spending time evaluating mostly offensive and defensive line prospects, including defensive tackles GERARD WARREN of Florida and MARCUS STROUD of Georgia.

KANSAS CITY: Voluntary offseason workouts began in mid-March, giving many Chiefs their first opportunity to work with new head coach DICK VERMEIL. "Coach Vermeil came in and gave us a great speech," said cornerback PAT DENNIS. "He emphasized that we’re here to work towards a championship, and that’s what everyone wants to hear."

MIAMI: New signee JAMES MC KNIGHT led the Dallas Cowboys with 52 receptions for 926 yards in 2000. "We're very excited about adding James," says head coach DAVE WANNSTEDT. "We targeted him right from the start. He will give us great depth. He has a great combination of size, speed and experience."

NEW ENGLAND: When head coach BILL BELICHICK decided to relinquish his duties as defensive coordinator after last season, he didn’t have to think too long about the perfect replacement. "In bringing in ROMEO CRENNEL (from Cleveland) as our defensive coordinator, we definitely get better," Belichick says. "I have a lot of trust in him." Belichick worked with Crennel at three teams -- the Giants (1981-90), Patriots (1996) and Jets (1997-99).

NEW YORK JETS: New general manager TERRY BRADWAY decided to retain two of the club’s free agents rather than dip into the available talent pool. "We’ve signed two of our own guys -- JASON FERGUSON and CHRIS HAYES," explains Bradway. "They’re young players and we know who they are and what they’re about."

OAKLAND: In signing 35-year old defensive end TRACE ARMSTONG, who had an AFC-high 16.5 sacks for Miami in 2000, the Raiders add a productive player as well as one who can impart wisdom to his younger teammates. "You can’t just sit in a meeting room and have a coach come to you," Armstrong says. "So much of the game is hidden, you’ve got to scratch and dig to find it. And you find it in extra time spent watching film and conditioning in the offseason."

PITTSBURGH: JEFF HARTINGS played guard for five seasons with the Detroit Lions. Now he’ll literally be in the middle of the action as he moves to center for the Steelers. "I look at playing center as a fun position," Hartings says. "I like to have fun playing football." Hartings becomes only the third Steelers center since 1974 (MIKE WEBSTER, 1974-88; DERMONTTI DAWSON, 1989-00).

SAN DIEGO: New quarterback DOUG FLUTIE was 21-9 in starts with Buffalo from 1998-00 and aims to be a leader for the Chargers. "In nearly every game this team played last year, they had an opportunity," Flutie says of a San Diego club that was 1-6 in three-point games. "You need someone who is going to be ‘the guy.’ I’ve been looking forward to this for 17 years."

SEATTLE: Defensive tackle CHAD EATON grew up in Puyallup, Washington admiring Seahawks defensive tackle JOE NASH, who played in a club-record 218 games. Eaton, who played the past five seasons in New England and is known for his run-stopping ability, will fill the same role in Seattle. "To put on a Seahawks uniform knowing that Joe Nash was my hero, and now to play for his team, is just a perfect situation for me," says Eaton.