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AFC NEWS ‘N’ NOTES
AFC SPRING ROUND-UP
BALTIMORE: Third-year quarterback CHRIS REDMAN attempted only three passes in his first two NFL seasons but is confident heading into minicamp. “I have faced challenges before and this is another challenge,” Redman says. He completed 69.8 percent of his attempts in the 2001 preseason and learned from the sidelines in his two regular seasons. “My competitive juices wanted me to play, but I learned so much,” says Redman. “I had the chance to be around different personalities and leaders. I took a little something from every one.” BUFFALO: New middle linebacker LONDON FLETCHER, who has played in two Super Bowls in the past three seasons with the Rams, is looking forward to playing in the Bills’ defensive scheme. Says Fletcher: “When I was younger, I used to emulate MIKE SINGLETARY. The defense we run here is the same defense that BUDDY RYAN implemented in Chicago. That excites me.” CINCINNATI: It may be March, but running back COREY DILLON continues producing for Cincinnati. Dillon, who last season became the sixth player in NFL history to begin his career with five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, has created the Corey Dillon Foundation. Aimed at 12-to-18-year olds in Cincinnati’s inner-city, the foundation will hold annual football camps, Halloween parties, a November “fun run” and will sponsor mentoring and student-of-the week programs. When he was a youngster, Dillon says, he would have liked to have had “the same resources I’m trying to provide for these kids.” CLEVELAND: Owner AL LERNER and the Cleveland Browns Hero Fund have adopted the families of New York City police officer MOIRA SMITH and New York City firefighter BRIAN G. MC ALEESE, who were killed September 11 while performing rescue efforts at the World Trade Center. “These were people who dedicated their lives to service to their communities, and they paid a very high price for that dedication on September 11,” said Lerner. The team will make annual financial contributions and will have year-round contact with the families, arranging visits to home and away games, internships with the team in Cleveland, and holiday visits in New York. DENVER: The Broncos hired KEITH MILLARD, a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, as a defensive line coach specializing in the pass rush. He was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team while posting 51.0 sacks in his first five seasons (1985-89). Millard, who set an NFL defensive-tackle record with 18.0 sacks in 1989, will work with another interior sack specialist in defensive tackle TREVOR PRYCE, who has 32.0 sacks over the past three seasons. HOUSTON: Eight of the players chosen by the Texans in the NFL Expansion Draft on February 18 met their newest fans the very next day in Houston – on visits to area schools. Cornerback AARON GLENN, who returned to his native Houston from the New York Jets, was pleased to make the trip. “It’s great to get a chance to come back home,” Glenn said before visiting Nimitz High School, where he starred on the gridiron. INDIANAPOLIS: Quarterback PEYTON MANNING has thrown for 16,418 yards and 111 touchdowns over the past four years – both totals tops in the NFL. But according to new Colts head coach TONY DUNGY, Manning still aims to get better. “I’ve been impressed,” says Dungy. “I think he wants to continue to improve. Winning and improving is very important to him. With a guy like Peyton, you're just happy you've got him and you know he's going to continue to work and get better at it.” JACKSONVILLE: New defensive coordinator JOHN PEASE, who was promoted after coaching the Jaguars’ defensive line for the past seven years, will implement a more conservative blitz scheme. “I believe you can overkill on blitzes,” says Pease. “They are far more effective when they're not expected. To make them not-expected, you have to be base-defense sound.” KANSAS CITY: The Chiefs are stressing speed at the wide receiver position this year, adding JOHN CAPEL to a speedy group of wideouts including REGGIE JONES, EDDIE KENNISON, DAVE KLEMIC and J.J. MOSES. "There is a direct correlation between the speed factor and success in the NFL," Chiefs head coach DICK VERMEIL says. "We are a vertical-stretch offense. The faster you are, the quicker you vertically stretch the field. We also like to horizontally stretch the field from sideline to sideline.” MIAMI: There is much excitement in Miami after the Dolphins traded for running back RICKY WILLIAMS, who rushed for 3,129 yards in three years with the Saints. “He's got all the qualities the great ones have,” offensive coordinator NORV TURNER says. Williams himself expects to see improvement. “I'm more mature,” he said. “I'm a better football player, learning on the field. I feel like this is my time.” NEW ENGLAND: Former San Francisco 49ers head coach BILL WALSH compared TOM BRADY's play in Super Bowl XXXVI to that of BOB GRIESE and BART STARR. “I’ve seen great performances where a quarterback’s stats weren’t impressive but he was the difference in victory,” Walsh said. Another coach was equally impressed. “That last drive was textbook,” said TOM MAC KENZIE, Brady’s high school coach at Junipero Serra in San Mateo, Calif. “That could be a wonderful training film for a coach and quarterback at every level.” NEW YORK JETS: New linebacker SAM COWART, who was chosen for the AFC All-Star squad following his 2000 season with Buffalo, is a known entity to Jets defensive coordinator TED COTTRELL. “The fans are going to see a tackling machine,” says Cottrell, who coached Cowart in Buffalo from 1998-2000. “Sam has good coverage ability as well. They will see him make plays, and ‘ooh’ and ‘ah.’ He is one of those ‘ooh’ and ‘ah’ players. Sam will do things they cannot believe.” OAKLAND: New defensive tackle JOHN PARRELLA should help the Raiders defend against the run. Over the past four seasons, Parrella started every game for a San Diego rush defense that had a league-best 3.0 yards per carry average and ranked among the top four in rushing defense in the NFL three times. “We took great pride in stopping the run,” Parrella said. “Obviously it’s one of my strengths, but it takes everybody on defense.” PITTSBURGH: Head coach BILL COWHER is excited about re-signing linebacker JASON GILDON, who has earned Pro Bowl trips each of the past two seasons and is tied for third in the NFL with 45.0 sacks over the past four seasons (SIMEON RICE). “The most important thing is that when you have good people that you try to keep them,” says Cowher. “It doesn't always work out that way, but there are certain cornerstones that you have to keep.” SAN DIEGO: New defensive tackle JASON FISK can’t wait to begin offseason workouts with his new defensive mates. “I was on a team a couple of years ago that went to a Super Bowl,” Fisk said of the 1999 Tennessee Titans. “The value of having everyone together, everybody out here sweating together all summer long and working hard, is just immeasurable later on in the season. You form strong relationships and it goes a long way over the course of the season.” TENNESSEE: On April 5, a group of Titans players, front-office personnel and cheerleaders will visit the Army's 101st Airborne in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Owner BUD ADAMS, president JEFF DIAMOND, head coach JEFF FISHER and a number of players will represent the team. "It is the least we can do for a group that has given us so much," Adams said. The Titans will address the troops and answer questions. |