NFC NEWS ‘N’ NOTES

FOR USE AS DESIRED		FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION,
NFC-N-1            3/18/02		CONTACT: CHRIS MC CLOSKEY (212/450-2080)

 

NFC SPRING ROUND-UP

 

ARIZONA:  The Cardinals hosted the second annual NFL-National Football Foundation Coaching Academy recently, a two-day clinic for more than 150 Arizona high school and youth football coaches.  Cardinals defensive coordinator LARRY MARMIE, substituting for head coach Dave Mc Ginnis, who was ill, was joined by many area coaches, including Arizona State head coach Dirk Koetter and University of Arizona head coach John Mackovic.

ATLANTA:  New owner ARTHUR BLANK is already making a positive impact on the club.  His enthusiasm and commitment to the team’s future impressed two newly-acquired free-agents.  “He really impressed me on how involved and how determined he is to steer things in the right direction," says tackle TODD WEINER (UFA-Seattle).  New Falcons running back WARRICK DUNN (UFA-Tampa Bay) agrees.  “This is going to be a great opportunity because of Mr. Blank,” says Dunn.  “He’s hands-on.  That plays into what I want to do, and the type of man I want to become.  Hopefully, with his leadership and coach (DAN) REEVES’ leadership, it can all happen.”

CAROLINA:  Panthers Pro Bowl tight end WESLEY WALLS suffered his second career knee injury last December, but is ahead of schedule in the rehabilitation process.  “The doctor is really optimistic about my knee,” says Walls.  “He said that any knee that looks as good as mine does, he normally lets the person start doing pretty much anything.  But he holds me back because I have a tendency to push a little too hard.”

CHICAGO:  The Bears solidified their quarterback situation by re-signing starting quarterback JIM MILLER to a five-year contract.  Miller went 11-2 as a starter in 2001 to help lead the Bears to their first NFC Central-championship in 11 years. "I'm very excited," said Miller.  "I'm excited about the future of this football team."

DALLAS:  Special teams/tight ends coach JOE AVEZZANO hosted the 11th annual Special Teams for Special Olympics concert recently, a fundraising event he chairs.  The concert featured two of country music’s hottest stars in Jo Dee Messina and Collin Raye.  "This was a great opportunity to come and support a worthy cause and to see a great show," said Avezzano.

DETROIT:  The Lions are devoted to improving their defensive backfield.  "I said we needed to increase our team speed," says Detroit President and CEO MATT Millen.  "We took that first step by signing safety Brian Walker (UFA-Miami), but we need to keep going.  We need to get more athletic and faster in the secondary."

GREEN BAY:  The Packers are expected to return all five starting offensive linemen – LT CHAD CLIFTON, LG MIKE WAHLE, C MIKE FLANIGAN, RG MARCO RIVERA and RT MARK TAUSCHER -- at the same positions for the first time since 1988.  Green Bay allowed the third fewest sacks (22) in the league last season, and the fewest by a Packers team in 27 years (17 in 1974).

MINNESOTA:  The Vikings have improved against the run with the addition of defensive end KENNY MIXON (UFA-Miami).  “We needed a left end and Kenny was the guy that our personnel department ranked as the top player  available,” said new head coach MIKE TICE.  “He's a big, powerful man that can take on double teams and push back the pocket in the pass rush.  He's an every-down player.  We can build around him."

NEW ORLEANS:  With the trade of 1,000-yard rusher RICKY WILLIAMS to Miami, second-year running back DEUCE MC ALLISTER takes over as the club’s starter.  "I'm hungry," says McAllister, who only rushed 16 times last season.  "Last year was a learning experience for me, but it was also tough on me.  I was used to touching the ball a lot in college.  I have something to prove.”

NEW YORK GIANTS:  Giants cornerback JASON SEHORN made this offseason very special for two Newark, New Jersey-area single-parent families by presenting them with fully-furnished homes through his Homes for the Holidays program.  "This is an absolute blessing," said Tawanda Smith, 32, who lives with her 10-year-old son, Arron.  "It's overwhelming.  I've been saving money to buy furniture.  Now I don't have to buy it, because it's already here."  The Homes for the Holidays program is the idea of Atlanta Falcons running back Warrick Dunn and was adopted by Sehorn.

PHILADELPHIA:  Eagles owner JEFF LURIE and his wife Christina joined tackle Jon Runyan, linebackers Ike Reese and Barry Gardner, and the Eagles Cheerleaders for a special "Thank You" lunch toasting the efforts of the 500-plus construction workers who are building the Eagles’ new stadium.  “We feel it's real important to do this every few months, to have the Eagles’ organization -- myself, players and others -- here with the people who are building the stadium," said Lurie.  "They're doing something incredibly important for the city, for the region and for the team."

ST. LOUIS:  For the second time in three years, linebacker JAMIE DUNCAN has to replace a crowd favorite.  Duncan recently signed with the Rams from Tampa Bay and will replace departed linebacker, team leader, and fan-favorite LONDON FLETCHER, who signed with Buffalo.  The situation might be unsettling for some players, but Duncan underwent a similar experience in Tampa prior to the 2000 season when he took over for HARDY NICKERSON.  "It was a little difficult, just from the standpoint that a lot of people didn't want to see Hardy go," said Duncan.  "But as far as football, playing on the field, I didn't feel any pressure.  I was just going to go out there and play my game."

SAN FRANCISCO:  One of the offseason goals of 49ers general manager Terry Donahue was to re-sign the team's four unrestricted free-agent starters.  The club has almost reached that goal, re-signing running backs FRED BEASLEY and GARRISON HEARST and cornerback ZACK BRONSON.  Still unsigned is safety LANCE SCHULTERS.  "We've tried to make it clear to Lance that we want him back in the worst possible way," said Donahue.

SEATTLE:  Seahawks quarterback TRENT DILFER can add a new term to his biography: “Throwback.”  After re-signing with Seattle and being named the club’s starter, Dilfer reflected on his contract and his duties with a “throwback” attitude.  "This is a great contract,” said Dilfer.  “Some people may say, 'Well, he could have gotten more.'  I don't care.  I'm very comfortable with this.  In an era when everybody wants things given to them, I've got no problem saying I've got to go earn this.  That's what we should do in our jobs.  I've got no problem with that.”

TAMPA BAY:  The Buccaneers have three quarterbacks on their roster with extensive starting experience (BRAD JOHNSON, SHAUN KING, and the recently acquired ROB JOHNSON).  New head coach JON GRUDEN believes having multiple quarterbacks is a winning philosophy.  "I'm looking forward to finding more quarterbacks that can come in here and compete,” says Gruden.  “It will be a position that we scrutinize very carefully and we'll work to cultivate as many arms as we can."

WASHINGTON:  New head coach STEVE SPURRIER, formerly of the University of Florida, has recently acquired three players who competed for him in college: quarterback Danny Wuerffel, and wide receivers Reidel Anthony and Chris Doering.  The team is also said to be trying to acquire former Gators Jacquez Green, Willie Jackson, and Shane Matthews.  Do former Gators have it made with Spurrier?  "I told our assistant coaches we've got to be prepared to cut some of these Gators, too,” says Spurrier.  “They don't have the team made yet, and they'll learn that."