NFC NEWS ‘N’ NOTES

NFC SPRING ROUND-UP

ARIZONA:  The Cardinals have restructured their football operations department, promoting ROD GRAVES to the newly created position of vice president-football operations.  Graves’ role includes administration of professional and college scouting, player-contract negotiations and NFL draft responsibility in addition to assuming general-manager duties.  “Rod is a solid, respected football man whose judgment and organizational skills will benefit our team,” says Cardinals President BILL BIDWILL.  “He is ready to take the next step.”

ATLANTA:  Running back WARRICK DUNN will receive the 2003 Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Award on June 23 for his work in helping single mothers purchase homes.  The award is presented annually by the Rotary Club of Tulsa to a male and female athlete that excel both on and off the field.  Dunn’s “Homes for the Holidays” program has helped approximately 40 single mothers with 100 children purchase their own homes.  Dunn makes down payments to lower mortgages and fully furnishes the homes.  

CAROLINA:  With the resigning of quarterback RODNEY PEETE and the addition of free-agent QB JAKE DELHOMME (New Orleans), the Panthers have solidified their quarterback situation.  “Rodney has proved what he means to this team and shown that he is a very solid quarterback,” said head coach JOHN FOX.  “Jake is an accurate passer with good pocket awareness.  He finds a way to make plays.”  Delhomme starred for the NFL Europe League’s Frankfurt Galaxy in 1999, leading the club to a World Bowl championship while finishing the season with a 96.8 passer rating.

CHICAGO:  Chasing quarterbacks has become a year-round pursuit for linebacker BRIAN URLACHER.  The three-time All-Star helped the Bears recruit new QB KORDELL STEWART during his visit to Chicago.  “When you have a Brian Urlacher who takes time out of his day to come and have lunch with me,” Stewart says, “that tells me this man is serious about us trying to get something done.”  Urlacher was eager to help the Bears land the coveted free agent.  “It was great to have a chance to get a guy like him here,” said the linebacker.  “Kordell is a great player and I’m thrilled to have him in Chicago.”

DALLAS:  Head coach BILL PARCELLS and the Cowboys are enjoying a productive offseason.  Along the offensive line, Dallas resigned T FLOZELL ADAMS and signed T RYAN YOUNG (Houston), who played for Parcells with the New York Jets in 1999.  Perennial Pro Bowler LARRY ALLEN, hampered by injuries in 2002, is expected to return to form, with second-year players C TYSON WALTER and G ANDRE GURODE also expected to start.  In other moves, WR TERRY GLENN was acquired in a trade with Green Bay and RB RICHIE ANDERSON signed as a free agent from the Jets.

DETROIT:  The Lions continued their long-standing commitment to the community with a donation of athletic equipment, including everything from free weights to heavy-duty strength-training equipment, to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office on March 10.  “We selected the sheriff’s office because of their strong commitment to public safety and homeland security,” said MARTIN MAYHEW, Lions senior vice president of football administration and legal affairs.  “We are grateful for their service.”

GREEN BAY:  The Packers are offering fans a chance to be represented in the club’s Hall of Fame.  Currently being restructured and enhanced following its move to the heart of Lambeau Field from just outside the stadium, the hall will soon introduce “Titletown’s Finest,” an exhibit filled with memorabilia, photos and unique items submitted by fans.  Submissions will be accepted until April 11 and the hall’s grand reopening will take place in August.

MINNESOTA:  The Vikings have improved their defensive backfield with the signing of cornerback DENARD WALKER, who has spent the past two seasons with Denver.  “We were able to sign a player who has never been on a losing team in his career,” says Vikings head coach MIKE TICE.  “This is a big free-agent signing for us and we’re thrilled to have him.”  Adds Walker, who has started 86 of his 93 career games, “The Vikings were looking for somebody who can hold up and play an aggressive style of defense.  I’m excited about that and about helping us build a winning tradition.” 

NEW ORLEANS:  The New Orleans Saints Fan Advisory Board met recently with team officials to receive a report on the “state of the Saints.”  This 36-member board – comprised of season-ticket holders from throughout the Gulf South region – meets on a quarterly basis to review and discuss the club’s administrative affairs.  “The board continues to be an outstanding resource for all of us involved in the Saints’ business affairs,” said ARNOLD D. FIELKOW, the club’s executive vice president of administration.  “The board members are extremely dedicated and we look forward to continuing to work with them in our ongoing efforts to excel both on and off the field.”

NEW YORK:  The Giants have moved to improve their special teams through free agency.  First, kick returner BRIAN MITCHELL, the NFL’s all-time leader in kick (12,897) and punt-return (4,845) yards, joined the club from Philadelphia.  Punter JEFF FEAGLES (Seattle) and long-snapper RYAN KUEHL (Cleveland), both considered among the NFL’s best at their positions, are also now on board.  “Brian adds a dimension that we’ve really needed,” says Giants general manager ERNIE ACCORSI.  “He’s one of the great return men in NFL history and we’re glad to finally have him on our side.”

PHILADELPHIA:  You can’t get more Philadelphia than Tastykake – a well-known treat of the town -- and Eagles center HANK FRALEY, known to his teammates as “Honey Bun,” recently met up with his namesake at its local factory.  Fraley was invited to the site by Tastykake President CHARLIE PIZZI so he could personally package some Tastykake Honey Buns to send to his brother DAVID, an Army sergeant deployed in Kuwait.  “He’s going to be so surprised,” said Fraley.  “David ate these every day as a kid.”  Hank, however, did not earn his nickname from overindulging on the treat, but from a pesky swarm of bees that surrounded him during a photo session in his rookie season.

ST. LOUIS:  More than 700 football coaches from Missouri and Illinois attended the second annual MIKE MARTZ High School Football Clinic at Rams Park on March 21-22.  The coaches spent two days digesting “Xs and Os” from NFL and college coaches.  After an introduction by Martz, sessions included instruction on quarterback and wide receiver synchronization, year-round training for high school players, and passing and running from the shotgun offense.   

SAN FRANCISCO:  The San Francisco 49ers Foundation, in conjunction with the Hedge Funds Care, an industry alliance formed to raise funds for the prevention and treatment of child abuse, and the University of California-Berkeley School of Social Welfare recently sponsored the second annual West Coast “Open Your Heart to the Children” benefit.  Head coach DENNIS ERICKSON joined 49ers co-owner JOHN YORK at the event, which helped raise much-needed funds for several pro-children organizations. 

SEATTLE:  New Seahawks defensive coordinator RAY RHODES is hoping to replicate the success he enjoyed in the same role with head coach MIKE HOLMGREN in Green Bay from 1992-93.  Rhodes improved the Packers’ defense to the NFL’s No. 2-ranked unit, helping Green Bay reach the playoffs in 1993 for the first time since 1982.  “Ray is an excellent defensive football coach and has an impressive track record of improving defenses,” says Holmgren.  “We are excited to have a coach who has consistently produced a top defensive unit over a number of seasons.”  

TAMPA BAY:  The Super Bowl-champion Buccaneers were recently honored by the state of Florida at the capital in Tallahassee.  Resolutions were introduced in honor of the club’s first NFL championship by Governor JEB BUSH, the cabinet, Senate and House of Representatives.  On hand to participate in the ceremonies were club executive vice presidents BRYAN and JOEL GLAZER as well as quarterback BRAD JOHNSON.

WASHINGTON: The Redskins have moved aggressively this spring to shore up both sides of the ball.  On offense, the club signed restricted free-agent wide receiver LAVERANUES COLES, who enjoyed a breakout 2002 season with the New York Jets.  The Redskins also traded for running back TRUNG CANDIDATE (St. Louis) and signed free-agent guard RANDY THOMAS (Jets).  On defense, Virginia Beach, Virginia native defensive tackle BRANDON NOBLE (Dallas) heads to Washington along with safety MATT BOWEN (Green Bay).  “You have to go play,” said head coach STEVE SPURRIER.  “These are all guys who have done it in the NFL and should really strengthen our team.”