AFC NEWS ‘N’ NOTES

AFC SPRING ROUND-UP

BALTIMORE:  NFL legend ART MODELL hands the Ravens’ reins to new club owner and Baltimore native STEVE BISCIOTTI on April 8.  Bisciotti, 44, became a Ravens minority owner in 2000 and will employ Modell’s 43 years of NFL experience in an expert advisory role.  Modell will work in an office next to Bisciotti’s……The Ravens’ Spring Football Festival will be held on Sunday, May 2 at M&T Bank Stadium.  The gridiron fun features NFL Experience attractions on the Ravens’ home field as well as a chance for Ravens players to meet fans.

BUFFALO:  MIKE MULARKEY begins a new era of Bills football as the 15th head coach in club history.  Mularkey arrives in Buffalo after eight years as an assistant coach under Pittsburgh’s BILL COWHER where he helped guide the Steelers to four playoff berths……This year marks the 45th anniversary of the creation of the American Football League, which merged with the NFL in 1970.  Bills Chairman RALPH WILSON, JR. is one of three original AFL owners (Kansas City’s LAMAR HUNT and Tennessee’s BUD ADAMS) whose success continues in the NFL.

CINCINNATI:  The No. 1 pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback CARSON PALMER, enters the 2004 season as the Bengals’ new starter.  “He can make every throw,” says Cincinnati quarterbacks coach KEN ZAMPESE.  “And his physical skills are secondary to his character”……The team will play on a new synthetic field this season which looks, feels and plays like real grass.  “This is a great example of our organization’s commitment to provide our players with the best environment to win,” says head coach MARVIN LEWIS.

CLEVELAND:  Earlier this month, seven Browns players visited the YMCA of Greater Cleveland to speak with teens enrolled in the Phoenix Program.  The program is an alternative to school expulsion, geared toward behavior modification.  The Browns shared personal stories and the choices they made to make it to the NFL……Free agent quarterback JEFF GARCIA signed to become the club’s starter on March 9.  The three-time NFL All-Star holds San Francisco 49ers single-season records for passing yards (4,278) and TDs (31), set in 2000.

DENVER:  Legendary quarterback JOHN ELWAY, a 2004 selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is the first inductee to have spent his entire career with the Broncos.  The 1997-98 Broncos, quarterbacked by Elway, are the last team to win consecutive Super Bowls……Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback CHAMP BAILEY joins the club from Washington in a trade for running back CLINTON PORTIS.  Denver also acquired the Redskins’ 2004 second-round draft pick.  This marked the first trade exchanging two players coming off Pro Bowl seasons since 1973 (San Diego QB JOHN HADL to Los Angeles Rams for DT COY BACON).

HOUSTON:  President GEORGE W. BUSH was greeted by Texans kicker and Texas Children’s Hospital volunteer KRIS BROWN on March 8 at Houston’s Ellington Field.  President Bush congratulated Brown on raising more than $121,000 through his “Kicks for Kids” program which benefits families with overwhelming medical costs…… Chairman and CEO ROBERT MC NAIR and his wife JANICE were recently honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals' Greater Houston Chapter for their work with The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation.  The foundation's focus is educational reform, with emphasis on literacy and character development.

INDIANAPOLIS:  Head coach TONY DUNGY and quarterback PEYTON MANNING were recently among a handful of guest speakers including former New York City mayor RUDOLPH GIULIANI at the “Get Motivated Business Seminar” at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.  The Colts – who received an ovation -- discussed leadership, teamwork and keeping composure under fire.  “What a difference a year makes," Dungy said to his audience.  “Last year we lost 41-0 in the playoffs and I didn't get many invitations to speak.”

JACKSONVILLE:  The host team of Super Bowl XXXIX seeks to become the first club to play in a Super Bowl in its own stadium……Last season, quarterback BYRON LEFTWICH threw for the fourth-most passing yards of any rookie in NFL history (2,819)……Under first-year head coach JACK DEL RIO in 2003, the Jaguars ranked sixth in the NFL in total defense and second against the run.  The team won three of its final five games while playing the NFL’s fourth-toughest schedule……Free agent safety DEON GRANT joins the Jaguars from NFC Champion Carolina.

KANSAS CITY:  Twenty-one of 22 starters from last season’s 13-3 AFC West Championship team return for 2004.  “We have tremendous talent and chemistry on this team,” says Chiefs President, GM and CEO CARL PETERSON.  “I believe in this team, and I know (head coach) DICK VERMEIL does too.”……Kansas City has allocated 16 players to NFL Europe – the most of any NFL club.  Quarterbacks JAKE DELHOMME (Carolina), BRAD JOHNSON (Tampa Bay) and KURT WARNER (St. Louis) have all gone on to start in the Super Bowl after developing their skills in NFL Europe.

MIAMI:  In a trade for 25-year-old wide receiver DAVID BOSTON from San Diego, the Dolphins reunite the 2001 NFL All-Star with JERRY SULLIVAN, who is Miami’s receivers coach and held the same position with the Arizona Cardinals from 2001-2002 when Boston was his star pupil.  “We have a mutual respect for each other,” says Sullivan.  “That has helped our relationship”……The Dolphins have recorded at least nine victories in each of the past seven seasons.  No other NFL team has accomplished this for more than the past four seasons.

NEW ENGLAND:  The Patriots can become the second team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls within four seasons.  The Dallas Cowboys won three Super Bowls between 1992-95……Since ROBERT KRAFT purchased the team in 1994, New England has won more conference championships (three) than any other NFL club……This past January, quarterback TOM BRADY became the fourth player to win Super Bowl MVP honors more than once, joining Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterbacks TERRY BRADSHAW, JOE MONTANA and BART STARR. 

NEW YORK:  Jets owner Woody Johnson, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Governor George Pataki, and city industry and community leaders announced a historic plan to transform and modernize the West Side of Manhattan on March 25.  A key component of the plan is a 75,000-seat retractable-roof stadium adjacent to an expanded Javits Convention Center that together will comprise a “Convention Corridor.”  The new stadium will be the home of the Jets and possibly future Super Bowls and the 2012 Olympics……Recently acquired in a trade with Tennessee, wide receiver and Chicago-area native JUSTIN MC CAREINS lists Pro Football Hall of Famer GAYLE SAYERS as his sports hero.

OAKLAND:  NORV TURNER became the 14th head coach in Raiders history in January.  In seven years as the Redskins’ coach, Turner guided his team to four winning seasons……Two of the top defensive tackles in free agency have become Raiders this month: WARREN SAPP and TED WASHINGTON.  Sapp helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat Oakland in the Super Bowl two years ago while Washington and the New England Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVIII against Carolina.  Oakland ranked 32nd in the NFL against the run last season.

PITTSBURGH:  Head coach BILL COWHER has reached the playoffs in 14 of his 19 seasons as an NFL coach with Cleveland (1985-88), Kansas City (1989-91) and Pittsburgh (1992-present)……Free agent running back DUCE STALEY joined the Steelers on March 10.  Staley, 29, is the Philadelphia Eagles’ third-leading rusher all-time (4,807 yards) and has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in three of the past six seasons……On March 8, Pro Football Hall of Famer and NFL assistant coach for the past 17 seasons JOE GREENE returned to serve his former club as special assistant/player personnel.  Greene played 13 years for Pittsburgh, helping the team win four Super Bowls.

SAN DIEGO:  Twenty-two area high school juniors will be selected as “Chargers Champions” this school year based on their leadership, service and citizenship.  The program, created by Chargers owner ALEX SPANOS and President/CEO DEAN SPANOS, endows a $7,000 scholarship and laptop computer to each student and gives $2,000 grants to 12 select teachers/coaches to use in their classrooms.  The teachers and coaches are chosen for their innovation and creativity……The Chargers have organized a “Listening Tour” to hear public feedback on the team’s concept to redevelop the Qualcomm Stadium site.  “We are going community by community to hear from as many people as possible and to get an understanding of the issues important to the people of San Diego,” says Dean Spanos. 

TENNESSEE:  The past five seasons have been the most successful five-year span in team history, tying the St. Louis Rams for the NFL’s best record since 1999: 56-24 (.700).  The Titans enter 2004 aiming for their fifth playoff appearance in six years……Including playoffs, head coach JEFF FISHER is seven wins shy of 100……NFL co-MVP STEVE MC NAIR needs 3,000 passing yards and 400 rushing yards to become the first quarterback in NFL history to post four 3,000/400-yard seasons……All-Star linebacker KEITH BULLUCK signed a multi-year contract to remain with the team.  “Keith is one of the three best linebackers in the league,” says Titans GM FLOYD REESE.