NFC NEWS ‘N’ NOTES

NFC SPRING ROUND-UP

ARIZONA:  New head coach DENNIS GREEN wasted no time familiarizing himself with the local community, as the team and the newly appointed coach hosted a series of “Chalk Talks” around Phoenix.  The sessions offered fans an opportunity to pack a lunch and meet Green while listening to him explain his coaching philosophy, offensive and defensive schemes, free agency, and the upcoming NFL Draft.  “Our goal this year is to be a playoff team,” says Green.  “Everybody on this team is going to believe it and it’s going to be true.”

ATLANTA:  Running back WARRICK DUNN recently helped the NFL commemorate Black History Month, speaking to employees at league headquarters in New York.  Dunn discussed his “Homes for the Holidays” program, a nationally renowned community project that has helped low-income families buy homes through a down payment he provides.  Since initiating the program, 45 mothers with 120 dependents have realized dreams of owning their own homes.  “It was an honor to share my story with NFL employees,” Dunn said.  “I hope we can do it again in the future.”

CAROLINA:  Twelve-year veteran linebacker JESSIE ARMSTEAD has signed with the Panthers for one reason, he says – head coach JOHN FOX.  Armstead was a five-time All-Star for every year that Fox was his defensive coordinator with the New York Giants from 1997-01.  “When Coach Fox says ‘Jump,’ I’ll make sure not only that I jump, but also that everyone around me jumps,” says Armstead.  “Coach Fox is the No. 1 reason I’m coming to Carolina.  He will push you.  He knows how to take you right to the edge.  He always brought out my best.”     

CHICAGO:  The Bears held their seventh annual fan convention last month and fans filled the grand ballroom at the Chicago Hilton and Towers to greet new head coach LOVIE SMITH, his staff and more than 60 current and former Bears players.  “I know I’m lucky,” Smith said.  “I just can’t wait to start leading this team.”  Fans took advantage of the opportunity to meet the players and coaches, participate in interactive games and youth clinics, and attend question and answer sessions with players.

DALLAS:  Quarterback DREW HENSON and wide receiver KEYSHAWN JOHNSON were once neighbors in a Tampa, Florida neighborhood.  This March, the two became teammates with the Cowboys.  Henson, a former standout at Michigan, and Johnson, a three-time NFL All-Star, are two of the Cowboys’ biggest off-season acquisitions – both arriving via trades with Houston and Tampa Bay, respectively.  Dallas also signed defensive end MARCELLUS WILEY as a free agent.  "We have made some progress, but we've still got a lot of work to do," says Cowboys vice president STEPHEN JONES.  "We believe we have improved our team, but we are not finished by any stretch."

DETROIT:  The Lions’ receiving corps will have a decidedly local flavor in 2004, highlighted by the addition of TAI STREETS, who joins the club after five seasons in San Francisco.  Joining Streets, who played collegiately at Michigan, are second-year pro CHARLES ROGERS (Michigan State) and Grand Valley State’s DAVID KIRCUS.  “We need a speed demon from Northern Michigan,” said head coach STEVE MARIUCCI, referring to his own alma mater.  “Then we will have all of the universities covered.”

GREEN BAY:  Safety DARREN SHARPER will make his first trip to Europe this May.  But it will be a business trip, not a vacation.  Sharper will work for the NFL Network providing game analysis for two NFL Europe League games on May 16 and May 22.  Sharper, a popular source for quotes and sound bites who is known for his quick wit, gained his first broadcasting experience last fall when he moonlighted as an analyst for Green Bay-area high school games.  "Commentating is something I want to do when I stop playing," he says.  "I want to be able to stay around the game of football and that's a pretty good avenue to do that.” 

MINNESOTA:  Former Vikings head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer BUD GRANT has just returned from a good-will visit with NFL alumni to U.S. troops in Iraq.  “They called it ‘Meet and Greet’ the troops,” says Grant.  “We weren’t with the generals.  The troops are opening schools and waterways and electrical outlets.  They are helping people get on their feet, establishing roads and communication”……After nine seasons in sunny San Diego, punter DARREN BENNETT has signed with the Vikings.  “I’m looking forward to playing in a dome," the Australian-born Bennett says.  The day before he signed, it snowed in Minnesota.  “It was only the second time I’ve seen snow in my life,” said an excited Bennett.     

NEW ORLEANS:  Saints owner TOM BENSON envisions his granddaughter, RITA LE BLANC, eventually taking over the franchise.  But before that happens, LeBlanc, 27, continues to learn the football business while working for Benson’s other football venture -- the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League.  LeBlanc serves as the team’s director of marketing, is a member of the AFL Board of Directors and also serves on two league committees.  “Of anyone in my family, Rita is the one that showed real interest in working for the team,” says Benson.  “Rita’s only 27 years old.  Hopefully I can live long enough that she’ll get enough education in this business that she will take it over.”

NEW YORK:  Defensive end MICHAEL STRAHAN enjoys tackling quarterbacks on the field.  This offseason, he will tackle the political arena by running for an at-large town council seat in his hometown of Montclair, New Jersey.  Strahan collected 219 signatures and became one of 19 candidates for seven town council seats.  His primary platform is to preserve historic landmarks.  At a public hearing, Strahan supported the preservation of a neighborhood hotel and drew applause from the crowd for his passionate words.  Giants executive vice president JOHN MARA says Strahan will bring value to the political field.  “He’s one of the smartest players we have,” says Mara.  “He is an honest guy, and he’s motivated by all the right reasons.”  Voters will cast their ballots on May 11.

PHILADELPHIA:  Despite winning their third consecutive NFC East title, the Eagles have not rested on their laurels this offseason.  With the acquisition of four-time NFL All-Star wide receiver TERRELL OWENS and three-time All-Star defensive end JEVON KEARSE, the Eagles have strengthened themselves.  “We were able to target the top offensive player and the top defensive player that we thought would make a large impact on our team,” said owner JEFFREY LURIE.  The Eagles also bolstered their defense by adding linebacker DHANI JONES from the New York Giants.  Jones ranked second on the Giants with 120 tackles last season.

ST. LOUIS:  The Rams will continue their commitment to enhance and promote youth football in the St. Louis community by participating in a number of developmental programs in the coming months.  In early spring, the Rams will host the finals of the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation Flag Football Tournament at Rams Park.  The event is a culmination of a year-long program with the St. Louis Public Schools that includes a flag football curriculum, training sessions with Rams personnel, and a component on nutrition and fitness.  “Helping to educate and enhance the skills of youth coaching personnel and provide opportunities for more youngsters to be introduced to the game in a safe environment are among our key goals,” says Rams head coach MIKE MARTZ.  The St. Louis Rams/National Football Foundation Coaching Academy also will be held at Rams Park in the early summer. 

SAN FRANCISCO:  49ers management, coaches and players, including owner JOHN YORK, president PETER HARRIS, head coach DENNIS ERICKSON and wide receiver BRANDON LLOYD, squared off against Olympic skiers and other celebrities at the fourth annual 49ers Celebrity Ski Classic in Lake Tahoe.  Since its inception, the classic has raised more than $850,000 for the 49ers Foundation.  The monies are donated to Bay Area charities that benefit children……Wide receiver CEDRICK WILSON was nominated by CityFlight Newsmagazine as a candidate for one of their “10 Most Influential African-Americans in the Bay Area.”  The award recognizes those who contribute to the welfare of children.    Wilson, who established career highs in receptions (35) and receiving yards (437) in 2003, is extremely active in 49ers community relations efforts and sponsors a “Reading Challenge” at a San Jose elementary school.

SEATTLE:  Current Seahawks ALEX BANNISTER and DAMIEN ROBINSON and former Seahawk (and new New York Jet) REGGIE TONGUE lead a team contingent that is visiting U.S. troops in the Middle East from March 24-31.  “It is an honor for the Seattle Seahawks to have the opportunity to meet and entertain the men and women of our armed services during their deployments to the Middle East," said Seahawks vice president MIKE FLOOD.  "Our players and our Sea Gals cheerleaders are proud to have a chance to give a taste of the NFL to those so far from home."  Bannister, Robinson and Tongue understand the importance of the visit.  Each experienced a military-style way of life growing up with a family member in the service.  Each player will report back to the United States with e-mail diaries of their experiences overseas for the team’s website.

TAMPA BAY:  “It’s a new Bucs model,” says the team’s new general manager, BRUCE ALLEN.  He is talking about the 10 free agents from other clubs the team has signed in the first month of free agency, plus the trade for wide receiver JOEY GALLOWAY he engineered.  Gone are such longtime Bucs stalwarts as JOHN LYNCH and WARREN SAPP.  “We’ve lost some good players, yes,” says head coach JON GRUDEN.  “But we feel like we’ve added some good players, too.  Now we have to see if there’s anyone else who fits our puzzle and can help our team win and return to the game we want to get to.”

WASHINGTON:  Joe’s back!  And new/former Redskins head coach JOE GIBBS – a three-time Super Bowl winner for the club -- conducted his first NFL practice in 12 years on March 26.  “I’ve been away a long time,” said Gibbs.  “When I was trying to decide whether I was coming back, I don’t think you sit there and go, ‘Here’s what I’m going to face; this is how different it is.’  I’ve always found that you just dive into it.  That’s pretty much what I did.  I’m coming into this thing obligated that I’ve got to prove myself again”……Gibbs will become the second Pro Football Hall of Fame member to coach in the Hall of Fame Game this August 9 when the Redskins take on the Denver Broncos in Canton, Ohio.  He follows Cincinnati’s PAUL BROWN in the feat, who lost – ironically – to Washington in the Hall of Fame Game in 1975 (17-9).