BUFFALO: Standout wide receiver LEE EVANS, who caught seven touchdown passes in the final six games of his rookie year in 2004, is taking classes at the University of Wisconsin this offseason, working toward his personal finance degree. The Badgers’ all-time leading receiver is currently tackling nine credit hours and will only need to complete six more this summer or next offseason to earn his degree. "My parents always pushed me to go to school," says Evans. "Making it as far as I did, I just think it's important to finish it."

CINCINNATI: Under head coach MARVIN LEWIS, the Bengals are 16-16 (.500), whereas in the 32 games before Lewis, the club was 8-24 (.250). The coach, whose goals for his team go far beyond a .500-record, has been signed to his second contract extension in as many years. "(President) MIKE BROWN and I both have expectations and they’re as high as they can get," says Lewis. "We want to be Super Bowl champions and I think it’s important that the organization knows how much stability means to it."

CLEVELAND: A new era of Browns Football is to begin under the leadership of general manager PHIL SAVAGE and head coach ROMEO CRENNEL. Savage arrives from the Baltimore Ravens where he was instrumental in drafting 10 eventual All-Stars. Crennel, New England’s defensive coordinator from 2001-04, helped the Pats win three of the past four Super Bowls……Cornerback MICHAEL LEHAN, adopted as an infant and on his own by the age of 14, volunteers with "About Cuyahoga Kids." The program is aimed at finding homes for Cleveland-area orphans, many of whom are teens. "I’m just a guy who cares about people’s futures," says Lehan.

DENVER: With the Broncos posting consecutive double-digit-win seasons, 13 of Denver’s 22 starters have five years of experience or less. Among the Broncos’ top young performers is linebacker D.J. WILLIAMS, who last season became only the second Broncos rookie to lead the team in tackles with 114 (82 solo) – joining linebacker TOM GRAHAM, who in 1972 tied defensive end LYLE ALZADO for the team-high in tackles (91)……RONNIE BILL, a member of the team’s equipment staff since its first season in 1960, recently retired. Bill was honored for his service by the team and owner PAT BOWLEN at a club function.

HOUSTON: Former President GEORGE H. W. BUSH and Mrs. BARBARA BUSH recently presented Texans Chairman and CEO BOB MC NAIR with the prestigious President George H. W. Bush Community Impact Award. The national award is presented to an outstanding leader who impacts society as a positive role model through a commitment to community service, leadership and athletic achievement. Past winners of the honor include Pro Football Hall of Fame coach TOM LANDRY and Congressman J.C. WATTS, JR., the former Oklahoma football star.

INDIANAPOLIS: Guided by head coach TONY DUNGY, the NFL’s winningest coach since 1999 (64-22, .667), the Colts face the Atlanta Falcons in an American Bowl game in Tokyo on August 6 to kick off the NFL preseason. This marks the 12th American Bowl to be played in Tokyo – more than any other city. Played before an enthusiastic Japanese crowd, ESPN2 will air the game live and ESPN will re-air it……NFL MVP and Colts QB PEYTON MANNING took part in the Bay Hill Invitational pro-am in Orlando, Florida on March 15 and was paired with standout golfer TIGER WOODS.

JACKSONVILLE: Coming off of a season that saw the Jaguars earn a 5-3 road record, the team finished first in the NFL in red-zone defense, allowing a meager 38.3 touchdown percentage……Head coach JACK DEL RIO recently named DAVE CAMPO as the team’s assistant head coach/secondary coach. The former Dallas Cowboys head coach is a veteran of 16 NFL seasons……Equipment manager DREW HAMPTON was recently named the NFL’s "Equipment Manager of the Year" by his peers. Hampton has served the Jaguars for nine seasons.

KANSAS CITY: President CARL PETERSON has agreed to a four-year contract extension with the team. The Chiefs will now retain Peterson’s services through 2009. "Carl was instrumental in leading the Chiefs back to the top echelon of the NFL after joining the organization in 1988," says club Founder LAMAR HUNT. "Such stability is unusual in the front office of an NFL team and is a big plus for the football fans of mid-America. We look forward to the Chiefs continuing to be a competitive team in the NFL."

MIAMI: NICK SABAN has become the sixth head coach in club history after serving as a college head coach for the past 11 years while never experiencing a losing season……The Dolphins and Chicago Bears square off on August 8 in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio – birthplace of the NFL – following the enshrinement of the Hall of Fame Class of 2005: BENNY FRIEDMAN, DAN MARINO, FRITZ POLLARD and STEVE YOUNG. Marino, one of the most prolific passers in NFL history, played for the Dolphins from 1983-99 and is the NFL career leader in attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns.

NEW ENGLAND: The Patriots can become the first team in NFL history to win four Super Bowls in five seasons and the only team to win three consecutive Super Bowls……In late February, club owner ROBERT KRAFT traveled to Israel with the team’s recently-earned Lombardi Trophy to meet with Prime Minister ARIEL SHARON and continue football’s international expansion. Kraft has donated $500,000 to build Kraft Family Stadium in Israel. The stadium is designed for American football. "I just love the sport of football," says Kraft, "because it requires intelligence and people pulling together. For me, it is the highest form of competition, which makes people great."

NEW YORK: Wide receiver LAVERANUES COLES returns to the Jets after two seasons with the Washington Redskins through a trade sending SANTANA MOSS to DC. Coles, drafted by the Jets in 2000, caught 89 passes for a career-high 1,264 yards and five touchdowns for New York in 2002……The team earned a pair of local TV Emmy nominations for the shows Generation Jets and 24/7 with Herman Edwards. Generation Jets is an animated children’s program featuring a group of New York City youngsters who explore the city and learn valuable life lessons through football. 24/7 with Herman Edwards provides exclusive footage inside the Jets’ season-long journey.

OAKLAND: The Raiders acquired five-time NFL All-Star wide receiver RANDY MOSS in a trade with Minnesota earlier this month. Moss’ 9,142 yards are the most by a player in NFL history through seven seasons. His 90 touchdown catches are already eighth-most in league history……Bay Area native and former Pro Bowl defensive end KEITH MILLARD will serve the Raiders as an assistant defensive line coach, working with defensive line coach/former standout NFL defensive end SAM CLANCY.

PITTSBURGH: The AP’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year BEN ROETHLISBERGER will join a group of NFL players on a nine-day USO tour of Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait at the end of the month. The players will visit U.S. troops and help open the PAT TILLMAN Center, a USO facility in Afghanistan funded by the NFL……Head coach BILL COWHER has reached the playoffs in 15 of his 20 seasons as an NFL coach with Cleveland (1985-88), Kansas City (1989-91) and Pittsburgh (1992-present).

SAN DIEGO: President DEAN SPANOS has extended the contract of Executive Vice President & General Manager A.J. SMITH through the 2009 season.  The Chargers were the AFC West Division champions last season with a 12-4 record. Smith earned NFL Executive of the Year honors from Pro Football Weekly, the Pro Football Writers Association, and FoxSports.com……The team will conduct training camp at its Chargers Park practice facility for the first time in club history. In preparing for camp, the Chargers are replacing a little-used 70-yard Astroturf field with the synthetic surface "Field Turf." The project will be completed by mid-May.

TENNESSEE: Club owner K.S. (BUD) ADAMS, JR., entering his 46th year of ownership, has paved the way for $14 million to reach charitable organizations across the state since the team arrived in Tennessee in 1997……In 2004, the Titans visited more than 31,000 students through school visits across Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky as well as more than 400 patients at local hospitals……New offensive coordinator NORM CHOW joins the Titans from the University of Southern California where he held the same title for the 2003 and 2004 national champion Trojans.