ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP)—Rick Dennison served 14 seasons as Mike Shanahan’s disciple, and now he wants to be his replacement.

The Denver Broncos offensive coordinator met with team owner Pat Bowlen on Tuesday after expressing interest in the position following Shanahan’s firing last week.

The Broncos spoke with Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett later in the afternoon. Leslie Frazier, the defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, will interview Wednesday.

The Broncos have already interviewed Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Shanahan was fired last week after the Broncos missed the playoffs for the third straight season, done in by a series of personnel gaffes and several bad drafts on defense.

Garrett was a hot commodity at this time a year ago, spurning offers from Atlanta and Baltimore to be head coach after Dallas agreed to make him the league’s highest-paid assistant at $3 million.

Garrett’s star lost some luster this season as Tony Romo struggled and the Cowboys’ offense sputtered, finishing 13th in the league in total yards despite a wealth of expensive talent.

In this May 16, 2006, file pho…
AP - Jan 6, 4:45 pm EST
Dennison, a linebacker for the Broncos from 1982-90, has been on Denver’s staff since 1995, serving as special teams coach and then offensive line guru, before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2006.

Morris’ interview Monday lasted more than four hours as he met with different personnel and toured the building. The 32-year-old earned a promotion from secondary coach to defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay after longtime assistant Monte Kiffin left for the University of Tennessee, where his son, Lane, is now coaching.

Shanahan is expected to take a year off before returning to coaching. He has three years and more than $20 million left on his contract, and sitting out next season would cost Bowlen close to $7 million.

Bowlen doesn’t plan on giving his next coach the same kind of power he afforded Shanahan, preferring to split the head coach and general manager’s jobs. He said that he’ll focus on finding a GM once he hires a coach.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AsWcu6ciaBGD9QPLLVQRM4VDubYF?slug=ap-broncoscoachingsearch&prov=ap&type=lgns

RICHMOND, Va. (AP)—After more than a year on the market and a $400,000 price reduction, Michael Vick’s eight-bedroom home in the Atlanta area will go on the auction block if a bankruptcy judge agrees to the move.

The imprisoned former NFL star disclosed the auction plans late Monday in a new financial disclosure statement filed in his bankruptcy case in Newport News. His lawyers are preparing a motion seeking U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Frank Santoro’s permission to sell the house in Duluth, Ga., to the highest bidder on or around Feb. 16.

Vick is serving a 23-month sentence at the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., after pleading guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy. His lawyers are trying to get him transferred to a halfway house in Virginia, perhaps as early as Jan. 20—six months before his projected release date.

“Upon his release, the Debtor will return to Virginia and will seek to rebuild his life and career,” the disclosure statement says.

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The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last July, claiming assets of $16 million and liabilities of $20.4 million. Santoro last month rejected Vick’s disclosure statement, which major creditors had criticized as insufficiently detailed, and ordered the new one.

According to the revised statement, real estate agents have shown the Georgia house more than 30 times to potential buyers and have aggressively marketed the property in publications, direct mailings and on the Internet. The home originally was listed for $4.5 million but is now priced at $4.1 million.

Vick paid $3.7 million for the home in 2005, according to Gwinnett County property records, and the disclosure statement says he still owes about $2.8 million on the mortgage. Several creditors and the Internal Revenue Service also have filed liens against the property, which Vick proposes to sell “free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances.”

Funari Realty, the company marketing the property, describes it in an Internet listing as a “stunning custom home with priceless lake views.” It features a majestic, two-story foyer with a double curved staircase. Other amenities include an in-home theater, a workout room with sauna, an elevator, a full bar, two outdoor fireplaces and a four-car garage.

Vick will be looking for better results at auction than the owner of his former property in Surry County, Va., has achieved. A developer who bought the house and 15-acre spread that served as headquarters for Vick’s “Bad Newz Kennels” dogfighting operation has twice failed to sell the property at auction.

Vick still owns three other homes in Virginia. Court papers show he is trying to sell homes in Williamsburg and Suffolk but wants to keep one in Hampton.

The new disclosure statement reiterates Vick’s plan to resume his NFL career, which hinges on Commissioner Roger Goodell lifting his suspension. Goodell has not said what he will do, and it’s unclear whether a team would offer a contract to Vick, who once was the league’s highest-paid player.

Major creditors had complained that Vick’s original disclosure provided no real assurance he would be able to rejoin the NFL and again command a hefty salary that would allow him to begin paying his debts. The revised statement and an amended reorganization plan call for Vick to provide a court official “detailed information” on his progress toward rejoining the league. He also would be required to provide the court copies of any player or endorsement contracts.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AgtnkEmRNbQebCntX7QdF6ZDubYF?slug=ap-vick-bankruptcy&prov=ap&type=lgns

SAN DIEGO (AP)—San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of drunken driving.

Jackson failed sobriety tests shortly after 2 a.m. on state Route 52 in San Diego, said California Highway Patrol Officer Ray Scheidnes. He said he didn’t know Jackson’s blood alcohol level.

An officer stopped Jackson after spotting the player braking abruptly, speeding and weaving in a 2008 GMC Sierra, said Highway Patrol Officer Brad Baehr. Jackson was on probation for a previous DUI arrest, he said.

The player was taken to the San Diego County jail and released.

Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said he was aware of Jackson’s “off-the-field issue.”

“Obviously we’re disappointed,” Smith said. “We take these issues very seriously. Moving forward, we will monitor the situation and have no further comment.”

Jackson, in a brief statement released through the team, said he didn’t think charges would be filed against him.

“In the event they are, I look forward to clearing my name and proving my innocence,” he said.

The Highway Patrol will submit the arrest report within “the next couple days” to the San Diego city attorney’s office for possible misdemeanor prosecution, Baehr said.

Jackson just had the first 1,000-yard season of his career, for a team-high 1,098 yards and seven touchdowns. He became the first Chargers wide receiver to have 1,000 yards receiving since Curtis Conway in 2001.

Jackson caught 59 passes, second on the team behind Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates, but didn’t catch any in Saturday’s 23-17 overtime playoff win over Indianapolis. San Diego visits Pittsburgh for a playoff game Sunday.

The Chargers have had their share of off-field problems.

In 2006, there were six run-ins with the law by Chargers players, including linebacker Steve Foley’s shooting by an off-duty Coronado police officer who suspected him of drunken driving, and another player who was arrested for investigation of DUI.

Besides the arrests, linebacker Shawne Merriman was suspended for four games for testing positive for steroids, and linebacker Stephen Cooper was suspended for the first four games of this season by the NFL after testing positive for a banned stimulant.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AkHY_kb9ztlkwhy5IB6mH8ZDubYF?slug=ap-chargers-jacksondui&prov=ap&type=lgns

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AmyzZZmlHdXLZnOSh0j4QYw5nYcB?slug=ap-apoffensiveplayer&prov=ap&type=lgns
NEW YORK (AP)—Drew Brees understood what breaking a record set by Dan Marino would mean to the New Orleans Saints.

So coming up 15 yards short was disappointing to the Saints quarterback, who won The Associated Press 2008 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award Tuesday.

Brees threw for 5,069 yards, 15 fewer than Marino’s 1984 mark and only the second time someone has eclipsed 5,000 yards passing in a season.

“The only reason I still even think about it is because I know how much it would have meant to the offensive line and the skill position guys,” Brees said. “Those guys were 10 times more upset than I was about not getting the record. I just feel like they really, especially down the stretch, looked at that as something that, for all the heartache and all the ups and downs we had this season, that was something they hang their hats on.

“So that’s who I wanted to get it for, so that’s why I’m still upset. I’m over it, for myself, but I guess I’m not over it for them.”

Although the Saints were 8-8 and didn’t make the playoffs, Brees performed so well he earned 22 votes in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league. That easily beat Peyton Manning, the NFL Most Valuable Player for the third time for Indianapolis, and Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson. They tied for second with nine votes each.

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers received six votes, and Carolina running back DeAngelo Williams (2), Atlanta running back Michael Turner (1) and Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith (1) also got votes.

This is an Oct. 19, 2008 file …
AP - Jan 6, 12:53 pm EST
“I don’t come out from week to week and say I have to throw for 300 (yards),” Brees said. “I don’t think about that. It’s really about what I can do to help this team win.

“Certainly in this offense, being the quarterback, you’re in the driver’s seat. You have the opportunity to control every play and have it in your hands. Every play is about me making good decisions and putting it in a guy’s hands who is open or our playmakers working to their strengths. That’s my job.”

Brees tied with Rivers, his former teammate with the Chargers, with a league-leading 34 touchdown passes. Brees was fourth in passer rating (96.2) and led the league in attempts (635) and completions (413).

He also spent much of the season without key weapons like receiver Marques Colston, running back Reggie Bush and tight end Jeremy Shockey, who were plagued by injuries.

Yet Brees kept throwing—and connecting.

“Each year I’ve gotten better, especially over the last five years,” he said. “When I go back to 2004 in San Diego, every year I feel so much more comfortable. I really feel like I’ve refined my routine and continued to find what works for me. It changes a little bit every year. I tweak it every year to make it a little better, but by doing so, I make myself a better player.”

He is the perfect player for coach Sean Payton’s system.

“When you look at the body of work for him and you look at what he’s been able to do with the number of guys being hurt,” Payton said, “you look at his efficiency down the field with throws over 20 yards, over 30 yards. His completion percentage, his red zone, his third-down scoring offense, he’s first in every one of those categories. He’s worked extremely hard, and when you see what he does in preparation during the work week, it’s amazing.”

Brees is the first Saints player to win the award.

Austin TX -The Independent Women’s Football League is pleased to announce that Leslie Busch, representing the Jersey Justice, has been awarded a full membership license and will join the league’s roster of teams for the 2009 season. The Jersey Justice is a new team organized to provide women in New Jersey the opportunity to play tackle football at the national level.

“The Justice is a great new team. They have a strong staff in place and are ready to build a high quality organization that will undoubtedly create success on the field and off,” stated Laurie Frederick, IWFL Chief Executive Officer.

The Justice inaugural season will feature exciting competitions against veteran teams like the Erie Illusion, Central PA Vipers, and Southern Maine Rebels.

“We are extremely excited to have been accepted for the 2009 season. The IWFL is a very competitive league and we look forward to having the opportunity to work with, and compete against such top-level teams,” Stated Leslie Busch, Jersey Justice team Delegate.

For more information about the Jersey Justice, contact the team at (732) 860-0422 or email: JerseyJusticeFootball@gmail.com
http://www.iwflsports.com/show_news.php?news_id=336

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28514536/

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Left out of the national title game, Colt McCoy and Texas made the most of their trip to the Fiesta Bowl.

McCoy hit Quan Cosby for a 26-yard touchdown with 16 seconds to play, lifting third-ranked Texas to a 24-21 victory over No. 10 Ohio State on Monday night.

“I don’t think there’s anybody in the country who can beat us at this point,” McCoy said.

The Buckeyes nearly pulled off the upset behind quarterbacks Terrelle Pryor and Todd Boeckman but instead went down to another disappointing bowl loss.

McCoy, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, calmly led the Longhorns 78 yards in 11 plays and 1:42 without calling a timeout. On the touchdown, Cosby caught a short pass, slipped a tackle and sprinted toward the goal line before diving into the end zone.

The Longhorns (12-1) rebounded after Ohio State (10-3) had taken a 21-17 lead on a 15-yard run by Dan Herron with 2:05 to go.

That score came five minutes after Boeckman hit Pryor for a 5-yard score to cut Texas’ lead to 17-15. Pryor’s pass on the 2-point conversion was incomplete.

For most of the night, the Buckeyes stifled the high-powered Longhorns, who averaged 43.9 points this season but mustered only a field goal in the first half. They didn’t lead until a nifty third-quarter touchdown run by McCoy, who also threw for 414 yards and two scores with an interception.

The Longhorns hoped to use the Fiesta Bowl to persuade voters they deserved the top spot in The Associated Press Top 25, their only hope for a piece of a national championship.

“This team started this way and finished this way, and they’re obviously one of the best teams in the country if not the best,” Texas coach Mack Brown said.

Texas players rushed onto the field after Boeckman’s last-gasp pass hit the turf deep in Texas territory, then gathered in front of the band and sang “The Eyes of Texas with jubilant fans.

But early on, it looked as if the Buckeyes would finally be celebrating.

Texas brought Bevo, its steer mascot, but left its offense back in Austin, at least in a sluggish first half.

The Longhorns failed to score in the first quarter. Texas was shut out in only four quarters all season — and only once in the first quarter, in a 39-33 loss at Texas Tech on Nov. 1.

The Buckeyes took a 3-0 lead on a 51-yard field goal by Aaron Pettrey midway through the first period. Ohio State drove 43 yards in nine plays, the biggest chunk coming on a 22-yard burst by Wells.

Four minutes into the second quarter, Texas tied it at on a 27-yard field goal by Hunter Lawrence. The Longhorns covered 57 yards, running twice for a total of no yards on the drive.

The Buckeyes responded with a 67-yard march to the Texas 7-yard line. But Buckeyes tackle Bryant Browning was flagged for a false start on third-and-2 at the 7, and after an incomplete pass the Buckeyes had to settle for a 30-yard field goal by Ryan Pretorius to take a 6-3 lead.

Texas’ best chance came late in the half, when McCoy smartly marched the Longhorns from their own 9 to the Ohio State 16 in 47 seconds.

But on third-and-2 at the Buckeyes 16 and 9 seconds to go, McCoy threw perhaps his worst pass of the season. McCoy lobbed the ball toward Cosby at the goal line, but safety Anderson Russell picked it off to kill the threat.

Had McCoy thrown the ball into the seats, the Longhorns would have had time for a chip-shot tying field goal. But they went into the dressing room still down by three.

It didn’t take McCoy long to atone.

I wanted to give a shout out to Bj at wfbtalk at her blog and her blog to let her know that I am 100% behind woman’s tackle football and will do anything to promote the sport. Bj is a great person and the personality to boot! I cannot wait to meet her in person one day soon.

I have been given the opportunity to become an correspondent for the local woman’s teams the Dallas Diamonds and Lonestar Mustangs and I will do my best to report and promote both teams as much as possible.

I am very happy to be partnered with wfbtalk blog and BTR website and will do my best to make the promoting woman’s football a priority in this up and coming season. 

Check us through out the 2009 season for all your woman’s tackle football news here and at blog talk radio.

More details to come soon!

Reply to: silentmelee@yahoo.com [?]
Date: 2008-12-11, 3:31PM EST

The Orlando Mayhem, Central Florida’s only full-contact football team, is starting up the 2009 season. Even is you have never played before, you haven’t exercised in years, or you don’t even know what a touchdown is we are looking for heart, passion, and determination.

If this is you come out this Saturday December 13 from 10-12 to learn a little bit about what it takes to play the great game of football.

Bring clothes to get dirty in, plenty of water, & a willingness to learn.

Cost:$55 registers you with the team

Call 407-331-8839 for more details
http://orlando.craigslist.org/act/954192388.html

DAVIE, Fla. - Bill Parcells won’t leave the Miami Dolphins after only one season after all, a newspaper reported Sunday.

Parcells’ contract allowed him to leave after one season and still receive the $12 million remaining on his four-year deal if the team is sold, but Parcells won’t exercise that option, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.

“Bill’s going to stay,” owner Wayne Huizenga said, the newspaper reported.
The sale of a majority share to New York real estate billionaire Stephen Ross is expected to be completed shortly after the season. Parcells would then have had 30 days to leave without sacrificing the money due him in the final three years of his contract.

Miami lost 27-9 to Baltimore Sunday. The Dolphins finished 11-6, a dramatic turnaround from last year’s 1-15 record.

The existence of the contract clause giving the 67-year-old Parcells a lucrative way out was first reported by ESPN.

The Dolphins’ revival began a year ago when Huizenga hired Parcells as executive vice president of football operations. Parcells managed similar turnarounds as a coach, taking over losing teams with the Giants, Patriots, Jets and Cowboys and transforming them into winners.
Parcells has a history of being on the move, and he has held three jobs in the past two years. He quit coaching after the 2006 season with Dallas and was a TV network analyst in 2007. He spent four years with the Cowboys, three with the Jets and four with the Patriots.

Ross bought 50 percent of the Dolphins last winter and is expected to soon exercise an option to purchase up to 95 percent.
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28423701/

A female fight between nine-year veteran Erin Toughill (8-2-1) and Miletich Fighting Systems product Adrienna Jenkins (10-2) is the latest addition to an as-yet-unannounced Palace Fighting Championships card on Feb. 6.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today learned of the addition to the card, which will feature both MMA and boxing bouts, from sources close to the bout. Both fighters have verbally agreed to the bout, and agreements are expected to be signed shortly.

Toughill and Jenkins join Bobby Lashley, Hector Lombard and Alexis Vila as confirmed participants for the event at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, Calif.

Toughill, a former professional boxer, returned from a two-year layoff from active competition with a unanimous-decision win over Jan Finney at “PFC 11: All In” in November.

The 31-year-old has won seven of her past eight bouts, with the lone loss coming in a 2004 disqualification to Megumi Yabushita. Yabushita was awarded the win in the Smackgirl tournament final after illegal elbows from Toughill left the Japanese fighter unable to continue.

Toughill also recently joined Gina Carano as a female cast member of “American Gladiators.” The Chicago native competed under the name “Steel.”

Jenkins last fought in March 2007 in a submission loss to Kelly Kobold. Prior to the loss, Jenkins had earned nine-straight stoppage wins.

The five-year veteran made her professional debut with a win over Keri Crothers at WEC 9. Jenkins hasn’t fought past the first round in any of her 12 career contests. Her wins include three victories by TKO and six submissions.

For the latest on PFC 13, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
http://mmajunkie.com/news/13626/erin-toughill-vs-adrienna-jenkins-set-for-pfc-event-in-february.mma