Super Bowl aside, owner sets goals
Like every NFL executive, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti has long wanted to win a Super Bowl.
But as he entered his fifth season with a majority stake in the club, Bisciotti had a series of more generic goals defining the sort of owner he wants to be.
"I want to run the organization in a classy way," Bisciotti said last year in an interview. "I'm in the position where I don't have to run the business to make a profit. I don't want to lose money. I want us to make enough money to compete with everyone else. I want to be an influence in the community."
Bisciotti, 48, then laughed and said, "You hope you win a couple championships before you die."
The Ravens ended their season one game shy of the Super Bowl, losing, 23-14, to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship game.
Bisciotti held a minority stake in the Ravens team that won the Super Bowl in January 2001. Art Modell was then majority owner.
Bisciotti is among many executives featured in last year's book by Baltimore sports agent and lawyer Ron Shapiro called Dare to Prepare: How to Win Before You Begin!
The book tells how Bisciotti, who lost his father to leukemia when he was 8, set a goal of "leaving his family on solid financial footing were he to die at age 35 like his father." Bisciotti founded a technical services and recruiting company when he was 23, and the firm eventually "took off," the book says.
In all his business activities, Bisciotti said, his aim is to surround himself with competent people and allow them to do their jobs.
Does he ever worry about meddling with his football team?
"You're hitting on something that is undefinable," said Bisciotti, who was involved in the hiring of coach John Harbaugh after last season. "Constructive participation and meddling is in the eyes of the beholder. My litmus test is the quality of life people have in the organization."
baltimoresun.com
Thomas tapped for Hall of Fame
Tampa, Fla -- Derrick Thomas, the late Kansas City Chiefs linebacker, and five others made the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, while former commissioner Paul Tagliabue was denied entry for the third straight year.
Also selected were career sacks leader Bruce Smith; versatile defensive back Rod Woodson; longtime Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson; former Minnesota guard Randall McDaniel; and the late Bob Hayes, a standout wide receiver for Dallas and the 1964 Olympic 100 meters gold medalist.
Inductions will be Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio.
Thomas, who died nine years ago after an auto accident while still an active player, was on the 1990s all-decade team and was the 1989 defensive rookie of the year. He is 11th in career sacks with 1261⁄2.
A rushing outside linebacker who also had responsibilities in pass coverage for Kansas City, Thomas set an NFL mark with seven sacks in one game against Seattle on Nov. 11, 1990, a year in which he paced the NFL with 20 sacks.
"Derrick Thomas was the cornerstone of the modern era of the Kansas City Chiefs and one of the most feared performers of his era," Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said. "Every head coach and offensive coordinator who faced the Chiefs during the 1990s knew when they came to Arrowhead Stadium they had to account for Derrick Thomas."
(c) Copyright 2009 The Lawrence Journal-World
Championship rings can reflect team's season, history
The first Super Bowl ring, which commemorated the victory of Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers in 1966, proclaimed its achievement modestly. With its single diamond, it could almost be mistaken for a high-school class ring.
By comparison, today's Super Bowl rings are on steroids.
Consider the ring commemorating the New England Patriots win in Super Bowl XXXIX. The 124-diamond bauble weighs more than a quarter of a pound.
Should the Pittsburgh Steelers win a record sixth Super Bowl this Sunday, Ben Roethlisberger and co. could be wearing approximately $5,000 worth of white gold, diamond and precious stones on their ringfingers.
The National Football League contributes $5,000 per ring for the winning team. They'll pay for up to 150 rings. If a team wants to spend more than that, its free to do so -- but the team will have to foot the entire bill.
"That's a strong disincentive," says Greg Aiello, vice president of media relations for the NFL. "It limits the arms race."
Former Steelers linebacker Andy Russell still wears his one-diamond ring from the team's first Super Bowl victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX.
"Ours are about one third the size," says Russell, who owns another ring from Super Bowl X. "Those rings today are so big, it's almost unbelievable."
Russell, who played in seven Pro Bowls, says he thinks the cost of that first Super Bowl ring could have been around $1,200. And while he rates its true value as "priceless," nobody would confuse it with the gaudy sparkler that Steelers players got for their victory in Super Bowl XL over the Seattle Seahawks.
"It's just reflective of the NFL itself," Russell says. "The NFL today is dramatically more popular than it was back in the '70s. It's grown hugely. "
A certain former star running back with the Buffalo Bills took exception to an error on Russell's first Super Bowl ring. Among the playoff victories engraved on it is a 32-6 win over the Bills. The actual score was 32-13.
"I remember showing this to O.J. Simpson," Russell says. "He got real upset. He said, 'Wait a minute! We scored 13!' "
Jostens of Bloomington, Minn., created 27 of the 42 Super Bowl rings, including the rings from the Steelers Super Bowl victories for '74, '78 and '79 seasons.
They'll be shooting for 28. Several weeks after the showdown in Tampa, representatives from Jostens will visit the offices of the winning team to try to sell them on their design.
"We will call on the team and talk about what we have to offer and some of our experience," says Rich Stoebe, director of communications for Jostens. "We've done our homework and research about some of the themes that might be of interest to the team and try to demonstrate our ability to capture that story in a unique design."
The design of the ring is decided by the team, often with input from key players.
"It really represents the story of that season," Stoebe says.
If winning a Super Bowl ring is hard, holding onto one can be just as difficult. The annals of football are rife with stories of players who had to pawn or sell their rings because of bankruptcy, divorce or other travails.
Ed Nuttall is owner of the Pittsburgh Sports Store at the Mall in Robinson and the Fox Chapel Yacht Club. He says there could be as many as 300 Super Bowl rings for sale on the collector's market.
"Other players have sold them to survive," he says. "The earlier teams -- Super Bowls I and II -- some of these nonessential players, they had gotten the ring and ended up selling them because they need the money to pay for something."
A genuine Super Bowl ring could cost from $10,000 to $15,000, Nuttall says. If the ring was worn by a name player, such as Terry Bradshaw, it could bring $25,000.
"Buying Super Bowl rings would be better than investing the stock market," Nuttall says. "That's something that holds its value."
pittsburghlive.com
Raheem Morris named as Head Coach of Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On the weekend before America inaugurated the first African American President, another African American broke through the head coaching ranks in the National Football League, 32-year-old Raheem Morris, who was named the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Morris was promoted from defensive assistant to defensive coordinator to head coach in less than one month, and replaces Jon Gruden, who was fired Fri. Jan. 16 after seven seasons as the Bucs' head coach.
Morris' hiring comes on the heels of the recent promotion of Jim Caldwell in Indianapolis and Mike Singletary in San Francisco, and brings the total of African American NFL head coaches to six, although Herm Edwards' fate may be in jeopardy with the recent hiring of Jim Pioli as general manager in Kansas City. Mike Tomlin is on the verge of being the second Black coach to win a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Marvin Lewis of the Cinicnnati Bengals and Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears both appear to be safe, although both sufferred through disappointing seasons.
The NFL had a record seven African-American head coaches in 2006, and more doors have opened in recent years, as teams comply with the the so-called "Rooney Rule" , which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching jobs. Caldwell and Morris are the first Black coaches to be promoted to the top job from position coach duties with the same team. Singletary was given a contract after replacing the fired Mike Nolan in mid-season.
washingtoninformer.com
Broncos hire Pats coordinator McDaniels as coach
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- The man who ran the New England Patriots' high-scoring offense is taking over as coach of the Denver Broncos, charged with revitalizing a team that failed to make the playoffs the past three seasons. Josh McDaniels, the Patriots' 32-year-old offensive coordinator, agreed to a four-year deal to replace Mike Shanahan, who was fired Dec. 30 after 14 seasons with a 146-91 record.
McDaniels will be introduced at a news conference at team headquarters Monday night in Denver, which was hit by an overnight snowstorm.
He'll take over an already potent offense, led by quarterback Jay Cutler and receivers Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, that's looking to return the Broncos to prominence. Shanahan, known as "The Mastermind" for his creativity on offense, won two Super Bowls in his first four seasons but won just one playoff game in the decade since John Elway retired.
McDaniels' credentials include guiding the record-setting offense that led New England to 18 straight victories last season before a stunning loss to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. That team scored an NFL-record 75 touchdowns and 589 points.
McDaniels is known for his creative play calling and game plans - just as Shanahan was when he took over the team in 1995 at the age of 42.
Denver went 8-8 this season and became the first team in NFL history to blow a three-game divisional lead with three weeks left. Shanahan was fired 48 hours later, with three years and $21 million left on his contract.
McDaniels' stock soared with the Patriots, where he quickly ascended from personnel assistant in the scouting department to offensive coordinator for Bill Belichick.
Last season, under McDaniels' tutelage, Tom Brady threw for a record 50 touchdowns, and the coach drew even more praise this past season when the Patriots lost Brady to a knee injury in the opener and Matt Cassel -a quarterback who hadn't started a game since high school - came on to lead the Patriots to an 11-5 record.
While McDaniels inherits a high-octane offense, he'll also be receiving a dismal defense in need of yet another overhaul. That's why it was believed a defensive mind might have had the inside track to the job, someone like the New York Giants' Steve Spagnuolo or Minnesota's Leslie Frazier.
The other candidates for Shanahan's job were Raheem Morris of Tampa Bay, Rick Dennison of Denver, Jason Garrett of Dallas and Todd Bowles of Miami.
The new coach won't have as much power as Shanahan, who had final authority on just about everything as vice president of football operations. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said he'll begin searching for a general manager after he hires his coach.
Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley was simultaneously watching an episode of "The Wire" on his DVD player and ESPN when the news scrolled across the bottom of his television Sunday night.
He's a bit shocked the Broncos suddenly have a new coach. He figured it would be later this week - at the earliest.
"It's going to be interesting to see what happens," Stokley said. "I hope we can keep some of our offensive coaches and keep the continuity that we built last year."
Copyright (c) 2009 The Associated Press
Mere words won't appease Lions' fans
Fans in Detroit, judging from what I've read online and heard on talk radio, didn't take much away from Matt Millen's interview Saturday on NBC's Football Night in America.
In the short interview with Dan Patrick, the former Lions exec called himself "completely responsible" for the Lions 0-16 season. He said he would have fired himself at the end of the season. He said he wasn't qualified for the job in some areas. That he had to learn on the job. He made too many changes, forsaking the benefits of consistency.
Could Millen really say anything that would appease Lions fans? After 0-16, what explanation could help? Would an, "I'm sorry," fix anything? Would that erase the pain of this season (and the past eight years?)
The Free Press' Drew Sharp laid out what he wanted to hear in today's column.
Sharp wrote: "Millen blew it again. Detroit deserves a detailed explanation for what went so horribly wrong from those who perpetrated the deed. Simply saying that you're responsible for the disaster doesn't make you accountable. That requires serving a penance. If Millen truly seeks atonement, he must delve deeper into those additional "reasons" of which he spoke.
"Was there a lack of uniformity between Millen and his front office, Millen and his coaches? Was there an even greater lack of organizational confidence within the locker room than what already has been documented? Did ownership interfere even more than what already has been reported?
"I'm really tired of the Lions' "There's nothing more to say" defense regarding past failures.
Sure, it would be nice to hear a little straight talk, to hear someone in the public spotlight not just own up to their misdeeds but also explain what influenced them.
But I'm hardly surprised it didn't happen. Is anyone?
The interview Saturday was clearly related to Millen's return to the broadcast booth. There is no way he could jump right into that role without addressing the 0-16 mark. So NBC arranged for the Patrick interview and is expected to announce today that Millen will be a part of its Super Bowl coverage team, according to USA Today.
From that report: "NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol, in a statement, said "many of us have been blessed with second chances" but Millen was picked up because he's "one of the very best football broadcasters of his generation."
Second chances can certainly be deserved. But does Millen qualify for one so soon? It seems in the minds of NBC, 0-16 is over, addressed, done with. Unfortunately for Detroit, the wound will take much longer to heal.
Sharp said Millen should wear an 0-16 stamp on his forehead. You'd like to think he doesn't needs to; that that mark and his involvement with it isn't something national viewers will forget anytime soon. Even without a scarlet letter-type reminder, when Millen offers his analysis of a play, a player, a game, whatever, who is not going to think to themselves, "Whatever you say, Mr. 0-16?"
Apparently, those people are out there.
From the Baltimore Sun: "... it still comes down to whether he knows what he's talking about and being able to communicate. Those qualities -- not a winning record as a club official -- are what make an effective analyst."
Go ahead and listen America. Here in Detroit, we will simply have to keep our mute buttons at the ready.
Marinelli's stock also rising ...
If Millen can land on his feet, anyone can, right?
Consider this: former Lions coach Rod Marinelli is still a hot commodity despite his 0-16 mark and 10 wins in three seasons.
He's already had "informal talks" with Lovie Smith in Chicago, and now is rumored to be among the candidates for the defensive coordinator job in Seattle.
From the report: "It's not a surprise the Seahawks are considering hiring Marinelli. Despite his unsuccessful run in Detroit, Marinelli is considered one of the best defensive line coaches in the league and is known as a disciplinarian who demands the most out of his players."
Hard to believe that Marinelli could end up in a bidding war, but he seems to be the main candidate for the job in Chicago.
From the Chicago Sun-Times: "(Marinelli's agent Frank) Bauer wouldn't identify Marinelli's other opportunities with staffs being formed and reshaped around the league, but he did say earlier in the week that the Bears made sense. Smith and Marinelli worked together in Tampa, and Bauer called them ''best friends.''
The report said the job Marinelli would most likely land is defensive line coach although the Bears could also tag him an "associate head coach."
Another report mentions him as a potential addition to the staff in Green Bay.
Kind of amazing, isn't it?
... as is Lions' value
Saving the Lions' as a franchise involves not just an on-the-field turnaround, but a rethinking of the team's image in marketing avenues, too. Enter Bob Raymond, an executive who left the Tigers for a new challenge with the Lions and talks to Crain's Detroit Business about it.
The Lions don't want to get into the messy details of their plans for a makeover, besides pointing to their first move -- freezing ticket prices.
But the story does include this interesting tidbit. Apparently, the Lions grew in value during the Millen regime.
The article says: "Financial news Web site forbes.com valued the team at $917 million, 24th among the NFL's 32 franchises. When Millen was hired, the team was valued at $423 million, meaning the Lions' value has grown 116% since the beginning of his tenure."
Seems hard to believe until you read the next line, which puts things in perspective, showing it's not the Lions that are growing in popularity, but the entire NFL.
It reads: "The league's most valuable team, the Dallas Cowboys, over the same time grew 115 percent to $1.6 billion from $743 million."
freep.com
Hudson duo leading Rutgers in Papajohns.com Bowl
You can't go more than an hour or so without another college football bowl game popping up on the tube, and locals are in luck today because Rutgers is playing North Carolina State in the Papajohns.com Bowl. It's airing on ESPN.
And there are two reasons for Hudson County to pay attention: Kenny Britt of Bayonne and Manny Abreu of Union City are playing for the Scarlet Knights, who trail 7-6 with 5 minutes to go in the first quarter.
Some experts are saying that this may be the last game for Britt, a junior, in a Rutgers uniform. The record-setting wide receiver could be an early round NFL draft pick id he decides to forego his senior season. Abreu, a linebacker, will try to help the Scarlet Knights defense that is playing without one of its top players, injured defensive lineman Jamal Westerman.
So far Britt has two catches in the game.
(c)2008 New Jersey On-Line LLC
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