NFL

Lou Spanos is Headed For Washington

Long-time Pittsburgh Steelers defensive assistant Lou Spanos has accepted an offer to become the Washington Redskins’ new linebacker coach.

The latest addition to the Redskins coaching makeover comes as a surprise, as the former Tulane star has been a part of the Steeler organization for fourteen years. He is one of only two assistants to be a member of the coaching staffs that saw three Super Bowls: XXX, XL, and XLIII. Read more…

Lane Kiffin Takes Over at USC

After a tumultuous week of indecision and doubt, USC has found a replacement for Pete Carroll – Lane Kiffin.

Kiffin is coming off a one-year stint in Tennessee where a prosaic season and allegations of recruiting violations forced Kiffin to face the music or abandon ship. Kiffin’s strong personality never really assimilated to the SEC as several coaches found themselves butting heads with the Volunteer head man more than once in 2009. Read more…

Alex Gibbs Headed to Seattle: Carroll’s Best Hire Yet

Several sources within the NFL reported today that the Houston Texans’ offensive line coach Alex Gibbs is headed to Seattle to serve under new head coach Pete Carroll.

With two assistants from USC following Carroll to Seattle already, it’s refreshing to see a non-USC coach making his way to the Seahawks organization. Although he’s only officially been the head coach for a day or so, this is Carroll’s best decision yet. Read more…

Redskins Bring in Jim Haslett as Defensive Coordinator

Sources within the NFL announced today that former New Orleans Saints and UFL head coach Jim Haslett has accepted an offer from the Washington Redskins to become their new defensive coordinator.

The former Buffalo linebacker was atop a long list of prospects that included Mike Zimmer of the Cincinnati Bengals. When the Bengals resigned Zimmer earlier this week, it was clear the deal between the ‘Skins and Haslett would gel quickly. Read more…

Seahawks, in Compliance with Rooney Rule, Contacted Tony Dungy

The Seattle Seahawks have taken a lot of criticism of late, facing claims that their quick hiring of Pete Carroll was outside the lines of the Rooney Rule.

It’s now come to light, though, that the Seattle organization reached out to Tony Dungy almost a month ago in regards to a position as their team president. Dungy considered the offer, but ultimately turned it down.

John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance responsible for monitoring the minority hiring process in the NFL, spoke of the offer, “They called Tony about three weeks ago to see if he would seriously consider becoming their president…He told them he wanted to pray and sleep on it but the next day he called them back and said he wanted to stick with everything he was doing now.” Read more…

Miami Dolphins Part Ways with Defensive Coordinator Paul Pasqualoni

Numerous sources have cited that the Miami Dolphins have decided to part ways with their defensive coordinator, Paul Pasqualoni.

In a press release, head coach Tony Sparano said, “I want to thank Paul for his services to the team, and I want to wish him the best.”

Pasqualoni is coming off a season in which his defense ranked 22nd in the league. The real kicker was the NFL-high 140 points his crew gave up in the fourth quarter.

It seemed at first that Sparano would be lax in his judgement against the coach, attributing the poor play of the defense to a lack of execution by the players, but the fourth-quarter debacles and the defense’s susceptibility to the big play spurred Sparano to make the decision. Read more…

Jeremy Bates Follows Pete Carroll to Seattle Seahawks

ESPN reported today that former USC quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates will opt to become the new offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks rather than perform the same role with the Chicago Bears.

In an interview with ESPN reporters, Bates expressed that he felt he had more security in Seattle than in Chicago due to his former coaching relationship with Pete Carroll.

It was believed that Bates might go to the Bears in order to be reunited with Jay Cutler, a former player of his when he was the offensive coordinator in Denver. Read more…

Week 17 NFL Picks: Cowboys vs. Eagles Highlights Final Week

Although the NFC no longer has any teams fighting to get into the playoffs, playoff seeding is still left to be decided, while over in the AFC, the final two Wild Card teams are still not decided.

The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles will square off for the NFC East division title, with Philadelphia also claiming the No. 2 seed and first-round bye with a victory on the road against Dallas.

In the AFC, both the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets need a win and they’re in, while the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, and Denver Broncos all remain alive, and could still get in with a win and some extra help. Read more…

Brett Favre Haters Need to Give it a Rest

Yes, the Minnesota Vikings have dropped three of their last four, all on the road, and are staring a wild card match right in the face.

They were 10-1, Brett Favre and the offense were clicking, and this team was thinking Super Bowl.

But then, as so many Favre-haters had predicted, the previously unbeatable Favre began his “late-season fade” and had his worst game of the season against the Arizona Cardinals.

That game prompted articles galore against Favre, suggesting it was “merely the beginning,” and that the end would be near. Read more…

NFL Updates: Anthony Gonzalez Suffers New Setback

Colts receiver Anthony Gonzalez has been out since week one, when he sustained a non-contact knee sprain. Gonzalez had reportedly had a minor clean-up procedure weeks into his rehab, which set him back and made his return before Week 12 unlikely.

Two weeks later, reports are emerging that Gonzalez went under the knife again, and that he may not even be available for the post-season. Read more…