Packers give GM Thompson extension after Super Bowl win
The Green Bay Packers announced Friday that they have signed general manager Ted Thompson to a multiyear extension. Head coach Mike McCarthy might be next.
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Packers president Mark Murphy last week said extending Thompson's and McCarthy's deals, which were scheduled to expire in 2012, was a priority following Sunday's 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
"This is a great organization, and I am very humbled and appreciative," Thompson said in a statement released by the team. "Green Bay is a special place, and I am honored to work with such a great group of people that have all contributed to our success."
Murphy said Friday the organization is thrilled to keep Thompson, 58, after working on and reaching an agreement on a new contract in December. The terms of the deal weren't disclosed.
Of Green Bay's 53 active players against Pittsburgh, 49 were acquired by Thompson, 26 through the draft.
Report: Patriots 'definitely' will franchise tag Mankins
The New England Patriots "definitely" will place a franchise tag on Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins, the Boston Herald reported Friday.
The move, in essence, would prolong the negotiating period between Mankins and the Patriots, who have been engaged in a rocky contract dispute since before last season.
Mankins said earlier this month that he believes the Patriots are unlikely to be involved in any bidding wars.
"I would never say the door is totally shut," he said. "But the way it's looking right now, I don't see it happening. I don't see them trying to keep me, unless it's with the franchise tag."
Mankins was a restricted free agent following the 2009 season, and he and the team couldn't agree on a contract. The six-year veteran eventually signed a reduced tender offer in November and returned for the final nine regular-season games to accrue another season in order to qualify for unrestricted free agency this offseason.
Mankins, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, has never missed a start in games he was eligible to play in with the Patriots since 2005.
Titans reportedly want to interview Bears' Tice for OC job
New Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak would like to interview Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice for his vacant offensive coordinator job, the Chicago Tribune reported Sunday, citing a league source.
Could Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice be in line for a promotion -- to Titans offensive coordinator?
Could Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice be in line for a promotion -- to Titans offensive coordinator? (Rob Grabowski/US Presswire)
Munchak didn't mention Tice, but he told the Tennessean on Saturday night that he'd like his staff in place before the NFL Scouting Combine starts Feb. 23.
"Once a coordinator falls into place here, the same thing will happen with the spots left (on the offensive staff)," Munchak said after hiring defensive coordinator Jerry Gray.
Tice, who was the Minnesota Vikings' head coach from 2001 to 2005, is widely credited with helping resurrect a suspect Bears offensive line on the way to Chicago winning the NFC North Division title and advancing to the NFC Championship Game.
Tice has one year remaining on his contract, and it's unclear if the Bears will grant permission for him to interview with the Titans, even though the offensive coordinator job would be a promotion.
The Titans were rebuffed by the New York Jets last week in their pursuit of Jets assistant head coach-offensive line coach Bill Callahan, ESPN reported.
"The last four or five days, I've realized how hard (putting a staff together is)," Munchak told the Tennessean. "There are a lot of good coaches out there, but unfortunately you can’t talk to all of them because they’re under contract.
"You want to get it done, but you don't want to make any bad decisions because you're in a hurry. That's what we're trying to avoid is getting too worried about getting it done."
The Tribune asserted that the Bears could offer Tice an assistant head coach position to keep him.
Bears general manger Jerry Angelo has called Tice one of the league's best line coaches. Should Tice be allowed to interview in Tennessee and subsequently leave, the Bears would scramble to replace him because most teams already have hired their staffs for 2011.
Bratkowski agrees to terms with Falcons to coach Ryan, QBs
Bob Bratkowski, the former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator, has agreed to terms to become the Atlanta Falcons' new quarterbacks coach, the team announced Saturday.
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Bratkowski, fired by the Bengals last month after serving as their coordinator since 2001, replaces former Falcons quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave, who was hired as offensive coordinator by the Minnesota Vikings in January.
"Obviously it's a quality organization from the top down. It's a winning organization," Bratkowski told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday.
Bratkowski, who worked with quarterback Carson Palmer in Cincinnati, now will guide Matt Ryan, who went to the Pro Bowl for the first time after throwing for 3,705 yards and 28 touchdowns with nine interceptions in 16 starts for the 13-3 Falcons this past season.
"Obviously to coach a quarterback like Matt Ryan and be on a quality staff in the NFL is very attractive," Bratkowski told the newspaper.
Steelers LB Harrison set for Monday surgery on right shoulder
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison said he is scheduled to undergo surgery on his right shoulder Monday.
"Should only be down 4 to 6 weeks," Harrison tweeted Friday.
Harrison injured the shoulder during the Steelers' AFC divisional-playoff victory over the Baltimore Ravens, but he played in Super Bowl XLV, recording one tackle and one sack in the 31-25 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
The four-time Pro Bowl linebacker was unhappy with his performance in the title game.
"I don't feel anything but pain," he said after the game.
Harrison comes off another impressive season in which he had 10.5 sacks. He's a problem for receivers and tight ends coming across the middle, and for offensive linemen trying to protect their quarterbacks. Harrison was fined $100,000 by the NFL for illegal hits this season.
Harrison was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year after the 2008 season, and he capped that campaign with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII.
Munchak hires ex-teammate Gray to lead Titans' defense
Titans coach Mike Munchak filled one of the biggest openings on his staff by hiring Jerry Gray away from the University of Texas to become Tennessee's defensive coordinator.
Jerry Gray (above) replaces Chuck Cecil, who was fired in January, as the Titans' defensive coordinator.
Jerry Gray (above) replaces Chuck Cecil, who was fired in January, as the Titans' defensive coordinator. (Kevin Terrell/Associated Press)
The Titans announced the move Saturday.
"Jerry has a number of qualities that I think are assets for this role: he played the game, he coached a position group and he has coordinating experience," Munchak said in a statement released by the team. "I respected him as a player and coach, and he was someone that I knew right away that I wanted to talk to about the position.
"It was evident to me during (the) interview process that he will fit well with us -- he is familiar with our system and the type of players that we have on the roster. He is a great teacher and a great person, and I think the players will respond well to his style."
Gray was hired by Texas, his alma mater, to be defensive backs coach and assistant head coach to Mack Brown last month. He was due to make $425,000, but the Titans job meant at least doubling that for this season.
Gray said in a statement that he knows the timing of this move isn't ideal.
"But this was something that I couldn't turn down," said Gray, who played with Munchak during the 1992 season for the then-Houston Oilers.
Gray flew into Nashville on Friday to interview for the Titans' job and remained in Tennessee on Saturday, a league source told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora.
Gray replaces Chuck Cecil, who was fired in January, one week before the Titans and head coach Jeff Fisher parted ways. Gray, the secondary coach for the Seattle Seahawks this past season, has coached at the NFL level for 14 years.
"I am excited to have this opportunity," Gray said in the Titans' statement. "I have known Mike for a number of years, and if he is a head coach like he was a player or a position coach, we are going to be in great shape, because he has had so much success (in) everything he does. I am looking forward to really getting to know our personnel on defense and creating a defense that takes advantage of our strengths.
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"I am an old-school guy that likes to get after the opponent, but you also have to have the players to (do) that -- you can't force those things. Our defense will fit what we can do well."
A two-time All-American at Texas, Gray was a four-time Pro Bowl pick during his nine NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, Oilers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He started his coaching career with the then-Tennessee Oilers in 1997 as defensive quality control assistant when Munchak was promoted to offensive line coach.
Gray was promoted to secondary coach in 1999 and 2000. Defensive backs Samari Rolle and Blaine Bishop earned Pro Bowl honors in 2000 when the Titans ranked first in the NFL in fewest yards passing and total yards allowed.
Gray left in 2001 with Gregg Williams for Buffalo as defensive coordinator through 2005. Gray's Bills defenses in 2003 and 2004 ranked second in the NFL in each season for yards allowed. Both defenses ranked in the top 10 in points allowed. In 2004, the Bills led the NFL with 39 takeaways and were fifth in red-zone defense.
Gray coached the secondary in Washington between 2006 and 2009 before moving to Seattle for the 2010 season.
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Munchak was announced as Fisher's replacement Monday, and he has spent the week shaping the staff that will work beside him in 2011. He fired offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger and two other assistants Tuesday and hired friend and former teammate Bruce Matthews to coach the offensive line Thursday. Matthews had agreed to, but not signed, a two-year contract with the Houston Texans.
Munchak has several openings left to fill including offensive coordinator, running backs assistant, defensive line and a couple of other assistants.
Munchak was forced to cross a possible offensive coordinator off his list when the Jets reportedly denied the Titans the chance to interview Bill Callahan, the former Oakland Raiders coach who currently serves as New York's offensive line coach and also has the title of assistant head coach.
