T.O. Meets With Broncos

The AP is reporting that Terrell Owens and his agent visited Denver on Monday to meet with coach Mike Shanahan - to see if he might be a fit with the Broncos.

Owens is under contract with Philadelphia, but the Eagles have given him permission to seek a trade.

Denver is a suitor, and a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press the volatile receiver had a good meeting with Shanahan.

Let the games begin!

Green Replaces Brady On AFC Roster

Chiefs quarterback Trent Green was put on the AFC's Pro Bowl roster Friday, replacing injured New England quarterback Tom Brady.

It was the second Pro Bowl selection for Green, who also made the AFC team after the 2003 season.

Green threw for 4,014 yards and 17 touchdowns this past season, completing 62 percent (317-for-502) of his throws.

He finished the year with a 90.1 quarterback rating, his fourth straight 90-plus season. Green is the only active quarterback to do that and only the third in NFL history behind Steve Young and Brett Favre.

Seahawks Man-Handle Panthers

The toothless Panthers were blown-out by the Seahawks Sunday 34-14. The offense scored the points, but it was the tenacious Seattle D that focused on keeping WR Steve Smith under wraps - and the Panthers offense with few other options.

With Carolina's top RB Foster out with an injury, the Seahawks clamped down on Smith, the NFL's leading receiver this season, forcing the Panthers to search all over the field for someone else to step up. But without any running backs, and a young receiving corps used to watching Smith do all the work, there was no one.

Super Bowl XL: Steelers vs. Seahawks

Steelers Are Headed To Detroit!

Pittsburgh will makes it's first Super Bowl appearance since 1995. The Steelers earned their trip by becoming the first team to win three "away" playoff games since the Patriots did it in 1985.

It is clear that the Steelers are ready - now we only have to wait a few more hours to see who they will face in Super Bowl 40.

Coaching Changes Hard To Follow

It has become clear that Mike Martz was not as hot of a commodity as many outside football have thought. It is now being reported that Martz may sit out a year as he has been passed over for all 7 of the head coaching positions already filled.

Martz is in the process of putting his St. Louis County home on the market. He plans on leaving in about a week for San Diego, where he has a second home, to spend time there.

To find out about all of the recent coaching changes, check out this update from nfl.com

DeShaun Foster Breaks Ankle In Chicago

Carolina Panther RB DeShaun Foster broke his right ankle in Sunday's match-up between Carolina and Chicago - effectively ending his season. The Panthers go to Seattle next week to play for the NFC championship.

"It's disappointing. DeShaun was doing so well. But he'll be back," Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme said.

Nick Goings replaced Foster in the line-up, and will be called to action next week against the Seahawks. DeShaun was injured early in the second half on a tackle by Bear LB Hunter Hillenmeyer.

Panthers Pro Bowl DE Julius Peppers was injured in the fourth quarter with what appeared to be a shoulder injury.

Brett Favre's New Reason To Retire...

The AP reports that the Green Bay Packers and Mike McCarthy were nearing a deal to make him their next head coach Wednesday night, a person involved in the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet complete, expected the team to finalize an agreement with the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator on Thursday.

McCarthy was the Packers' quarterbacks coach in 1999, working with Brett Favre when the team went 8-8 under Ray Rhodes.

McCarthy, 42, was the New Orleans Saints' offensive coordinator from 2000-04 before going to San Francisco. The 49ers finished 4-12 this pasts season.

Fantasy Football Impact: Brett might be familiar with McCarthy - but we have seen just how imaginative he is offensively with the 49ers. If that isn't another reason for Brett to retire - I don't know what is!

Ex-VT QB Vick Arrested On Firearms Charges

It has been reported that former Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick, booted from the team last week for his behavior on and off the field, was charged Monday with pulling a gun on three teenagers during an altercation in a restaurant parking lot.

Vick surrendered at the Suffolk magistrate's office after three warrants were issued for his arrest Sunday, Magistrate Lisa Noel said.

The 21-year-old Vick was charged with three misdemeanor counts of brandishing a firearm, and was released on $10,000 bond.

Police said the parents of a 17-year-old boy reported that Vick pointed a weapon at their son and two others during an altercation at a McDonald's in Suffolk, a southeastern Virginia city where Vick's mother lives, Sunday night.

If convicted of all three counts, Vick could be sentenced to up to three years in jail and a $7,500 fine, police spokeswoman Lt. Debbie George said in a statement.

Report: Texas QB Young To Turn Pro

Texas QB Vince Young apparently has decided he has nothing left to prove on the collegiate level.

According to a report in the Dallas Morning News, Young will declare for the NFL draft on Sunday afternoon, four days after the quarterback led Texas to its first national championship in 35 seasons.

Vikings' Name New Coach

Zygi Wilf was looking for more than just a winner when he interviewed candidates for the Minnesota Vikings' coaching vacancy.

After a first season as an NFL owner littered with ticket scalping, Whizzinators and scandalous boat parties off the field, and a disappointing 9-7 record on it, Wilf wanted a steadying presence.

Philadelphia offensive coordinator Brad Childress was hired Friday to replace the fired Mike Tice, whose four-season tenure was plagued by player malfeasance and only moderate success.

"Coach Childress was the elite NFL head coaching candidate," Wilf said. "He embodies class, character and discipline and is a great family man. Bottom line, Brad Childress is a winner."

Childress, who signed a five-year guaranteed contract, knows what lies ahead. He quoted former football coach Gene Stallings that, "the fun in this business is winning." But he added a caveat.

"The mandate is clear, however, that it needs to be done with the class and dignity that the Wilf family exudes," said Childress, dressed for the part in a purple tie and Vikings lapel pin.

More Coaches Bite The Dust

NFL.COM Reports:

Mike Martz was fired as coach of the St. Louis Rams after missing most of the season because of a heart ailment.

The Rams started the season 2-3 before Martz was sidelined with an infection of the heart lining. Joe Vitt replaced him for the rest of the season, which ended on New Year's Day with a 20-10 win over Dallas that left the team at 6-10.

Martz coached the Rams for more than five seasons, leading them to playoffs four times and to the Super Bowl after the 2001 season. The Rams lost the title game to New England.

and

The Saints fired coach Jim Haslett, the day after ending a 3-13 season overshadowed by the hurricane that devastated New Orleans and forced the team to abandon the city.

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said Jim Haslett was relieved of his duties Jan. 2 morning, and that general manager Mickey Loomis would discuss the situation at a news conference.

Haslett, the 2000 NFL Coach of the Year after leading the Saints to the only playoff victory in team history, had one year left on his contract. He was 45-51 in six seasons with New Orleans and had the second-most victories in team history behind Jim Mora's 93.

and

Green Bay fired coach Mike Sherman Jan. 2, a day after the Packers finished their worst season in 15 years.

"At the end of the day I felt like we needed to go in a different direction," Packers general manager Ted Thompson said at a news conference.

Mike Sherman is gone after one subpar season in Green Bay.
The Packers closed their season with a win over Seattle Jan. 1 as Brett Favre threw his first touchdown pass in five games, but finished with a 4-12 record.

Sherman's first five years brought success but not another title in Green Bay. His record was 53-27 in the regular season, which was good enough to tie Steelers coach Bill Cowher for fifth among NFL coaches in their first 80 games. Sherman finished 57-39 in six seasons.

Texans To Fire Capers

NFL.com states: The Houston Texans will fire coach Dom Capers, but will retain general manager Charley Casserly, a person close to the organization told The Associated Press.

The Texans plan to make the announcement Jan. 2, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The team lost to the San Francisco 49ers to finish the season 2-14, the worst record in the NFL and the worst record in the Texans' four-season history.

Dom Capers will reportedly not return for the Texans.
The firing would make the second time Capers, 55, has been released from an expansion team in its fourth season. He was let go by the Carolina Panthers in 1998.

Vikings Fire Tice

ESPN is reporting that Mike Tice's tumultuous tenure in Minnesota is over. The Vikings fired the coach following the team's 34-10 victory over the Bears. The Vikings finished 9-7 this season.