Honolulu Star-Bulletin from Honolulu, Hawaii • 22

B8 THE NFL HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2006 AROUND THE AFC Associated Press A A S.SJ c) tJk ASSOCIATED PRESS Tiki Barber rumbled for a franchise-record 1,860 yards losing out on the rushing title to the Seahawks' Shaun Alexander. Carolina talking up Tiki The focus will be on the Giants' running back in Sundays NFL wild-card playoffs AROUND THE NFC Associated Press ATLANTA FALCONS I Quarterback Michael Vkk will have a new position coach In 2006 after Mike Johnson was fired yesterday. "1 have decided not to extend Mike Johnson's contract," coach Jim Mora said. "Mike has worked hard as our quarterbacks coach for the last two seasons and we wish him the very best in the future." Among Johnson's possible successors could be third-string quarterback Ty Detmer, a 14-year NFL veteran who may retire. Detmer, who won the 1990 Helsman Trophy at Brigham Young, hasn't taken a snap since 2001.

Mora declined to comment on Detmer's playing status. Johnson, 38, coached the Atlanta receivers In 2002 before taking over quarterbacks the following season. Vick, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, worked closely with Johnson In 2003, but the coach's role changed when Mora was hired two years ago and brought offensive coordinator Greg Knapp with him from San Francisco. Mora also announced that strength and conditioning coaches Al Miller and Rocky Colburn won't return. CHICAGO BEARS Ron Rivera did such a good job this season molding the Chicago Bears' defense and helping the team reach the playoffs that he could be on the verge of a big promotion.

Rivera, the Bears' defensive coordinator, acknowledged yesterday he'll meet with the St. Louis Rams about their head coaching vacancy this week. And there are other teams, perhaps the Packers, also interested in talking to Rivera, who helped develop the league's stingiest defense In just his second season in the post. "There is one confirmed," Rivera said of teams Interested in speaking with him. He mentioned the Rams but wouldn't Identify the others.

There are eight vacancies In the NFL A linebacker on the Bears' only Super Bowl team o( 1985, Rivera's coaching resume includes two seasons in charge of defensive quality control with the Bears, five years as linebackers coach of the Eagles and the last two under Lovie Smith as defensive coordinator. "1 think as a coach the ultimate goal obviously is to be a head coach. And you do have to look at the opportunities, where you fit. Does that place In particular fit you?" Rivera said. GREEN BAY PACKERS San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillip will interview for the Green Bay Packers' vacant coaching job Monday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Phillips, who just concluded his second year as an assistant to Chargers coach Marty Schottenhelmer, was the Buffalo Bills' coach from 1998-2000. He also was Denver's coach from 1993-94 and twice has served as an interim head coach, in New Orleans and Atlanta. Phillips is one of several candidates expected to be interviewed by Packers general manager Ted Thompson, who fired coach Mike Sherman on Monday. I NEW YORK GIANTS Tight end Jeremy Shockey practiced on his Injured ankle for the first time In more than a week yesterday. But linebacker Antonio Pierce remained in a cast and sounded doubtful he would return from his high ankle sprain.

"I'm definitely not 100 percent," Shockey said before taking part in individual drills with his left ankle heavily taped. "We'll just see how it goes this week. I'm going to do a little bit today and hopefully a little more tomorrow and keep building It up." Shockey was hurt in the Giants' 35-20 loss at Washington on Dec. 24 and missed last Saturday's 30-21 win at Oakland that clinched the NFC East for New York. Yesterday he laid to rest any rumors he was benched for the Raiders game to save him for this Sunday's playoff game against Carolina.

"There was no way I could have played last week," he said. "I could barely walk. It was a legitimate injury and that's why I didn't play." BUFFALO BILLS President Tom Donahoe is out, coach Mike Mularkey's job Is safe, and guess who might be coming back? Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy, this time as general manager. Bills owner Ralph Wilson yesterday wasted little time delivering on a vow to restructure his front office. The decisions came days after the underachieving Bills finished 5-11 and missed the playoffs for a sixth straight season.

Offensive coordinator Tom dements was also fired, his agent, Gary O'Hagan, told The Associated Press. Mularkey declined to discuss any changes to his staff. "I want to apologize to the fans of Buffalo, we haven't done a very good Job for them," Wilson said. "I take responsibility of this organization, and if there's any bullets to be fired, you should fire them at me. However, in Tom's leaving, it is my feeling that we need a fresh start." HOUSTON TEXANS Miami offensive coordinator Scott Unehan wants to use the lessons he learned working with Dolphins coach Nick Saban to help turn around the Houston Texans.

Unehan was in Houston on yesterday to interview for the job left vacant when Dom Capers was fired after the Texans finished their season with an NFL-worst record of 2-14. Miami won its last six games this season to finish 9-7, a ftve-game Improvement from the previous year. Unehan said he saw Saban transform the "culture and attitude of the team." "Those are some of the things that are going to have to be addressed here and hopefully those would be some of the lessons I've been able to learn and maybe draw upon for this franchise," Llnehan said. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Linebacker Mike Peterson missed a second day of practice yesterday, but said his sprained right wrist will not prevent him from playing against New England in the playoffs Saturday night. Peterson injured his wrist Sunday against Tennessee when he dragged quarterback Matt Mauck down from behind in the first half.

He has worn a cast the last three days and probably will play with some type of protective sheath against the Patriots. "It's not a real big issue to me," he said. "I think the trainers and doctors are making more out of it than It Is. I'm feeling good. I'm going to be out there.

What I'm going to be out there with, I don't know. But I'm going to be out there." Defensive ends Reggie Hayward (hamstring) and Paul Splcer (broken hand) also missed practice yesterday and said they would play Saturday. Kansas crnr chiefs NEW YORK Herman Edwards is close to becoming the next Chiefs coach. Kansas City and the Jets discussed a compensation package for Ed- wards yesterday, a person close to the situation said. Another person familiar with the negotiations said the talks were almost completed.

Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. The Chiefs, rumored to be Interested in Edwards for the last two months, would have to give up draft picks to hire Edwards because he is still under contract with the Jets. Edwards has ties to the Kansas City organization and general manager Carl Peterson, and would replace retired coach Dick Vermeil. I PITTSBURGH STEELERS Former Steelers star Lynn Swann declared his candidacy for Pennsylvania governor yesterday in the city where he made his name in professional football. He told The Associated Press In an Interview yesterday afternoon that he made up his mind to run in the fall, after spending months weighing support at events around the state.

Swann, a Hall of Fame receiver and longtime TV football commentator, faces three other candidates in seeking the Republican nomination for governor his first run for political office. The winner of the May 16 primary likely would face Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, who Is expected to seek a second four-year term. By Jenna Fryer also led the league with 2,390 total yards the second most in league history behind Marshall Faulk's 2,429 for the St. Louis Rams in 1999.

What's most impressive is that his totals have come in his ninth season and in the same year he turned 30 the infamous mark where running backs are supposed to hit the downside of his career. Barber has done it all through hard work. "Tiki would come in there at 6 in the morning and leave at 6 in the evening he would watch every bit of film," Skipper said. "He was a great student of the game. He could tell you all the defenses and tell you what was going on.

He has made himself. He made himself an All-Pro." ONE THING BARBER has become this season is very hard to tackle. Watching him on film yesterday made the Panthers realize that it will take everyone's best effort to bring him down. "He's making more plays after the first or second hit," defensive end Al Wallace said. "He just squirms out of there.

When guys seem to relax, he pops out for 30 or 40 more yards. "He just never stops and when we get people to him, we're going to have to make sure we get him on the ground." But Barber is also dangerous In New York's passing game. He's caught 54 passes this season for 530 yards fourth best among the Giants and two touchdowns. So the Panthers will be watching, expecting to see Barber roll into the flat and remain the go-to guy of the offense. "He can change direction well and he just finds a way to get open," defensive end Mike Ruckersaid.

"There are times when he's actually not the first guy in the pass, but they just dump it off to him and he finds a way to get open," he added. "He'll turn the corner on people and turn something that should have been 3 or 4 yards into 15 or 20 and a touchdown. We can't let that happen." Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. If a blueprint existed on how to slow Tiki Barber, the Carolina Panthers would have it. Barber credits much of his NFL success to running backs coach Jim Skipper, who molded him during Barber's first five seasons with the New York Giants.

But Skipper is now in Carolina, giving the Panthers all the inside scoop he has on Barber in time for Sunday's playoff game against the Giants. "Jim's one of the architects of me as a player," Barber said. "They'll definitely have an in-depth scouting report on what I do and how I do it." Skipper downplayed his role in Barber's development yesterday and doubted he had much to offer Carolina's defense that it couldn't figure out on its own. "Hey, there's no secrets we've got the films and have watched every game he's played," Skipper said. "He's got outstanding balance.

He's a smart football player. He's got a lot of confidence. We're going to have to deal with him and make plays all that means is you can not halfway tackle him." Barber might be the most formidable running back the Panthers (1 1-5) have faced this season, and it comes at a time when its vaunted defensive line is under a tremendous amount of scrutiny. Carolina yielded an embarrassing 194 yards rushing to Dallas' Julius Jones, who had been having just an average season before he ran wild against the Panthers two weeks ago. The collapse was mortifying to a defense that prides itself on stopping the run and ranks fourth overall in the NFL at just 91.6 yards allowed.

It was imperative that they toughen up in time for last week's finale against Atlanta, which boasted the best running game in the league. The Panthers responded by holding the Falcons to 26 yards in their 44-11 victory, but it's unclear if they got Atlanta's best effort. INJURY REPORT Associated Press SATURDAY Washington Redskins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Red-: skins: QUESTIONABLE: CB Shawn Springs (groin). PROBA-' Renaldo Wynn (foot). Buccaneers: OUT: WR Michael Clayton (hjrf toe).

QUESTIONABLE SJermaine Phillips (knee). PROBABLE: DE Simeon Rice (illness). Jacksonville Jaquars at New England Patriots Jaguars: QUESTIONABLE: DP Reggie Hayward (hamstring): LB Mike Peterson (wrist); DE Paul" Spicer (hand). PROBABLE: RB Rich Alexis (groin); RB Greg Jones (neck); QB Byron Left-wich (ankle); CB Kenny Wright (knee). Patriots: QUESTIONABLE: LB Tedy Bruschi (calf); DT Mike Wright (ankle).

PROBABLE: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder); RB Corey Dillon (calf); RB Heath Evans (shoulder); TE Christian Fauna (foot); TE Daniel Graham (shoulder); DE Jarvis Green (shoulder); CBArtrell Hawkins (thigh); WR Bethel Johnson (knee); Nick Kaczur (shoulder); RB Patrick Pass (hamstring); CB Asante Samuel (head). SUNDAY Carolina Panthers at New York Giants Panthers: QUESTIONABLE: RB DeShaun Foster (loe); RB Brad Hoover (ankle); LB Dan Morgan (shoulder); Tutan Reyes (toe); LB Brandon Short (knee). Giants: OUT: LB Antonio Pierce (ankle). DOUBTFUL: DE Eric Moore (hamstring); DT Fred Robbins (Hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: WR Tim Carter (hip); TE Jeremy Shockey (ankle); LB Reggie Torbor (hamstring).

PROBABLE: DT William Joseph (ankle). Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals Steelers: QUESTIONABLE: LB Andre Frazier (hamstring); DE Travis Kirschke (back). PROBABLE: LB James Harrison Chidi hvuoma (shoulder); QB Ben Roethlisberger (right thumb); CB DesheaTownsend (knee). Bengals: PROBABLE: Eric Ghiaciuc (back); WR Chris Henry (back); Levi Jones (shoulder); RB Nicolas Luchey (knee); CB Deltha O'Neal -(knee); DT Bryan Robinson (foot); DT Shaun Smith (knee). Regardless, it equaled a bottom line total the Panthers needed to see.

"I believe it was an even effort from Atlanta and I think that's what we needed to do," defensive tackle Jordan Carstens said. "It was something we set out to do, to try to get back out there and have the best performance we can." CAROLINA WILL NEED to duplicate the effort against Barber, who emerged as an MVP candidate with one of the most complete sea'sons of his career. Barber ran for a franchise-record 1,860 yards this season, losing out on the rushing title by just 20 yards to Seattle's Shaun Alexander. He A) ASSOCIATED A Seahawks' Alexander easily wins MVP honor Smith and Comeback Associated Press NEW YORK Tedy Bruschi didn't get a chance to tackle Steve Smith when the Patriots played the Panthers in September. By midseason, he'd made a remarkable comeback from a stroke and was starting for New England.

Bruschi's return was as impressive as Smith's achievement of returning from a broken left leg that cost the Carolina receiver nearly all of the 2004 season. Today, they shared The Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year award. The Patriots' star linebacker and defensive leader made it back on Oct. 30 after originally expecting to sit out the entire schedule. By then, Smith was on his way to leading the NFL in most receiving categories.

Both sparked their teams into the playoffs. "I'm a football player by trade. That's what I do," Bruschi said. As did Smith. PRESS Bruschi share Player award "I keep stressing that last year put everything In perspective," Smith said.

"I felt like football was my whole life. When it was taken away from me, I felt the Lord was teaching me a lesson to not put all my eggs in one basket. That's why I am enjoying playing." Their teams surely enjoyed their contributions, which earned 18 votes each from a nationwide panel of 50 sportswrit-ers and broadcasters who cover the league. That easily outdistanced Washington quarterback Mark Brunell with six. The 32-year-old Bruschi played nine games after recovering from the mild stroke suffered in February, days after playing in his first Pro Bowl and 10 days after helping the Patriots win their third Super Bowl in four years.

Smith tied for the most receptions in the league with 103 and led all receivers with 1,563 yards. He scored 13 touchdowns, and also ranked third in the NFC in punt return average (10.6 yards). award. "The way I always looked at MVPs was it was a player that did really, really good on a really, really good team. That is why I am even more excited about this year, because I have put together some great numbers, but we have a great team." Those great numbers included 11 games rushing for 100 yards or more, topped by 173 against Arizona on Nov.

6. He scored 27 TDs on the ground and one as a receiver to break Priest Holmes' seasonal record by one. His lowest output was in a Monday night game in Philadelphia, a 42-0 romp in which he played only the first half and had 49 yards in the snow. Alexander became the only player in NFL history with at least 15 TDs in five straight seasons and the fourth with consecutive 20-touchdown years. He became Seattle's career rushing leader this season.

"It's just like all the things the rushing title, the MVP, all those things it's exciting to talk about," he said. Associated Press NEW YORK Shaun Alexander set an NFL record for touchdowns, led the league in rushing and ran away with The Associated Press Most Valuable Player award today. And with free agency on the horizon, the Seattle running back could parlay his sensational year into unprecedented riches. Alexander spearheaded the Seahawks' rise to the best record in the NFC, 13-3, including a victory over the league's only 14-2 team, the Colts. It was the most productive season in Seahawks history, one in which Alexander scored 28 touchdowns and rushed for 1,880 yards.

That earned him 19 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. He ended the two-year reign of Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, who received 13 votes. "1 think that Is a team goal," Alexander said of winning the Seattle tailback Shaun Alexander scored 28 touchdowns and ran for 1,880 yards for the Seahawks this season..