Pittsburgh Steelers 01/23/2007 9:14 AMThe Post-Gazette reports Mike Tomlin, formally introduced as the Steelers' third head coach in 38 years, went to work quickly on his staff, hiring both coordinators. He confirmed that Dick LeBeau will remain as his defensive coordinator, and he promoted Bruce Arians from coaching the wide receivers to his offensive coordinator. Tomlin, 34, has plenty more work to do, and he'll begin today in Mobile, Ala., where he will join what's left of Bill Cowher's old staff for Senior Bowl practices, scouting college players. One coach who won't return was the runner-up to Tomlin in the 16-day search for Cowher's replacement. Russ Grimm, the team's assistant head coach and offensive line coach, will be granted a release from his contract with the Steelers at his request. Grimm could join new Cardinals HC Ken Whisenhunt in Arizona, but also could entertain other offers.Read more
Houston Texans 01/23/2007 9:10 AMThe Houston Chronicle reports the Texans continued tweaking their coaching staff Monday. Larry Kirksey, an NFL assistant for nine years, will coach the wide receivers, and Jethro Franklin will coach the defensive line. Franklin was fired by Tampa Bay earlier this month after one season as defensive line coach. He was an assistant with Green Bay from 2000-04. Kirksey coached the wide receivers in San Francisco, Detroit and Jacksonville before his most recent stint as the assistant head coach/running backs for Middle Tennessee. He was an assistant head coach at Texas A&M in 2000.Read more
Chicago Bears 01/23/2007 9:06 AMThe Chicago Sun-Times reports one man has the power to deny DT Terry "Tank" Johnson what might be his life's most glorious moment. By this morning, Cook County Judge John J. Moran is expected to tell the Chicago lineman whether he may travel to Miami to play in the Super Bowl -- and whether he'll be allowed to stick around to party afterward. "If the judge is convinced [Johnson] will come back for the parade after they win, then he will let him go," speculated veteran Cook County criminal defense attorney, Barry A. Spector.Read more
New York Jets 01/23/2007 9:03 AMThe Star-Ledger reports Bill Parcells might have retired as head coach of the Cowboys yesterday, but -- if history is any indication -- that doesn't mean he's done with the NFL. And while the Giants yesterday ruled out a reunion with the franchise's lone Super Bowl-winning coach -- "No" was Giants president John Mara's to-the-point answer to whether the Giants had any interest in Parcells in any capacity -- the Jets front office would seem to be a logical landing place for Parcells to put the finishing touches on his Hall of Fame career.Read more
