Atlanta Falcons 01/03/2007 8:19 AMThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the Falcons wasted little time beginning their search to replace fired HC Jim Mora as they received permission Tuesday to speak to Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, according to a person familiar with the situation. The Falcons would not comment. President and GM Rich McKay said he was too busy working through the search process and directed all questions about the search and other team issues to vice president of communications Reggie Roberts.Read more
Miami Dolphins 01/03/2007 8:16 AMThe Palm Beach Post reports the HC Nick Saban soap opera had a cliffhanger ending Tuesday. Passionate fans of the Dolphins and the University of Alabama spent the day waiting to hear whether he would stay in Miami or coach the Crimson Tide. But Saban opted to put off his decision until 10 a.m. today. Take your time, Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga said. "Coach asked if we could defer the decision until 10 o'clock ... and then he went into several reasons as to why he wanted to do that," Huizenga said after emerging from a late-afternoon meeting with Saban at the team's training facility. "I agree 100 percent with his reasons. I understand more now what he's thinking about and so I am happy to give him until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning."Read more
Cincinnati Bengals 01/03/2007 8:11 AMThe Dayton Daily News reports Bengals HC Marvin Lewis heard his players' plea for change. His answer is to crack the whip with more discipline. Lewis said Tuesday he won't just hit players in the wallet with monetary fines for their future misbehavior. He'll bench them. He believes the tighter reins will help clean up the mistakes on Sundays in the fall. "We've tried to allow guys to grow â both mature as men and mature as players," Lewis said. "But the thing we continue to find is they've got to be constantly coached, policed and corrected. So that at times of adversity, we can do the right things. I think that's important as a team. "They long for that from me to be the hard (guy) all the time in certain areas. So we'll make sure I give them what they want."Read more
Indianapolis Colts 01/02/2007 7:44 PMAP reports Colts S Bob Sanders is expected to play Saturday when the team opens the playoffs against Kansas City. Sanders said Tuesday his injured knee was feeling better than it has in weeks and planned to practice this week. "I feel good," he said. "This whole week has been making sure I'm able to strengthen it [the knee], and as long as I can do that, I should be OK."Read more
