Daily Archives: December 31st, 2012

Cardinals fire coach Whisenhunt, GM Graves (The Associated Press)

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals have fired coach Ken Whisenhunt after six seasons that included the long-suffering franchise’s only Super Bowl appearance.

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Cardinals fire coach Whisenhunt, GM Graves (The Associated Press)

AP Source: McCoy to talk with Bears, Cardinals (The Associated Press)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy will interview for the vacant head coaching positions with the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals this week.

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AP Source: McCoy to talk with Bears, Cardinals (The Associated Press)

Trindon Holliday could be the most perfect football player in NFL history (Shutdown Corner)

Trindon Holliday is three wins away from being the answer to one of the great trivia questions in NFL history: the only player ever to go undefeated in a 19-game season . Holliday, a Broncos kick return specialist, is the beneficiary of fortunate circumstance: he played his first five games for the Houston Texans, who went 5-0 over that span. But Houston waived Holliday; Denver then picked him up, and proceeded to go 11-0 to close out the season. Talk about your lucky charms, huh? Even if Holliday only scored one touchdown all season, you can’t argue with the numbers. Denver now has to win only three games for Holliday to go 19-0 over a season, something that no team, not even the 1972 Dolphins, has ever accomplished. Those Dolphins were 17-0, playing in an era of 14-game seasons. (Funny how they never mention that when they break out the champagne every time the last undefeated team of each season loses.) The New England Patriots went undefeated in the regular season and won two games in the playoffs before the New York Giants and Manning-to-Tyree derailed them in the Super Bowl. [Hat tip: The Phinsider .] -Follow Jay Busbee on Twitter at @jaybusbee .-

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Trindon Holliday could be the most perfect football player in NFL history (Shutdown Corner)

Redskins’ Shanahan shows he still has the touch (The Associated Press)

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The Washington Redskins are back in the playoffs. That means Mike Shanahan is, too.

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Redskins’ Shanahan shows he still has the touch (The Associated Press)

Broncos go from joke to contender in 2 years (The Associated Press)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Two years ago, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen sent out a letter to season ticket holders. ”You deserve more from this franchise,” he wrote.

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Broncos go from joke to contender in 2 years (The Associated Press)

Titans owner keeping Mike Munchak as his coach (The Associated Press)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Titans owner Bud Adams is keeping Mike Munchak as his head coach for another year, but fired chief operating officer Mike Reinfeldt after the franchise’s second 6-10 season in three years.

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Titans owner keeping Mike Munchak as his coach (The Associated Press)

Chargers’ decision a year late

Dean Spanos made the right decision Monday. It’s too bad it was a year too late. Time is precious in the NFL and the Chargers will never got back th…

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Chargers’ decision a year late

Patriots’ McDaniels not eager to leave again (The SportsXchange)

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left the franchise once, but it might take a home-run offer to get him to do it again.

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Patriots’ McDaniels not eager to leave again (The SportsXchange)

Bears names: Mike McCoy, Keith Armstrong

In the hours since the Chicago Bears fired coach Lovie Smith, the names of two possible replacements have surfaced: Denver Broncos offensive coordinat…

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Bears names: Mike McCoy, Keith Armstrong

Broncos On Big Time Roll Heading Into The Playoffs

DENVER (AP) – The fans behind the south end zone who earlier had a great view of  Peyton Manning ‘s heart-skipping effort to tackle cornerback  Brandon Flowers  held up their index fingers as the final seconds ticked away on Denver’s 38-3 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs. “We’re No. 1!” It was an appropriate salute for two franchises whose fortunes couldn’t have been more different this year. With their biggest win ever over their AFC West rival, the Broncos (13-3) on Sunday secured the top seed in the AFC playoffs for the first time since John Elway was leading touchdown drives instead of cheers from his luxury suite. The Chiefs (2-14), well, they own the top pick in the NFL draft now. Manning guided Denver to its 11th straight win and made sure the only trip the Broncos will have to make on their road to a championship would be to New Orleans for the Super Bowl. They’ll open the playoffs at home the weekend of Jan. 12 against Baltimore, Cincinnati or Manning’s old team, the Colts. “I threw it OK today, I guess,” said the ever-modest Manning, who completed 23 of 29 passes for 304 yards and a 144.8 passer rating. He was within 41 yards of his career high when he donned a cap for the fourth quarter, yet another NFL record in his pocket – this marked his 73rd three-touchdown game, surpassing the record held by Brett Favre. Before he threw any of them, though, Manning had to race downfield to try to deny Flowers a touchdown after the Chiefs cornerback scooped up rookie Ronnie Hillman’s fumble at the Kansas City 24 in the first quarter. He didn’t get there, but he did slow him down enough to make Flowers cut back, and tight end  Joel Dreessen  dragged him down at the 12. After that, the Chiefs settled for a field goal and then watched the Broncos score the next 31 points. “Me, I’m telling him to get out of the way,”  Champ Bailey  said, echoing the sentiments of Broncos fans everywhere. “But the competitive nature of him is telling him to make the tackle. He stuck his neck out there.” His four-time surgically-repaired neck. “I didn’t get the tackle?” Manning deadpanned. “Dreessen hit him? That’s perfect. . I knew if I at least made them cut back, I thought somebody would be in there. I thought I got a hand on him though. Maybe a half? Can I get a half? Can we check with that? I thought I got a piece of him.” He’ll have to be satisfied with a season for the ages – at 36, coming off a year’s forced sabbatical, Manning put up numbers that were better than the average of the four years he won MVP honors. He finished the season with 4,659 yards, 37 touchdowns and a 105.8 passer rating, all second-best of his 15-year career, putting him in line for a fifth MVP award. “What he has done, to be coming off that type of rehab, that type of injury, at his position, in a new city, with a new team, I think it’s unprecedented,” coach John Fox said after his 100th win. “Historical would be the word I’d use.” Asked if he was a year ahead of where he thought he’d be in his comeback, Manning said, “I guess you could say that. I just didn’t know. I still think there are still things we can improve on. I still think there still are things that just take time, that you just can’t get done in a year.” Manning threw two touchdown passes to  Eric Decker  and one to  Demaryius Thomas . Each had a one-handed TD grab that gave the Broncos some otherworldly highlights to go with their home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. This was the second straight Sunday Manning used a grey-and-orange glove to prepare for the cold, playoff weather he could face at home the next two games. “You know, for wearing it for the first time in my entire football career, I guess you could say it’s been OK the past two weeks,” Manning said. Thanks to Houston’s 28-16 loss to Indianapolis before the Broncos kicked off, Denver will be the top seed for the sixth time. The Broncos made the Super Bowl four of the previous five times. Though the Chiefs gave the Broncos as tough a tussle as anyone during their 11-game winning streak – in a 17-9 loss last month – this wasn’t expected to be much of a game, and it wasn’t. “It’s been a gratifying regular season,” Manning said. “I will admit that. It is certainly more than I expected.” On the other end of the spectrum are the Chiefs, who finished with 119 yards of offense a week after running for 352 yards in what might have been coach Romeo Crennel’s farewell. Injuries and ineffective play derailed a team predicted to finish near the top of the AFC West before the season. They also faced adversity off the field as well, when  Jovan Belcher  killed his girlfriend before committing suicide at the team’s practice facility on Dec. 1. “I think the season finally caught up to these guys and I think it showed on the field,” Crennel said. NOTES: Chiefs RB  Jamaal Charles  ran for 53 yards to finish with 1,509. … The Broncos swept six games in the division for the first time since 1998 – the last time they won the Super Bowl. … Broncos S  Rahim Moore  got his first career sack and Miller had one to extend his team single season record to 18 1/2. … Hillman wasn’t seen against after his fumble.  Lance Ball  replaced him as  Knowshon Moreno ‘s backup and led the team with 66 yards on 15 carries. … Broncos QB  Brock Osweiler  threw his first NFL passes and finished 2 for 4 for 12 yards. “I’m not here just to hand off,” he said. – By Arnie Stapleton, AP Sports Writer (© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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Broncos On Big Time Roll Heading Into The Playoffs