Brady's gaudy stats, 14 wins add up to another AP honor

Tom Brady tore up the NFL with his precision passing and dynamic guidance of the New England Patriots' offense.

That was in 2007, when he ran away to a lopsided win in balloting for The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year award.

Ditto for 2010.

Brady won the honor Tuesday for the second time in the last four seasons. The record-setting quarterback, who had a string of 355 passes without being intercepted, received 21 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. He easily beat Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who garnered 11 votes.

Also a unanimous choice for the AP All-Pro team, Brady threw 36 touchdown passes and just four interceptions. When he won the award in 2007, Brady set an NFL mark with 50 touchdown passes -- with just eight interceptions -- as New England went undefeated in the regular season.

Brady doesn't sense much difference in the guy who took the Patriots to a 16-0 mark back then and a league-best 14-2 record this season.

"I feel our team really grew together over the course of the season. It was a privilege to be a part of this team," Brady said, according to The Associated Press. "My only disappointment is that we couldn't take advantage of our opportunity in the playoffs, but hopefully we learn from that and use it as motivation toward accomplishing our goals for next season."

What Brady is doing isn't much different: He's winning, and he's piling up dominant stats.

Brady led the NFL with a 111.0 passer rating. His 65.9 completion percentage was second to Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers -- by .1. Nobody came close to Brady's touchdown-to-interception differential: nearest was his former Patriots backup, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel, at plus-20.

Brady recorded his second-best marks for touchdown passes, completion percentage and passer rating -- only his 2007 numbers were better -- while throwing for 3,900 yards as the Patriots won the AFC East title and headed to the playoffs as the conference's top seed. New England was upset by the New York Jets in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Brady did so despite playing the season with a stress fracture in his right foot, which required offseason surgery.

"It's just something that's been lingering a little bit," Brady said on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access" after the award was announced. "But over the course of the season, a lot of players throughout the league, a lot of players on our team, deal with these type of injuries. I think part of having a little bit of mental toughness is putting those thoughts aside and still going out and trying to perform your best each week.

On NFL Network
Watch "NFL Total Access" (7 p.m. ET) during Super Bowl week for the exclusive reveal of The Associated Press' NFL player and coach awards.

Monday: Defensive Player of the Year
(Troy Polamalu)
Tuesday: Offensive Player of the Year
(Tom Brady)
Wednesday: Coach of the Year (TBA)
Friday: Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year (TBA)
Saturday: Comeback Player of the Year (TBA)
Sunday: Most Valuable Player (TBA)

"I have a great training staff and my friend, Alex (Guerrero), that works with me weekly, so I'm in great hands, and they were able to get me on the field feeling good and able to go out there and help our team win the AFC East, which we're all very proud of."

When not crediting everyone else, from Patriots coach Bill Belichick to his teammates to wife Gisele Bundchen or his hair stylist, Brady explains his success as a matter of experience.

"I've been here for a while, so I've seen our offense evolve," the 11-year veteran told The AP. "We do some different things now than we've done in the past. Ultimately, we're still trying to do the same thing, which is be productive and win games."

In the "NFL Total Access" interview, Brady credited the Patriots' offensive success to "a collective effort by the group of skill players that we have and the offensive line," said it was "a lot of fun each week trying to find different ways to utilize all those guys so we could go into the game feeling really good, feeling prepared with the game plan, understanding that if we just went out and executed, we were going to score some points."

Wide receiver Deion Branch, the 2005 Super Bowl MVP who returned to the Patriots in a midseason trade from the Seattle Seahawks, believes Brady gets his edge because he can be a nerd.

"Tom studies a lot," Branch said late in the season. "We get the bulk of it in the meeting rooms with just the players, when we sit down to go over the things that he's been looking at. It carries over to the practice field as well. Tom is a dork when it comes to that, so I'm going to leave that alone, but Tom is a dork in that meeting room."

A dork? Hardly a description often associated with a three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback who's married to a supermodel.

"Maybe, yeah," Brady said. "I could see that, you know? I'm flattered."

Also flattering: Brady is the only quarterback and only active player to win the award twice.

Brady is the sixth multiple winner of the award, which has been presented since 1972. The others are Earl Campbell, Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, Barry Sanders and Marshall Faulk. Campbell (1978-80) and Faulk (1999-2001) are three-time recipients.

Brady passed for 300 or more yards on four occasions this season, twice threw four touchdown passes -- in Week 12 against the Detroit Lions and Week 13 against the Jets -- and was intercepted by just two opponents. The Jets picked off Brady twice in their Week 2 victory, and the Baltimore Ravens had two in a Week 6 decision over the Patriots.

Brady, who failed to reach 4,000 passing yards after surpassing the mark three times in the previous five seasons, this season climbed to 19th on the NFL's career passing-yardage list (34,744) and into a tie for 10th, with Dave Kreig, for career touchdown throws (261).

Vick, the runner-up for the award, enjoyed a comeback season that led him to the Pro Bowl. After missing two seasons while serving a federal sentence for dogfighting, then sitting as a backup for the Eagles last season, Vick finished fourth in passer rating (career-best 100.2), threw 21 TD passes and just six interceptions, and rushed for 676 yards and nine scores.

Also receiving votes for NFL Offensive Player of the Year were Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (seven), Rivers (five), and Atlanta Falcons receiver Roddy White, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson (two each).

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Steelers great Bradshaw, QB Roethlisberger talk out issues

Terry Bradshaw repeatedly criticized Ben Roethlisberger during an offseason of trouble for the Pittsburgh Steelers' current quarterback.

Now, they say, it's all water under the bridge.

Roethlisberger revealed Tuesday that he and Bradshaw, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, mended their relationship after a recent sit-down. Bradshaw is in Texas to help FOX broadcast Super Bowl XLV, in which the Steelers will face the Green Bay Packers, and had a 25-minute interview with Roethlisberger for the network.

"We had a private talk before the interview," said Roethlisberger, who added that Bradshaw might have spoken a little too soon about the quarterback's situation. "A good talk. Everything's good."

Everything wasn't so good before the season, when Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a Georgia college student following a night of drinking in a Milledgeville, Ga., bar on March 5. Roethlisberger wasn't charged by Georgia authorities, but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell handed the quarterback a six-game suspension for violating the league's personal-conduct policy.

Before Goodell reduced the ban to four games, Bradshaw said he hoped the suspension would be upheld.

"Going to bars -- treating women like that; oh my God," Bradshaw told The Shreveport Times in September. "I pray they don't cut (his NFL suspension) to four games. I hope they leave it at six. There is no excuse for that. The egos get out of hand."

Those comments followed Bradshaw's April criticism of Roethlisberger, in which he ended: "Now he hates me forever."

What a difference time makes. Bradshaw told NFL Network's "NFL Total Access" on Tuesday that he and Roethlisberger -- the only Steelers quarterbacks to win Super Bowl titles -- had a "great" chat that lasted about 10 minutes before the interview.

"It was important that he know and the things that I say and why I say them," said Bradshaw, who has four Super Bowl rings compared to Roethlisberger's two. "It's important that we have a good relationship. I'm glad."

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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Jones' derring-do in building stadium offers NFL inspiration

DALLAS -- Jerry Jones knows a thing or two about big expectations. In a part of the country where thinking big is a way of life, the Cowboys' owner has experienced firsthand how visions of grandeur at once can be something to live up to and a humbling equalizer.

Jones began the season with two visions. First, that his palace in Arlington, Texas, affectionately known by some as "Jerry's World," would set the standard for football stadiums around the globe. And, second, that it would host his team in the Super Bowl, thus making the franchise the first to play the NFL's signature event in its own building, in front of its own fans.

And although Jones' football cathedral -- complete with its 160-foot high-definition video screen, retractable roof and 100,000-plus capacity -- has lived up to every expectation, his second vision never came close to reality as the 6-10 Cowboys fell woefully short of the playoffs, let alone the Super Bowl. And as Jones watched his team sputter to a 1-7 start, he learned a thing or two about resetting some rather Texas-sized expectations.

"I think I crossed that bridge after about six or seven games with the Cowboys this year," Jones said Tuesday. "So I had my expectations set early.

"We had a league meeting with all the owners, and I told them early in the fall ... the way we're stinking it up on the football field there in Dallas, I know the idea of being the first team to have ever played in its own Super Bowl has passed me by now."

Jones' dream of having the perfect team in the perfect home never materialized -- this season. But Cowboys Stadium seemingly exceeded every expectation set for it as host for one of the world's most popular sporting events. Even in the face of a rare ice storm the week of the game.

"When I was thinking about building this stadium -- the fact that we're sitting here today with some sleet on the streets, yet we know the kind of football game we're going to have for the world to see and for the 100-and-some-thousand-something fans to see -- the fact we know what's going to happen ... says what this is all about," Jones said. "And that stadium needed to be enclosed. It needed to come as close to being enclosed but feeling like it's outside as you can do, which was a goal. And all of that as a vision had the Super Bowl in mind."

Jones was, as always, able to hold his head high as he discussed not only what he thinks Cowboys Stadium means for Super Bowl XLV, but also what it bodes for the NFL's future.

Jones emphasized that his $1.2 billion stadium was constructed in the face of a recession. But instead of limiting the scope of what he could build, Jones chose to go bigger in much the same way the NFL is pushing forward with the idea of expanding to an 18-game regular season with a potential work stoppage on the horizon.

"Rather than scale back, I pushed the gas pedal and basically increased the scope of the stadium and increased the cost of the stadium," Jones said. "I did that -- you can say crazy -- but I did that because I really do feel like there is a huge future, not only economically in the country, but there is a huge future in the NFL. So that stadium represented that."

Jones hopes his success in a time of economic uncertainty can serve as a metaphor for the current labor strife between players and owners -- that out of adversity can come a model for success.

"I built this stadium not based upon the system that had been in place," Jones said. "I based it on just common thought and a gut feeling that we will re-do the business model that we have. And when we re-do it, doing things like building this stadium make a lot of sense. It wouldn't make a lot of sense doing it in the system we're in."

Ever the forward thinker, Jones believes the NFL can think bigger, as he did six or so years ago, when plans for Cowboys Stadium's construction began.

"It is incumbent on us to recognize that what we have in place is not a good model," Jones said of the current collective bargaining agreement. "And rather than waiting until we're in the shape the country's in or the world is in, when things have gone to hell in a handbasket economically, that we make some of those changes we'd love to have made 10 or 15 years ago in this country. You do it before you're off the cliff rather than as you drive off."

Jones' lessons from this season -- those of both great success and failure -- certainly can be applied to NFL ownership's attempts to reach a compromise with a players association that's content with the league's economic structure as it stands.

"I've done my worst work when I thought I had a pretty good hand," Jones said. "I started the season off saying, 'What's not to like where we are?' And to me, that has always been not the kiss of death, but certainly an idea that you're not quite in the position you think you are."

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Cardinals expected to make push for Steelers LBs coach Butler

There is a good possibility that Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler will leave the team after the Super Bowl to become the Arizona Cardinals' defensive coordinator, a source with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday.

Butler is presumed to be the defensive coordinator in waiting in Pittsburgh, behind Dick LeBeau. He is very close with Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt (also a former Steelers assistant coach), however, and Butler likely will accept Arizona's defensive coordinator job if he's offered it, according to the source.

The Cardinals cannot speak to Butler until after the Super Bowl, and the Steelers would be very unlikely to block him from going to Arizona should he express a strong desire to do so.

The Steelers expect LeBeau to return as defensive coordinator in 2011 -- and he has expressed a desire to do so -- but he always could opt to retire following the Super Bowl as well. If LeBeau continues to coach, he has said he would only do so in Pittsburgh, where the defense have been dominant under him. The Steelers led the NFL in scoring defense this season.

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Jackson captures GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Year

DALLAS -- The votes are in, and the winner of the "2010 GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Year" goes to DeSean Jackson, wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles. ESPN's Mike Tirico and two-time Super Bowl champion Deion Sanders presented the trophy to Jackson at the Super Bowl XLV Media Center Wednesday as part of this week's festivities. Jackson's Week 15 performance earned 24 percent of total fan votes for eight finalists at www.NFL.com/GMC. After being hobbled by a foot injury that week, Jackson improbably returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the Eagles' comeback victory over the New York Giants.

"That was the first time in my career that I ever ended a game with a touchdown. I'm just very blessed to be in that position," Jackson said upon accepting the award Wednesday. "Everybody's calling it 'The New Miracle at the Meadowlands,' so I'm just honored to accept this award.

"I couldn't have done it without my teammates and my special teams coach. Jason Avant, he kind of threw himself in there to make a huge block to knock out the snapper to get me into the end zone. It's a great opportunity for me. Thank you for the support and to GMC."

Added Craig Bierley, GMC Advertising and Sales Promotion director: "Jackson's big play perfectly demonstrated the Never Say Never attitude that drives the NFL's best players. It's the same attitude we at GMC bring to work every day to design, build and sell the professional grade vehicles we know our customers want and value."

Jackson wasn't the only winner. In addition, participating fan Robin Phillips of Chico, Texas, was selected at random to win a 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD, the first offering of the premium Denali line on a heavy-duty GMC pickup. GMC is the official vehicle of the NFL.

"This lucky fan is the latest to find out what the Sierra Denali HD is all about," said Bierley. "This powerful pickup blends Denali's premium features and styling with the Duramax-enabled capability that customers all over truck country have come to expect from GMC."

Donation of Super Bowl Tickets Scores Points for United Way GMC donated 70 Super Bowl XLV tickets to United Way Worldwide to help advance the organization's youth health and wellness goals. The online auction phase of 64 tickets netted $249,000. Phase Two of the United Way auction will include three pairs of tickets to be auctioned live at The NFL Experience at the Dallas Convention Center on Saturday, February 5.

All of the proceeds will go to United Way Worldwide to support the NFL and United Way Hometown Huddle -- a league-wide day of hands-on community service projects designed to give kids more opportunities to get active and healthy.

Now in its 37th year, the NFL-United Way partnership connects NFL PLAY 60 with United Way's goal to increase youth health and wellness. Studies show the obesity rate among children has nearly doubled in the last 10 years, with approximately 9 million American children over 6 years old considered obese and at high risk for health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.

"GMC recognizes how important it is to raise awareness about the issue of childhood obesity and to create new opportunities for young people to lead healthier lifestyles," Bierley said. "By working with the NFL and United Way, GMC is helping make communities stronger."

The eight finalists were selected among 17 of the most memorable moments during the 2010 NFL season. Each week, three nominees were chosen for the GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Week and NFL fans voted for the winner on NFL.com.

A closer look at the nominees:

FINALIST 1, Week 4: Roddy White forces a fumble

Trailing 14-13, Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan threw an interception with less than two minutes remaining in the game. But Atlanta received new life after WR Roddy White hustled to force 49ers CB Nate Clements to fumble during the return. The Falcons recovered and restarted the drive at their own 7-yard line, allowing Ryan to lead Atlanta to a last-second field goal for its second straight dramatic win.

FINALIST 2, Week 5: Jason Campbell leads Oakland to the win

Benched in Week 2, Oakland Raiders QB Jason Campbell waited patiently for a second chance. He got it on Sunday when QB Bruce Gradkowski suffered an injury at the end of the first quarter. Campbell answered the call by leading two long touchdown drives, including the game-winner with less than four minutes to play, giving the Raiders their first victory over the Chargers since 2003.

FINALIST 3, Week 6: Deion Branch sparks a comeback win in return to New England

Nine-year veteran Deion Branch proved you can go home again. Traded by the rebuilding Seahawks back to the Patriots, Branch produced his best game in three years in a hard-fought 23-20 win over the visiting Ravens. Branch finished with 9 receptions for 98 yards, including a critical fourth-quarter touchdown catch, and almost looked like he had never left.

FINALIST 4, Week 10: David Garrard's prayer answered in miracle finish

With the game tied, 24-24, the Jacksonville Jaguars were down to one play, and only a miracle could prevent overtime. Jaguars QB David Garrard dialed up a Hail Mary pass, took the snap with three seconds left, heaved it from his own 45-yard line, and watched it bounce off a Houston defender and into the hands of WR Mike Thomas, giving the Jaguars a win and keeping their hopes alive in the AFC South.

FINALIST 5, Week 11: Ryan Fitzpatrick directs Buffalo to a largest comeback in 13 years

One week after their first victory, things looked bleak again for the Bills, who trailed on the road by 17 points at halftime. But Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick wasn't ready to quit. Fitzpatrick threw three second-half touchdowns to WR Steve Johnson, leading Buffalo to 35 unanswered points and a 49-31 win over the Cincinnati Bengals for its biggest comeback win since 1997.

FINALIST 6, Week 13: Troy Polamalu's sack-fumble leads to a game-winning score

In a battle for first place in the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens led the Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-6, with just over three minutes remaining the fourth quarter. On second down, S Troy Polamalu came off the edge and sacked Ravens QB Joe Flacco, causing a fumble that was picked up by LB LaMarr Woodley and returned to the Ravens' 9 yard-line. QB Ben Roethlisberger then found RB Isaac Redman for a 9-yard TD to give the Steelers the lead en route to a 13-10 victory.

FINALIST 7, Week 15: DeSean Jackson seals the Eagles' miracle comeback

After trailing 31-10 to the New York Giants with 7:28 remaining, the Philadelphia Eagles fought back and tied the game, which seemed destined for overtime. But WR DeSean Jackson would have none of it. Hobbled by a foot injury all week, Jackson returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the game, giving the Eagles an improbable victory.

FINALIST 8, Week 16: Tim Tebow leads Broncos' comeback

Broncos QB Tim Tebow might have convinced some folks that he is cut out for the NFL, after all. The rookie quarterback overcame deficits of 17 points at halftime and 13 in the fourth quarter to lead Denver to a 24-23 win over the Houston Texans. In the fourth quarter, Tebow passed for a touchdown, then won the game with a 6-yard rushing score.

About GMC
GMC has built trucks since 1902, and is one of the industry's healthiest brands. Today GMC is evolving to offer more fuel-efficient trucks and crossovers, including the Terrain small SUV and Acadia crossover. The new GMC Sierra Heavy Duty pickups are the most capable and powerful trucks in the market. Innovation and engineering excellence are woven into all GMCs, including the Yukon and Yukon XL and full line of Sierra pickups. Today GMC is the only manufacturer offering three full-size hybrid trucks. Details on all GMC models are available at www.gmc.com, on Twitter at @thisisgmc or at facebook.com/gmc.

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Rodgers, Charles voted FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Year

NFL.com

DALLAS -- FedEx and the NFL announced Wednesday the winners of the eighth annual FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Year awards at a press conference in North Texas, site of Super Bowl XLV.

» Quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers was named the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Year.

Rodgers, unable to attend Wednesday's press conference due to his preparation for Super Bowl XLV, prepared a video to accept the honor.

"I'm truly honored to accept this award from FedEx as the NFL Air player of the year," Rodgers said. "I want to thank FedEx for their generous donation to Green Bay to help improve our communities. I'd like to thank my teammates and coaches and, most importantly, the fans that voted for me."

Packers legend and winner of Super Bowl I MVP Bart Starr also accepted the award on Rodgers' behalf.

"Obviously I'm very biased, but I've had the pleasure of getting to know (Rodgers). He's a superb gentleman," Starr said. "Aaron is a stand up guy, in my opinion. I know he means business on the field, you can see it. You can sense it, feel it. I really enjoy watching him because of that."

» Running back Jamaal Charles of the Kansas City Chiefs was named the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Year.

"I'd like to thank the fans for voting for me and I'd like to thank FedEx," Charles said. "Without my teammates and offensive line I wouldn't be able to do this."

In honor of the winners' outstanding play, FedEx is donating $25,000 to the Safe Kids USA coalitions in Green Bay and Kansas City, the local organizations in each player's market.

As part of the program during the season, FedEx supported local Safe Kids coalitions by making weekly $2,000 donations in each of the winning players' names to their communities. The funding was used for pedestrian safety improvements throughout the year, from upgraded crosswalks and safety signs to traffic barriers and educational training for children.

A closer look at the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Player of the Year finalists:

Brady finished the season completing 65.9 percent of his passes, throwing for 3,900 yards and 36 touchdowns. Brady threw only four interceptions in his 492 passes (0.81 percent), marking the third-best interception percentage in NFL history. He owns an active streak of 335 consecutive passes without an interception, the longest streak in NFL history, and passed for at least two touchdowns with no interceptions in the last nine games, the longest streak in league annals. In addition, he became only the seventh player to throw a TD pass in all 16 games of a season. Brady was nominated for five FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week awards in 2010, winning once.Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs Charles rushed for 1,467 yards and averaged 6.38 yards per carry (230 carries), helping the Kansas City Chiefs win the AFC West title and reach the playoffs. Charles joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown (291 attempts, 1,863 yards, 6.40 yards per carry in 1963) as the only players in NFL history to have at least 1,400 rushing yards and average more than 6.30 yards per carry in a single season. Charles played in all 16 games and had five rushing touchdowns including a 56-yard touchdown in Week 1. He was nominated for four FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week awards in 2010, winning once. Rivers led the NFL in passing with 4,710 yards, the 10th-most in a single season. With 2,649 passing yards through Week 8, Rivers set an NFL record for the most passing yards through a quarterback's first eight games of a season. His 1,562 passing yards during October set an NFL record for the most passing yards in the month. Rivers completed an NFL-leading 66 passes of at least 20 yards. Twelve of those went for touchdowns, second-most in the league. And he set a career high with six 300-yard games. Rivers was nominated for three FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week awards in 2010. Foster led the NFL in rushing with 1,616 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. During Week 1, Foster scored three touchdowns and rushed for a team-record 231 yards, a total that marks the second-best Kickoff Weekend rushing performance since 1933. He became the first player in NFL history to rush for at least 200 yards and three touchdowns on Kickoff Weekend. Foster was nominated for three FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week awards in 2010, winning twice.Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers Rodgers finished in the top 10 in nearly every major passing category this season, posting a 101.2 passer rating (third-highest), passing for 3,922 yards (seventh-highest), throwing 28 touchdowns (tied for sixth), posting a 65.7 completion percentage (sixth), and throwing 40 25-yard passes (second). Rodgers' 3,922 passing yards this season brought his total in three seasons as a starter to 12,394, ranking second in NFL history behind only Kurt Warner (12,612, 1999-2001)for the most passing yards by a quarterback in his first three seasons as a starter. Rodgers posted a passer rating of at least 110.0 during Week 9 and Weeks 11-13, making him him the only quarterback since 1970 to post a passer rating of at least 110.0 in four consecutive games in back-to-back seasons. Rodgers was nominated for three FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week awards in 2010, winning twice. Turner led the NFC in rushing with 1,371 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed 334 times, the most in the NFL in 2010. Turner played in all 16 games, starting 15 of them, helping the Falcons win the NFC South and lock up the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the Playoffs. In Week 14, he had 28 carries for 112 yards and three touchdowns in the 31-10 win over the Carolina Panthers. Turner was nominated for four FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week awards in 2010.

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Falcons close to multiyear extension with coach Smith

The Atlanta Falcons are very close to a multiyear contract extension with coach Mike Smith, a league source said Wednesday.

The sides have been quietly negotiating for a few weeks and have agreed on many principles of a new deal, according to the source.

The team expects to announce the extension shortly since the deal is close to being finalized.

Smith joined the Falcons in 2008 and quickly turned around the franchise, going 33-15 with two playoff berths in three seasons. The Falcons were an NFC-best 13-3 this season but lost to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round of the playoffs.

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Titans add Fewell, Mularkey to head-coach hunt; Williams out

The Tennessee Titans expanded their head-coaching search to include New York Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, league sources said Wednesday.

New York Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, a candidate for the Tennessee Titans' head-coaching position, interviewed for three other top jobs this offseason. (Evan Pinkus/Associated Press)

New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams also was expected to interview for the job, but he withdrew from consideration, according to a league source. He also pulled out of the Denver Broncos' head-coaching hunt earlier this offseason.

Williams was seen as a top candidate for the Titans' defensive coordinator vacancy in 2009. But he wanted to bring his son, Blake, with him, and Titans owner Bud Adams has a team policy against nepotism.

The Titans previously had stayed in-house in their quest to replace longtime coach Jeff Fisher, who left the organization last week. The team interviewed offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger on Tuesday and offensive line coach Mike Munchak on Monday.

Munchak, who has worked for Adams since the then-Houston Oilers made him the eighth overall draft pick in 1982 out of Penn State, is considered the favorite to land the job.

However, Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt has said he believes prior head-coaching experience would be good in a candidate, and both Mularkey and Williams have that, each with the Buffalo Bills. Even Fewell was interim head coach in Buffalo in 2009, going 3-4.

Williams spent 11 seasons with the Oilers/Titans franchise, starting as a defensive quality-control assistant and working his way up to defensive coordinator before the Bills hired him as head coach after the 2000 season. He coached the team through 2003, going 17-31, before joining the Washington Redskins as defensive coordinator. He spent 2008 with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the past two seasons with the Saints, winning a Super bowl title.

Mularkey went 14-18 with the Bills between 2004 and 2005 before resigning in 2006 over philosophical differences with the front office. He was 9-7 in 2004, the Bills' first winning season in five years. He interviewed for the Cleveland Browns' head-coaching job this offseason before Pat Shurmur was hired and also canceled an interview with the Broncos.

Mularkey has groomed quarterback Matt Ryan in his past three seasons in Atlanta. Mularkey also spent eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers under Bill Cowher, including three years as offensive coordinator.

Fewell started his coaching career in college, including a stint at Vanderbilt in Nashville. He went to the NFL with the Jaguars, working for current Giants coach Tom Coughlin, and he also has coached at St. Louis, Chicago and was defensive coordinator at Buffalo. Coughlin hired him as the Giants' defensive coordinator in January 2010.

By interviewing Fewell, who's African-American, the Titans would satisfy the NFL's "Rooney Rule," which requires teams to consider minority candidates for top jobs.

Fewell has interviewed for three head-coaching jobs this offseason, but other people were hired for each. The Carolina Panthers brought in Ron Rivera, the Browns picked Shurmur and the Broncos went with John Fox. Fewell also received interest from the San Francisco 49ers, who landed their top pick, Jim Harbaugh.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Patriots' Belichick is AP's NFL Coach of the Year for third time

Bill Belichick is closing in on Don Shula.

Belichick, the New England Patriots' coach, won The Associated Press 2010 NFL Coach of the Year award Wednesday, the third time he has earned the honor. Belichick, who also won in 2003 and 2007, now trails only Shula, a Hall of Famer and four-time winner of the award.

Voting for 2010 NFL Coach of the Year

For leading the Patriots to a 14-2 record, the best in the league, and the AFC East title, Belichick received 30 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. That easily beat Raheem Morris, who led a turnaround in Tampa Bay and received 11½ votes.

Belichick, whose honor was announced exclusively on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access," has overseen a transition in New England to a younger team, particularly on defense. Of course, he still has NFL Offensive Player of the Year Tom Brady at quarterback.

"I will say the foundation of the Patriots organization, which starts with Mr. Kraft and Coach Belichick, has not changed since the day I arrived," Brady told The AP. "They have and will always do what is in the best interest of the team, and they will continue to find selfless players that love to work hard, compete and strive to be the best they can possibly be."

Then Belichick makes them even better.

"He really stays on top of us," wide receiver Wes Welker said. "He makes sure that we're not getting overconfident or believing in the noise outside the locker room and understand that every game's tough in the NFL."

Belichick's record with the Patriots is 126-50, plus a 14-5 mark in the playoffs, with losses in the last three tries with teams that went a collective 40-8. His career winning percentage of .716 ranks eighth, tied with Hall of Famer Paul Brown, and no other coach has four 14-victory regular seasons.

This might have been Belichick's most impressive work as the Patriots retooled much of the roster, yet had a dominant regular season in which they won their final eight games.

"When you have so many things that go into a team, so many things that go into what's happened over the last decade, which ones do you point to?" he said. "You can make an argument for a lot of different things. In the end, it's each individual team and that collection of players that particular year and that particular time during the season or whatever it is, that was able to go out there and be successful."

Belichick, whose team started the season as the 13th youngest in the league and by season's end had 27 players on the active roster -- including 12 rookies -- in their first three professional seasons, basically rebuilt the defense, particularly the secondary, from which rookie Devin McCourty made the Pro Bowl.

Belichick showed confidence in BenJarvus Green-Ellis as the Patriots' main running back, and he rushed for 1,008 yards. Belichick claimed Danny Woodhead when the New York Jets cut him, and he was a dynamic piece of the offense and special teams.

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Watch "NFL Total Access" (7 p.m. ET) during Super Bowl week for the exclusive reveal of The Associated Press' NFL player and coach awards.

Monday: Defensive Player of the Year
(Troy Polamalu)
Tuesday: Offensive Player of the Year
(Tom Brady)
Wednesday: Coach of the Year
(Bill Belichick)
Friday: Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year (TBA)
Saturday: Comeback Player of the Year (TBA)
Sunday: Most Valuable Player (TBA)

Then there was the Randy Moss case.

Eager to remove the recalcitrant receiver, Belichick stole a third-round draft pick from Minnesota in early October for Moss, who lasted a month with the Vikings, then was cut.

Meanwhile, Belichick traded with the Seattle Seahawks for Deion Branch, the 2005 Super Bowl MVP with the Patriots. Branch had a rebirth in New England, making the Moss deal look even better.

The Patriots scored a league-high 32.4 points per game and were eighth in total offense (363.8 yards per game) under Belichick, who doesn't have an offensive or defensive coordinator.

Making the Patriots a better team is typical of what Belichick has done since receiving his second chance to be a head coach. He had been a flop with the Browns, going 37-45 in four seasons and alienating nearly everyone in Cleveland.

"When I chose him, people at the league office, people in this town, sent me tapes of him in Cleveland and said, 'You don't want to hire this guy,'" Patriots owner Robert Kraft said. "And, remember, he went 5-11 (in his first year with Patriots) and we gave up a No. 1 draft choice (to the Jets to get him). People thought we were nuts.

"So I think that probably was one of the best decisions I've made in football."

Belichick, a disciple of Bill Parcells, the only other New England coach to win the award, credited his players for the award and said their ability to handle challenges was pivotal to the Patriots' success.

"They're the ones who stepped up and made the plays this year," Belichick told "NFL Total Access." "We had a lot of new people on this team, young players that contributed, and it's certainly an honor to receive this award on behalf of our performance in the regular season. Unfortunately, we were not able to carry that over to the playoffs."

The Patriots, seeded No. 1 for the AFC playoffs, were beaten by the New York Jets in the Divisional Round.

Belichick said his team "had to face a lot of different challenges this year. ... It was really a different challenge every week, and I've got to give a lot of credit to the players. They adapted, they adjusted. You know, we had some tough weather conditions -- like the snow out in Chicago, for example -- but the players did a good job of staying focused and played though those conditions. And we were able to get a lot of turnovers defensively at the end of the year, and offensively we had a lot of points and special-team scores early in the year, so it all kind of balanced itself out one way or another during the course of the season."

Morris lifted the Buccaneers from 3-13 in his first season to 10-6 in 2010 and in playoff contention until the final week. He did it with the league's youngest roster.

"We put a lot on his plate," Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said, "and he has absolutely handled it all. We all see where this ship is headed."

Also receiving votes were Kansas City's Todd Haley (4½), whose team went 11-5 and won the AFC West; and four coaches with one selection apiece: Atlanta's Mike Smith, Philadelphia's Andy Reid, Chicago's Lovie Smith, and St. Louis' Steve Spagnuolo.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Steelers' Harrison suggests NFL not serious about player safety

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison isn't letting up in his criticism of the NFL in the days leading up to the Super Bowl.

One day after sarcastically suggesting that a pillow could be used to soften blows he delivers to opponents, Harrison called the NFL's talk about wanting to protect players "just a show."

Harrison said before Wednesday's practice in Fort Worth, Texas, that the owners' push for an 18-game regular season and the possibility of a lockout prove the NFL is more interested in maximizing revenue than the health of its players.

"It's not about player safety," Harrison said. "It's about money."

The league and the players' union face an early March deadline for trying to negotiate a new labor agreement.

"It's no doubt to me," said Harrison, whose Steelers will play the Green Bay Packers for the NFL championship Sunday. "I believe they're going to lock us out."

Harrison was fined $100,000 by the NFL for illegal hits this season, and he even went briefly so far as to threaten to retire because he said it was too difficult to adjust to the new way rules were being enforced. On Wednesday, though, he acknowledged that any talk of quitting was a result of being "hotheaded."

Asked Wednesday if he's worried about the dangers of concussion from violent hits on the field, he said: "That's my style of play. There's a risk with everything you do. ... Since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, that's how you play the game."

At Tuesday's media day at Cowboys Stadium, Harrison said he feels as if the league was "looking for a poster boy" when it started fining him.

In a deadpan delivery, Harrison said: "I don't want to hurt nobody. I don't want to step on nobody's foot or hurt their toe. I don't want to have no dirt or none of this rubber on this field fly into their eye and make their eye hurt.

"I just want to tackle them softly on the ground and, if y'all can, we'll lay a pillow down where I'm going to tackle them, so they don't hit the ground too hard, Mr. Goodell."

Harrison, who paid more in fines this season for four different hits than the entire Packers team was docked, also was asked if he was bitter about the attention his physical play received from the NFL office this season.

"They took $100,000 out of my pocket," Harrison responded to NFL Network's Kara Henderson. "You think I'm not bitter?"

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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Eagles promote O-line coach Castillo to defensive coordinator

The Philadelphia Eagles searched far and wide for a new defensive coordinator. In the end, they found him on their offensive coaching staff.

Juan Castillo spent 13 seasons as the Eagles' offensive line coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator Wednesday. (Brian Garfinkel/Associated Press)

Juan Castillo, who spent 13 seasons as the Eagles' offensive line coach and has been with the organization for 16 years, will switch to the defensive side of the ball and replace Sean McDermott, who was fired Jan. 15. The team, which lured Howard Mudd out of retirement to replace Castillo as offensive line coach, made the announcement Wednesday.

"It's a tribute to the hard work, the diligence and the kind of football coach he is," Eagles coach Andy Reid said of Castillo's promotion. "I think if you have the opportunity to talk to any player, if you have an opportunity to talk to any coach that has been a Philadelphia Eagle, and many coaches throughout the league, what might seem a little strange is just a very confident move, and one that will take our defense to another level."

A former linebacker at Texas A&I (1978-80), Castillo, 51, played for the USFL's San Antonio Gunslingers (1984-85) and also was an assistant at Texas A&M-Kingsville from 1982 to 1985.

"I think if you talk to the defensive guys, especially the front seven, I've always told them I'm a defensive guy who got stuck on the offensive side," Castillo said. "That took a lot of years of studying. That was a tough deal. What happens is you start to be perceived as an offensive guy."

Castillo is one of few NFL coaches of Hispanic descent. He is fluent in Spanish and has promoted the NFL product for its Spanish-speaking audience.

"Juan is one of the smartest and most dynamic coaches in the NFL," Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. "If anyone could cross over to the dark side (of defense), he's the guy. Seriously, if anyone can do it, Juan Castillo is able to do it. I don't know if I have seen anyone any more committed as a coach in this league than him."

Castillo joined the Eagles in 1995 as an offensive assistant under coach Ray Rhodes. Castillo was promoted to tight ends coach in 1997, then offensive line coach in 1998.

"I have a strong affinity for Juan going back to our days spent together in Philadelphia," Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said. "I can remember Jim Johnson and our defensive staff putting our game plans together and we'd always get together with Juan just to make sure they were sound in terms of pressures and blitzes. Sometimes, I felt like he was on our defensive staff. And to do this day, he and I talk every week during the season to talk about other offenses in the league."

Castillo was one of four members of Rhodes' staff to be retained by Reid in 1999.

"Great move by Coach Reid," said St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, a former Eagles assistant. "Juan is a football junkie who has always studied the entire game. He's a detailed, aggressive and passionate football coach -- all attributes vital to coaching defense."

The Eagles confirmed that they interviewed New Orleans Saints defensive backs coach Dennis Allen and Chicago Bears secondary coach Jon Hoke for the defensive coordinator job.

The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Star Tribune in Minneapolis cited league sources in reporting Wednesday that Vikings assistant Joe Woods also interviewed for the position.

The Eagles won the NFC East this season, but they lost to the eventual conference champion Green Bay Packers, 21-16, in the wild-card round at Lincoln Financial Field. After a dramatic, come-from-behind, 38-31 victory over the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium, the Eagles finished the season with three consecutive losses, all at home.

McDermott's defense finished 12th in the NFL, giving up 327.2 yards per game.

Mudd, 68, brings 36 years of coaching experience to the Eagles' staff. He most recently spent 11 seasons as the Colts' offensive line coach.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Elway: Orton, not Tebow, is Broncos' starting QB right now

If the Denver Broncos had to pick a starting quarterback today, it would be veteran Kyle Orton, not youngster Tim Tebow, team executive John Elway said Wednesday on NFL Network.

"Kyle is still the starting quarterback," said Elway, a Hall of Fame quarterback who's now the Broncos' executive vice president of football operations.

Orton passed for 3,653 yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions and completed 58.8 percent of his throws in 12 starts this season as the Broncos finished 4-12.

Tebow, a first-round draft pick out of Florida in 2010, generated some excitement while starting in the Broncos' final four games. He passed for 654 yards and five touchdowns on the season, but he also rushed for 227 yards and six scores.

"Tim is a very good football player," Elway said. "He's not a very good quarterback yet. We can make him a great quarterback. He's a young guy.

"When you look back a year ago when they drafted him ... he has all (the intangibles). Now we have to get him experience and get him the work to improve him as a quarterback."

Elway, no stranger to Super Bowls after having played in five of them, emphasized that new coach John Fox and his staff have plenty of evaluation to do at quarterback and every other position this offseason.

"Now that John and his staff are in place, they're going to have to come in and draw their own conclusions," Elway said.

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Murphy: Packers will reach out to Favre 'at appropriate time'

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy still expects the team to reconcile with former quarterback Brett Favre at some point.

Speaking at the Packers' Super Bowl Media Day session Tuesday, Murphy said the team plans to reach out to Favre, although it remains unclear when that might happen.

"At the appropriate time, we'll reach out to him," Murphy said. "I envision that he'll come back into the fold. We want to make sure it's the right time for him and for us."

Murphy has said he expects the team to eventually repair its relationship with Favre, the former face of the franchise now led by Aaron Rodgers. And Favre seemed to take a step toward reconciliation last month, telling ESPN that he was rooting for the Packers to "win it all."

Favre had a public falling-out with the team's front office in 2008, amid yet another round of waffling on his retirement. The Packers traded Favre to the New York Jets, and he later played two more seasons for the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings before calling it quits again.

Murphy said he's proud of the way the team handled a difficult situation. Murphy also said the controversy galvanized his working relationships with general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy.

"Few players had a bigger impact on an organization that Brett did," Murphy said. "It tested us. Obviously, I think a lot of people disagreed with the decision, but I'm proud, looking back, (of how) the organization handled it. Also, as I look back on it, one of the benefits was that early on in my tenure, it forced Ted and myself and Mike to really come together on an issue. I think looking back on it now, it's been really positive."

Of course, it wouldn't have worked out so well had Rodgers not become the player he is today, leading the Packers into Sunday's Super Bowl against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"I'm really glad that Aaron's a good player," Murphy said.

Thompson said he expects Packers fans to embrace Favre at some point, but he didn't want to discuss the circumstances of the quarterback's split with the team after 16 seasons.

"I think certainly Brett is a very important part of the Packers' history, and yes, he will be embraced by the Green Bay Packers and all those things," Thompson said. "The other part, we've moved on from."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Packers LB Zombo fully participates in practice; Walden limited

The Green Bay Packers' uncertainties at outside linebacker were on display Wednesday when they took the practice field for the first time since arriving in Dallas for Super Bowl XLV.

Frank Zombo, a rookie starter who has missed six games because of a knee injury, was a full participant in the session at Highland Park High School's indoor facility and hopes to play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Arlington, Texas.

Erik Walden, who replaced Zombo in the starting lineup but sustained an ankle injury in the NFC Championship Game victory over the Chicago Bears, was limited. He primarily worked out with the second-team defense.

"How Erik responds to this practice will be big," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "He practiced and took reps in every team drill. That was the high end of what we were going to try to give him today. It'll be great if he feels good tomorrow.

"Frank looks good. I wanted to get him as much padded work as possible. It seems like Dec. 12 is the last time he's been in pads. We even got him a bunch of reps on special teams, too."

Zombo, an undrafted rookie who broke into Green Bay's lineup in Week 8 after four linebackers went on injured reserve, returned to practice Friday. He suffered a sprained right knee during a Week 14 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Offensive tackle Chad Clifton (knees) and center Jason Spitz (calf) also were limited Wednesday.

Notes: McCarthy focused on the usual in Wednesday's practice: base packages, third-down situations and specific special-teams scenarios. "The guys are fresh, they're ready," McCarthy said. "I want to keep the risk for injury low leading up to the game, which is why we shortened some things today. But it was good to get back in pads. The guys were flying around; they were banging pretty good. I feel very good about the quality of work, particularly up front. I did not put the pads on them last week because we were coming off a situation where we had played five must-win games in a row, and our linemen were beat up. I wanted to make sure I gave them a chance to get back, and it definitely paid off today." ... Kicker Mason Crosby and punter Tim Masthay worked out at Cowboys Stadium before Wednesday's practice and could do so again.

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Labor lawyer sees similarities between NFL, NHL owners

DALLAS -- An outside labor lawyer for the NFL says the league's owners are as unified right now as NHL owners were when that sport lost an entire season to a lockout.

Bob Batterman said Wednesday that the owners of the NFL's 32 teams "know what's wrong with the business today, and know how it needs to be changed."

He said the "only other time" he has seen team owners show such "complete unity" was when he worked for the NHL during its labor problems that led to the 2004-05 season being wiped out.

Batterman spoke after a pre-Super Bowl news conference held by Jeff Pash, the NFL's lead in-house negotiator. Pash emphasized the "considerable significance" of reaching a deal with the players' union by early March, when the current collective bargaining agreement expires.

For more NFL labor news, visit http://NFLLabor.com

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Report: Cutler took painkiller shot at halftime of NFC title game

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was criticized when he appeared unwilling to play after suffering a knee injury in an NFC Championship Game loss to the Green Bay Packers.

But a source close to the situation told the Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday that Cutler received a painkiller shot at halftime in an effort to finish the Jan. 23 game.

Cutler injured his left knee during the first half and left for good after the first series of the third quarter. He was replaced by Todd Collins, who was later supplanted by Caleb Hanie in the Bears' 21-14 loss.

In the locker room at halftime, the Bears planned to play the remainder of the game without Cutler, according to the source, but he insisted on trying the painkiller and playing in the second half.

After Collins entered the game, Cutler's toughness was questioned by players around the league, while his teammates spent the days after the loss defending their quarterback.

An MRI revealed that Cutler suffered a Grade II tear of his medial collateral ligament.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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Packers, Steelers find relief from storm with indoor workouts

In need of an indoor facility worthy of a Super Bowl team, the Green Bay Packers turned to a Dallas high school.

Temperatures in the teens, wind and ice forced the Packers to scrap plans of practicing outdoors Wednesday at Southern Methodist University and to move to the new, $4.5 million indoor field at nearby Highland Park High School. With more of the same weather expected, the team likely will work out on the high school campus Thursday and Friday.

"We feel like this will not affect us from a preparation standpoint at all," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

Highland Park's facility opened in August and is comparable in quality to the TCU setup the Packers' Super Bowl opponents, the Pittsburgh Steelers, moved into Wednesday. Both buildings are NFL-caliber.

Such quality at TCU is one thing. But a high school?

That's how it goes in Texas, especially the Dallas-Fort Worth area. There are megamillion prep palaces all around, with a $60 million outdoor stadium going up.

"It's Texas. They love their football," Packers Pro Bowl cornerback Tramon Williams said. "They have some beautiful high schools here. As long as we're inside, we're good with that."

Highland Park is among the wealthiest suburbs in the nation, so the district could afford the price tag on its facility. A $1 million donation from the booster club helped, too.

"That's ridiculous," Packers wide receiver James Jones said. "We barely had a football field at my high school in California. There's too much money out here. They need to send some of that extra cash out to California."

"We barely had grass," added defensive lineman Ryan Pickett, who grew up in Florida. "An indoor practice field? That's unreal."

Highland Park also has a nifty NFL tradition. Alums include Pro Football Hall of Famers Doak Walker and Bobby Layne, as well as Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2009.

"I'm hoping Mr. Stafford put in enough money to this high school for them to build a solid facility," Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers jokingly said. "I'm sure it'll be fine."

Another Highland Park product of note this week is Steelers punter Daniel Sepulveda, who's on injured reserve. Before his team worked out at TCU, Sepulveda sounded jealous that the Packers would hang out near his old stomping grounds.

"It's crazy," Sepulveda said. "Small world."

TCU's Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility was a lot more comfortable than being outdoors for the Steelers, but still a bit chilly. The building isn't heated, so it was around 51 degrees during their 2-hour practice.

"One thing we're used to is weather," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "We're not going to fight elements. We're used to adjusting as we have to, and we got all our work in. It was a good day."

Some Highland Park players and a few fans were waiting when the Packers' team bus arrived. The teenagers who hoped to watch from the sideline were out of luck as security kept everyone away from the team. The school's coach, Randy Allen, didn't even bother trying to show up, but he was thrilled to be able to help.

"It's nice to have a facility the Packers could use," Allen said. "It's great publicity for our school and our football program. There's a lot of buzz in our community because of it."

There's also irony.

First off, the facility was built more to avoid extreme heat than bitter cold. Allen said the school's outdoor field, which is an artificial surface, could reach 140 degrees, so hot that "our players said it almost makes their spikes melt."

It's also a twist that ice in Dallas would cause problems for the Packers, considering how much the ice in Green Bay affected the Cowboys on Dec. 31, 1967 -- the game known as the "Ice Bowl." Green Bay beat Dallas on a last-minute play, with a trip to the second Super Bowl on the line.

As for the Cowboys, they have a $1.2 billion stadium capable of hosting the Super Bowl, but they are among 10 NFL teams without an indoor practice facility.

The Cowboys had one until May 2009, when a storm knocked it over during a rookie workout, leaving a scouting assistant paralyzed and a coach with a broken neck. There were lawsuits and multimillion-dollar settlements, and team owner Jerry Jones hasn't announced plans for a replacement.

Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing until Friday afternoon. There's a 40 percent chance of more snow falling Friday. But it's supposed to be sunny and clear on the weekend, with temperatures perhaps reaching 60 on game day.

That temperature won't matter. The roof of Cowboys Stadium in Arlington will be closed for the game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Steelers' Pouncey sheds boot, says he must practice by Friday

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie center Maurkice Pouncey didn't wear a walking boot on his sprained left ankle, nor did he use crutches before the team left its Fort Worth hotel Wednesday for practice at Texas Christian University.

But Pouncey didn't practice, and he told NFL Network reporter Albert Breer that if he doesn't go Friday, he won't play in Sunday's Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers.

"If I'm not on the field Friday, most likely I'm not playing," Pouncey said, adding that it's his thought, not something he has been told by the Steelers' coaching staff. "I'm not going to put the team in a bad position."

Pouncey, who wore regular athletic shoes Wednesday morning and later said he spent the Steelers' practice time rehabilitating in the TCU trainers' room, told Breer the walking boot will go back on in the evening. And Pouncey hasn't resumed running yet.

"I feel positive," said Pouncey, who stood by his Tuesday assertion that his chances of playing were 75 percent. "I'm working to get my range of motion back, but it's going good."

Pouncey, who was selected to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season, sustained a high ankle sprain early in the Steelers' AFC Championship Game victory Jan. 23 over the New York Jets. He didn't practice last week, but he said Tuesday that he hoped to take the field Thursday or Friday.

"He's a center who's got a high ankle sprain," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "If he played a skill position, we wouldn't be having this conversation. But he's an interior lineman. Whether he practices (by Friday) depends how he responds to treatment."

Backup center Doug Legursky, who could start in Pouncey's place, impressed Wednesday with his quickness to get outside on some running plays, as Tomlin has asked.

"He's an athletic guy," Tomlin said. "And I've challenged him to get out and run and lead that group."

Legursky said he's preparing as if he will start against the Packers.

"I prepare every week as if I'm going to start even if all the guys are healthy," he said.

Aaron Smith, the only other injured Steeler, was limited in practice, and Tomlin acknowledged he is losing faith that the veteran defensive end will be able to play Sunday.

Smith hasn't played since tearing his left triceps Oct. 24 against the Miami Dolphins, and Tomlin said, when asked if he had any realistic hope that his lineman could face the Packers: "I do, but it's fading."

Notes: QB Ben Roethlisberger looked sharp while throwing 10- to 12-yard sideline routes. ... No. 3 QB Charlie Batch, performing with the scout team, was particularly sharp against the first-team defense late in the session, hitting rookie WR Antonio Brown up the seam for a long gain and winning praise from Tomlin. ... Starting CB Ike Taylor dropped a sure interception in the session, leading LB Larry Foote to shout from the sideline: "Save it for the game! Save it for the game!" Others were more critical of Taylor. Said Tomlin: "Our peanut gallery was in perfect form today." ... The FOX television crew, led by play-by-play announcer Joe Buck and analyst Troy Aikman, watched practice.

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