Projo Pats Blog

It's all a bit premature, since the Eagles and the Steelers are still one win away from making the Super Bowl, but Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (a former Philadelphia mayor and outspoken Eagles fan) says he's sensitive to security concerns in the Tampa area should the two teams from his state and their enthusiastic fan base qualify for the big game (New York Times). "Eagles fans and Steelers fans are such enthusiastic blue-collar rock 'n' rollers, there may not be much left of Tampa when they get done with it. [Florida Gov. Charlie] Crist is a friend of mine, so I will offer to send the Pennsylvania National Guard down to help." Tampa, of course, has recent history with Philadelphia fans -- the Rays hosted the Phillies in the World Series. They're apparently scarred by the memory.

A few comments on the topic from the web site of the Tampa Tribune:

"The Steeler's fans are OK but The Eagle fans? It would probably take more than the National Guard to control these nuts. "

"I have received personal assurances from the Philadelhia orginization that its fans will be of the highest comportment, should their team be involved in the football contest to take place in Tampa. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!!"

PUHLEESE: Meanwhile, someone at SI.com is asking if Philadelphia -- which until October hadn't won a championship of any kind in 25 years -- is "The New Boston." Get back to us after another five trophies.

HOW IT WORKED: In his introductory news conference in Kansas City, Scott Pioli sought to explain the way things worked between him and Bill Belichick in New England: "Bill had the final say in everything. However, it was a collaboration. I'm not sure I can think of many players that ever came into the program that Bill and I didn't completely agree on. The amount of respect that he and I had for one another, if there was a disagreement, the respect for the other person led us away from that player." That will change now because, as Karen Guregian notes in the Herald, Pioli will have the final say on all football matters with the Chiefs.

A MATTER OF TRUST: (Boston Globe) Mike Reiss of the Globe opines that part of the reason for the success that Belichick and Pioli found together was the strength of their personal relationship and their common values when it came to evaluating players.

BIG DECISION COMING: Mike Florio writes in the Sporting News that the first decision Pioli makes in Kansas City -- who coaches the team once Herman Edwards is let go -- will be the most important one he makes.

CASE NOT QUITE CLOSED: The man picked to succeed Pioli, Nick Caserio, could still end up taking the Browns' vacant GM job, according to reports mentioned on ProFootballTalk.com.

BIG WEEK FOR A SMALL SCHOOL: Caserio's promotion to vice president of player personnel is one of two big news items this week involving graduates of John Carroll University in Cleveland. The other is the news that Caserio's former college teammate, Josh McDaniels, is the new head coach of the Denver Broncos (Lawrence Eagle-Tribune).

HIGHER ON THE FOOD CHAIN: Former Patriots special teams coach Brad Seely will have a similar position in his new job on Eric Mangini's Cleveland staff, but the added title of special head coach means that Seely will stand to gain more compensation with the Browns, and possibly a more direct route to a future head coaching job. (Boston Globe)

WHERE THE STAFF STANDS: There are quite a few job openings in Foxboro these days, and The Boston Herald provides a summary of who is likely to end up where when the dust clears.

SPITTING VENOM: As far as Ravens coach John Harbaugh is concerned, the allegations by Steelers punter Mitch Berger that Baltimore defensive back Frank Walker spit in his face during the teams' second meeting this season have been disproved and can be put to bed. But the Pittsburgh media is still asking the question. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) And Walker himself, who said that he had just had a "slobber moment" during his last trip to Pittsburgh, is expecting to be a target of the Steeler fans wrath on Sunday (Baltimore Sun).

IT WORKS OUT, SOMETIMES: No one wants to lose a job, but getting cut by the Detroit Lions earlier this season wasn't such a bad deal, as it turns out, for Sean McHugh, who will be the Steelers' starting fullback on Sunday (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).

GREAT NEWS FOR THE CARDINALS: Anquan Boldin says that the hamstring he injured in Arizona's first playoff victory feels much better, and he sounds very confident that he will play against the Eagles on Sunday (projo.com).

PRECIOUS OPPORTUNITY: Meanwhile, for hobbled Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, the thought that this could be his last chance playing on such a big stage is always in the front of his mind these days (Philadelphia Daily News).

NOT SOLD ON PLAX: While many of Plaxico Burress' former teammates on the Giants really, really want him back, head coach Tom Coughlin told WFAN yesterday that he is "not ready to say" that Burress will be with Big Blue next season (New York Post). The good news for Burress is that a Pennsylvania jury ruled in his favor yesterday in his dispute with a car dealer over a car that Burress borrowed and that was later seized by New York City police (projo.com).

SO LONG, T.O.? Speaking of talented receivers who might be more trouble than they're worth, Terrell Owens' days in Dallas might be numbered, if you believe the latest Cowboys report from Ed Werder of ESPN. But the Dallas Morning News notes that one downside to cutting Owens (in addition to what he brings on the field) is the fact that the team would take a salary cap hit in 2009 by doing so.

A DEFENSIVE MIND WHERE IT'S NEEDED: Former Bills head coach Gregg Williams is the new defensive coordinator in New Orleans, where he will try to take a mediocre defense and turn it into something that can help the offensively explosive Saints become a complete package (New Orleans Times Picayune).

 Tags  Ed Rendell Football Today Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers

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