Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, whose team plays the Steelers on Sunday for the first time since Seattle lost to Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl 20 months ago, said he doesn’t envy the new life of his friend Bill Cowher. The former Steelers coach is now working as an analyst for CBS TV on Sundays, but is around the house most other times.
“Not yet,” said Holmgren, who is 59 and in his 16th season as an NFL head coach, with one year remaining on a contract extension with Seattle signed last year.
“I did talk to Bill before the season started. I just happened to catch him. It was late in the morning. He was drinking a cup of coffee, the sun was shining. He said he was going to play golf in about an hour. He was rubbing it in pretty good.”
Holmgren asked Cowher if he missed coaching.
“No, no,” Cowher replied. “I’m going to play golf in about an hour.”
Holmgren said he wouldn’t be surprised to see Cowher back on an NFL sideline someday. Rumors have swirled that Cowher will return to coach in Cleveland, where he played from 1980-82. Cowher also began his NFL coaching career with the Browns as Marty Schottenheimer’s special teams coach in 1985.
“We became friends over the years. He’s a great family guy. He did absolutely the right thing, in his mind, for his family,” Holmgren said. “Apparently, he likes the television stuff. I really firmly believe that at some point he will re-enter the arena.
“Bill was a head coach at a very young age. He’s 49 years old, 50 maybe. I don’t think he’s got it completely out of his system, but who knows?”
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CALL HIM MR. BEAUTIFUL OR 24/7: Linebacker Keith Bulluck dubbed himself Mr. Monday Night before the Titans played in New Orleans. Now he has a new nickname.
“I’m Mr. 24/7 now,” Bulluck said with a laugh. “I can get it done any day, any day. It doesn’t have to be Monday night.”
Bulluck responded with three interceptions in that Monday night game, a 31-14 victory at New Orleans and the first such performance by a linebacker in franchise history. Safety Chris Hope said Bulluck adapts well to the situation.
“Keith Bulluck is Superman. He plays on Monday, Sunday afternoon, Sunday nights, so he changes his name to kind of clarify all that up and make himself 24/7,” Hope said.
But the eight-year veteran wouldn’t comment on being included in a Nashville magazine’s list of the town’s 25 most beautiful people.
Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth asked if Bulluck produced the magazine himself and joked that he must have made the top 10.
“I guess because I’m married and all that stuff I’m not on there. He’s one of those guys. But we look a lot better than that here in the locker room,” Haynesworth said.
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CLOSE CALL: The last time Indianapolis faced Tampa, it was a history-making comeback – one that almost didn’t happen.
With the Colts trailing by 21 points with 4 minutes left in regulation, Dungy turned to offensive coordinator Tom Moore and suggested taking out Manning.
“I was about 10 seconds away from pulling Peyton,” Dungy said. “I had told Tom we should take Peyton out so he doesn’t get hurt and Tom said, ‘Let’s see where we get on this kickoff.’ “
Former Colts returner Brad Pyatt responded with the most timely play of his short career: a 90-yard return to the Tampa Bay 12. That got Manning a reprieve and four plays later, James Mungro scored on a 3-yard run to start the rally.
Indy wound up becoming the first team in league history to rally from 21 points behind with that little time left in regulation.
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HIGH SCHOOL TO NFL: California high schools De La Salle in Concord and Long Beach Polytechnic have the most NFL players this season, six each.
Based on rosters to open the season, NFL players attended 1,384 high schools in 48 states and the District of Columbia, three foreign countries and one U.S. territory (American Samoa).
It’s no surprise that De La Salle and Long Beach Poly top the list, because those schools traditionally have been among the annual leaders in NFL alumni. The current crop from De La Salle has Patriots QB Matt Gutierrez; Jaguars RB-KR Maurice Jones-Drew and DT Derek Landri; Giants WR Amani Toomer; Ravens WR Demetrius Williams; and Broncos LB D.J. Williams.
From Long Beach Polytechnic, it’s Eagles OT Winston Justice; Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis; Browns LB Willie McGinest; Chiefs WR Samie Parker; Eagles LB Pago Togafau; and Giants DT Manuel Wright.
“Long Beach Poly means a lot to me,” McGinest says. “The school is a melting pot of ethnicity, and you not only got a great education, but you also learned about life. The coaches and administrators made sure you focused on your schoolwork. It is not a surprise to me that so many people who went to Poly have gone on to do great things. They prepare you for the next phase of your life.”
California has the most NFL players in 2007 (209), followed by Texas (184) and Florida (178).
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PINK TOWELS: If fans think their TV sets need adjusting this weekend when they see players using pink towels, they should not touch the remote control.
In support of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, NFL players will use pink towels provided by Gatorade, a league sponsor, on the sidelines. Many of the towels will be autographed by the players, then put up for bidding on www.nflauction.nfl.com. Proceeds will go to breast cancer organizations nationwide.
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KNIGHT’S PLAN: Jaguars safety Sammy Knight, who spent the last two years in Kansas City, watched one episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” a documentary that followed the Chiefs during training camp.
It left a lasting impression.
And when Knight returns to Kansas City on Sunday, he plans to reprimand former teammate Bernard Pollard for his infamous locker room dance.
“I’m going to fine him for what he did,” Knight said. “I’m going to fine him for that dance.”
Pollard’s routine, which was broadcast on YouTube and other Internet sites, included several leg-shaking moves and ended with a full split. Teammates were running around hooting and hollering and some were even rolling on the floor.
It all started when Pollard put in a CD and said, “I’m going to show you how to do it. That’s how we do it in Fort Wayne. We’ve got dancers.”
Knight got a big kick out of it, too. But he also said he was embarrassed for his fellow defensive back.
“He’s a cool guy, but he shouldn’t have done that dance,” Knight said.
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AP Football Writer Barry Wilner and Sports Writers Mike Marot in Indianapolis, Mark Long in Jacksonville and Greg Bell in Seattle contributed to this story.
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