Former Patriots fullback Mosi Tatupu Passes Away

Former Patriots fullback Mosi Tatupu passed away yesterday at 54. Tatupu is one of the most popular players in New England Patriots history known for his inspired special teams play. Hospital spokeswoman Ashley O’Brien of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro said, Tatupu died Tuesday, however the hospital could not disclose a cause of death.

Tatupu started his NFL career 1978 after the Patriots drafted him in the eight round. He played 13 of his 14 NFL seasons with Patriots, wrapping up his career with the Los Angeles Rams in 1991. He was selected to the 1986 Pro Bowl as a special teams player. Tatupu was also the father of Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu.

Via YahooSports

Steelers expected to use franchise tag on Hampton

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Steelers might be concerned about having an unhappy Pro Bowl nose tackle on their roster next season. But, apparently, they are more concerned about making sure they at least have a nose tackle.

The Steelers are trying to work out a long-term deal to keep Casey Hampton from becoming an unrestricted free agent, but they will use the franchise tag on the five-time Pro Bowl selection if they can't, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has learned.

The Steelers have until Thursday to place the franchise tag on Hampton, a designation that would keep him with the team for at least one more season and guarantee him the average salary of the top five defensive tackles in the National Football League. In 2009, that average was $7,003,000, according to the NFL Players Association -- a figure not much more than the $6,652,000 Hampton counted against the salary cap last year.

The Steelers then could attempt to sign the 10-year veteran to a long-term contract, much like they did last season when they named left tackle Max Starks their franchise player and eventually signed him to a four-year, $26.3 million contract that included a $10 million signing bonus.

Hampton, who will be 33 in September, has indicated to the Steelers that he does not want to have the franchise tag placed on him. But the Steelers do not want to lose him because he is still a productive player -- he was named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl this season -- and they do not have a young replacement behind him.

If the Steelers place the franchise tag on him, such a move likely would impact what they do in the NFL draft, a process that begins Thursday, when the NFL Scouting Combine gets under way at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. With no immediate need for a nose tackle -- arguably the most important position in the 3-4 defense -- the Steelers might decide to use the 18th overall pick to select an inside linebacker who would eventually replace James Farrior, who turned 35 in January.

Hampton will be in the final year of a five-year, $22.75 million contract he signed in 2005. The Steelers could elect to put the exclusive franchise tag on him, which would prohibit him from negotiating with other teams. Or they could deem him a non-exclusive franchise player, which means he could negotiate with other teams and the Steelers would receive two first-round picks in return if he signed elsewhere and they did not match the offer.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10055/1038123-66.stm#ixzz0gVf3EZ5a

Texans extend Kubiak's contract

HOUSTON -Houston Texans owner Bob McNair watched with admiration as the New Orleans Saints celebrated their first Super Bowl victory.

McNair is confident that Gary Kubiak will lead the Texans to one very soon.

The Texans announced Wednesday that Kubiak has signed a contract extension that runs through the 2012 season, a vote of confidence after the team finished 9-7 — the first winning record in the franchise's eight-year history.

"We have a foundation in place," McNair said. "We don't have to go out and establish the foundation, which is what we've been doing the last eight years. We've got some outstanding players, and we just have to keep building on that.

"In evaluating where we were and looking at our coaching situation," McNair added, "I believe Gary can take us to the Super Bowl."

Houston is 31-33 in Kubiak's four seasons, though the team is still seeking its first playoff berth. The 48-year-old Kubiak took over the Texans in January 2006 after the team finished 2-14. His original contract was due to expire after the 2010 season.

"Bob has taken a hard look at where we were four years ago and where we are today and with that, made the decision that we're heading in the right direction," Kubiak said. "I want to finish what I started. We still have a long way to go, but I'm enjoying the work, I'm enjoying the challenge."

McNair admitted he was disappointed that the team missed the playoffs again last season. But he said the team has showed "a lot of progress" under Kubiak and he wanted to maintain continuity by keeping him in charge.

"The most disruptive thing you can do is go in every two or three years and change your coaching staff," McNair said. "When you do that, the new coach might have different schemes that he wants to employ and all of a sudden, the players you have don't fit that scheme. It just sets you back several years."

The Texans ranked fourth in total offense last season (383 yards per game), but assistant head coach Alex Gibbs left for Seattle and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan went to join his father, Mike, in Washington.

Kubiak hired former Denver offensive coordinator Rick Dennison to replace Shanahan and former Atlanta offensive coordinator Greg Knapp to become Houston's quarterbacks coach. Dennison worked on the Broncos' staff during Kubiak's 11 years as Denver's offensive coordinator, and Knapp coached Houston quarterback Matt Schaub for three seasons with the Falcons.

Both Dennison and Knapp are also signed through the 2012 season.

"We have strengthened our coaching staff," McNair said. "I'm pleased we were able to finalize our contractual negotiations with Gary and with our coaches, so everybody will be on the same timeline. That makes everyone feel very good about the situation."

McNair said the Texans need to bolster their offensive and defensive lines and their depth at running back before next season.

Houston ranked 30th in rushing last season (92 yards per game), ahead of only Indianapolis and San Diego. Both those teams won their divisions, but Kubiak said the Texans need a stronger running game to complement their high-powered passing attack.

"We can go out there and throw it with anybody in the business. I don't think that's what's best for our team in the long run," Kubiak said. "We've got to be more dominant late in games. Some games we lost, it was because we couldn't hang onto the football late in those games. It's very important in the development of our team, taking the next step. It wasn't good enough last year."

The Texans have 15 unrestricted free agents, including cornerback Dunta Robinson, offensive lineman Chester Pitts and receiver Kevin Walter. McNair said there's no rush to re-sign any of the players, since free agency doesn't begin until March 5.

"A lot of what we do will be dependent on who we might sign from free agency, and who we get in the draft and what our needs are," McNair said. "We won't look at that until later."

McNair said he would prefer to continue replenishing his roster with draft picks. He said free agents are riskier investments.

"We believe you have to build through the draft and we will continue to do that," McNair said.

Source fanhouse.com

Shanahan agrees to coach Redskins

Mike Shanahan agreed Tuesday night to become the Washington Redskins’ next coach, according to multiple reports.

The Denver Post reported on its Web site that Shanahan received a five-year deal from the Redskins, who fired Jim Zorn following a 4-12 season. Shanahan won two Super Bowls in 14 seasons with Denver but was fired a year ago after the Broncos missed the playoffs for the third straight season.

Shanahan will be Washington’s seventh coach since Dan Snyder bought the team in 1999. He is expected to be introduced at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
Redskins general manager Bruce Allen was hired last month, but Shanahan will have the final authority on football decisions, according to ESPN.com.

Zorn went 12-20 over two seasons, but he lost 18 of his last 24 games after a 6-2 start in 2008. The Redskins struggled early despite a weak schedule this season and finished with their worst record since 1994.

While the Redskins awaited official word about their future coach, Clinton Portis(notes) went about rehashing the past—including his thoughts on quarterback Jason Campbell’s(notes) leadership skills.

During his weekly appearance on a local radio station, Portis talked about what it’s like to play for Shanahan—something the running back did for two seasons with the Broncos—and what it’s like to play with Campbell.

Asked on ESPN980 why Campbell was a team captain and he wasn’t, Portis replied: “I wonder the same thing. It’s no disrespect to Jason, but everybody in that locker room will tell you—you will never see Jason mad, you will never see Jason’s tempo change.”

Portis continued: “(He’s) going to give you everything (he’s) got. But as a leader … it was always, ‘Jason couldn’t take control of the huddle,’ or ‘He didn’t do this’ or ‘He didn’t do that.’ That wasn’t Jason’s character. … I think Jason, you can’t place so much on somebody who’s not ready for that situation. I think Jason has enough trouble in getting the plays in and worrying about this, compared to controlling the huddle.”

Portis told ESPN980 Campbell isn’t the type of player who would go to a coach and say, “‘Well, we need to do this or we need to do that,’ or ‘This is how the players want it.”’

Campbell responded by criticizing Portis’ work ethic, saying “there’s a reason guys don’t get selected as captains.”

“For those things to be said, questioning my character and questioning my leadership, I think that’s not the way to go, especially when you’re supposed to be a team guy,” Campbell told the Washington Post in a telephone interview. “Is that being a good teammate? If that’s the case, why is no one questioning my leadership and everyone is questioning his work ethic?”

It’s quite possible neither player will be with the Redskins next season.

Campbell can become a free agent. Portis missed the last half of the season after getting a concussion against Atlanta on Nov. 8, and he’ll turn 29 in September.

Portis also took exception to comments made by some teammates Monday about a lack of discipline this season and preferential treatment given to some players.

“Don’t wait for the season over to say that’s what the problem was. They could’ve came out and addressed those players and tried to stop it,” Portis told the radio station. “But you wait until the season’s over—and then it’s like a tell-all book came out.”

Although other players didn’t call out Portis specifically, he said before Campbell’s comments: “You would think out of everything that came out, probably the first name that come to mind would be me. I never missed curfew. I ain’t never left the hotel. I never did any of that. I think the only thing we did, there was a group of us that set up and played poker, and they broke that game up at 11 o’clock.”

As for Shanahan, Portis described the coach as “the perfect guy for the job” and a “straight shooter.”

“If you’re doing the stuff you’re supposed to be doing, you’re fine with him,” Portis told the radio station. “If you’re not, no matter how much you’re getting paid, he’s going to get you up out of there.”

Source: YahooSports