Parcells got a new job

BY JEFF DARLINGTON

jdarlington@MiamiHerald.com

Related Content

• Huizenga ends negotiations with real estate mogul
• Parcells hiring ends bid to sell Dolphins
• Fins haven't learned lesson with big names
• Dolphins net a Big Tuna

What does this mean for Cam Cameron's future?

It would be easy to think everyone is in jeopardy. The coach. The general manager. The assistants. The scouts. Even the players. Yes, everyone. When a team turns over an immense amount of power to one person, change is inevitable. But let's make this clear: Parcells' arrival does not mean Cameron's departure is imminent. In fact, after a meeting between Cameron and Huizenga broke Wednesday evening, it actually appeared that Cameron might survive this deal. As for the rest of the Dolphins brass, including general manager Randy Mueller? We'll see. When Parcells does come on board, he'll likely want to hire his own general manager. As for a coach? Parcells still wants to be able to buy the groceries. He just doesn't want to cook the food. And nobody is willing to say just yet that Cameron won't be the guy in the kitchen.

Any chance Parcells might be the coach too?

Not going to happen. Parcells isn't interested in taking on a role as a coach or a general manager at this point in his career. But he still has an itch to be involved in the NFL. And in this new position, he can have full authority over all personnel decisions without being the guy making the calls on the sideline. For a man who likes power but also likes the idea of settling into a less hectic life in South Florida, that's a pretty good deal.

So if Parcells isn't going to be the general manager - and Randy Mueller's job might be in jeopardy - who is going to handle those duties?

That's where things could get interesting. There have been rumors floating around the Dolphins' facility about which one of Parcells' former employees will join him in Miami. Keep an eye on the movement of a lesser-known name currently with the Dallas Cowboys, Jeff Ireland. (He's the vice president of scouting in Dallas, and he was very tight with Parcells in Dallas.) But the craziest dream scenario? Get this. Scott Pioli, who is the highly regarded vice president of player personnel for the Patriots, is Parcells' son-in-law.

Is Bill Parcells here for the long haul?

Right. And Nick Saban isn't going to Alabama. We'll believe it when we see it. Parcells is notorious for retiring and returning and retiring and returning and backing out of deals and changing his mind and, well, you get the idea. When he left the Patriots in 1996, he said he had ''no desire to continue as an NFL coach.'' Eight days later, he became the Jets' head coach. And in 2000, when retiring from the Jets, he said, ''I've coached my last game.'' A few years later? He was coaching his first game with the Cowboys. That's not to say he isn't a football genius. And because he isn't likely to be subdued to the same brutal hours of an NFL head coach -- not to mention, he loves South Florida -- perhaps this marriage will last a little longer than the vows of Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman. But if Parcells inks his name on a four-year contract with the Dolphins, let's just hope Huizenga makes him use a Sharpie instead of a pencil.

What's with the nickname 'The Big Tuna?'

There's plenty of different stories about how he got the nickname, and although even Parcells doesn't seem overly certain, everyone agrees it at least derives from the StarKist mascot, Charlie the Tuna. ''I think it goes back to my first time with the Patriots,'' Parcells has been quoted as saying in various publications. 'There was an old commercial from StarKist with Charlie the StarKist tuna, so my players were trying to con me on something one time, and I said, `You must think I'm Charlie the Tuna,' you know, a sucker, and that's kind of how it started.''

Looks like the Big Tuna will now be swimming with the Dolphins.

New QB Shaun Hill sparks 49ers to 20-13 victory over Bengals

SAN FRANCISCO - From the third-string quarterback to the US$80 million cornerback, the San Francisco 49ers finally came together as the team they imagined three months ago.
And from Cincinnati's awful opening drives to Chad Johnson's final drop, the Bengals' season fell apart in ways they couldn't believe.
Shaun Hill passed for 197 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score in his first NFL start as the 49ers beat the Bengals 20-13 on Saturday night for just their second victory in 12 games.
Frank Gore rushed for a season-high 138 yards, and Darrell Jackson had a season-high eight catches for 86 yards in a surprisingly effective San Francisco (4-10) attack led by Hill, a six-year veteran backup who only threw his first NFL passes last week after Trent Dilfer got a concussion.
With Alex Smith also sidelined, Hill was the only quarterback left in San Francisco - and he improbably sparked the 49ers' league-worst offence to the club's first home victory since opening week. Hill went 21-of-28, hitting Vernon Davis with a precise TD pass nine seconds before halftime and generally running the show with confidence.
"I had confidence in myself, but obviously it's nice to go out and actually do it," said Hill, whose last start was for NFL Europe's Amsterdam Admirals in 2003. "It's one thing to sit there and visualize everything and feel like you can make all the plays. It's another to go out and do it."
The third quarterback was the charm for the 49ers, but the defence also deserved some credit. Cornerback Nate Clements led a solid effort against Carson Palmer's receivers through several tough situations, including the Bengals' last drive.
"We just wanted to show we can do what we've been capable of doing all season," said Clements, who became the NFL's highest-paid defensive player when he joined San Francisco as a free agent. "Shaun did a nice job, but it was good to have a chance to win a game as a defence. They're high-powered, but we mostly kept them in check."
Palmer threw his 100th touchdown pass, a 52-yard strike to Chris Henry in the first half, to become the fifth-fastest passer in NFL history to reach the mark. Palmer passed for 252 yards, but last season's Pro Bowl MVP couldn't rally the Bengals (5-9) to a tying score - not after Johnson dropped a difficult fourth-down catch in the end zone with 2:14 left.
"It's the same thing that's been killing us all year - execution," Palmer said. "If you don't have 11 guys doing each of their own jobs right on every single play, you're going to have bad plays and miscues and negative plays."
Losing to the NFL's worst offence had to be one of the Bengals' most embarrassing defeats in coach Marvin Lewis' five seasons. Cincinnati, which hasn't won consecutive games all season, is assured of its first losing record since 2002.
"Frustrating, just a little, but it's a lot more disappointing because we've underachieved so much," Cincinnati guard Bobbie Williams said. "It's not like us, but that's what we keep putting on film."
After spending most of the season dead last in many offensive statistical categories, the 49ers looked downright competent from their opening 76-yard drive. Hill finished it with a three-yard bootleg for a touchdown that gave San Francisco its first lead at home since its season-opening victory over Arizona.
Hill rallied the 49ers again on another long drive capped by an impressive 17-yard throw to Davis in coverage. Davis, the athletic tight end often underutilized by Smith and Dilfer, celebrated by jumping into the crowd as the 49ers earned their first halftime lead of the season.
"Shaun did a great job," said Davis, who had five catches for 46 yards. "He came out and took charge. He showed everybody that he can play. He stepped it up a notch."
Joe Nedney hit two field goals in the third quarter, but 49ers coach Mike Nolan passed up the chance to kick a 42-yarder with 6:15 to play at his players' insistence, instead failing on a fourth-down conversion attempt.
The Bengals' T.J. Houshmandzadeh set the franchise record with his 101st reception on a fourth-down conversion as Cincinnati moved to the 49ers 24. But Johnson couldn't hold on to a fourth-down throw in the end zone with 2:14 to play, failing to gather the precise pass to his body as he fell out of bounds.
"I just hit the ground really hard," Johnson said. "I tried to squeeze it. I had possession, I had my feet in, and I tried to hold onto the ball the best I could. I had control until I hit the ground."
The call was upheld on video review, and Gore sealed it with a gutsy 10-yard run on third-and-nine for the 49ers' final first down.
Notes: San Francisco DT Bryant Young again hinted at retirement, saying he'll announce his decision in the days before next Sunday's home finale against Tampa Bay. "It's near the end, like I said before," said Young, a 14-year veteran. "My days are numbered, so it's time for me to enjoy it." ... Cincinnati LB Rashad Jeanty was deactivated despite being listed as probable. Corey Mays replaced him. ... Only Dan Marino (44 games), Kurt Warner (50), Johnny Unitas (53) and Peyton Manning (56) reached 100 TD passes faster than Palmer.

Source:http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hg67wdd-ppUK2_legXLi2BNIKwiQ

WOW! Look At All These Dope Heads!

Roberts, Tejada among O's named in Mitchell Report

By Dan Connolly Sun reporter
3:31 PM EST, December 13, 2007

NEW YORK - Former Sen. George Mitchell's report on steroid use in baseball released today mentions at least 16 current and former Orioles including second baseman Brian Roberts and recently traded shortstop Miguel Tejada.The others named are: current outfielder Jay Gibbons, who recently admitted using human growth hormone and accepted a 15-day suspension, and ex-Orioles Rafael Palmeiro, Larry Bigbie, David Segui, Jack Cust, Jason Grimsley, Jerry Hairston, Tim Laker, Gregg Zaun, Kevin Brown, Howie Clark, Todd Williams, Kent Mercker and Gary Matthews Jr.The following is an excerpt from the part of the report that mentions Roberts:
Related links
Clemens, Bonds named in Mitchell Report
Talk about it: Mitchell Report
Share your thoughts on the release of the Mitchell Report.
Everyone knew...this report just gave us the juicy stuff. Baseball records have been a joke. Bonds is a joke, Clemens, Petite...Rose is looking better all the time for the Hall of Fame at least his records weren't juiced..
Submitted by dean
3:53 PM EST, Dec 13, 2007
Looks like we finally finished in first place for something...
Submitted by Mike
3:47 PM EST, Dec 13, 2007
no one really cares about the roid use. fans just want championships. usa has too tough of a view on drug use. everyone needs to relax, do you really think we were put here to deal with all this stress. live and let live.


Comments: Talk about it: Mitchell Report
On the Web: Read the Mitchell Report
Roch Around the Clock: More on the Mitchell Report
Sun coverage: Doping in sports
Roberts and Larry Bigbie were both rookies in 2001. According to Bigbie, both he and Roberts lived in Segui's house in the Baltimore area during the latter part of that season. When Bigbie and Segui used steroids in the house, Roberts did not participate.According to Bigbie, however, in 2004 Roberts admitted to him that he had injected himself once or twice with steroids in 2003. Until this admission, Bigbie had never suspected Roberts of using steroids.In order to provide Roberts with information about these allegations and to give him an opportunity to respond, I asked him to meet with me; he declined.Other notable players mentioned include Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Barry Bonds, Mo Vaughn, Gary Sheffield, David Justice, Jason Giambi and his brother Jeremy. Eric Gagne and Paul Lo Duca were also named, both linked to human growth hormone.Selig tabbed Mitchell in March 2006 to conduct baseball's independent investigation and gave him no specific guidelines or deadlines. The exhaustive report took nearly two years to complete.Mitchell did not have subpoena power, so he had to rely on cooperation from current and former players -- many of whom declined to be interviewed. That in itself made his job difficult, and has led to skepticism that the report is more hearsay than fact.A primary foundation of the Mitchell Report comes from information provided by former New York Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski.Radomski, a personal trainer and bodybuilder, admitted to supplying dozens of players with illegal steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs during a 10-year period starting in 1995. Awaiting sentencing in February on steroid distribution charges, he agreed to cooperate with Mitchell.Segui admitted to The Sun this week that he purchased illegal steroids as well as legal supplements from Radomski, whom he still considers a close friend. Segui said Radomski wasn't a drug dealer, but instead a trusted confidant who got players whatever they needed, including mundane items such as workout gear. If asked about their relationship, Segui said he told Radomski to tell the truth to federal investigators. Segui said he declined to be interviewed by Mitchell.Before it was released, the Mitchell Report was widely criticized for myriad reasons including the time spent on it -- about the same as the investigation into the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks -- and more simply, the inclusion of Mitchell, who is on the Boston Red Sox board of directors.Mitchell has said that his relationship with the Red Sox did not hamper him from pursuing the investigation with complete objectivity.Although steroids have been an implicit part of the sporting world for decades, the issue didn't move to the forefront until San Francisco's Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative was raided by local and federal officials in 2003 and several high-profile athletes, including baseball stars Bonds, Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield, were later implicated.Then, in 2005, former all-star Jose Canseco released his tell-all book "Juiced," which levied more steroids allegations and fingered some of the sport's biggest names including Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, who captured the national spotlight in 1998 with their pursuit of Roger Maris' single-season home run record.Prompted in part by Canseco, the U.S. House Government Reform Committee conducted a nationally televised, steroid hearing on March 17, 2005. Among those testifying included the retired McGwire, who refused to answer questions about his past, and Palmeiro, who defiantly wagged a finger at the commission and vehemently denied ever using steroids. Less than five months later, Palmeiro received a 10-day suspension for testing positive for the drug stanozolol.He was the first household name to be suspended under MLB's testing program, which began in 2003 but did not begin issuing public suspensions until 2005. The policy has since been fortified, with a first-time failure of a drug test resulting in a 50-game suspension.Earlier this month, the commissioner's office suspended Gibbons and Kansas City Royals outfielder Jose Guillen for 15 days after both were linked to a federal investigation into online steroid rings. The penalties, the commissioner's office stated, are in accord with punishment guidelines when the offenses allegedly took place in 2003 and 2004.They were the first players to be suspended without failing a drug test or being indicted for steroid drug involvement. Gibbons will serve his suspension at the start of the 2008 season; Guillen is appealing his suspension.dan.connolly@baltsun.com

10 things SEC fans should know about Petrino's move

10 things SEC fans should know about Petrino's moveBy JEFF D'ALESSIOThe Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionPublished on: 12/11/07
Ten things SEC fans ought to know about Bobby Petrino's move to Arkansas:
1. Mark your calendars for Oct. 23, 2010. That's the next time Petrino is scheduled to coach in the Peach State, when his Hogs play the Dogs at Sanford Stadium. Arkansas and Georgia don't meet in 2007 or '08; UGA travels to Fayetteville in 2009.
MORE ON PETRINO• Main story: Petrino resigns• Have your say: Worst season ever?• Schultz: He was never up to job• Bradley: Blank should get Cowher• Timeline: A Petrino's path to Falcons


Will Bobby Petrino cut it at Arkansas and in the SEC?
Yes. He's a proven college coach.
No. He got exposed with the Falcons.
He won't stay long enough for us to find out.
Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results
2. The SEC is becoming a rehab facility for NFL coaches gone bad. Roll call: South Carolina's Steve Spurrier (12-20 with the Redskins), Alabama's Nick Saban (15-17 with the Dolphins), Kentucky's Rich Brooks (13-19 with the Rams) and now Petrino (3-10 with the Falcons).
3. One of two Georgia high school seniors to commit to former Hogs coach Houston Nutt said Tuesday night he's just as excited now as he was when he originally said yes. "Thrilled," Chattahoochee defensive end Justin Smith said. "If [Petrino] can [win big] at Louisville, just wait and see what he can do at Arkansas. I'm sure he'll have us competing for national championships as quickly as possible."
4. Petrino's biggest recruiting pitch the next few weeks won't be to a high school star but to two-time Heisman Trophy finalist Darren McFadden. If McFadden skips school early, the junior is projected to be the top-rated running back in April's NFL draft.
5. Mark Richt has Georgia headed to the Sugar Bowl for the second time in three years but he'll likely be in the middle of the SEC's pay pack if Petrino signs for more than $2.1 million, about the going rate for this kind of hire. Also ahead of Richt: Saban, Florida's Urban Meyer, Auburn's Tommy Tuberville and Tennessee's Phil Fulmer.
6. Arkansas-Auburn just became awfully fun. You remember what happened in 2003, when Petrino, then at Louisville, secretly met with Auburn officials to discuss replacing Tuberville as Tigers coach. That's the Petrino who worked for Tuberville as offensive coordinator a year earlier. "Interesting," Tuberville said Tuesday night when told of Petrino's decision to return to the SEC. "Guess I had better go recruiting."
7. During his college days at Louisville, Petrino was known for grooming pinpoint passers like Brian Brohm and Stefan LeFors. At Arkansas, he inherits the mortal Casey Dick, a senior-to-be who averaged 124.8 passing yards a game, ninth-best in the SEC.
8. He won't be coaching in Georgia anymore but Petrino will coach a few Georgians at his new stop. Seven are set to return to the Hogs lineup in 2008, including starting defensive tackle Ernest Mitchell of Newnan.
9. Some Arkansas fans are still holding their breath until Petrino signs on the dotted line. They, after all, remember what happened in April, when Creighton's Dana Altman was introduced at a news conference as the school's new basketball coach, only to have a change of heart and return to Creighton.
10. This search wasn't much easier. Clemson's Tommy Bowden and Wake Forest's Jim Grobe both passed

Source:http://www.ajc.com/news/content/sports/uga/stories/2007/12/11/secwest2_1212.html

Australian Anna Rawson announces having earned LPGA card

LOS ANGELES -- The only athlete that is both a professional golfer and model, Australian Anna Rawson enters the highest platform of professional female golfers, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
Rawson ended the Final Round of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament this past Sunday, carding three birdies, which made her first on the conditional status list of the LPGA.
"I am very excited to be apart of this elite and diverse group of athletes," said Rawson, "My continuous goal is to raise the profile of women's golf, and this new phase in my career will allow me to make more strides to do so."
Having already made a global impact on golf followers and drawn in many new fans to the sport, Rawson's experienced a flood of attention throughout the year due to her fashionable style on the course, from her signature wide-brim hats to Tom Ford Sunglasses.
The multi-talented 26 year-old had a very fruitful year from placing second at the Swiss Open on the Ladies European Tour to participating in major fashion photoshoots in a myriad of magazines all over the world, such as GQ Spain, Vogue Japan, Cosmopolitan Finland, and GQ UK.
She was also named "The Most Popular Golfer" on the Ladies European Tour by GOLF Weekly readers and earned the "Golf Babe of the Year 2007" award at Eindhovensche Golf in the Netherlands, before playing in the KLM Ladies Open.
As GQ writer Benjie Goodhart said about Rawson, "They say Tiger Woods made golf popular with people who previously felt excluded from the game. This player could make golf popular with people who hate golf."
ABOUT ANNA RAWSON
Anna has been a stellar golf talent since she was 13, as well as a much sought-after model. After winning the National Dolly Magazine Cover Girl Contest, Anna began her modeling career, making her a rarity in sports, with an impactful mix of femininity, raw athletic talent, and intelligence . Anna graduated from USC before turning pro in golf and is noted for her fashion on the golf course. She lives in Los Angeles, CA.
For more info visit www.annarawson.com.
Contact: Jane Yin
JSY Public Relations
Phone: (310) 948-3609
E-Mail: jane@jsypr.com
http://www.worldgolf.com/newswire/browse/11969-Australian-Anna-Rawson-announces-having-earned-LPGA-card
Source:

Fisher Will Coach Florida State When Bowden Retires, ESPN Says

Fisher Will Coach Florida State When Bowden Retires, ESPN Says
By Mason Levinson
Dec. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Florida State University offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher will succeed Bobby Bowden when college football's winningest coach retires, ESPN reported on its Web site.
The Tallahassee, Florida, school will hold a Dec. 10 news conference to announce that Fisher, 42, has agreed to a three- year contract that will pay him almost $1 million a year until he succeeds Bowden, 78, who has won more games as a coach in college football's top division than anyone else, ESPN said, citing people close to the situation that it didn't identify.
Florida State spokesman Elliott Finebloom said he couldn't confirm the story in a telephone interview. Finebloom said that Bowden has agreed on a new contract that he's yet to sign and that the school has tentatively scheduled a news conference next week to discuss the coaching situation.
Bowden, whose Seminoles were 7-5 during the regular season and 4-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, will coach his team in its 26th straight bowl game when it faces Kentucky in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31. He has 373 career wins, two more than Penn State's Joe Paterno, who is 80. Fisher is in his first season at Florida State after seven at Louisiana State University in the same position.
To contact the reporter on this story: Mason Levinson in New York at mlevinson@bloomberg.net .

Source:http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=a4xcwZHNLmlA&refer=home