Gary Kubiak was known as an offensive genius years before becoming a head coach. He's held true to that reputation in Houston, turning the Texans' once-bumbling offense into one of the league's most potent groups in his first three years. Now he needs to turn around the defense to push his team past the mediocrity of the last two seasons and into the playoff hunt, a place the Texans…
A year later, Tony Sparano can laugh about his first impression of the Miami Dolphins. The team he took over in early 2008 was coming off a 1-15 season, the worst in franchise history. It showed when Sparano conducted offseason workouts. "It sometimes didn't really look much like football out there," Sparano says with a smile.
Two-time Pro Bowl guard Mike Wahle has retired after being released by the Seattle Seahawks for failing a physical before their first practice of training camp. Seahawks coach Jim Mora said Friday the 32-year-old Wahle told him he had "decided to hang it up for the time being" and spend more time with his family.
This may be as close as Dan Rooney comes to retiring from pro football. Rooney, named the U.S. ambassador to Ireland earlier this year by President Barack Obama, is now listed as the Pittsburgh Steelers' chairman emeritus — a title commonly given to an executive who has retired from professional life.
A day after the St. Louis Rams took Jason Smith with the second pick of the draft, the offensive tackle vowed to be in training camp on time. On Friday, he wore No. 77 as he took the field for the first full-squad workout under new coach Steve Spagnuolo. Smith made it just under the wire, signing a five-year contract Thursday.
One of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history apparently resulted from Steelers linebacker James Harrison's guess work, not the Pittsburgh coaches' game plan. Harrison revealed while reporting to training camp on Friday that he didn't follow his coaches' orders on his 100-yard interception return touchdown that ended the first half against Arizona on Feb.
Score Round 1 to the rookie. Mark Sanchez received the slight edge from coach Rex Ryan on Friday in the first practice of what could be a summer-long competition with Kellen Clemens to be the New York Jets' starting quarterback. "It probably wasn't the best day in throwing completions, but I thought Sanchez had a really good day," Ryan said after the morning practice.
Leon Washington was back on the field for the New York Jets, without a new deal and not optimistic he'll get one before the season begins. "I don't feel confident that something's going to get done," the unhappy running back said after the team's late practice Friday. "It kind of hurts me a little bit because I've been here three years and busted my tail off and…
Two-time Pro Bowl offensive guard Mike Wahle has been released by the Seattle Seahawks before their first practice of training camp.