Tomlin hands out atta-boys

Very early in his tenure as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin took part in a roundtable with local reporters that had a getting-to-know-you feel about it. During the session, Tomlin described himself as someone “who says what I mean and means what I say.”

When a coach talks like this, the assumption is that he’s referring to critical evaluations, to discipline, to the NFL version of tough love. But during his news conference on Tuesday, Tomlin showed that also applies to platitudes.

He began by recognizing four players who haven’t been on the receiving end of too many public compliments to this point in the season – Tyrone Carter, Max Starks, Daniel Sepulveda and Cedrick Wilson.

“I’d like to acknowledge some guys who stepped up for us,” said Tomlin. “We talk about the level of expectation not changing regardless of who is playing for us, and the guys understand that standard, but some guys did step up in some expanded roles against the Dolphins.”

Full Story: Tomlin hands out atta-boys - [Steelers.com]

GLineTV: Curry Catch Against Vikings

Curry spices up day with memorable catch

They call them circus catches in the NFL, those mind-blowing, gravity-defying receptions that exceptional players often make and use to define their careers.

Ronald Curry made one of those grabs amid a Denver snowstorm on Nov. 28, 2004, a leaping one-handed touchdown catch in a 25-24 upset victory over the Broncos that showcased his skills as a former North Carolina basketball and football player, a great athlete who at one time was considered better than Michael Vick as a prep player in their home state of Virginia.

Until Sunday, that was Curry’s signature catch.

Then he did one better at a sold-out Metrodome. Early in the second quarter, Curry raced downfield with Vikings defensive backs Darren Sharper and Antoine Winfield smothering him. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper let the ball fly anyway.

It landed in Sharper’s hands - until Curry wrestled it away from Minnesota’s strong safety for a 49-yard reception. Curry’s eyes didn’t leave the ball as he fell to the turf with such force that it knocked off his helmet.

Full Story: Curry spices up day with memorable catch - [San Francisco Chronicle]

Show Lee the Money

When Brett Favre has been at his best during his career, there has been a good tight end in the Green Bay Packers’ offense.

There were Mark Chmura and Keith Jackson during the Super Bowl years in the 1990s, and the idled Bubba Franks played at a Pro Bowl level earlier this decade.

During the Packers’ 31-17 win Sunday over the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field, Donald Lee continued his ascension as one of Favre’s top targets.

“I’m glad he trusts me enough to throw me the ball,” Lee said. “I work every day in practice to earn that trust.”

Full Story: Packers show Lee the money, he shows them big production - [Packers News]

Related: Packers TE Donald Lee gets contract, has career day - [Chippewa.com]
Packers: Lee latest in tight end line - [Wisconsin State Journal]

Jenkins Brothers to Meet Again

Because they play the same position, they won’t exactly be knocking heads on the field Sunday, but the game will be special to the Jenkins brothers nonetheless.

Green Bay’s Cullen and Carolina’s Kris, both defensive tackles, will take the same field Sunday for the first time since the 2004 season opener, when the Packers beat Carolina on a Monday night. (The Packers played in Carolina again in 2005, but Kris was injured and did not play.)

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Jackson signing gives Graziani, Soul a potent weapon

Soul wide receiver Chris Jackson yesterday was introduced amid a number of news cameras, a gaggle of VIP ticketholders and several baskets of crab fries. And, oh, yeah, a certain recognizable rock star.At the risk of being condescending, it was an impressive gathering for an Arena Football League free-agent signing.

“This is a bit surreal,” said Jackson, looking around the crowded back room of Chickie’s & Pete’s in South Philadelphia. “When I came into arena football [in 2000], this was not part of it. You went and you played. But having Jon Bon Jovi as part of the ownership, this comes with it.”

Full Story: Jackson signing gives Graziani, Soul a potent weapon  - [Philly.com]

Related: Soul hope reunion renews magic - [Philly.com]

Soul Sign Force’s Jackson

The Soul’s signing of free-agent wide receiver Chris Jackson is the Arena Football League equivalent of when the Eagles added Terrell Owens.Minus the sit-ups.

Jackson, 32, signed a 2-year deal with the Soul and immediately becomes the team’s top wide receiver. Last season with the Georgia Force, Jackson was second in the AFL in catches (145) and yards (1,915) and third in touchdown receptions (47).

Granted, the numbers are outrageous compared to traditional football, but his recognition as first-team all-league speaks for itself.

His deal with Philadelphia makes him one of the highest paid players at his position. Jackson will earn $125,000 in 2008. Only Chicago’s Damian Harrell ($140,000) and Arizona’s Siaha Burley ($130,000) will earn more next season.

“I’m happy, my family’s happy and now I just can’t wait to get started,” he said.

Full Story: Soul lands big-time receiver as Force’s Jackson signs 2-year deal - [Philly.com]

Donald Lee signs deal with Packers

In the end, the deal likely would have gotten done. 

But it probably didn’t hurt, either.

Not long after Green Bay Packers tight end Donald Lee caught a 48-yard pass from Brett Favre with about 3:30 left in the second quarter Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, vice president Andrew Brandt saw an e-mail pop into his in-box.

“Are you sure you don’t want to get this deal done?” the message read.

It was from Brian Levy, one of Lee’s agents, who had been working with Brandt on a contract extension for the pending unrestricted free agent since Thursday evening.

Brandt brushed off the message by replying, “Yes, Donald’s playing well.”

Both sides made sure Lee will get the chance to continue doing that through 2011 in a Packers uniform as he signed a four-year contract extension worth $11.88 million on Monday.

“I hope I can play for the Packers for the rest of my life,” Lee said by telephone later in the afternoon. “I love it here. It’s been like home.”

Full Story: Packers tight end Lee receives extension - [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

Related: Packers Intend to Keep Lee - [Goal Line Football]

Holliday warns bullies he’s back on the playground

A familiar face is back in the schoolyard, and Dolphins defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday intends to be an enforcer for his struggling mates Sunday against the Bills.

Holliday expressed excitement today at returning from a hairline fracture in his right ankle that sidelined him the past four games. He didn’t enjoy what he was forced to witness.

“It’s like watching your kid out on a playground, and that bully’s out there,” Holliday said. “Or you hear your kid come home every day, talking about that bully that’s taking his lunch money or slapping him around. It’s the equivalent of that. It’s maybe your kid’s first game, and you’re watching it and you can get upset, you can yell, you can scream, but you can’t go out and take the plays for him. He has to take his lumps, and he has to learn.”

Full Story: Holliday warns bullies he’s back on the playground - [Palm Beach Post]

Related: Dolphins’ Holliday returns to practice - [Miami Herald]

Tomlin Understands Intensity of Ravens/Steelers Rivalry

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is new to this AFC North rivalry with the Baltimore Ravens. That doesn’t mean he needs to be briefed about its history or its nasty personality.

The tapes from last season’s two games told him all he needed to know.

During former coach Bill Cowher’s 15 seasons, no other division team roughed up the Steelers the way the Ravens did last year in winning 27-0 in Baltimore and 31-7 in Pittsburgh.

The scoreboard wasn’t all the Ravens dominated. They stuffed the Steelers at the line of scrimmage, shut down their running game, sacked Ben Roethlisberger and Charlie Batch 14 times without giving up a sack themselves and generally played school-yard bully during the two mismatches.

No, Tomlin didn’t need someone to break down the tapes.

Full Story: Even though it’s his first year, Tomlin understands intensity of the Ravens-Steelers rivalry - [USA Today]

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