Madden Franchise - Season 1 (2006) - Off Season

[Dogphins]

NFL OFF-SEASON NEWS


PATRIOTS HEAD COACH, BILL BELICHICK RETIRES



Bill Belichick, in a press conference called today, has announced that he will be retiring as Head Coach of the New England Patriots, effective immediately.

Belichick has been in the NFL as a coach/administrator for 32 years, starting his career back in 1975. With two Head Coaching positions under his belt (Cleveland and New England), Belichick has finally called it a day. His win/loss record as a Head Coach for the Cleveland Browns from 1991-1995 and the New England Patriots from 2000-2006 is 108-84, a winning percentage of 56.3%. Belichick also has a playoff record of 11-3. Most importantly, Belichick is a 3-time Super Bowl winning coach, all from New England, winning Super Bowls in 2001, 2003 and 2004.

The following is a timeline of Belichick's career in the NFL:

1975- After graduating from Wesleyan University, Belichick took a $25-per-week job as an assistant to Baltimore Colts head coach, Ted Marchibroda.

1976/77- Belichick joined the Detroit Lions as their assistant special teams coach before adding tight ends and wide receivers to his coaching duties.

1978- He then spent one year in 1978 with the Denver Broncos as their assistant special teams coach and defensive assistant.

1979/1990- Belichick then began his 12-year stint with the New York Giants and head coach Ray Perkins as a defensive assistant and special teams coach. He added linebackers coaching to his duties in 1980 and was named defensive coordinator in 1985 under head coach Bill Parcells, who had replaced Perkins in 1983. The Giants won Super Bowls following the 1986 and 1990 seasons. His defensive game plan from the New York Giants' 20-19 upset of the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as is his defensive game plan from the Patriots' 20-17 win over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

1991/1995- Belichick was named the head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 1991. During his tenure in Cleveland, he compiled a 36-44 record, leading the team to its most recent playoff game win in 1994. Based on his performance, many fans in Cleveland think of him as an uncommunicative, dictatorial and arrogant coach who made many questionable moves, including benching and then cutting much-beloved quarterback Bernie Kosar in 1993 in order to replace him with Vinny Testaverde, a move that sparked great controversy in the area. In Belichick's last season in Cleveland the Browns finished 5-11. In November of that year Browns owner Art Modell announced he would move the team to Baltimore after the season. Belichick was fired early in February 1996.

1996- After leaving Cleveland, Belichick served under Parcells again as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach with the Patriots for the 1996 season. The Patriots finished with an 11-5 record, won the AFC championship, but lost to the Green Bay Packers at Super Bowl XXXI.

1997/1999- Soon after Super Bowl XXXI, Belichick (and most of the Patriots assistant coaches) migrated with Parcells to the New York Jets. Belichick served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Jets from 1997 to 1999. When Parcells stepped down as head coach in 1999, Belichick became the new Jets head coach. However, Belichick's introduction to the media the following day turned out to be a surprise resignation announcement. Before taking the podium, he scrawled a resignation note on a sheet of loose leaf paper that read, in its entirety, "I resign as HC of the NYJ." He then delivered a half-hour speech explaining his resignation to the assembled press corps.

Shortly afterward, he accepted an offer from the Patriots to become their new head coach, who had previously tried to hire him away from the Jets. Parcells and the Jets claimed that Belichick was still under contract, and demanded compensation from the Patriots. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue agreed, and the Patriots gave the Jets a first-round draft pick in 2000 in exchange for the right to hire Belichick.

2000/2006- Bill Belichick was named New England Patriots head coach in 2000, succeeding Pete Carroll. In the 2000 season, the Patriots went 5-11 and missed the playoffs. This is Bill Belichick's only losing season with the Patriots.

The Patriots went 11-5 in the 2001 regular season, and defeated the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers on the way to the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XXXVI, Belichick's defense held the St. Louis Rams' offense, which had averaged 31 points during the season, to 17 points, and the Patriots won on a last second field goal by Adam Vinateri. The win was the first Super Bowl championship in Patriots history.

The Patriots went 9-7 in the 2002 season and missed the playoffs. The Patriots' 2003 season started with a 31-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills in week 1 a few days after they released team defense captain Lawyer Milloy. The team went on to win 14 out of their remaining 15 games, including the last twelve of the regular season. In the final week of the regular season the Patriots avenged their loss to the Bills by the same 31-0 score.
They defeated the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Divisional round. Playing against the Indianapolis Colts and Co-MVP Peyton Manning (Steve McNair of the Titans was also Co-MVP) the Pats recorded 4 interceptions, and advanced to Super Bowl XXXVIII, where they defeated the Carolina Panthers 32-29 on a late Adam Vinatieri field goal. Belichick also was awarded with the NFL Coach of the Year Award.

The Patriots once again went 14-2 in the 2004 season, after opening the season at 6-0. That combined with the 12 straight wins to end the previous regular season, broke the record for most wins in a row, formerly held by the Miami Dolphins during and just after their perfect 1972 season, with 18 straight wins.
They defeated the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Divisional round, then beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game. In Super Bowl XXXIX the Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles and became only the second team to win three Super Bowls in four years. Belichick is the only coach to accomplish this feat. Charlie Weis left for the University of Notre Dame following the game, and Romeo Crennel became the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

With a new defensive coordinator in Eric Mangini and no named offensive coordinator, the Patriots went 10-6 in the 2005 season and defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card round before losing to the Denver Broncos in the divisional round.

In Belichick's last season with the Patriots in 2006, New England had appointed the Offensive Coordinator job to Josh McDaniels, who was the Quarterback's coach since 2004. The Pats finished the regular season with a 9-7 record but lost against the Miami Dolphins in the Wild Card Round.

In the same announcement of Belichick's retirement, it was announced that the current Offensive Coordinator, Josh McDaniels is to be Belichick's successor as Head Coach of the New England Patriots. At 30 years of age (31 once he coaches his first regular season game), Josh McDaniels (born April 22, 1976) is the youngest head coach in National Football League history; he also surpassed the New York Jets' Eric Mangini as the youngest head coach since the AFL-NFL Merger.

McDaniels joined the Patriots in 2001 as an assistant in the scouting department and was a member of the defensive coaching staff for three seasons before becoming quarterbacks coach in 2004. That season, quarterback Tom Brady produced the highest rating of his career, 92.9, and his 28 touchdown passes ranked second in the American Football Conference.

Patriots Owner/Chairman/CEO, Robert Kraft: "Josh has been one of the key components on the team's offensive staff". "He is very well respected throughout this organisation, and we look forward to him taking on the Head Coaching role."



In the press conference, McDaniels is quoted as saying that it is a huge honor to be selected as the Head Coach of the New England Patriots, after just one year as the team's Offensive Coordinator.
"I have some huge shoes to fill" stated McDaniels.

The Patriots have currently no one named for the Offensive Coordinator role, but the list of candidates is expected to be a short one and the announcement of that hiring should be done within the next few weeks.

[Dogphins]

NFL OFF-SEASON NEWS


BUCS CLEAN OUT COACHING STAFF, ONLY GRUDEN REMAINS

In an announcement made today, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made known that due to their poor season in 2006 (5-11, 3rd NFC South), that they have cleaned out shop, firing Offensive Coordinator Bill Muir, Special Teams Coordinator Richard Bisaccia and long-time Defensive Coordinator, Monte Kiffin.

The Bucs were terrible on offence in 2006, averaging just 20.4 ppg, while QB Chris Simms threw 41 interceptions (32nd in league) comparred to his 21 TD's. The Bucs had just 4,596 yards of total offence, while their 52 giveaways is ranked 32nd in the league. Tampa also only had 7 rushing touchdowns in '06.

Defensively, TB were even worse, giving up an average of 33.4 ppg, while also giving up 6,049 total yards (ranked 29th in the league), including 2,640 rushing yards (ranked 28th in the league).

Despite the horror season, it was a surprise to all that long-time and well respected Defensive Coordinator, Monte Kiffin would be given his marching orders. Tampa Bay has extended a contract to Jim Bates, who's last job was the Defensive Coordinator for the Green Bay Packers in the 2005 season.



When Mike Sherman was fired by Packers General Manager Ted Thompson on January 2, 2006, Bates was offered the opportunity to interview for the head position. He was interviewed on January 10 but was informed the next day that the organization would be hiring San Francisco 49ers Offensive Coordinator Mike McCarthy instead.

Bates took the news very hard. McCarthy met with him on January 15 in hopes of convincing him to stay with the organization. However, after two meetings between McCarthy and Bates, the team announced on January 16 that they would be parting ways.

Bates did not take another coaching job in the NFL in 2006.

Before that, Bates took over as interim Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2004, after previous Head Coach Dave Wannstedt announced his resignation halfway through the season. Bates had been the Defensive Coordinator of the Dolphins since the 2000 season.

The Bucs have also offered a contract to Terry Shea, as replacement for fired Offensive Coordinator, Bill Muir. Terry Shea is a former college and current NFL football coach who was the quarterbacks coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, until being recently fired by Head Coach Herm Edwards in January.



From 1990 to 1991, Terry Shea was the head football coach at San Jose State, where he compiled a 15-6-2 record. From 1992 to 1994, he coached at Stanford, and in 1995, he coached the British Columbia Lions. From 1996 to 2000, he was the head football coach at Rutgers University. At Rutgers, he compiled an 11-44 record, awarded the Big East Coach of the Year in 1998 after posting a 5-6 record, the second biggest turnaround in college football at that time.

From 2001 to 2003, he was the Quarterbacks Coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2004, Terry Shea became the Offensive Coordinator for the Chicago Bears. Following the 2004 season, he was replaced by former University of Illinois head coach Ron Turner. He then returned to the Kansas City Chiefs, once again as the Quarterbacks Coach in 2005. At the end of the 2006 season, Shea was fired by coach Herm Edwards.

Finally, Tampa Bay have offered a contract to Steve Crosby to replace Special Teams Coordinator, Richard Bisaccia. Steve Crosby is currently the out of contract Special Teams Coordinator for the Super Bowl Champion San Diego Chargers.



San Diego are expected to offer Crosby an extended contract, keeping him at the Chargers. San Diego also have to re-sign both Head Coach, Marty Schottenheimer, Offensive Coordinaor Cam Cameron and Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips.

[Dogphins]

NFL OFF-SEASON NEWS


JEFF FISHER SACKED!


Yet another high profile NFL coach has been given the sack in a week of numerous coaching changes in the NFL. Today, long time Tennessee Titans Head Coach, Jeff Fisher has been fired by the Titans organisation.



The Titans have not made the playoffs since the 2003 season, where the Titans lost at New England in the Divisional round. Since then, Tennessee have had poor seasons of 5-11, 4-12 and 5-11. Tennessee's latest poor effort in 2006 was the final straw for Owner Bud Adams, who pulled the plug on Fisher.

Jeff Fisher has been the Head Coach of the Titans since part way through the 1994 season, back when the team was known as the Houston Oilers. Originally, Fisher was the Defensive Coordinator, under Head Coach Jack Pardee. In November of that year, Pardee was fired and Fisher became the interim Head Coach for the remainder of the season. He retained his position and became the team's Head Coach for the next 12 seasons.

In his first full season with the Oilers, they drafted quarterback Steve McNair in the 1995 NFL Draft. The new coach did not disappoint, leading the team to a 7-9 record in 1995, tied for second place in the division. The following year the Oilers added Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George, and they achieved an 8-8 record. However, an inability to get a new stadium deal in Houston caused owner Bud Adams to relocate the team to Tennessee for the 1997 season.

In the 1997 and 1998, the Tennessee Oilers were unable to break through the .500 plateau, going 8-8 both years. This led to criticism from fans that Fisher was incapable of ever achieving anything more. The 1999 season, which saw the renaming of the team to the Tennessee Titans, proved the doubters wrong. Fisher led the Titans to a surprising 13-3 regular season record, leading them deep into the playoffs (thanks to the Music City Miracle), all the way to Super Bowl XXXIV. Fisher's team fell to the St. Louis Rams, 23-16; wideout Kevin Dyson was tackled one yard short of the end zone with no time remaining. This play became known as "The Tackle" in football lore. Tennessee achieved the same record the next year, but were defeated in the AFC playoffs by the Baltimore Ravens, who would go on to win Super Bowl XXXV.

The 2001 season was a disappointing one for the Titans, as they could only muster a 7-9 showing. The beginning of the next season proved to be even worse, with the franchise starting off with a 1-4 record. Following one home loss, owner Bud Adams made the comment to reporters that perhaps the Titans "were getting outcoached". This provided a spark the team needed, and they finished the season with a 11-5 record and made it to the AFC Championship Game.

The 2003 season saw more success, with yet another trip to the playoffs and McNair winning the League MVP award. Again, they lost to an eventual world champion, the New England Patriots, but the team's progress did not go unnoticed. The 2004 season, however, was plagued by injuries from the start, and Fisher's worst record as head coach (5-11) was the result. Following the season, many veteran players (such as Samari Rolle and Derrick Mason) were cut in an effort to comply with the strict salary cap. The relative youth of the team resulted in a disappointing 2005 season as well (4-12). Before the 2005 season, Fisher hired Norm Chow out of USC to be his offensive coordinator.
Things didn't improve much for the Titans in 2006, finishing with a 5-11 record.

In Jeff Fisher's tenure with Houston/Tennessee, he finished with a win/loss record of 102-96, and a playoff record of 5-4.

The Tennessee Titans organisation has appointed Offensive Coordinator, Norm Chow as Fisher's replacement as Head Coach.



Starting in College Football, Chow served as BYU's Offensive Coordinator from 1982 to 1999, during which time he helped coach the Cougars to their only national title in 1984, which is also the last time a non-BCS school (sometimes called a mid-major) won the NCAA Division I FBS (then I-A) national championship. He then left BYU for a short stint as the Offensive Coordinator at NC State, before accepting the position of Offensive Coordinator at the University of Southern California.

In 23 seasons as Offensive Coordinator, Chow coached 8 of the top 14 career passing efficiency leaders and 13 quarterbacks who rank among the top 30 in NCAA history for single-season passing yardage. The BYU Cougars scored 30 or more points in 106 of 181 games. His list of pupils include Robbie Bosco, Steve Young and Heisman Trophy winners Ty Detmer, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.

Chow helped lead the Trojans to the 2003 Associated Press title (their first since 1978) and the 2004 BCS Championship. He left USC in spring 2005 after being passed over for the Stanford University head coaching job to join the Tennessee Titans as Offensive Coordinator under Head Coach Jeff Fisher, a USC graduate.

Chow served as the Offensive Coordinator for the Tennessee Titans from 2005 to 2006, until his promotion to Head Coach for the 2007 season.

[Dogphins]

OFF-SEASON NEWS

BROWNS, 49ERS FIRE COACHES

Starting off a new week in the off-season, a few more NFL coaches have been given the chop.

The Cleveland Browns have released Offensive Coordinator, Maurice Carthon after 2 seasons.



Under Carthon, the Browns had managed a league-low 232 points in 2005 and the same number again in 2006. The Browns were shut-out once in the 2006 season and scored 10 or less points 6 times.

Replacing Carthon, Cleveland have offered a contract to Gene Huey. Huey is currently the out of contract Running Backs coach for the Indianapolis Colts.



Huey joined the Colts in 1992 and has been there for 15 seasons.

Under Huey's guidance, Marshall Faulk (1994-95, 98), Edgerrin James (1999-2000, 04-05) and Joseph Addai (2006) have earned a combined eight Pro Bowl berths. James won NFL rushing titles in 1999 and 2000, becoming only the 11th NFL back to win consecutive crowns.
James (1,506 rushing/337 receiving) had 1,843 scrimmage yards in 2005, his fourth 1,500+ rushing season. James had a club-record five 1,000+ rushing seasons and totaled six 1,000+ scrimmage yards seasons. James had a club-record five 1,500+ scrimmage yards seasons and a club-record three 2,000+ scrimmage yards seasons. James' 64 career rushing touchdowns surpassed Moore's club record of 63 that stood since 1964.
James was named a Pro Bowl starter following each of his first two seasons. He rushed for a franchise-best 1,709 yards in 2000, while scoring 13 touchdowns and totaling a franchise seasonal record 2,303 scrimmage yards. He set club seasonal marks for touches (450), 100+ scrimmage yards games (15) and 150+ scrimmage yards games (7). James had six 100+ games in 2003, eight in 2004 and nine in 2005.

He had a club-record 49 100+ games and ended his Colts career with a 125.7 scrimmage yards per game average. In 2001, Dominic Rhodes (1,104) had the most rushing yards in NFL history by an undrafted rookie free agent, and Huey has presided over 11 of the 18 individual 1,000+ rushing seasons in club history. From 1994-98, Faulk rushed for 5,320 yards and 42 touchdowns.

In 2006, the rushing attack produced 3,512 yards and 29 touchdowns while being led by Joseph Addai (380 att, 2,368 rushing yards, 15 TD's) and RB-Dominic Rhodes (133 att, 598 rushing yards, 7 TD's).


Meanwhile in San Francisco, the 49ers have fired Defensive Coordinator Billy Davis after two unsuccessful seasons.



On February 6, 2005, Billy Davis was hired by San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Mike Nolan to be the Defensive Coordinator on the team after a six hour interview. One of the reasons Davis got the job was because he had experience with the 3-4 defense that Coach Nolan wanted to implement in San Francisco's defense and a recommendation Nolan got from New York Giants Defensive Coordinator Tim Lewis. Nolan said in a press conference that day that "It was very important to find somebody that had experience in the 4-3 and the 3-4".

In the 2005 season, however, Davis seemed to have difficulty improving the defense. In his first season as the 49ers defensive coordinator, the team ranked last in the NFL in total defense in 2005, averaging 25.8 points a game, a 44.4 % third-down efficiency, and allowing 428 points that season.

In the 2006 season, the defense went even worse, allowing 533 points, an average of 33.3 ppg, ranked 29th in the league. Total yards given up equaled 5,898, ranked 27th in the league.

Coach Mike Nolan announced today that Davis had been fired, stating that "After an evaluation period, we felt this was the right time to make this move".

San Francisco have offered a contract to out of contract Chicago Bears Defensive Coordinator, Ron Rivera. The Bears are expected to extend Rivera's contract, but have allowed Rivera time to conduct interviews with the 49ers.

[Dogphins]

OFF-SEASON NEWS

ANOTHER HEAD COACH GONE

The heads continue to roll here in the off-season, with yet another high profile Head Coach given the axe.

Baltimore Ravens Head Coach, Brian Billick has been fired by the Ravens organisation after 8 seasons, which also included a Super Bowl victory (2000).



In his coaching career, Billick began at San Diego State University, serving as the Tight Ends coach and recruiting coordinator for five seasons (1981-1985). After being named the Offensive Coordinator of Utah State University, Billick improved the second-worst offense in Division I-A into a top-ten offense in only three seasons (1986-1988).

Billick was then hired as the Assistant Head Coach and Tight Ends Coach at Stanford by Dennis Green, serving both roles for three seasons (1989-91). When Dennis Green became the Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings in 1991, he hired Billick as his Tight Ends Coach. Three games into their second season, Billick was promoted to Offensive Coordinator and quickly began developing one of the most explosive offenses in the league.

The Vikings made the playoffs during six of the seven seasons (1992-1998) that Billick spent with the team, and set several offensive records in the process. In 1998, Minnesota set an NFL record for most points scored in a season (556) and set a team record with 41 touchdown passes.

Brian Billick became the second Head Coach in Ravens history on January 19, 1999, when he was hired to replace Ted Marchibroda. He had a 70-58 record (winning record of 54.7%) in eight seasons (1999-2006) with the team, including 5-2 in the playoffs.

Although Billick had the opportunity to interview for the head coaching job of the reactivated Cleveland Browns and was rumored to be their top candidate, he chose to interview with the Ravens first. He signed with Baltimore in under 24 hours after his initial interview.

In his first season with the Ravens, Billick led the team to its first non-losing record (8-8) in the franchise's brief four-year history. The next season, Baltimore finished with a 12-4 record and earned its first playoff berth.

Prior to reaching the playoffs, Billick forbade his players from using either the term "playoffs" or the term "Super Bowl," with the idea of keeping them focused on winning each game instead of on their more distant prize. Billick felt this approach would help them reach that prize, and went so far as to fine Tony Siragusa for violating this rule. In response, the players borrowed the term "Festivus" from the television series Seinfeld for the playoffs, and the term Festivus Maximus for the Super Bowl. When they reached the playoffs, Billick lifted this ban. The Ravens took advantage of their vaunted defense, which allowed an NFL record-low 165 points in the regular season, during the playoffs to advance to and win Super Bowl XXXV.

Billick led the Ravens to a 10-6 record and a victory over the Miami Dolphins in a 2001 wild card playoff game before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round. Baltimore finished 7-9 and missed the playoffs in 2002, but bounced back in 2003 with a 10-6 record and the franchise's first division title; the key game of this season was a wild 44-41 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks in which the Ravens scored 20 unanswered points from the 10:14 mark of the fourth quarter through overtime; the win launched the then 5-5 Ravens into the division title. The Ravens lost to the Titans, 20-17, in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

The Ravens missed the playoffs in 2004 (9-7), 2005 (6-10) and 2006 (8-8). As of today, Brian Billick has been fired from his position as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.
This came after a season in which the team went 8-8, including 3-3 in the division, and a 3-year record span of 23-25. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti described the decision to fire Billick as the toughest decision he has ever had to make.
Billick, in a short statement, said Bisciotti did what he believed was best for the Ravens, and asserted that the two men are and will remain friends.

Brian Billick's replacement as Head Coach of the Baltimore Ravens has been assigned to Defensive Coordinator, Rex Ryan, while a contract has been offered to fired Bucs Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffin to fill Ryan's position.



Rex Ryan is the son of former Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Buddy Ryan and is the twin brother of Rob Ryan, Defensive Coordinator for the Oakland Raiders.

Ryan finished his 8th year with the Ravens in 2006, his third as the Defensive Coordinator. Ryan was the only remaining Ravens' assistant coach from the 2000 Super Bowl XXXV season's record setting defense. Rex had spent 6 seasons as the Ravens' line coach.

[Dogphins]

OFF-SEASON NEWS


RETIREMENTS


Every year, players know that they are at the end of their careers and elect to retire. Some are expected, while others are completely out of the blue. Some are due to injury and others to poor performance.

There are usually big names associated with retirement and this year's batch is no exception. Headlining the list of retiring players, is NFL Icon and Green Bay Packers champion Quarterback, Brett Favre.



Favre announced his retirement from NFL in an emotional media conference earlier today. Favre played in the NFL for 16 seasons and retires at the age of 37. He leaves the NFL to become a future hall-of-famer and one of our favourite sons. He definitely is one of the most loved players to pull on a uniform.

His career stats are as follows:

4,912/8,077, 56,199 passing yards, 417 TD's, 275 int's, 60.8% completion, 84.7 passer rating

Other QB's to retire this season include:

Gus Frerotte (St. Louis, 36 years old, 13 years in league)
Trent Green (Kansas City, 37 years old, 13 years in league)
Chris Weinke (Carolina, 35 years old, 6 years in league)
Trent Dilfer (San Francisco, 35 years old, 13 years in league)
Damon Huard (Kansas City, 34 years old, 10 years in league)
Jeff Garcia (Philadelphia, 37 years old, 8 years in league)
Brad Johnson (Minnesota, 38 years old, 15 years in league)
Jamie Martin (New Orleans, 37 years old, 14 years in league)
Todd Collins (Washington, 35 years old, 12 years in league)
Todd Bouman (New Orleans, 35 years old, 10 years in league)
Mark Brunell (Washington, 36 years old, 14 years in league)


The remainder of the retirees this season are as follows:

Fred McCrary (Atlanta, FB, 34 years old, 9 years in league)
Kevin Mathis (Atlanta, CB, 33 years old, 10 years in league)
Chris Hetherington (San Francisco, FB, 34 years old, 10 years in league)
Jeff Feagles (N.Y. Giants, P, 41 years old, 19 years in league)
Kyle Brady (Jacksonville, TE, 35 years old, 12 years in league)
Ray Mickens (N.Y. Jets, CB, 34 years old, 11 years in league)
Curtis Martin (N.Y. Jets, RB, 34 years old, 12 years in league)
Cory Schlesinger (Detroit, FB, 35 years old, 12 years in league)
Marcus Pollard (Detroit, TE, 35 years old, 12 years in league)
Rob Davis (Green Bay, LE, 38 years old, 11 years in league)
William Henderson (Green Bay, FB, 36 years old, 12 years in league)
Karl Hankton (Carolina, WR, 37 years old, 8 years in league)
Keyshawn Johnson (Carolina, WR, 35 years old, 11 years in league)
Kris Mangum (Carolina, TE, 36 years old, 10 years in league)
Troy Brown (New England, WR, 36 years old, 14 years in league)
Tyrone Poole (Oakland, CB, 35 years old, 11 years in league)
Matt Turk (St. Louis, P, 39 years old, 12 years in league)
Andy McCollum (St. Louis, C, 37 years old, 13 years in league)
Aaron Glenn* (St. Louis, CB, 35 years old, 13 years in league)
Jerome Woods (St. Louis, FS, 34 years old, 11 years in league)
Marshall Faulk (St. Louis, RB, 34 years old, 13 years in league)
Gary Stills (Baltimore, LOLB, 33 years old, 8 years in league)
Junior Seau (Washington, LOLB, 38 years old, 17 years in league)
Christian Fauria (Washington, TE, 35 years old, 12 years in league)
John Carney (New Orleans, K, 43 years old, 19 years in league)
Jay Bellamy (New Orleans, SS, 35 years old, 13 years in league)
Ernie Conwell (New Orleans, TE, 35 years old, 11 years in league)
Tom Tupa (Seattle, P, 41 years old, 18 years in league)
Itula Mili (Seattle, TE, 34 years old, 10 years in league)
Barrett Brooks (Pittsburgh, RT, 35 years old, 12 years in league)
Chad Brown (Houston, ROLB, 37 years old, 14 years in league)
Dashon Polk (Houston, MLB, 36 years old, 7 years in league)
Antowain Smith (Houston, RB, 35 years old, 10 years in league)
Mark Bruner (Houston, TE, 34 years old, 12 years in league)
Troy Vincent (Buffalo, FS, 37 years old, 15 years in league)
Daimon Shelton (Buffalo, FB, 34 years old, 10 years in league)
Rod Smith (Denver, WR, 37 years old, 12 years in league)
Chad Lewis (Denver, TE, 35 years old, 8 years in league)
Keith Burns (Denver, MLB, 35 years old, 13 years in league)
Ted Washington (Cleveland, DT, 39 years old, 16 years in league)
Jeff Zgonia* (Tampa Bay, DT, 37 years old, 14 years in league)
Robert Griffith (Arizona, FS, 36 years old, 13 years in league)
Keenan McCardell (San Diego, WR, 37 years old, 16 years in league)
Lorenzo Neal (San Diego, FB, 36 years old, 14 years in league)
David Binn (San Diego, RG, 35 years old, 13 years in league)
DeWayne Washington (San Diego, CB, 34 years old, 13 years in league)

* NOTE: Both Aaron Glenn and Jeff Zgonia elected to retire rather than play for a new team after being traded from their previous club

More off-season news to come...

[Dogphins]

OFF-SEASON NEWS


A CLOSEUP ON A FEW RETIREES


We have selected a few of the many retiring players and given you a close up of their successful careers. The names we include in this short list, are:

Chiefs QB, Trent Green
Redskins QB, Mark Brunell
Broncos WR, Rod Smith
Jets RB, Curtis Martin
Vikings QB, Brad Johnson
Rams RB, Marshall Faulk
Panthers WR, Keyshawn Johnson


TRENT GREEN

Teams:

* San Diego Chargers (1993-1994)
* British Columbia Lions (1994)
* Washington Redskins (1995-1998)
* St. Louis Rams (1999-2000)
* Kansas City Chiefs (2001-2006)

In 1993, Trent Green was drafted as the 26th pick in the eighth round and 222nd overall, by the San Diego Chargers. He spent a year as a backup and saw no playing time. After being cut in 1994 by the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League, he signed with the Washington Redskins in 1995, but didn't become an NFL starter until 1998. That year, Trent threw for 3,441 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Soon after Green rejected a 4-year $12 million offer from the Redskins and on February 15, 1999, Green signed a 4-year $16.5 million contract with the St. Louis Rams which included a $4.5 million signing bonus.

In 1999 Green was slated to be the starter for the Rams, but suffered a season-ending injury in a preseason game on a hit to the knee by Rodney Harrison. Kurt Warner took over and led the Rams to the Super Bowl XXXIV championship against the Tennessee Titans. The next year, Green started the season as a backup again.
He started most of the middle of the season while Warner was out with a broken hand. The Warner/Green duo led the Rams to the highest team passing yard total in NFL history, with 5,232 net yards. Due to a poor defensive unit, the Rams were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by the New Orleans Saints. Nine of the eleven defensive starters would be cut during the offseason. Green was traded during the offseason to the Kansas City Chiefs, who had just lost Elvis Grbac to the Baltimore Ravens.

During his first season in Kansas City, Green struggled despite the presence of tight end Tony Gonzalez and running back Priest Holmes. He threw for 3,783 yards and 17 touchdowns, but also threw 24 interceptions. Green showed marked improvement in 2002, throwing 26 touchdowns to only 13 interceptions as the Chiefs went 8-8. In 2003, Green had his breakout year, throwing for 4,039 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He led the Chiefs to a 13-3 record and a first-round bye in the playoffs. However, in the divisional playoff game, they lost a 38-31 shootout to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. The game was notable for there being no punts by either team, a first in NFL playoff history. Green was elected to his first Pro Bowl that year.

The next season, the Chiefs went 7-9 as Priest Holmes suffered a knee injury in their eighth game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Florida and missed the rest of the regular season. At the time, he was leading the league in both rushing and scoring. However, Green still had a stellar year, passing for 4,591 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. His passing total was second only to Minnesota's Daunte Culpepper.

In 2005, the Chiefs, with an improved defense, improved their record to 10-6, but failed to make the playoffs. Green had another strong season in 2005, throwing for 4,010 yards (second only to New England's Tom Brady), and only throwing just 10 interceptions, his lowest season total ever. Green was elected to his second Pro Bowl following the season. With a third consecutive 4,000 yard season, Green joins Drew Bledsoe, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Dan Fouts and Warren Moon as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to pass for more than 4,000 yards in three or more seasons during their careers. Green has the distinction of having three consecutive seasons with a QB rating of 90.0 or better. Green has started 80 consecutive games during his first five years with the Chiefs, a team record.

In 2006, Trent Green struggled a little, throwing for 3,599 yards with 28 TD's, but also 23 interceptions. Green also had a QB rating of 82.7.

Green retires at the age of 37, after 13 seasons. He finishes with the following statistics:

2306/3805, 29,220 passing yards, 178 TD's, 115 int's, 60.6% completion, 87.6 passer rating


NEXT RETIREE SPOTLIGHT


CURTIS MARTIN


Teams

* New England Patriots (1995-1997)
* New York Jets (1998-2006)

Curtis Martin entered the NFL in 1995, as a third round draft pick of the New England Patriots. Martin won the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award after rushing for 1,487 yards, and was named to the Pro Bowl. The following year, he rushed for a franchise record 166 yards and 3 touchdowns in his first career playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Patriots went to Super Bowl XXXI, but lost to the Green Bay Packers. Martin rushed for 42 yards, caught 3 passes for 28 yards, and scored a touchdown in the game. Though he was much less effective in 1996 than he was in his rookie season, Martin was again named to the Pro Bowl squad.

After the 1997 season, Martin, a restricted free agent, signed an offer sheet with the New York Jets for $36 million over six years. The Patriots did not match the Jets' offer and received first- and third-round draft picks as compensation. Thus, Martin went to the Jets, and was reunited his former Patriot coach Bill Parcells. In his first seven seasons with the Jets, Martin missed only one game, in Week 6 of the 1998 season, and was selected to the Pro Bowl three more times. In 1998, Martin gained 182 yards from scrimmage and scored two touchdowns against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a Jets playoff win. Martin won the NFL rushing title in the 2004 NFL season with 1,697 yards (one more than runner-up Shaun Alexander, the closest margin in NFL history). He also won the FedEx Ground Player of the Year Award in 2004.

In 2005, Curtis Martin failed in his quest to become the first running back in NFL history to start his career with eleven straight 1,000 rushing yard seasons. He missed the December 11th game versus the Oakland Raiders with a knee injury and was placed on injured reserve for the final three games of the season. Martin finished with 735 rushing yards.

In 2006, Martin was back to his best form, rushing for 1,677 yards and 11 touchdowns. Martin could have surpassed his 1,697 rushing yards he gained in 2004, but he missed two games with injury.
Curtis Martin announced his retirement at 34 years of age, after 12 seasons in the league.

His final stats are:

3,913 attempts, 15,778 rushing yards, 101 touchdowns
514 receptions, 3,583 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns


NEXT RETIREE SPOTLIGHT


MARK BRUNELL

Teams:

* Green Bay Packers (1993-1994)
* Jacksonville Jaguars (1995-2003)
* Washington Redskins (2004-2006)

Mark Brunell was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 5th round of the 1993 NFL Draft. Many voices in the Seattle media were openly critical of the hometown Seahawks (who possessed the 2nd overall selection in the draft) for choosing to take Notre Dame QB Rick Mirer instead of waiting to select Brunell.

He was acquired in 1995 by the Jacksonville Jaguars in a trade for a 3rd round and 5th round pick in the 1995 draft. That year, Brunell started 13 games, completed 201 out of 346 passes, for 2168 yards, with 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He also rushed for 480 yards.

During his years in Jacksonville, Brunell was elected to the Pro Bowl three times, in 1997, 1998, and 2000 and awarded the Pro Bowl MVP in the 1997 game. With Brunell starting, the Jaguars won an AFC Central Division title and became the first NFL expansion team to make the playoffs three times in its first four seasons of play. The furthest he led the team was to the 1996 AFC Championship Game, which they lost to the New England Patriots. They returned again in 1999, but would lose to the Tennessee Titans.

Brunell was benched by new Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio in favor of Byron Leftwich following halftime of the third game of the 2003 season. It would be the final time Brunell took the field as a member of the Jaguars.

Mark Brunell was traded to the Washington Redskins prior to the 2004 season. During the 2004 season, Brunell struggled, was limited by a hamstring injury and booed mercilessly by hometown fans for his poor performance. Brunell would be benched midseason for backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey.

In 2005, Brunell played much better and led the team to a 10-6 record and a playoff victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished third in the 2005 NFL Comeback Player of the Year awards.

Brunell's most prolific moment in the 2005 season during was during Week 2, when he completed two long passes to wide receiver Santana Moss for two touchdowns in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter to defeat the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football, 14-13.

In Brunell's final season, he threw for 2,327 passing yards, with 16 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. Brunell was also sacked 41 times during the season, which probably added to his decision to retire from the league.

Brunell's complete stats are as follows:

2,794/4,746, 32,364 passing yards, 190 touchdowns, 125 interceptions, 58.9% completion, 81.9 passer rating.

Mark Brunell retires at the age of 36 and played 14 seasons in the NFL.


Next retireee...Rod Smith

[Brian Gumble]

Oh geez, these crazy off-seasons. Surprised Dawkins didn't retire.