The Bell Tolls: Wild-card visitors turn hosts into ‘dogs
Each of the road teams is favored in the four wild-card games, which is what happens when division winners are guaranteed home …

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Jets begin interviewing for coaching job

The New York Jets met with assistants Bill Callahan and Brian Schottenheimer on Friday for the team’s coaching vacancy, kicking off the first round of interviews as they seek a replacement for the fired Eric Mangini.

New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will interview with the Jets on Saturday. He had meetings about the Cleveland and Detroit openings on Thursday, and will also talk to Denver on Saturday.

The Jets had no other interviews scheduled as of Friday night, and it appeared recently fired Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and former NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer were not on the team’s immediate radar.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Broncos to interview Spagnuolo, Morris (AP)
Construction continues on Mike Shanahan’s Denver steakhouse and also his 35,000-square-foot mansion complete with a bowling alley, four-bedroom basement and six-car garage. Reconstruction of the Denver Broncos‘ dreary defense is up to his successor following Shanahan’s surprising dismissal by owner Pat Bowlen, who wants fresh faces running a franchise that remains one of the NFL’s crown jewels but…

Playoff blackout for Eagles-Vikings? (AP)
Plenty of good seats are still available for Minnesota’s playoff game against Philadelphia. The Vikings reported 8,000 tickets remaining at noon New Year’s Day for Sunday’s game against the Eagles. The NFL has granted an extension until 3:30 p.m. local time Friday to reach a virtual sellout, but the possibility of a local TV blackout looms.

Popularity: 5% [?]

LT misses practice, plans to take it easy Thursday
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Older, sorer and wiser.A year after pushing his injured knee a little too hard…

Singletary drops two more 49ers assistants
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Mike Singletary knows what he wants to see from the San Francisco 49ers‘…

Cowboys fire special teams coach Read
IRVING, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys have fired special teams coach Bruce Read, making him the f…

Popularity: 4% [?]

Roethlisberger returns to practice

Roethlisberger has an extra week to get better since the Steelers have a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Colts face tough road despite 9-game win streak
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts survived a long, grinding journey to earn a playoff spot. Rea…

Cable, Raiders head into offseason on winning note
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — The last time the Oakland Raiders went into the offseason on a winning note,…

Jets fire coach Eric Mangini after 3 seasons
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Eric Mangini gathered his players together for one last team meeting and …

Popularity: 5% [?]

Colts‘ Manning records ninth 4,000-yard season
Peyton Manning extended his own NFL record for 4,000-yard seasons to nine during Sunday’s game against Tennessee.

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Chargers 52, Broncos 21: Chargers Take Division From Stunned Broncos
After Sunday night?s rout of Denver that clinched the American Football Conference West title, the Chargers are back in the N.F.L. playoffs.

Jets Fire Mangini After Late-Season Collapse
The Jets have fired their coach, Eric Mangini, hours after the team failed to make the playoffs.

Popularity: 5% [?]

For Coaches and Quarterback, Parallels Abound for Jets-Dolphins Game
Returning to the Meadowlands for the first time as a head coach, Tony Sparano and his Dolphins can secure the A.F.C. East with a victory against the Jets.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Bears place starting S Mike Brown on IR (AP)
Chicago Bears safety Mike Brown will miss the rest of the season due to a calf injury, leaving the defense without one of its emotional leaders heading into Sunday’s game at Houston that could decide whether they make the playoffs. It’s the fourth trip in five years to injured reserve for Brown, who left the game against Green Bay on Monday night.

The Care and Feeding of a Wild Offensive Line
The Falcons? offensive line has made a startling redemption from a dismal 2007 season, with encouragement from quarterback Matt Ryan.

Lions have 1 last chance to avoid 0-16 (AP)
Cornerback Travis Fisher said he won’t fly back to Detroit from Green Bay if the Lions somehow manage to find a way to beat the Packers on Sunday. “If we win, I ain’t catching the plane back home,” he said with a laugh. “I’ll walk back to Detroit.” Chances are, Fisher won’t have to worry about making the 482-mile trek.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Bears place starting S Mike Brown on IR (AP)
Chicago Bears safety Mike Brown will miss the rest of the season due to a calf injury, leaving the defense without one of its emotional leaders heading into Sunday’s game at Houston that could decide whether they make the playoffs. It’s the fourth trip in five years to injured reserve for Brown, who left the game against Green Bay on Monday night.

Jerry Jones: Cowboys coaches staying put (AP)
Wade Phillips will be back as coach of the Dallas Cowboys next season, and Jason Garrett will remain in charge of the offense, regardless of whether the team makes the playoffs, club owner Jerry Jones said Friday. And he said it vehemently. “The coaches are in place. I’ve said that. How can I be any clearer?” Jones said.

Bucs choose Morris to succeed Kiffin (AP)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t look far for a replacement for Monte Kiffin. Secondary coach Raheem Morris will take over as defensive coordinator in 2009, ensuring continuity next season with Kiffin leaving the NFL to join his son, Lane, at the University of Tennessee. If the Bucs (9-6) don’t make the playoffs, Sunday will be the 68-year-old Kiffin’s last game in Tampa Bay.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Dolphins excited to play finale on road (AP)
As far as Dan Henning is concerned, there’s no home-field advantage at the Meadowlands this time of year. “Everybody better be wary,” the Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator said. “The wind is different. It could be very cold, it could be very windy, it could be weather, it could be anything.” Not that home-field advantage would matter much for this Miami team, which will face the New York Jets…

Popularity: 7% [?]