Archive for January, 2009

Welcome to Media Day. Can I check your bag?

Media Day is about to start, which also means this is a test run for stadium operations at Raymond James Stadium, site of Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Getting started at Raymond James Stadium

Day two of Super Bowl week can be surmised in two words: Media Day.

Cardinals used to being away from home

One of the bigger changes teams go through in preparation for the Super Bowl is living, working and training away from their own facility. Most everything outside of practice –- film study, meetings –- is done at a hotel. Arizona may be making its first trip to the Super Bowl, but it isn’t unfamiliar with dealing with an extended road stay.

Greene joining Packers to coach outside linebackers

The Packers hired Kevin Greene to coach their outside linebackers, an NFL source told the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Calm Cardinals open Super Bowl week

Maybe it’s a direct result of going second among today’s two media sessions, but there’s a decidedly different feel at the Grand Hyatt, where the Cardinals are taking questions now. That doesn’t include the heat -– it’s still muggy inside the media tent –- but it does include the vibe, which is more relaxed.

Vince Young losing fantasy value … fast

It looks like Vince Young, once a quarterback full of promise in fantasy land, will be sitting on the sidelines once again in 2009.

Security a top priority at Super Bowl XLIII

You know it’s the Super Bowl just by the police presence everywhere. In addition to our police escort on the bus ride over here and the bag check on the way in to the Steelers’ media tent, there is probably one police officer for every 10 journalists in here.

Big hitter Polamalu speaks softly

Troy Polamalu has to be one of the softest spoken people to ever put on a football helmet. You wouldn’t know how intense he can be on the football field based on his quiet demeanor off it.

Big Ben, Steelers have been here before

In the year that passes in between Super Bowls, you tend to forget about the media frenzy that accompanies the game. It’s usually the one thing about the week that players say they didn’t expect.

Tomlin: Ward won’t practice Wednesday

Mike Tomlin is certainly dressed for the part, wearing a gold suit with a white pocket square. Big Ben is showing off his Steeler pride in his own way — with a bright yellow polo shirt and a pair of baggy Jeans.

Big Ben cool under pressure

As a large group listens to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin in one part of the media tent, his players are trickling into the back to take their seats at smaller, more intimate podiums.

Dungy is an active retiree

Former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy is retired, but he’s staying busy. Dungy will be a pregame analyst for NBC during its Super Bowl XLIII pregame coverage. And to warm up for his television work, Dungy will appear Thursday night on the Late Show with David Letterman.

Steelers fans making their presence known

You can’t make this up. The 20 or so Steelers fans who are standing outside head coach Mike Tomlin‘s press conference let out “whoos” every time they see a player, and it actually makes it difficult for him to hear questions.

Titans want to keep their QB of now and the future

Word leaked over the weekend that the Tennessee Titans plan to bring back Kerry Collins as their starting quarterback. But they also plan to do the same with Vince Young. The Titans have no plans to trade Young or release him, just plans to bring him back and continue to have him back up Collins.

Steelers kick off Super Bowl week

The Steelers are getting set for their opening press conference of the week. The first thing you notice inside the massive white media tent that houses the press conferences, other then the stifling heat, is that the decor is all black. I can’t help but think that’s on purpose, but NFL.com’s Vic Carucci isn’t so sure.

Powered by WordPress.com VIP | Subscribe (RSS)