Legendary Steelers Coach Chuck Noll Dies

Charles Henry Noll, who lifted the Steelers from the depths of the National Football League and coached them to four-time Super Bowl champions by adhering to simple, long-held principles, died Friday in his home in Sewickley.

Noll, who had been under a doctor’s care for an undisclosed illness, was 82.

His wife, Marianne, found him unresponsive at 9:45 p.m. and called 911. Paramedics pronounced him dead 10 minutes later.

In recent years, Noll suffered from severe back pain that limited his mobility and forced him to walk with two canes.

Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/6081467-74/noll-football-steelers#ixzz34dH3BJzd
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Penn State Football: Assistant Coach Larry Johnson To Oversee Nittany Lions During Search For Bill O’Brien’s Replacement

Counties constituting the Happy Valley Region of Pennsylvania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State assistant coach Larry Johnson has agreed to oversee the team as the university searches for Bill O’Brien’s successor, the Centre Daily Times has learned.

A Penn State source said Johnson, who coaches defensive linemen, will work with the players currently on the roster and will maintain contact with recruits, and said the university will move quickly to name the next Nittany Lions head coach.

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2014/01/01/3966060/penn-state-football-assistant.html#storylink=cpy

MRSA Infections Puts Eagles Game In Question

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have smaller problems than the Philadelphia Eagles this week — as in microscopic problems.

The persistent, contagious and nasty skin infection MRSA has struck a third Buccaneers player. Two players were diagnosed in August, kicker Lawrence Tynes and offensive lineman Carl Nicks. Nicks recently has had a recurrence of his infection. The third player is Johnthan Banks, according to NFL.com.

MRSA is a strain of staphylococcus bacterium that is resistant to antibiotics. Infections are common in hospitals, prisons, farms, and athletes.

Various media outlets are reporting that the National Football League Players Association and the National Football League are investigating and will advise the Buccaneers on whether or not to play Sunday’s game, scheduled for 1 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-philadelphia-eagles-tampa-bay-mrsa-outbreak-20131011,0,4035586.story#ixzz2hWQbW39Z 
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Obama Open To Name Change For Washington Redskins

Former alternate logo for the Washington Redskins (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama says that if he owned the Washington Redskins, he would “think about changing” the team name, wading into the controversy over a football nickname that many people deem offensive to Native Americans.

Obama, in an interview with The Associated Press, said team names like the Redskins offend “a sizable group of people.” He said that while fans get attached to the nicknames, nostalgia may not be a good enough reason to keep them in place.

“I don’t know whether our attachment to a particular name should override the real legitimate concerns that people have about these things,” he said in the interview, which was conducted Friday.

An avid sports fan, Obama said he doesn’t think Washington football fans are purposely trying to offend American Indians. “I don’t want to detract from the wonderful Redskins fans that are here. They love their team and rightly so,” he said.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20131005_ap_4e545769cf7a41c68fafb55ada61635a.html#3fxVXG08vkDzcLA3.99

Andy Reid’s Exit Is Now Imminent

Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles’ coach, after the Eagles’ training camp in Lehigh, Pennsylvania. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

LANDOVER, MD – Never in anyone’s wildest imagination could the end of the Andy Reid era as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles have gone down like this.

Anyone who says they saw it unfolding this way is lying or insane or both. Probably both.

What we’re seeing with this team is not to be believed. The Eagles have become the NFL’s version of Monty Python‘s dead parrot, bereft of life, an EXXXXX!!!!!-football team.

They have gone from not being able to pull a couple close ones out at the end to not even being competitive.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/sports/columnists/fierro/mc-eagles-fierro-column-1118-20121118,0,5637049.column

Rhetoric Coming From All Sides In Eagles Organzation

There is a LOT of talk coming from the Philadelphia Eagles organization as of late.  Last week’s loss to Buffalo put the Eagles at 1-4.  The inability of the Eagles to hold it together for four quarters is alarming, to say the least.  We can’t catch the ball, hold on to the ball, score or keep the other team from scoring.  Sounds like a serious problem.  So far we are hearing talk, talk and more talk.  Things are progressively going downhill as the season unfolds.

Obviously something has drastically changed from last season.  It appears we have yet to identify the root problem and make a correction.  This week we are being told the Eagles “plan to stay aggressive while working on the turnover problem.”

I think if things don’t turn around this week we may see some major leadership changes.  I say let the chips fall where they may.

Michael Vick Signs One-Year Deal With The Philadelphia Eagles

Image via Wikipedia

Eagles fans can breathe a little easier now knowing Michael Vick will be returning to the Eagles next season.  Vick’s leadership helped the Eagles capture the NFC East title.  The Eagles had a 10-6 season, despite Vick not starting and being injured.  For a “rebuilding year” we were all pleasantly surprised.

Vick had his career best NFL season after missing two seasons due to being incarcerated for a dog fighting conviction.  Vick was voted Comeback Player of the Year by the Associated Press and played in the Pro Bowl.

Vick’s estimated salary for next season is $20 million dollars.