Associated Press
PITTSBURGH ó Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, but one of his teammates is certain he will play in the Super Bowl.
“I don’t think there’s any question 86 will be on the field,” tight end Heath Miller said. “I don’t even know the extent of his injury, but I saw him walking today, so I’m pretty sure that two weeks from now he’ll be playing.”
CARDINALS
TEMPE, Ariz. ó The Arizona Cardinals called receiver Anquan Boldin’s sideline shouting match with offensive coordinator Todd Haley a “normal thing,” and coach Ken Whisenhunt insisted the outburst would in no way disrupt the team.
Boldin did not participate in the postgame celebration on the field with his teammates.
“The fourth quarter of the NFC championship game and we were trying to win the game,” said third-string quarterback Brian St. Pierre, who was standing near the argument. “Q wanted to be out there. It was a personnel package; there was no message being sent.”
Haley is a very vocal coach.
“I know that Todd and I have argued most of the games this year,” QB Kurt Warner said.
After the game, Boldin spoke briefly to a few reporters, praising the play of Larry Fitzgerald, then bolted for the locker room. He was gone when reporters were allowed inside.
JETS
NEW YORK ó Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan was hired as the coach of the New York Jets one day after the Ravens lost in the AFC title game.
Ryan, the son of former NFL coach Buddy Ryan, will be formally introduced Wednesday.
“It’s been a dream of mine to become a head coach in the NFL,” Ryan said in a statement. “Coming here to the New York Jets, where my father once coached and was part of the Super Bowl III staff, is fantastic.”
RAVENS
OWINGS MILLS, Md. ó Willis McGahee joined his teammates Monday at Baltimore’s training complex after doctors told him he would make a full recovery from a fierce helmet-to-helmet hit that had him carted off the field during the AFC championship game t
“I’m all right. Everything is OK,” he said. “The MRI and the CAT scan checked out good. I was scared, but I didn’t know how serious it was.”
The play occurred in the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh’s 23-14 win. McGahee had just caught a pass and taken two steps before being met by Ryan Clark, who drove his helmet into McGahee’s facemask. McGahee’s head snapped back, and he lost the ball as he dropped to the ground.
“I blacked out,” McGahee said. “I woke up when they were taking my facemask off. I opened my eyes, and I was talking. The next thing I knew I woke up in some room and they were taking me to the ambulance.”
He said he has a concussion and his neck is extremely sore.
EAGLES
PHILADELPHIA ó Team president Joe Banner issued a statement saying Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb will be back. Owner Jeffery Lurie already has said he wanted both to return.
The Eagles have reached the NFC championship game five times in the last eight years, only to lose four, including Sunday’s 32-25 defeat to Arizona.
“One out of five isn’t good enough,” Reid said Monday. “I’d much rather be moving on.”
PACKERS
GREEN BAY, Wis. ó Dom Capers was hired as the Packers’ defensive coordinator and said the team will switch from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4. Denver is also planning to switch to a 3-4 next year under Josh McDaniels.
The Packers haven’t had the 3-4 as their primary defense since 1991.
BROWNS
CLEVELAND ó Ravens pro personnel director George Kokinis, the leading candidate to be the next general manager, met with Browns coach Eric Mangini and team executives but has not been offered the GM position, a person with knowledge of the visit told The Associated Press.
GIANTS
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ó Less than two days after Steve Spagnuolo left to become coach of the St. Louis Rams, Tom Coughlin promoted linebackers coach Bill Sheridan to replace him as the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator.
DOLPHINS
MIAMI ó Linebacker Cameron Wake, a two-time winner of the CFL’s top defensive player award, has signed. Wake played at Penn State.
TEXANS
HOUSTON ó David Gibbs is the new defensive backs coach.
EARLY ENTRIES
NEW YORK ó All-American receiver Michael Crabtree was among 46 players granted eligibility Monday for the NFL draft.