Licht leaves
According to separate published reports Patriots assistant director of player personnel Jason Licht has resigned his post with the team in order to pursue a similar role with the Philadelphia Eagles. Thursday's Trenton (N.J.) Times reported that Licht, who is an eight-year NFL personnel veteran that has spent the last four with New England, will become the Eagles assistant personnel director working directly under director of player personnel Tom Heckert. The report states that the two worked together in the past in Miami and became close friends.
"They're getting a good man," an unnamed AFC personnel staffer told the Times of Licht. "He's a bright, young guy. He's been around. He'll help them."
The Eagles have been reportedly trying to acquire Licht's services in recent years and now were finally able to do so.
Green gone?
According to his agent Nathaniel Lampley, Victor Green's time in New England looks to be over. While Lampley said that he had talks with Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli earlier this offseason about the possibility of the veteran free agent remaining with the team, they haven't spoken since.
"He said in early March that they'd like to have him back, but they had a lot going on," Lampley said this week. "I haven't talked to them since."
Lampley also said that he and his client are in relatively serious talks with the Saints. While there is no deal yet, he believes it could get done and Green would join former Patriots teammate Tebucky Jones in the New Orleans defensive backfield.
Dolphins Shula heads to 'Bama
Son of Hall of Fame coach Don Shula and former Dolphins quarterbacks coach Mike Shula is set to replace Mike Price as the head football coach at the University of Alabama. According to today's Miami Herald the 37-year-old Shula was introduced to his new group of players at a meeting late Thursday night. A graduate of Alabama and a three-year starter as the team's quarterback from 1984-1986, Shula looks to bring stability to a program that has gone through three coaches in just six months.
"I am obviously excited about this job," Shula said. "There is a bright future ahead for Alabama … I am thrilled to once again be a part of Alabama football."
ESPN offseason power rankings
ESPN released its offseason NFL power rankings earlier this week and not surprisingly the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers top the list with the runner-up Raiders placing second. The Patriots came in at sixth on the list. The list comes with accompanying comments for each team, both optimistic and pessimistic. For the optimists, ESPN says the Patriots "offseason additions should improve the defense." The pessimistic view? "[The] running game is still a big question mark."
Summerall leaving FOX Sports
Longtime NFL broadcaster Pat Summerall has decided to stop doing games for the FOX network. A nine-year FOX broadcasting veteran and 10-year NFL player who has been working NFL games since 1961, Summerall made the decision when he realized he would be spending much of the upcoming season away from his Texas home, according to an Associated Press report. "It was a difficult decision to make, but it's the right time for me," Summerall, who turns 73 tomorrow, told the AP. Summerall called 17 games for FOX last season.
