NFL Roundup: Rams set to hire Snead
NFL
Rams on cusp of hiring Les Snead
By Howard Balzer
The Sports Xchange
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams have offered Les Snead their general manager job and were in negotiations with him Saturday, The Sports Xchange has confirmed.
Following a search that included interviews of at least nine potential candidates, club owner Stan Kroenke had been expected to meet this weekend with two finalists: Minnesota Vikings director of player personnel George Paton and Snead, the Atlanta Falcons director of player personnel.
But Paton, who was believed to be the favorite, was retained by the Vikings, who made him the team's assistant general manager.
The Rams then offered the job to Snead and were amid contract negotiations Saturday, a source familiar with the discussions told The Sports Xchange.
Snead would replace Billy Devaney, who was fired along with head coach Steve Spagnuolo on Jan. 2.
Both Paton and Snead had interviewed twice; Snead's first was before Jeff Fisher was hired as head coach on Jan. 13. Paton's first interview wasn't until Jan. 31 and he had a second interview this past Monday.
Paton had been the Vikings' personnel director for the last five years, while Snead has been with the Falcons in the director's chair for three years.
Calling Paton on Saturday "an integral part of our personnel department since he arrived in 2007, Vikings GM Rick Spielman announced the move to make him the assistant GM.
Another Snead with varied scouting experience in the league, including with the Tennessee Titans when new Rams coach Jeff Fisher was the head coach there, has also been hired by the Rams although Rich Snead's actual responsibilities are not yet known.
A reported interview Thursday with Steelers director of business and administration Omar Khan did not occur, according to sources.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch had also reported the Les Snead contract talks via Twitter.
--Report: Steelers to let Ward go
After 14 seasons, three Super Bowl appearances and two titles, the Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly decided to part ways with wide receiver Hines Ward.
Sources told the NFL Network the Steelers had decided not to pick up the $4 million remaining on Ward's contract. Ward was moved out of the starting lineup last season for the first time since he was a rookie. He was said he would be willing to take less.
Ward played in 15 games, but started nine, catching 46 passes for an 8.3 yard per catch average and two touchdowns.
Last week in Indianapolis during Super Bowl week, Ward, who has 1,000 career receptions and 85 touchdowns, said he expected to be back with the only team for which he's played in the NFL.
"I plan on playing with the Pittsburgh Steelers and going from there," he told reporters.
The four-time Pro Bowler who turns 36 next month has caught at least 94 passes in a season four times in his career.
--Report: Driver would cut pay for Packers
While one report said the Pittsburgh Steelers were set to let Hines Ward go, Donald Driver, another veteran receiver who spent his whole career with one team, reportedly was trying to make it easier for his franchise to keep him.
Driver turned 37 this month and has spent his entire career with the Green Bay Packers since entering the league in 1999. After having his lowest reception total (37) in 10 years last season, he told WISN-TV he would reduce his salary if it would help him stay in Green Bay.
"The organization knows what I've done on and off the field, and they want to keep me around as long as possible," Driver told the station. "If that means sitting down and taking pay cuts to stay around, then you take pay cuts to stay around. I've always said it's not about the money for me anymore.
"What I'm pushing for is my legacy to stay around in the state of Wisconsin and around the world forever. So the money's not a big issue."
While Driver's willingness to make a financial sacrifice could help him, a similar one reportedly will not entice the Steelers to bring back Ward. After his 14 seasons, Ward had said he would also take a pay cut, but the NFL Network reported Pittsburgh would let him go.
Driver could receive a $2.2 million roster bonus in March, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, but such a bonus could prompt the Packers to cut him instead, so his pay cut offer would likely include the bonus.
The former favorite target of Brett Favre has 735 career receptions, 10,060 yards and 59 touchdowns for his career. He also made the transition to Aaron Rodgers during the last two years of a stretch where he had six consecutive seasons with more than 1,000 yards receiving.
--Giants' Bradshaw: Romo can't win Super Bowl
Add critiquing his rivals to the list of things New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw hasn't been able to stop himself from doing lately.
Bradshaw, who famously scored the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl due to his momentum despite trying to stop at the 1-yard-line, questioned Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo's ability to lead the team to its own Super Bowl victory.
"You know what, man, I don't see it happening," Bradshaw said on the NFL Network. "I don't think they believe it, and they're America's Team. It all comes in together. If the fans don't believe it, the team doesn't. They're kinds doubtful with Romo."
The Giants beat Romo's Cowboys twice down the stretch in the regular season to squeeze ahead of them and claim the NFC East. Romo has been the frequent target of criticism for his failure to win in the postseason or other key pressure spots.
Of course, the Giants should be familiar with the concept of a running back questioning the leadership of a quarterback doubted by fans -- and how the words can come back to bite the person saying them.
Eli Manning was once seen as someone who couldn't lead the Giants to a Super Bowl and former teammate Tiki Barber infamously called his leadership attempts "comical" in 2007. Manning went on to win the first of his two Super Bowl MVP awards that season.
--Report: Pierre-Paul entering pro wrestling ring
While the New York Giants aren't likely to let Jason Pierre-Paul do much actual wrestling, the star defensive end's smack-talking skills should suit him well in a reported pro wrestling appearance.
Pierre-Paul will be in the ring for a taping Monday night for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, a source told FOXSports.com. Pierre-Paul will appear in Orlando, Fla., and the episode will air on TNA's Thursday night Impact Wrestling show on Spike TV, according to the report.
Pierre-Paul, who predicted the Giants would beat the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs and offered some smack talk before the Super Bowl about the Giants' pass rush getting in New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's head, was expected to tangle with TNA wrestler Kurt Angle.
He likely won't get too far as NFL contracts prohibit too much risky offseason behavior, but he will follow in the footsteps of New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott, who worked with Angle last year.
The Giants have good reason to keep Pierre-Paul from getting carried away. He helped key the Giants' surprising Super Bowl run, and earned Pro Bowl honors after piling up 16 1/2 sacks during the regular season.
Copyright (C) 2012 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
