Schottenheimer wins AP coach of the year
Marty Schottenheimer’s guidance of one of the great turnarounds in NFL history won him the Associated Press 2004 NFL Coach of the Year award.
Schottenheimer took the San Diego Chargers from tailender to division champion, from a 4-12 embarrassment to a 12-4 power that lost to the New York Jets in overtime during a playoff game Saturday night. The 61-year-old, who also has worked in Cleveland, Kansas City and Washington, did his best work of an 18 1/2 -season head coaching career.
“There is a great sense of satisfaction when you’re able to get things going in the right direction,” said Schottenheimer, who received 27 1/2 of the 48 votes from a national panel of writers and broadcasters who cover pro football. “I always pride myself on one thing – I think I’m a teacher. It’s fun to see your players listen and work together to apply the basic philosophies and concepts that are important to success.”
Pro Bowl starters announced
The starting lineups for the NFL’s Pro Bowl were announced.
Quarterback Payton Manning will be joined in the AFC lineup by his Indianapolis Colts teammate Edgerrin James at running back; Tony Richardson of Kansas City at fullback; Marvin Harrison of the Colts and Chad Johnson of Cincinnati at wide receiver; Antonio Gates of San Diego at tight end; Willie Roaf of Kansas City and Jonathan Ogden of Baltimore at tackle; Alan Faneca of Pittsburgh and Will Shields of the Chiefs at guard; and Kevin Mawae of the New York Jets at center.
The AFC defensive starters are John Abraham of the Jets and Dwight Freeney of the Colts at end; Richard Seymour of New England and Marcus Stroud of Jacksonville at tackle; Takeo Spikes of Buffalo and Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis of Baltimore at linebacker; Champ Bailey of Denver and the Ravens’ Chris McAlister at cornerback; and Baltimore’s Ed Reed and Denver’s John Lynch at safety.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb will be joined on the NFC offense by running back Shaun Alexander of Seattle; fullback William Henderson of Green Bay; tight end Alge Crumpler of Atlanta; wide receivers Muhsin Muhammad of Carolina and Terrell Owens of the Eagles; tackles Walter Jones of Seattle and Orlando Pace of St. Louis; guards Larry Allen of Dallas and Marco Rivera of Green Bay; and center Olin Kreutz of Chicago.
The NFC defense has Arizona’s Bertrand Berry and Carolina’s Julius Peppers at end; LaRoi Glover of Dallas and Kevin Williams of Minnesota at tackle; linebackers Keith Brooking of Atlanta, Derrick Brooks of Tampa Bay and Dan Morgan of Carolina; cornerbacks Lito Sheppard of the Eagles and Ronde Barber of Tampa Bay; and safeties Michael Lewis and Brian Dawkins of Philadelphia.
Saints keep Haslett as coach
Jim Haslett has been told by New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson that he will return as coach.
“There’s been a lot of speculation about the coach the whole year, and we wanted to get that behind us as quick as possible,” general manager Mickey Loomis said. “We’re strongly behind Jim. He’s our coach. We strongly believe that he is going to lead this team to a championship.”
Elsewhere
Bernard “Buddy” Diliberto, a New Orleans sports commentator who originated the tradition of fans wearing bags on their heads to lament losing teams, has died at the age of 73 at Metairie, La. … Chicago hired Ron Turner to be their offensive coordinator again. Turner was Chicago’s offensive coordinator from 1993-96.