Levy, 80, returns to Bills as general manager

Marv Levy is back in football and feels like a newcomer.

Referring to himself as “an 80-year-old rookie,” the Hall of Fame coach returned to the Buffalo Bills franchise he led to an unprecedented four straight Super Bowl appearances in the 1990s, eagerly accepting the position of general manager Thursday.

“My enthusiasm is unbounded,” Levy said. “It’s not just to get back into the mainstream of the football world, but to do it with the Buffalo Bills, for whom I have such a longtime affection.”

And then came the first of many jokes.

“They say two things happen when you get older. One is you begin to forget things,” Levy said, before pausing. “And I can’t remember what the other one is right now.”

Levy’s return comes a day after Bills owner Ralph Wilson fired team president and general manager Tom Donahoe. The Bills are coming off a 5-11 finish to go a combined 31-49 in five seasons under Donahoe, tied with Cleveland for the third-fewest victories in the NFL during that span. They have missed the playoffs six straight years.

“We’re bringing Marv back so that he can bring a stability to the Buffalo Bills,” Wilson said.

Bruschi, Smith share comeback award

Tedy Bruschi didn’t get a chance to tackle Steve Smith when the Patriots played the Panthers in September. By midseason, he’d made a remarkable comeback from a stroke and was starting for New England.

Bruschi’s return was as impressive as Smith’s achievement of returning from a broken left leg that cost the Carolina receiver nearly all of the 2004 season. Now the two share the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year award.

The Patriots’ star linebacker and defensive leader made it back on Oct. 30 after originally expecting to sit out the entire schedule. By then, Smith was on his way to leading the NFL in most receiving categories. Both sparked their teams into the playoffs.

“I’m a football player by trade. That’s what I do,” Bruschi said. “So I did everything I could to make myself a football player again.”

Texans meet with Brown, Saunders

The Houston Texans are looking inside and outside the organization to find a replacement for fired coach Dom Capers. Receivers coach Kippy Brown and Kansas City offensive coordinator Al Saunders are the latest candidates.

Brown and Saunders met with owner Bob McNair, general manager Charley Casserly, consultant Dan Reeves and McNair’s son, Cal. Miami offensive coordinator Scott Linehan interviewed Wednesday.

The McNairs, Casserly and Reeves were flying to Denver today to talk to Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak.

Around the league

Atlanta coach Jim Mora was contrite after the NFL fined him $25,000 for using a cell phone on the sidelines during an overtime loss at Tampa Bay two weeks ago. “Expensive phone call,” Mora said. “Consider that a lesson learned.” … At Minnetonka, Minn., Minnesota Vikings running back Moe Williams pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a bawdy boat party. … Arizona hired former Baltimore Ravens assistant Gary Zauner as special teams coach. … The Tennessee Titans’ Jeff Fisher and Mike Nolan of the San Francisco 49ers will coach in the Senior Bowl along with their staffs. … Jacksonville linebacker Mike Peterson and defensive ends Reggie Hayward and Paul Spicer returned to practice and were expected to play Saturday night at New England.