Friday, February 15, 2002
NFL notebook
Beleaguered Bucs GM may jump ship to Falcons
The Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay general manager Rich McKay interviewed for the Atlanta Falcons' GM job, a sign that he not only wants out, but that the sons of Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer are willing to release him from the final year of his contract.
McKay has been contemplating a move since last Friday when the Glazers vetoed his plan to hire former Baltimore Ravens assistant Marvin Lewis as Tampa Bay's new coach.
The Bucs have been searching for a replacement for Tony Dungy for more than a month.
McKay's departure would leave the team without a coach and GM, fueling speculation that the Glazers are setting themselves up to make another run at luring Bill Parcells out of retirement.
Parcells turned down an offer to take over the team on Jan. 18, McKay made an unsuccessful bid to pry Jon Gruden from the Oakland Raiders and Lewis' candidacy was squashed a day after he had been told the job was his.
McKay, who returned from Atlanta on Thursday night, declined comment at Tampa International Airport.
PACKERS:
The team is preparing to waive running back Dorsey Levens but are hopeful they can renegotiate receiver Antonio Freeman's contract.
Levens is due $2.5 million in compensation next season — more than starter Ahman Green will make — beginning with a $500,000 roster bonus March 1.
“We can't pay that, having a player in front of him making less,” said Andrew Brandt, the team's chief negotiator. “And the decision may come from Dorsey. ... We'll try to restructure it before March 1.
“But the indications are now that Dorsey would like to test the free agent market and keep the lines of communications open with us.”
Levens, 31, served in a greatly reduced role last season.
He had 44 carries for 165 yards and a touchdown last season. He also had 24 receptions for 145 yards and a TD and 14 kickoff returns for 362 yards.
Freeman's salary cap number for next season is $5.728 million, including $1.428 million for the pro-rated portion of the $10 million bonus he signed as part of a seven-year, $42 million deal in 1999. If Freeman declines to take a cut of about $1.5 million, plus incentives, he'll be waived after June 1.
TV BLACKOUTS:
Washington State House members passed a bill to end NFL blackouts of Seattle Seahawks games.
“Are you ready for some football?” Rep. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, asked after The bill passed on a 95-3 votes.
Rep. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, said House Bill 2838 is about fairness, saying state taxpayers pay for the football stadium, so they should get to watch the games on TV if they want.
Under NFL rules, if a home game doesn't sell out 72 hours before kickoff, no TV station within a 75-mile radius can broadcast the game. None of the Seahawks' home games sold out last season.
Washington taxpayers contributed $300 million for the team's new stadium in downtown Seattle.
NFL officials argue that they need the blackout to sell tickets. If fans know they can watch the games on TV, they won't come to the games, the theory goes, and then the team will suffer.
PATRIOTS:
Punter Ken Walter agreed to a $6 million, five-year contract that makes him one of the seven highest-paid punters in the NFL. His net average on 49 punts last season was 38.1 yards and he placed 24 balls inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
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NFL notebook
