You knew it was the obligatory madness of Super Bowl Media Day when Moritz Lang of Sky Germany stuck a microphone in the face of the beautiful dyed blond in the very revealing knit dress who, being a TV lady, had a microphone of her own.
What this had to do with Richard Sherman trying to bat down passes thrown by Peyton Manning is unclear at the moment. The lady in the knit dress was one of more than 5,000 who were credentialed for Super Bowl XLVIII.
Normally the event is held at the stadium, but as everyone is aware, this is the first outdoor Super Bowl in a cold-weather area.
Thus, this one took place at Prudential Center where the NHL New Jersey Devils skate, an arena rather than a stadium.
Not much else was different, certainly. There were the little booths with small loudspeakers for those most in demand, Manning, Sherman, Champ Bailey, Russell Wilson, the coaches.
The biggest media gatherings, including TV cameramen and photogs on ladders they inconveniently haul around, were for Manning at the Broncos session and later for Richard Sherman at the Seahawks.
Manning was his usual professional self, sloughing off questions of greatness and history. “I’ve been asked about my legacy since I was 25 years old,” Manning said. “I’m not sure you can have a legacy when you are 25 years old or even 37.”
Sherman, the Seahawks cornerback, has spent all his time on the West Coast, growing up in the Los Angeles suburb of Compton, attending and playing for Stanford up near San Francisco and then coming to Seattle. His shtick Tuesday was far different than moments after deflecting what might have been the game-winning pass in the NFC Championship game against San Francisco.
“Last week,” Sherman said, “I felt like I regretted attacking (49er receiver Michael Crabtree) — attacking him and taking way from my teammates. That’s the one thing that I could wish I could do again.”
–The Miami Dolphins introduced new general manager Dennis Hickey and owner Stephen Ross confirmed the NFL report on the Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin workplace harassment scandal will come out after the Super Bowl.
Ross said the team has a good idea about what the report will say and that they have a good idea about what they’ll do after the report is released.
“I have an idea what will be in it. I’ve been in communication with the NFL. I’ve spoken with Ted Wells who is handling the investigation,” Ross said. “I haven’t seen the report. I don’t know exactly it’s conclusions. I believe based on my conversations that … well, let’s put it this way, I don’t want to really speculate. When it comes out, we’ll do what has to be done but we’ve already … in my mind I know what direction we’re going. Stay tuned.”
–Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh denied that he was forced to hire Gary Kubiak as offensive coordinator.
ESPN reported that owner Steve Bisciotti and general manager Ozzie Newsome influenced Harbaugh’s decision. Speculation arose because Kubiak emerged as a candidate so late in the process. The Ravens reportedly narrowed their search to two candidates before suddenly turning their attention to Kubiak late last week.
“Steve is always involved,” Harbaugh said when asked if Biscotti was heavy-handed in the hiring process. “Steve’s going to be involved. This is his team, and he sets the tone and the tempo for everything we do, and I listen, as we all do, to Steve’s advice. It would be foolish not to. Now, if you’re going further than that, then the answer is ‘no, no way.’ Steve gets involved to whatever extent he feels like he can help us, and that’s what he does.”
–Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson had knee surgery on Tuesday to repair a meniscus he tore in September.
Johnson wrote on Twitter that the surgery was successful. He told the Tennessean earlier that he was having the operation.
“It’s nothing major,” he wrote in a text message. “People don’t know I’ve been playing with it since Week 3 of the season.”
–Former Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best is suing the NFL and helmet manufacturer Riddell for the concussions he sustained, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Best’s career was cut short in November 2011 after a series of head injuries. The Lions released him last year.
–Seattle Seahawks’ Pete Carroll is the most popular coach in the NFL, according to an ESPN poll of more than 320 players.
The survey asked: “Which head coach would you most like to play for?” Carroll was the clear winner with 23 percent of the votes.
Carroll received 72 votes. Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin finished second with 44 votes (or 14 percent). Denver Broncos’ John Fox was third with 7.8 percent, New York Jets’ Rex Ryan fourth at 7.2, and New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick and Kansas City Chiefs’ Andy Reid tied for fifth at 6.9.
–The Philadelphia Eagles announced that former team president Harry Gamble died Tuesday morning. He was 83.
Gamble served as the team’s president 1986-94 and also as a member of the NFL’s Competition Committee. He originally joined the Eagles in 1981 as a volunteer assistant coach under Dick Vermeil.
–Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera signed a three-year contract extension through the 2017 season, the team announced.
Under Rivera, the Panthers’ record has improved in each of the last three seasons, including a 12-4 mark and NFC South title in 2013.
–The Pittsburgh Steelers named James Saxon as their new running backs coach.
Saxon is entering his 23rd season in the NFL as either a player or coach. He joins Pittsburgh after spending the previous three seasons as the running backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings.