Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
CHANDLER, Ariz. ó Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb recently had to play defense at his offseason home in Chandler.
Two Arizona Cardinals fans hung their team’s flag in a tree and burned “Go Cards,” “Go Kurt,” and “I heart AZ” in McNabb’s yard with diesel fuel, Chandler police Sgt. Joe Favazzo said Tuesday.
Favazzo said the fans hung the flag Thursday, and McNabb laughed it off and even left it hanging.
Then the fans returned Saturday and left a cardboard box in the driveway with “Go Cards” written on one side and “Beat Philly” on the other. McNabb laughed that off, too, when he discovered it at about midnight, Favazzo said.
But McNabb stopped laughing when he went outside Saturday morning, smelled diesel fuel and realized someone had burned Cardinals cheers into his lawn, causing about $2,000 in damage.
Favazzo said officers found an address label on the box that had been left, and it led to Chandler resident Rex Perkins, 37, who later admitted to the pranks.
His co-worker, Ryan Hanlon, 28, also admitted to the pranks.
Perkins and Hanlon were fingerprinted, photographed and cited for misdemeanor criminal damage.
“When they decided to get diesel fuel out and start damaging the yard, they crossed the line,” Favazzo said.
CAPERS TALKS
GREEN BAY, Wis. ó Dom Capers hopes coaching for the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field goes better than his last trip their 12 years ago as an opponent.
Capers was the coach of the Carolina Panthers then and lost in the NFC championship game to Green Bay. Capers hadn’t been back until his interview Friday and Saturday with coach Mike McCarthy.
“I feel much better about being here this time than the last time I was here. I’ve always believed when you go into a stadium you carry with you the feeling you had the last time you were there, and it wasn’t a very good feeling when I left here,” Capers said. “We lost the championship game and Green Bay went on and won the Super Bowl.”Hopefully we can get back there.”
DOLPHINS SALE
MIAMI ó New Miami Dolphins majority owner Stephen Ross won’t mess with success: He says Bill Parcells will remain in charge of football operation.
Ross, a New York real estate billionaire, completed his purchase of 95 percent of the franchise for $1 billion Tuesday, with Wayne Huizenga retaining a 5 percent interest.
PRO BOWL
MIAMI ó Miami Dolphins rookie tackle Jake Long was selected to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday as a replacement for Buffalo’s Jason Peters, who had a late-season knee injury.
Long, the first player taken in the April draft, becomes the first top overall pick to make the Pro Bowl as a rookie since New Orleans running back George Rogers in 1981.
49ERS
SANTA CLARA, Calif. ó Former Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski will interview with the San Francisco 49ers for their vacant offensive coordinator position.
Jagodzinski was fired by Boston College on Jan. 7 after he interviewed for the New York Jets’ head coaching position against the school’s wishes.
COLTSINDIANAPOLISó Ron Meeks has resigned after seven seasons as Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator.