Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
TEMPE, Ariz.ó Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin laughed off the negative reaction to his nationally televised run-in with offensive coordinator Todd Haley, calling it “hilarious.”
Boldin’s shouting match with the coach on the sideline came as Arizona drove for the winning touchdown in Sunday’s 32-25 victory over Philadelphia in the NFC championship game.
Boldin didn’t stay on the field in the postgame celebration, making a quick exit through the locker room. He said that he did congratulate his teammates and left quickly only to avoid questions about the Haley incident.
Instead, he acknowledged after Thursday’s practice, his abrupt departure “made it worse.”
“For me it’s hilarious,” Boldin said of the criticism he’s received. “I mean, I don’t want to sit here and dwell on it because for me it’s in the past, but that’s something that goes on every week in the NFL whether people know it or not.
“Every week, somebody on the sidelines gets into an argument, but it’s in the heat of the moment, it’s part of football and once it’s done, it’s dead on all sides.”
SUPER TV TEAM
NEW YORK ó Tony Dungy and Mike Holmgren are going from the sidelines to the booth.
The recently retired NFL coaches will contribute to NBC’s Super Bowl pregame coverage on Feb. 1 in Tampa, Fla., joining the broadcast at noon ET, NBC Sports chief Dick Ebersol announced Thursday.
Dungy, who retired on Jan. 12, was the first black coach to win a Super Bowl when he led the Indianapolis Colts to the title in 2007. Holmgren, who stepped down as Seattle’s coach after the season, led the Green Bay Packers to the 1997 Super Bowl title.
“What I learned is that in addition to their obvious Super Bowl credentials, Mike and Tony share extraordinary storytelling ability,” Ebersol said. “We’re excited to have them make their broadcast debuts with us.”
CARDINAL INJURIES
TEMPE, Ariz. ó Cardinals running back J.J. Arrington was sidelined with a knee injury Thursday as Arizona practiced for the first time since winning the NFC championship.
Arrington, who became an increasingly important part of Arizona’s offense, was injured in Arizona’s 32-25 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt was hopeful the extra time off would allow Arrington to be ready to play in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1.
RAMS
ST. LOUIS ó Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo began the task of filling out his coaching staff Thursday by hiring Pat Shurmur as St. Louis’ offensive coordinator and Ken Flajole as defensive coordinator.
GIANT SHOT
DECATUR, Ala. ó New York Giants receiver Taye Biddle is recovering from gunshot wounds to his hand and leg after being shot while visiting family in his hometown.
SUICIDE CONFIRMED
ATLANTA ó The death of former NFL defensive lineman Shane Dronett has been ruled a suicide.
The 38-year-old Dronett, who played 10 years in the NFL and started every game for the Atlanta Falcons’ 1998 Super Bowl team, was found dead at his home Wednesday.
BUCS
TAMPA, Fla. ó New Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris made the first major addition to his staff on Thursday, hiring Jim Bates to replace him as the team’s defensive coordinator.
NFLPA
In what’s shaping up as a contest between former NFL Players Association presidents Troy Vincent and Trace Armstrong, the union narrowed its list to five candidates to succeed the late Gene Upshaw as executive director. The other three are former Bears tackle Jim Covert; Ben Utt, who played for Baltimore and Indianapolis; and Washington-based attorney DeMaurice Smith.