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League reviewing Brady's slide
New England quarterback apologized to Baltimore safety Ed Reed ASSOCIATED PRESS,
The NFL is looking into Tom Brady's leg-up slide that hit Ravens safety Ed Reed in the AFC championship game.
League spokesman Greg Aiello said Tuesday "any play of that nature is routinely reviewed."
Brady could be subject to a fine if the league believes he violated any player safety rules.
During the final minute of the first half, Brady slid at the end of an impromptu run. The quarterback's upraised leg hit the onrushing Reed, who temporarily limped away. Reed was not injured.
Reed says Brady attempted to apologize this week for the slide.
"He actually reached out to me, texted me," Reed told WJZ-FM in Baltimore. "I tried to text him back, but the message exploded after 12 seconds, so I had to call him. ... He's just apologized and what not. But I told him, 'You know, it's good, man.'"
Reed did not believe Brady was trying to hurt him.
"I know he's a great player," Reed said. "I respect Brady and his game for all it stands for, and I know he's not a dirty player. And emotions get going in the game."
Ravens safety Bernard Pollard said Monday that Brady should be disciplined by the NFL, which levies fines on defensive players for helmet-to-helmet hits.
"If you want to keep this going in the right direction, everyone should be penalized for their actions," Pollard said, adding Brady "knew what he was doing.
"It has to go both ways. Hopefully the NFL will do something about it. If they don't, that's fine. If they do, then that's fine."
Browns add assistants: New Browns coach Rob Chudzinski has hired Joe Cullen as his defensive line coach, Louie Cioffi to coach the defensive backs and Shane Steichen as offensive quality control coach.
Cullen spent the past three seasons with Jacksonville. Before joining the Jaguars, Cullen was at Idaho State and spent three seasons (2006-08) with the Detroit Lions.
Cioffi, who has 18 years of NFL experience to the Browns staff, was with Arizona the past two seasons. He played a pivotal role in the development of cornerback Patrick Peterson, a first-round pick in 2011 who had seven interceptions and led the league with five fumble recoveries last season.
Steichen joins the Browns after spending two seasons as a defensive assistant in San Diego.
Garrett may give up play-calling: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday that coach Jason Garrett may give up play-calling duties on offense.
Speaking to reporters at Senior Bowl practices, Jones said offensive line coach Bill Callahan could inherit play-calling duties, but stopped short of saying a decision had been made.
Garrett told The Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram he would welcome a switch and would be comfortable with Callahan in that role.
The Cowboys have shuffled the coaching staff after consecutive 8-8 seasons. New defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin replaced Rob Ryan, who was fired. Five other coaches have left the staff, including Garrett's brother, tight ends coach John Garrett.
Jason Garrett has been criticized for poor decisions with game and clock management, sparking debate over whether he should give up calling plays to focus more on other issues within a game.
He also was praised for his leadership after practice squad linebacker Jerry Brown died in a car wreck that led to intoxication manslaughter charges against defensive tackle Josh Brent this season.
Martin's home invaded: Police haven't identified any suspects yet in the home invasion robbery at the Colorado home of New England Patriots defensive back Derrick Martin.
Two masked men forced their way into Martin's home in the Denver suburb of Aurora on Sunday night when he was with the team at the AFC championship game.
Police spokeswoman Cassidee Carlson said Tuesday that the men held an adult woman and some children at gunpoint but wouldn't confirm whether they were members of Martin's family.
Carlson said the men took some valuables but left other items behind. She wouldn't describe what was taken.
Arrest in stabbing: A 46-year-old man has been arrested in a stabbing near the Georgia Dome following the Falcons' NFC Championship game loss.
Georgia Dome spokesman Jason Kirksey says James Lewis McCoy of Villa Rica was arrested Tuesday by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority Police Department. Information on McCoy's charges was not immediately available.
Kirksey says the stabbing may have been over an argument about food during a tailgate party outside the Georgia Dome Sunday. Some initial reports indicated it came from a dispute between football fans. But Kirksey said neither McCoy nor the person stabbed attended the game.
The stabbing happened around 6:40 p.m. in a parking lot.
The 35-year-old person who was stabbed has not been identified. Authorities say he is in stable condition at Grady Memorial Hospital.
Jags hire Mallory: The Jacksonville Jaguars have hired Mike Mallory as special teams coordinator.
Mallory has 27 years of coaching experience, including 22 years at the collegiate level. He spent the last five seasons with the New Orleans Saints, including four as assistant special teams coach and one (2011) as assistant secondary coach.
Rooney Rule revisions suggested: After minority candidates were recently shut out by NFL teams for 15 top jobs, the Fritz Pollard Alliance wants the Rooney Rule to include coordinators, assistant head coaches and club president positions.
The proposal sent Tuesday to league executives came a week after no minorities were hired for eight coaching vacancies and seven general manager openings. There are only four minority head coaches going into the 2013 season, the fewest since 2003.
Pro Bowl future uncertain: The NFL is hoping to decide the fate of the Pro Bowl by the time it releases next season's schedule in April. And the fate of the league's all-star game will largely depend on how much effort this year's Pro Bowlers put into the game.
NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson told reporters at a news conference Tuesday that the league expects players to play with the same intensity that made them Pro Bowl selections in the first place.
Commissioner Roger Goodell nearly canceled the game after uninspiring play last year, but it will be held Sunday at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
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