One NFL scout called linebacker Patrick Willis “a beast.” An NFL coach said Willis is “a rolling ball of butcher knives.”
And that was before Willis won The Associated Press 2007 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award yesterday.
Willis' dominant performance could have been overlooked because his San Francisco 49ers went 5-11 in a mediocre division.
Instead, his league-leading 174 tackles and presence all over the field made him a runaway winner and the fifth consecutive linebacker to take the prize.
Willis, from Ole Miss, earned 48 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL.
Only Carolina linebacker Jon Beason, with two, also received votes.
Losman seeking trade
Bills quarterback J.P. Losman wants out of Buffalo, unhappy with how he lost his starting job to rookie Trent Edwards this past season.
Losman's agent, Gary Wichard, told The Associated Press that his client would prefer to be traded but added Losman would play out the final year of his contract if necessary. Wichard said he has not yet spoken to the Bills because the team is seeking a new general manager after Marv Levy stepped down earlier this week.
Whether the Bills choose to keep Losman, Wichard said he didn't see any chance of Losman remaining with the team after next season.
“That ship has sailed, my friend,” Wichard said. “Hopefully, they do something this year. And if not, we'll just walk away after next year.”
Wichard said he spoke out now because he and Losman didn't want to cause a distraction to the team.
Brown fined $25,000
New Orleans Saints left offensive tackle Jammal Brown has been fined $25,000 by the NFL for impermissible contact with a game official during last Sunday's season-ending loss to the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
49ers interview Gailey
The San Francisco 49ers' search for a new offensive coordinator will begin – and could end – with former Georgia Tech and Dallas Cowboys head coach Chan Gailey, who spent yesterday interviewing with head coach Mike Nolan at the team's practice facility, according to CNN/SI.com.
Gailey, who was fired in November after going 44-32 in six seasons leading the Yellow Jackets, is a respected offensive mind who has had NFL success as a coordinator.
Around the league
DOLPHINS: Have scheduled an interview with Cowboys assistant head coach Tony Sparano this morning for their vacant head coaching job, reports The Miami Herald. The paper also said Sparano earlier interviewed for the Falcons' head coaching vacancy, and he is scheduled to meet with the Ravens this afternoon.
RAIDERS: Rob Ryan apparently will keep his job as defensive coordinator. There were reports that Ryan would be fired, but team spokesman Mike Taylor said Ryan would return for a fifth season.
FALCONS: Rich McKay signed a two-year contract extension to remain as team president but will relinquish the general manager's duties. McKay and owner Arthur Blank agreed to terms earlier in the day.
PATRIOTS: Defensive lineman Vince Wilfork was fined $15,000 by the NFL for poking a finger inside the face mask of Giants running back Brandon Jacobs last weekend. The fine was the third this season for New England's 2004 first-round draft pick.
PACKERS: Put offensive lineman Junius Coston on injured reserve, ending his season, and signed tackle Orrin Thompson from the practice squad. Coston suffered a calf injury in Green Bay's Dec. 30 game against Detroit.
49ERS: Head coach Mike Nolan and his staff will lead the South team in the Senior Bowl for the third consecutive year.
