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Taylor Finally Makes Pro Bowl

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The Associated Press

Published: January 9, 2008

JACKSONVILLE - Jaguars running back Fred Taylor lost his title as the best player to never make the Pro Bowl.

The former University of Florida standout was added to the AFC roster Tuesday, replacing Pittsburgh's Willie Parker. Parker broke a bone in his right leg last month and pulled out of the league's all-star game, allowing Taylor to get his first Pro Bowl invitation.

Taylor finished fourth in balloting last month and was made the first alternate. He initially thought he missed out on a trip to Hawaii for the 10th consecutive season. But then Parker injured his leg two days after rosters were announced.

"Whenever it came up, I said I'd cross that bridge whenever I get to it," Taylor said Tuesday. "Now it's here. It doesn't change my approach at all. My team has been excited ever since I guess they understood what happened to Willie that particular week."

Taylor ranks 17th on the NFL's all-time rushing list and had been the only player in the top 49 to never make it to Honolulu.

Taylor ran for 1,202 yards this season and averaged a career-best 5.4 yards per carry.

BEARS: Linebackers coach Hardy Nickerson, a 16-year NFL veteran and former Buc linebacker, resigned after one season.

BILLS: Offensive line coach Jim McNally retired after a 28-year NFL career.

BRONCOS: Assistant coach Jim Bates resigned after the team limped to a 7-9 record in his first year on the job.

BROWNS: Rookie left tackle Joe Thomas was added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster, replacing Jason Peters of the Bills.

CARDINALS: Offensive coordinator Todd Haley declined an invitation to interview for the head coaching job of the Miami Dolphins, and instead signed a contract extension with Arizona.

The 40-year-old coach's contract with the Cardinals now runs through the 2010 season. The deal is worth between $1 million and $1.5 million, making him one of the highest-paid offensive coordinators in the league and almost certainly the highest-paid assistant coach in the Cardinals' often-stingy history.

DOLPHINS: Hired Mississippi offensive coordinator David Lee as quarterbacks coach.

Also, former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan interviewed for the head coaching job.

49ERS: Hired former Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator.

JAGUARS: Defensive tackle John Henderson (strained hamstring) and safety Reggie Nelson (thigh) missed parts of practice Tuesday. Coach Jack Del Rio also ruled out linebacker Mike Peterson (broken right hand), who will miss his eighth consecutive game.

PATRIOTS: Tom Brady, the league's Most Valuable Player, added The Associated Press 2007 Offensive Player of the Year honors to his collection, easily outdistancing his main weapon, Randy Moss.

The quarterback collected 35 1/2 votes to 12 1/2 for Moss, and one each by Patriots receiver Wes Welker and Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre.

RAVENS: Eagles secondary coach John Harbaugh met for four hours with Ravens officials as the team's latest candidate for its head coaching job.

REDSKINS: A judge in Miami imposed a gag order in the case of slain Redskins star Sean Taylor, saying continued publicity could compromise the trial of four men charged with murder.

OBITUARY: Jim Dooley, who succeeded George Halas as head coach of the Chicago Bears, died in Chicago after suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease for the past 10 years. He was 77.

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