-OZ-
Footballguy
http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/9201384
Adam Schefter By Adam Schefter
NFL Analyst
DETROIT (Feb. 1, 2006) -- Big Ben has a big bonus in his contract.
Included in Ben Roethlisberger's contract is a Super Bowl incentive, paying him a one-time half-million dollar bonus if the Steelers ever win the big game, and a quarter-million bonus if they so much as reach it, according to someone who reviewed Roethlisberger's contract Tuesday night.
So for advancing to Super Bowl X-tra L-arge, Big Ben already has pocketed a cool quarter million, and now he has the chance to pocket another quarter million, which would tack on an extra half-million bucks to this season's salary.
Of course, the real money also is ahead for Roethlisberger. He has three years remaining on his contract and, should the Steelers finally win one for the thumb, it likely wouldn't be long before both sides are back at the negotiating table, trying to get done an X-tra L-ong contract extension for Roethlisberger.
FISH THAT GOT AWAY
Miami is spending this offseason searching for its quarterback. But it never would have been in this position had it followed through on a trade it already had agreed to back in 2001.
Back then, the Dolphins agreed to trade their first-round pick -- the 26th overall selection, along with a swapping of position of later-round picks -- to the Green Bay Packers for their backup quarterback. Guy named Hasselbeck, Matt.
Acquiring Steve Hutchinson (left) and Matt Hasselbeck has worked well for Seattle.
Green Bay thought the deal was done. But then it never heard back from the Dolphins. And when it didn't hear back, then Packers general manager got on the phone with his former head coach, Mike Holmgren, in Seattle, and those two sides worked out a deal.
Seattle traded its first-round pick -- the draft's 10th overall selection -- to Green Bay for the draft's 17th overall pick and Hasselbeck.
Great deal for Seattle. It got Hasselbeck and Michigan guard Steve Hutchinson with the 17th overall pick.
With the 10th overall pick it got from Seattle, Green Bay drafted Florida State defensive end Jamal Reynolds.
And with the 26thth overall pick it was supposed to trade to Green Bay, the Dolphins drafted Wisconsin cornerback Jamar Fletcher. And football history changed.
A T.O. FOR T.O.
More and more, it's looking as if the Eagles are going to be able to extract some form of compensation for disgruntled wide receiver Terrell Owens.
Sports Illustrated's Peter King will be reporting on Wednesday night's Inside the NFL that the Redskins are the latest entrant into the T.O. sweepstakes, and definitely the most intriguing. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder thrives on making high-profile acquisitions, like this one would be. Plus, it would be yet another boost to a Redskins offense that already has added offensive coordintor Al Saunders.
But now that the Redskins are involved, and possibly willing to give up a first-day draft pick, the Cowboys are likely to follow suit. Hard to imagine Cowboys owner Jerry Jones just sitting back and watching Snyder add another marketable commodity to his stable in Washington without doing anything.
Also, Chiefs president Carl Peterson is saying that Kansas City needs to take a look at T.O., shortly after Kansas City's division rival Broncos brought T.O. to Denver for a visit.
The Dolphins are interested, the Buccaneers will be interested, and so, amazingly, there will be no shortage of suitors for Owens, who now looks destined to be dealt.
Smart money is now on Washington. Redskins are the favorite.
A VIKING IN JACKSONVILLE
Once, Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio and Mike Tice were teammates in Minnesota, Del Rio a Vikings linebacker, Tice a Vikings tight end. Now they will be teammates on Jacksonville's coaching staff.
The Jaguars hired Tice on Wednesday as their assistant head coach/offense. It means that Tice now will be in charge of fortifying Jacksonville's offensive line and instilling some of the fire and intensity he brought to Minnesota.
Tice interviewed with Del Rio on Monday and officially accepted the job on Wednesday. Now Del Rio and Tice will be working together again, teammates once again.
KIDDY CORNER
Jets head coach Eric Mangini and his offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer are a combined 67 years old -- two years older than Washington head coach Joe Gibbs.
And some of that youthful enthusiasm could manifest itself in the Jets' pursuit of a quarterback.
San Diego QB Philip Rivers could be on the Jets' radar screen.
San Diego QB Philip Rivers could be on the Jets' radar screen.
Schotteneheimer worked closely in San Diego with Chargers quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers. The Jets need a quarterback, and have the draft's fourth-overall pick as ammunition -- the exact spot in which Rivers was selected.
If anybody knows a scouting report on San Diego's quarterbacks, it's Schottenheimer. San Diego would prefer not to trade either, but if it had to part with one, the Chargers might prefer to deal Brees.
New York's problem might not be what it can give up in return. It might be squeezing the quarterback under its salary cap. The Jets are in a rough salary-cap position, and some veterans are expecting to be released. Some moves are going to have to be made.
But it will be up to Mangini and Schottenehimer to prove that they are wiser than their years as they try to return the Jets to the playoffs.
RAIDERS WAITING
It's almost February and the Oakland Raiders do not have a head coach -- nor will they for at least another week.
The Raiders are tabling their head coaching search for this week, meaning no more candidates will be interviewed until after Super Bowl X-tra L-arge, when Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt is expected to be thrust into the position as the unquestioned favorite. Most of the candidates the Raiders have interviewed have moved on -- Al Saunders accepting the Redskins head coaching job, Rod Marinelli accepting the Detroit Lions' head coaching job, Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino opting to remain at the school.
Now with every team but the Raiders having filled its head coaching vacancy, the Raiders can wait for Whisenhunt to finish his season before they find out whether they can lure him to Oakland.
A CARDINAL MOVE
Last week, Cardinals coach Dennis Green denied the Texans permission to hire Arizona linebackers coach Frank Bush as Houston's defensive coordinator.
But now Green is making it up to Bush.
The Cardinals will name Bush their assistant head coach, a promotion rewarding Bush for remaining with Arizona as opposed to going with Houston. It continues a steady rise for Bush, who has gone from special teams coach to linebackers coach to assistant head coach. Bush is popular amongst players and, being such, could be in line for more promotions in the future.
