NFL will miss Rooney's presence

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1 NFL will miss Rooney's presence - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 3 NFL will miss Rooney's presence By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Thursday, March 26, 2009 DANA POINT, Calif. -- Owners spent the week congratulating Dan Rooney on his nomination for ambassador to Ireland while also wishing the Steelers' chairman well in his next endeavor. They weren't the only ones who got sentimental at the NFL owners meetings that concluded Wednesday at St. Regis Monarch Resort & Spa. "What I will probably miss most," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, "is I can always look forward to him a little bit after nine o'clock walking into my office and providing an interesting anecdote or story that may relate to the different issues of the day, or may not. From a selfish standpoint, I'll miss that." Rooney could be missed on a larger level. The NFL is at a critical juncture, as no collective bargaining agreement is in place with the clock clearly ticking. The possibility exists of the league going to an uncapped year -- there would be no checks on team spending in such a scenario -- after this season and of the owners locking the players out in Rooney, whom one owner called the "patriarch" of the league, has long been a key figure in labor issues. Ironically, his ability to reach across the negotiating table and forge common ground may take him away from the NFL when it needs him most. Both qualities are why his recent nomination by President Obama was widely hailed -- maintaining peace in Northern Ireland is one of the top priorities for the ambassador to Ireland -- though owners generally acknowledge that world diplomacy's gain could be the NFL's loss. "Now the team's in very good hands with Art (Rooney II) as the (team) president," Bears chairman Michael McCaskey said. "I don't worry about that for a second, but Danny's always been terrific as far as a level head in the collective bargaining area and we need to fashion a new labor agreement. We will miss him there." Dan Rooney has declined comment about how active a role he'll maintain with the Steelers and the league because he needs confirmation from the Senate before assuming his new post.

2 NFL will miss Rooney's presence - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 3 Art Rooney II, who took over as Steelers president in 2002, has remained tightlipped on the subject for the same reason. "We'll just have to deal with things as they come," Rooney II said. While his father has been one of the NFL's most visible owners, Rooney II has maintained a considerably lower profile. That will change if Dan Rooney becomes ambassador to Ireland. The position is anything but a ceremonial one and would require Rooney to spend the bulk of his time in Europe. Several owners, however, said Rooney II has enough experience in dealing with league matters that assuming a more prominent role won't be too much of a leap. "Art's been actively engaged for a long time, so I don't see that as an issue," Houston Texans owner Bob McNair said. Plus, McNair added of Dan Rooney, "He still has a telephone. He can still call." There will be plenty for Rooney to monitor back home, when time permits, and not just with the Steelers. Meaningful negotiations on a new CBA haven't begun. The players' association did not elect a new executive director and successor to the late Gene Upshaw until earlier this month. Both sides, meanwhile, have not given any indication that they will budge from the positions they staked out long ago. The owners, citing rising operating costs and tough economic times, want the players to accept less than the 60 percent of gross revenues they were guaranteed in the last CBA. The players maintain that they shouldn't have to take what is essentially a pay cut, because the owners are making enough money. Rooney has been instrumental in orchestrating compromise between the owners and players in the past. He could soon find himself in the unique position of trying to broker peace on separate fronts, though his main focus will be on Ireland. "He won't be far away, and I know the commissioner (Roger Goodell) wouldn't hesitate to talk to him," Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said. "I think even though he won't be there on a day-to-day basis and he'll be missed, he'll still have an influence on us for sure. He really is our patriarch of our league." Soon enough, he figures to be a long-distance one. Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or

3 NFL will miss Rooney's presence - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 3 of 3 Images and text copyright 2009 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

4 Model: Lewis wants his team to follow Steelers Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Model: Lewis wants his team to follow Steelers Around the AFC North / Bengals Thursday, March 26, 2009 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Al Behrman/Associated Press Marvin Lewis, left, helps introduce free-agent signee Cedric Benson earlier this month. DANA POINT, Calif. -- A year ago, Pittsburgh was in an uproar. Alan Faneca, a Steelers Pro Bowl guard and team captain, was allowed to flee in free agency without so much as an offer from his own team. The Steelers had lost in the first round of the playoffs under a new coach. The offensive line was a mess, the defensive line old and the free agent signings were minimal. Now, the free agent signings are below minimal, they are nonexistent in Pittsburgh, at least when it comes to signing other team's free agents. The view looks different today, though. Winning a Super Bowl will do that for you. Now, the Steelers are the model, from teams hiring 32-year-old head coaches who look like Doogie Howser to taking a laissez-faire approach in free agency. Among them is division opponent and former heated division rival Cincinnati, which fell off the wagon for a while there when it tried to sign every bad boy who came through the system. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, who grew up near Pittsburgh and coached on Bill Cowher's first staff with the Steelers, was not in favor of that then and finally has imposed his will about how he would like to fashion his team. He wants to do it the Steelers way, and he believes his team is on the right track because of it after losing their way after their division title in "It's hard to evaluate the past," Lewis said the other morning. "I think we're a little better than we were then because we don't have the fly-by-night attitude." Without so much as naming Chad Johnson, Lewis said his players could have taken a lesson from the Steelers in acting like they had been there before after their successful 2005 season. Instead, they pounded their chests right into missing the playoffs in '06, followed by the plummet to 7-9 in '07 and in '08. "You had a bunch of guys who thought they were responsible for why the team had won,'' Lewis said. "And now they realize they really weren't. It takes a whole football team to do that. They were just one cog in the wheel, but unfortunately when you have a team that has success that hasn't had success, everybody wants to beat their chest." And that brings Lewis to his example of how the Steelers operate. They like to keep their own players first, but won't give them everything they want. They're selective. Ben Roethlisberger needs a big contract, you give it to him. Alan Faneca wants one, too, they draw the line. Joey Porter becomes ultra expensive, go with little-known James Harrison. "That's the thing that's proven in the NFL is you can't have a football team that has the highest paid player at every spot,'' Lewis said. "You need a team that has a lot of guys that play very well at a high level but yet know collectively they have a

5 Model: Lewis wants his team to follow Steelers Page 2 of 2 chance to be champions." Getting to that point is the toughest job, especially for a team such as the Bengals. The Steelers have operated in that manner for years and it's become an accepted m.o. by their players and fans, for the most part. "It's a huge job," Lewis said. "If you look around and look at the model of the Steelers, Alan Faneca wanted to be paid at the top. They moved on and became world champions. Hines Ward took less than those other receivers and he's a more productive player than them. He knows he's got a good thing going on a good football team." The Patriots and Steelers operate in that manner, Lewis said, and they've combined to win five of the past eight Super Bowls. He believes it also has helped them attract other role players and to re-sign their own for less than what another team might have had to pay them. "One dollar less is better than two dollars more if you're going to have the opportunity to win," Lewis said. The challenge for the Bengals, he said, is building what the Steelers and Patriots have managed to maintain all these years. "You have to let some key guys go, and replace them and continue to draft well and cultivate and mature and coach our guys into being the next good player." And you cannot worry about public perception or even what the locker room thinks. "You don't lose sleep over it. You do the next best thing for your football team and that's to continue to draft young players and coach their tails off until they're ready to play." He said he can think of only one big-signing free agent who had any impact on a team last season in a positive manner, Michael Turner of Atlanta. "He's the only one. That's the only team that added a [major] guy that went to the playoffs." So, Cincinnati's Lewis presents the view from outside when some complain that the Steelers have signed no other free agent but their own and allowed a few players to get away: Count your blessings, it's a good thing. Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. First published on March 26, 2009 at 12:00 am Willie Parker's IQ is 112 Take the Fast IQ Test Now to see if You can Beat Willie's Score Steelers NFL Champs Gear Shop Steelers Super Bowl Champions Apparel & More at NFL Shop Today!

6 Steelers Notebook: Faneca's departure plays role in Steelers' extra pick Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Steelers Notebook: Faneca's departure plays role in Steelers' extra pick Thursday, March 26, 2009 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette DANA POINT, Calif. -- Blame Alan Faneca for the Steelers not receiving anything higher than a fifth-round draft choice as their lone compensatory pick from the NFL this week. Faneca's departure from the Steelers as a free agent last season was the reason they landed the extra fifth-round pick, but his status also held them back from receiving a third-round choice. Faneca upheld his part by starting for the New York Jets after signing a big contract with them, and then making the Pro Bowl again. But contained among the many rules in the complicated formula for deciding what and how many compensatory picks each team receives is one that declares that a 10-year veteran cannot bring higher than a fifth-round draft choice. Faneca finished his 12th NFL season. Even the Steelers were unaware of the little-known rule until they asked the NFL this week for an explanation why they received only a fifth-round compensatory pick. Titans ecstatic Tennessee has taken a more positive approach than others for playing the defending Super Bowl champions on the road in the season opener on prime time. "I haven't been back in the locker room or the weight room, but I'm sure the guys will be real excited about that," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said of his team's opening date Sept. 10 at Heinz Field. Three years ago, Denver owner Pat Bowlen successfully petitioned the NFL not to schedule his Broncos to open the season in Heinz Field after the Steelers won Super Bowl XL. This year, the Baltimore Ravens took it a step further and asked the NFL not to schedule them for a night game in Heinz Field, according to a Baltimore Sun report. "I know our guys are looking forward to it," said Fisher, whose team was seeded No. 1 in the playoffs last season after beating the Steelers, 31-14, Dec. 21 in Nashville. "That was a great ballgame, and we get a chance to play the world champions in the opener, and it's a great challenge for us." Overtime discussion A change in the NFL's overtime rules never came up on the agenda officially at the meetings this week despite the Steelers' hopes to tweak the rules. Team president Art Rooney II said they would like to see both teams get at least one possession in overtime. "There were a few things that were brought up," said Fisher in his talks with groups of players as co-chairman of the league competition committee. "We didn't shoot them down. For example, somebody said how about the first team to six? Then you've got another issue, length of game. [The players] realized our system was designed to eliminate ties, and it's working." Snap decision One of the most fierce competitions among Steelers players this spring and perhaps into training camp might come as a surprise. Coach Mike Tomlin said it will occur between the team's two long snappers. Greg Warren held that job the past four years until his ACL was torn Oct. 26 while playing against the New York Giants. Linebacker James Harrison was pressed into emergency duty and fired a snap over the head of his punter for a safety in that game. The Steelers signed free agent Jared Retkofsky and the first-year player did a good job the rest of the way. "I think we all gained a respect for the long-snapper position along the way with Jared," Tomlin said. "To his credit, he didn't

7 Steelers Notebook: Faneca's departure plays role in Steelers' extra pick Page 2 of 2 blink in the face of adversity. It wasn't too big for him. What short-term misery it created for us is one of the probably unique position battles of training camp coming up between him and Greg Warren." QB division Tomlin said he sees more parity in the AFC North Division because of the play of the quarterbacks. "We're going to have a very competitive division and I think it starts with the quality quarterbacks in our division. I doubt you'll find a coach who's not thinking about [Cincinnati's] Carson Palmer." Tomlin did not become any more popular in Cleveland when he laughed the day after the Super Bowl when a Cleveland writer asked a question and Tomlin responded, "Oh, you're from Cleveland!" "More than anything, I was responding to how he said it," Tomlin explained yesterday. "He said it in such a way that led to the response I had. I know what this business is about from a competitive standpoint and I'm not looking for any friends in Cleveland, Ohio." Targeted Tomlin, on his team being a constant target in 2009 as Super Bowl champions: "Bring it on! It comes with the territory. I'd rather have that problem than the opposite." First published on March 26, 2009 at 12:00 am Super 7 Football Academy QB's, WR's, RB's & TE's Coming to 30 cities across the US Steelers NFL Champs Gear Shop Steelers Super Bowl Champions Apparel & More at NFL Shop Today!

8 NFL Notebook: Vick accused of pilfering pension fund Page 1 of 1 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL NFL Notebook: Vick accused of pilfering pension fund Thursday, March 26, 2009 From wire dispatches The U.S. Department of Labor filed complaints yesterday accusing suspended NFL star Michael Vick of illegally spending about $1.3 million in pension plan funds for his own benefit, including paying restitution ordered in his dogfighting conspiracy case. The department filed the complaints in federal district and bankruptcy courts the same day Vick left a federal lockup in Kansas, apparently bound for Virginia to appear at a bankruptcy hearing next week. Mark Lichtenstein, one of Vick's bankruptcy attorneys, declined to comment. The Labor Department said Vick made a series of prohibited transfers from a pension plan sponsored by MV7, a celebrity marketing company owned by the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback. NFL Team owners passed a rule allowing video replays on a loose ball that could be a fumble or an incomplete pass. The owners also eliminated a re-kick after an illegal onside kick, awarding the ball immediately to the receiving team. The draft order for playoff teams was reworked as well and will be based on where teams were eliminated in the postseason. Last season, the Chargers (8-8) beat the Colts (12-4) in a wild-card game, but San Diego will pick before Indianapolis in next month's draft. The new procedure begins in Elsewhere Chicago agreed to on three-year deal with offensive tackle Kevin Shaffer, who started 47 games for the Cleveland Browns the past three seasons.... Free-agent cornerback Donald Strickland was added to the New York Jets' revamped secondary. First published on March 26, 2009 at 12:00 am Super 7 Football Academy Michael Vick QB's, WR's, RB's & TE's Coming to 30 cities across the Take the Survey! Dog Fighting History of Vick US www DeBartoloSportsU com

9 Goodell: Vick must show 'remorse' to play in NFL again - USATODAY.com Page 1 of 2 Powered by Goodell: Vick must show 'remorse' to play in NFL again By Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Advertisement DANA POINT, Calif. Michael Vick, in the final stages of serving a 23-month sentence for bankrolling a dogfighting ring, will apparently have to pass another standard before he is cleared to return to the NFL. He must show remorse. That's the opinion of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who suspended Vick indefinitely in August 2007 after the Atlanta Falcons quarterback pled guilty and who will eventually rule if Vick applies for reinstatement after his July 20 release date. "I'm not going to make a judgment until I know all the facts on Michael Vick," Goodell said Wednesday, as the league wrapped up its annual meetings. "I think it's clear he's paid a price, but to a large extent he's going to have to demonstrate to the larger community not just to the NFL community and to me that he has remorse for what he did and that he recognizes mistakes that he made. The Best Way to Check Your Credit "Everyone makes mistakes, but he has to show that genuine remorse in his ability to be a positive influence to correct the things that he did wrong publicly." Goodell did not specify how Vick must show remorse, and said he is unsure of how he will weigh various factors. On Wednesday, Vick was in transit from a Leavenworth, Kan., federal prison to an unknown facility closer to Newport News, Va., where he will testify in an April 2 bankruptcy hearing. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Labor filed complaints in federal district and bankruptcy courts alleging that Vick illegally withdrew $1.3 million from a pension plan to help pay for restitution ordered as part of his conviction allegations that add complexity to his future. $2 Million in Scholarships for Working Parents Going Back to School DETAILS: Feds say Vick illegally spent pension funds THE HUDDLE: Prison-authored Vick book may be 'in the making' Goodell acknowledged that Vick, suspended roughly four months before beginning his prison term, has been partially disciplined. But he gave no hint on how much of a bearing that might have on potential reinstatement. Asked if Vick will be reinstated for the 2009 season, Goodell said: "I haven't sat down and looked at his case. I haven't met with him. I haven't understood where he is. I'm not going to try to guess." The Falcons own Vick's contract rights, but have ruled out a return and are attempting to trade their erstwhile face of the franchise. The Secrets to Successful ebay Selling Advertising provided by: ARALifestyle.com Any takers? Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith said that while he is committed to Kyle Orton as his quarterback, he believes Vick deserves a chance to compete for a job. "I would look at Michael like I look at every other prospect that's available: He goes back into the pool," Smith said. "That's what everyone in society does. Martha Stewart went to prison. She paid her time. Now she's back in society. "Mike made a mistake, and he's paying the price for that mistake. Once you've paid your debt to society, you have to say, 'OK, let's go on from there.' "

10 Goodell: Vick must show 'remorse' to play in NFL again - USATODAY.com Page 2 of 2 Contributing: The Associated Press Find this article at: Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

11 17 games or 18? NFL owners split on new schedule potential - USATODAY.com Page 1 of 2 Powered by 17 games or 18? NFL owners split on new schedule potential By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Advertisement DANA POINT, Calif. The new math for NFL owners is 3-and-17 or 2-and-18. That's the debate they tabled until the league's May meeting in Fort Lauderdale as owners weigh recalibrating the current 20-game schedule format. Either a three-game preseason and a 17-game regular season or a twogame preseason and an 18-game regular season is expected to emerge. Put Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones down for the latter. Jones wants to play as few warm-up games as possible since preseason and regular-season games are sold under the same season-ticket package. Jones says that figures to appease disgruntled fans unhappy with the current number of meaningless August contests where starters make cameo appearance and backups and no-names fighting for a roster spot see most of the playing time. The Best Way to Check Your Credit UNIFORM CHANGE? NFL might consider sponsors on jerseys "I want an 18-game season," Jones said. Why is that? "It's an even number." Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II is a proponent of playing the 17-game regular season. Rooney worries that an 18-game regular season could dilute the postseason by increasing the chance of injuries. $2 Million in Scholarships for Working Parents Going Back to School "There are a lot of issues that still need to be looked at," Rooney said. "We're probably leaning more toward 17 than 18, if we had to. Eighteen really is a major change for the season, it probably affects the playoffs. "I think we can add 17 without making too many adjustments to the playoffs. If it's not broke let's not fix it. There's a lot of issues, injuries, roster size what it means to the broadcast package. There's still a lot of pieces to the puzzle that need to be looked at." Any change to the current format of 16 regular-season and four preseason games would have to be approved by the NFL Players Association. Commissioner Roger Goodell said possible changes include adding a bye week between the preseason and the regular season and pushing the Super Bowl two weeks beyond the first Sunday in February. The Secrets to Successful ebay Selling Advertising provided by: ARALifestyle.com Former Houston Texans and Washington Redskins general manager Charley Casserly, now a CBS and NFL Network analyst said, a change would warrant a postseason adjustment. "If you expand the regular season, you have to think very hard about expanding the playoffs," Casserly said. "I think you have to." Goodell sounded as if he's in favor of keeping the postseason to 12 teams. "Let's not water down something that's tremendous," he said. "We should keep it to 12 teams and it should be special to be able to make (the playoffs)." San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary sees the debate from the perspective of a former player and a current coach forced to

12 17 games or 18? NFL owners split on new schedule potential - USATODAY.com Page 2 of 2 evaluate younger, particularly quarterbacks, with fewer tune-up games. Singletary isn't worried so much about injuries as wondering if it would be too much of a good thing. "We have a great thing going right now," the 49ers coach said. "Whatever the league decides, as coaches we're going to be on board. It's such a great game. It's a good feeling when the season is over and the fans are still asking for more and can't wait until the season starts again. I just hope we can keep that in mind." A vote on regular-season expansion to 17 or 18 games could come as early as May. "As a coach, I haven't even had time to think about how I would deploy the players over the course of two or three preseason games," Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "It's new to us and we're still trying to assimilate that information." No matter what happens, Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome and Casserly said there has been no discussion of moving the draft from its current date of the last weekend in April. Find this article at: Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

13 Terrell Owens not working out with Bills unless it's mandatory - USATODAY.com Page 1 of 2 Powered by Terrell Owens not working out with Bills unless it's mandatory By Sean Leahy, USA TODAY Advertisement WASHINGTON Terrell Owens isn't ready to start working out with the Buffalo Bills. The newly-signed receiver, who missed the start of the team's voluntary offseason program this week, said he's more comfortable following his normal offseason routine of individual workouts. "I talked to coach (Dick) Jauron prior to the start of the workouts about that," said Owens, who was honored Wednesday evening with an award at an Alzheimer's Association gala. "Right now if there's nothing mandatory that I have to be a part of, then I won't intend to be there." THE HUDDLE: Did Bills make a 'deal with the devil'? Owens has reached out to Bills quarterback Trent Edwards and he's anxious to build a good relationship. "We talked shortly after I signed and we exchanged text messages," Owens said. "We're looking forward to the upcoming season." Edwards said he hadn't had much communication with his new receiver when voluntary workouts started on Monday, but added he was not bothered by Owens' absence. "He's obviously been playing the sport a long time," Edwards said. "He knows his body, he knows the relationship he needs to have with the quarterback. "I'm sure he'll be here in the near future, and I'm anxious to get that going." Owens said he intends on attending the team's minicamp, scheduled in June. And it's possible he'll work out with his new teammates at some other point in the offseason. But the 35-year-old veteran prefers training on his own. "I've never gone to a voluntary workout," Owens said. "I have a personal trainer. I take very good care of myself. I take pride in coming into camp in shape. "If I'm in the area, I tend to stop by the facilities and work out with the guys. You know, I'm looking forward to that type of stuff." Bills strength coach John Allaire said he's confident that Owens will stay in good condition. "He has a very good history of being in shape and ready to go, so we're not anticipating anything different this year," Allaire said. The Alzheimer's Association honored Owens for the awareness he's brought to the cause of fighting the disease. Owens' grandmother, Alice Black, suffers from Alzheimer's. The Bills receiver credited Black, who was diagnosed in 1996, with sparking his tenacity on the field. "My grandmother has been very, very instrumental in where I am as a person and my determination on the football field," Owens said. Surrounded by guests that included U.S. senators and other Washington insiders, the ornate ballroom at the National Building Museum was an unusual forum for Owens. The receiver, who was released by the Dallas Cowboys earlier this month, said that he felt very comfortable in the setting, however, and that his controversial image is partly due to misrepresentation in the news media.

14 Terrell Owens not working out with Bills unless it's mandatory - USATODAY.com Page 2 of 2 Owens contended his real personality is different from his on-field persona. He doesn't want his brash on-field style and the negativity derived from the Cowboys' late-season in-house feud construed as representative of his off-field makeup. How can you gauge a person's personality by what they do on the football field?" Owens said. "When you're playing football, that's an aggressive game. People play it with passion. I play it that way. "How I am off the field, that's an arena where you will only know that if you spend time with me. I think everything that's known of me is because of the media." Find this article at: Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

15 ESPN.com - Rule allows video replays on loose balls Page 1 of 1 ESPN.com: NFL [Print without images] Wednesday, March 25, 2009 Rule allows video replays on loose balls Associated Press DANA POINT, Calif. -- Ed Hochuli and other NFL referees can rest easier after team owners passed a rule Wednesday allowing video replays on a loose ball that could be either a fumble or an incomplete pass. Hochuli famously ruled Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler to have thrown an incomplete pass in the final moments of a Week 2 game with the San Diego Chargers last season. Replays clearly showed it was a fumble that the Chargers recovered, but the play was not part of the review process. Denver kept the ball and won the game seconds later. Now it is reviewable. The NFL's competition committee used a similar application as when it added video reviews of downby-contact plays involving a fumble. Also, replay can now be used to determine if a loose ball hit the sideline. A Cardinals kickoff in January's NFC Championship Game was ruled to have gone out of bounds even though it was recovered in bounds by Arizona. Replays showed the ball never hit or crossed the sideline. The owners eliminated a rekick after an illegal onside kick, awarding the ball immediately to the receiving team. The draft order for playoff teams was reworked and will be based on where teams were eliminated in the postseason. Last season, the Chargers (8-8) beat the Colts (12-4) in a wild-card game, but San Diego will pick before Indianapolis in next month's draft. The new procedure begins in A waiver period during the first two weeks of training camp was established. Owners also reworded when the postseason waiver period begins -- previously it was after the Pro Bowl. In the future, the Super Bowl will be played after the Pro Bowl in some seasons, and the waiver period will begin after the final postseason game. Finally, on all fumbles and laterals that go out of bounds, the clock will start when the referee signals ready for play. ESPN.com: Help PR Media Kit Sales Media Kit Report a Bug Corrections Contact Us Site Map Mobile ESPN Shop Jobs at ESPN Supplier Information 2009 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information/Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to you. All rights reserved.