Special teams: February 2008 Archives

Brendon Ayanbadejo received some good news from Minnesota on Wednesday.

While it’s unlikely the Vikings are planning to earmark any of their reported $30 million in available salary-cap space on the two-time Pro Bowl special teams performer, Ayanbadejo can take heart in the tender the team made its special teams ace Heath Farwell, who is a restricted free agent.

Minnesota tendered Farwell a one-year offer for $1.417 million, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Farwell is free to negotiate with other teams, but the Vikings would receive a second-round draft pick in compensation if they chose not to match an offer. In other words, Farwell is staying put. It bodes well for Ayanbadejo because it’s evidence a team is willing to pony up good money for a special teamer and reserve linebacker.

INDIANAPOLIS—The Bears wasted little time in filling their coaching vacancy.

Chris Tabor will sign a contract later today as the new assistant special teams coach, replacing Kevin O’Dea, who left Wednesday to become the special teams coach for the New York Jets.

Kevin O’Dea didn’t waste any time getting started as the special teams coach for the New York Jets.

Head coach Eric Mangini called to tell him Tuesday he was hiring him, that the contract would be signed in Indianapolis at the combine. O’Dea, who assisted Bears special teams coach Dave Toub the past two seasons, got some congratulatory calls from long snapper Pat Mannelly, punter Brad Maynard and kicker Robbie Gould, and was out the door to the combine.

He interviewed kickers, punters and long snappers tonight at the combine, getting back to his hotel room after 11 in Indianapolis. He’ll be driving to New York from there on Friday.

The Bears just got some more work to do this weekend at the combine.

They need to replace an assistant coach as Kevin O’Dea, the No. 2 special teams coach, has left to take over the top position with the New York Jets.

The Bears are No. 1 again.

While far from that lofty position in the standings, the team ranked tops again in the league in special teams in the rankings released today by Dallas Morning News football writer Rick Gosselin.

Gosselin has been crunching the numbers since 1980 when he got the formula from Frank Gansz, then the special teams coach for the Kansas City Chiefs and later their head coach.

The teams are ranked from 1 to 32 in 22 categories ... getting one for being the best and 32 for being the worst. The Bears wound up with 236.5 points, 5.5 ahead of San Diego. It’s the second consecutive year Dave Toub’s unit has finished on top, in large part due to return man Devin Hester, who will compete in the Pro Bowl later today along with special teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo.

GLENDALE, Ariz.—The second to final game of the season will go down later today at University of Phoenix Stadium in Super Bowl XLII.

The Pro Bowl will conclude the 2007 season next Sunday in Honolulu. Bears linebacker Lance Briggs (hip) and defensive tackle Tommie Harris (arthroscopic surgery on his left knee) have backed out of the all-star game, but return specialist Devin Hester and special teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo will be there to represent the organization. Maybe Hester can pick the brains of some of the best receivers in the game while he is there and get a few plays in on offense.

It’s expected that Briggs has played his final game wearing a Bears helmet. Agent Drew Rosenhaus said last week that it was simply a precautionary measure for Briggs to remove himself from the game. He expects his client to be in top shape when free agency opens Feb. 29, and he’ll have to pass a physical to get the big-money contract he has been seeking.