McDaniels draws interest

Ravens and Falcons seek OK to interview

Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who is considered a rising star in the NFL coaching ranks, has drawn interest from two teams seeking a head coach.

The Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons have requested permission to speak with McDaniels about their vacancies, according to a league source.

The Ravens are seeking a coach after firing Brian Billick, who had just concluded his ninth season, on Monday.

In Atlanta, the Falcons' vacancy came as a result of Bobby Petrino's abrupt in-season resignation. Falcons owner Arthur Blank is also seeking a general manager to replace Rich McKay, who has been reassigned within the organization.

A combination of McDaniels and Patriots director of college scouting Thomas Dimitroff could be of interest to Blank, who is said to admire the Patriots' approach.

This weekend marks the window during which assistant coaches on top-seeded playoff teams can interview for head coaching vacancies.

The rule is designed so assistant coaches on playoff teams aren't passed over for openings because their teams are still playing.

The Patriots are familiar with this part of the process. When the Browns hired New England defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel in February 2005, they first interviewed him in Boston in early January, during the Patriots' playoff bye week.

McDaniels, 31, has called the plays for the Patriots' offense each of the last three seasons. He joined the Patriots in 2001, working as an assistant in the personnel department while also serving as a coaching assistant. The following season, he transitioned solely to coaching, breaking down film and creating scouting charts for the defensive staff.

In 2003, he added responsibilities by working with the defensive backs. McDaniels made the switch to offense in 2004, serving as the team's quarterbacks coach.

Although he didn't hold the title of coordinator in 2005, he called the plays as the Patriots transitioned after Charlie Weis was hired as Notre Dame's head coach.

McDaniels, who guided the Patriots to a record-setting season on offense, was recently asked about his name surfacing as a possible head coaching candidate.

"If your name is ever thrown around for something like that, it's flattering," he said Dec. 21 at Gillette Stadium. "In the middle of the season it's nothing that you can really concern yourself with and that's my approach to anything that would come up - whether it be now, or sometime in the future, or sometime later in my career. I think I focus on the job I'm doing here and I believe that my career, whatever path it's going to take, it will take."

McDaniels was asked if he had aspirations to be a head coach.

"I think that as a coach or as a player, you're always trying to strive to do the best thing that you can now for your team, and if that takes you to another step, and you feel that's the right thing to do at the time, then you make that decision when it comes up," he said. "I haven't really given it much thought, to tell you the truth. I've tried to really focus on what I'm doing here, and again, just let it fall out. If it's in the cards, great. If it's not, then I'm sure I could live without it."

Special players

Second-year player Pierre Woods has yet to earn extended playing time at outside linebacker, but he's carved out a niche on special teams. His 22 tackles on coverage units led the club this year.

"I'm just trying to work and keep showing progress so I'm not regressing," Woods said in the final weeks of the regular season. "You just try to take the coaching, be coachable, and hold yourself accountable."

In playing all 16 games, Woods was flagged for just one penalty, an illegal man downfield infraction against the Ravens Dec. 3.

Kelley Washington (17), Brandon Meriweather (16), Eric Alexander (14), and Larry Izzo (14) rounded out the Patriots' top five tacklers on special teams.

Big against Giants

Quarterback Tom Brady was named the AFC's Offensive Player of the Week yesterday after completing 32 of 42 passes for 356 yards and two touchdowns in last Saturday night's win over the Giants. It marked Brady's fifth player of the week honor of the season. Receiver Randy Moss landed the award twice - for efforts against the Colts (Nov. 4) and Bills (Nov. 18), while kickoff returner Ellis Hobbs (vs. Jets, Sept. 9), linebacker Mike Vrabel (vs. Redskins, Oct. 28) and cornerback Asante Samuel (vs. Eagles, Nov. 25) also were honored.

Topping the charts

Linebacker Tedy Bruschi led the Patriots in tackles for the second straight year, with coaches crediting him with 99 (69 solo). Last season, he paced the club with 124 tackles. Since the beginning of the 2003 season, no Patriot has recorded more tackles than Bruschi, who has 560 over that span . . . Vrabel finished with 12 1/2 sacks, the most by a Patriot since Andre Tippett had 12 1/2 in 1987. Tippett holds the franchise record for sacks in a season with 18 1/2 in 1984 . . . Brady, Bruschi, Vrabel, left tackle Matt Light, left guard Logan Mankins, cornerback Ellis Hobbs, defensive end Ty Warren, and nose tackle Vince Wilfork were the lone players to start all 16 games this season . . . The Patriots had 57 completions of 20 or more yards this season, while allowing 31 passing plays of 20 yards or longer . . . Opponents totaled 40 rushes of 10 yards or longer against the Patriots this season. New England had 38 rushes of 10 yards or longer . . . Patriots owner Robert Kraft will provide two tickets to the team's Divisional playoff game Jan. 12 to those who make a $2,500 donation to New England high school athletics through Patriots.com. All proceeds collected by the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation will be divided among the six high school athletic associations throughout New England . . . The Patriots are holding an online auction for a specialty "160" license plate commemorating the team's 16-0 regular season. Bidding started yesterday at ProTeamAuctions.com, will continue through Jan. 11, and all proceeds will benefit the team's charitable foundation.