FOXBOROUGH - Josh McDaniels yesterday publicly addressed the reason he decided to remove himself from consideration for any NFL head coaching opportunities in 2008. McDaniels's decision to spurn potential suitors was stunning to some, given it came right after the Falcons and Ravens had sought permission to speak to the 31-year-old Patriots offensive coordinator about their vacancies.
"I'd always said that if that opportunity presented itself I'd take all the information that I had at hand and try to make the best decision for me - personally and professionally - and for my family, keeping them first and foremost in my mind relative to moving on at any point in my career," McDaniels said. "I was grateful for the opportunity that those teams gave me, but at this time that's the best thing for me, is to be here and focus my efforts on this preparation for the playoff run here.
"[It is] really as simple as that and that's all that went into it and I'm going to be here in New England."
McDaniels said he did not ever consider what he might have gained, professionally, by going through the interview process before making his decision.
"Every experience could have a positive, could have a negative to it," he said. "And, again, I'm not really worried or concerned about what the experience may or may not have afforded me going forward in my career.
"If that ever comes up again and the time is right for me to do that, then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it," he added. "But I'm not really worried about whether it hurt me or helped me or what I could have gained from it or what I didn't gain from it. I'm just really focused right now on the playoffs."
Asked if he felt he was ready to become an NFL head coach, McDaniels said, "I've said this before - that's for somebody else to choose. If that time ever comes up and that's ever presented again to me and I feel like it's the right opportunity for me to try to attempt to do that, then we'll do it. But again, I've said in the statement, [I'm] grateful for the opportunity they present to me, but at this time I'm going to be a Patriot and I'm looking forward to it."
They're all pros
When the Patriots placed five players - quarterback Tom Brady, wide receiver Randy Moss (unanimous), left tackle Matt Light, outside linebacker Mike Vrabel, and cornerback Asante Samuel - on the Associated Press All-Pro first team Wednesday, it marked the most selections in franchise history."[I'm] happy for all of them who made it," said coach Bill Belichick. "But, more importantly, is what our team is trying to accomplish. I congratulate all the players on all their individual awards, but it's secondary to where our team goals are right now."
While Moss was selected All-Pro for the fourth time, it was the first time for his teammates. Named to the All-Pro second team were receiver Wes Welker, guard Logan Mankins, center Dan Koppen, and nose tackle Vince Wilfork.
"It's a big honor and it's very much appreciated," Light said. "I mean, we've had a lot of success this season and we've got a lot of guys who work hard in this locker room every day and they're very deserving of such an honor."
Age of enlightenment
The linebacking corps has heard criticism about their advancing age all too often. Now that it is playoff time, though, has it served as motivation? "We don't go out to prove anyone wrong, we just go out to win football games no matter how we can do it," said 34-year-old Tedy Bruschi. "I don't use it as motivation. I know all of our guys don't use it as motivation. The motivation that we have is to win and whether we answered critics or we didn't answer them." Said veteran safety Rodney Harrison, 35: "If this is an old defense, hey, I'll take old any day. I've always said that youth is overrated. You might run fast, but if you don't know where you're going, then guess what? You're just running in circles. We've heard it, but we don't care. These guys, Junior [ Seau] is 38 years old and he hasn't missed a practice. He's been playing every game; Bruschi, [Mike] Vrabel, Adalius [Thomas] - as well as myself, call us what you want, but you still have to play us." . . . Tight end Stephen Spach and cornerback Antwain Spann, both of whom missed the media-access portion of Wednesday's practice, were present and accounted for yesterday. They were among 10 players who had limited participation in practice. The others were tight end Kyle Brady (team decision), fullback Kyle Eckel (stomach), Harrison (thigh), tackle Nick Kaczur (foot), guard Stephen Neal (shoulder), receiver Wes Welker (team decision), safety Willie Andrews (elbow), and cornerback Ellis Hobbs (team decision) . . . Jaguar defensive tackles John Henderson (hamstring) and Grady Jackson (knee) returned to full practice yesterday after sitting out Wednesday. WR Reggie Williams (back) was the sole Jaguar who did not participate. . . Neal was named the Patriots' 2007 Ed Block Courage Award winner.Christopher L. Gasper of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
