Tony Dungy / Photo: Newscom

Hopefully coach Dungy was able to talk some sense into Michael. As much as I’ve been down on Michael for his arrogant attitude and deplorable actions in bankrolling and participating in dogfighting, I do hope he emerges from prison a changed man. I will keep my stand that I don’t think he should be allowed back into the NFL — whether he gets coach Dungy’s recommendation or not (and I have the utmost respect for coach Dungy’s opinion on pretty much any topic). But Michael does deserve a second chance to get his life together and be a productive member of our society. And he’ll have that chance in just a few more months.

Source: NFL.com

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Tony Dungy Meets With Michael Vick

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance
by Tony Dungy with Nathan Whitaker, 260 pages, $24.99
Tyndale House Publishers | CoachDungy.com

Just a couple weeks after announcing his retirement from the coaching ranks of the National Football League, former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy has a new book — Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance — in stores today. I received my review copy last week and went cover-to-cover right away. I can enthusiastically say it’s the most uplifting, down-to-earth life lesson book I’ve ever read. And I’ve read my fair share.

You probably remember coach Dungy’s first book, Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life, which claimed the top spot on the New York Times Best Sellers list back in August 2007. It sold over a million copies and became one of the best-selling sports-related titles in history. I expect the same from Uncommon. Actually, I expect more.

Uncommon is not a football book. Sure, you’ll find your fair share of football analogies and examples. After all, the game has been too much a part of coach Dungy’s life to have it any other way. But this book focuses on what it means to be a man of significance in a culture that is offering young men so few positive role models. You don’t need to be a young man to enjoy this, though (although that is the target market). You don’t even need to be a man. Ladies, you’ll want to check this out as well. It’s an important book for everybody who’s interested in an honest and heartfelt example of how to live a significant life — an “uncommon” life that can be far from how the world is defining success these days.

Coach Dungy has a way of taking himself off any pedestal you might think he’s on (not that he’s given anyone a reason to think he’s on a pedestal). I have to admit, I’m almost intimidated by his “goodness.” When have you heard anything negative about coach Dungy? You haven’t. It almost seems as though the guy is perfect. But he’ll be the first to tell you how far from the truth that is. Certainly he’s not shy to talk about his feelings and opinions on the many different topics we all face in everyday life (and it seems like they’re all in this book), but he does so in a way that makes you feel like there’s still hope. In Chapter 6 (”Fatherhood”) coach says:

“We’ve all come up short. That doesn’t mean you can’t gather yourself, draw a line of new commitment in the sand, and move on.”

You can apply that to fatherhood, but you can also link it to any area of your life. In Chapter 10 (”The Power of Positive Influence”) coach says:

“… you were created for a reason. It doesn’t matter what you missed or how you may have messed up; the fact is that your future is still ahead of you. What will you do with it?”

Uncommon is divided into seven sections — Develop Your Core, Love Your Family, Lift Your Friends and Others, Your Full Potential, Establish a Mission That Matters, Choose Influence Over Image, and Live Your Faith — with 32 chapters on just about every topic that affects each of us in one way or another. I dare you to find a chapter that doesn’t apply to you. But this is by no means a stern lecture. It’s kind of a guidebook for living. I can certainly visualize the father figure behind the words, but to know coach Dungy is to understand he also has a sense of humor amidst the serious issues he discusses. In Chapter 14 (”Career, Work and Money”) coach says:

“Many of us walk in the door at the end of the day carrying our frustrations with us. We know we need to learn to let it go, but that’s easier said than done. When we lose a game on a last second field goal, it’s tough for me to really be excited about playing Candy Land with the kids as soon as I get home. But I have to make myself do it. It’s not their fault that we lost, and I can’t let my job, which already takes me away from my kids too much, negatively impact the time I do have with them.”

At the end of the book is a 32-page Q&A with coach Dungy that refers back to each chapter. It’s a great way to gain a further perspective on his thoughts with specific examples from his own experiences. Coach Dungy says he considers this book to be his legacy message. One thing I can assure you. When you’re done reading it, you too will want to be “uncommon.”

Special thanks to Jessica Atteberry Quinn.

Order “Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance” from Amazon.com.

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Book Review: Uncommon

My sources tell me that because of coach Tony Dungy’s retirement announcement a couple days ago, his publisher is moving the release date of his new book, Uncommon, up from February 17 to January 27. My review copy is on its way so I’ll have a post on that with my thoughts before it hits stores.

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Release Date for Coach Dungy Book

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy announced his retirement from the National Football League today. I was saddened — but not shocked — to hear the news earlier this afternoon that the Colts had scheduled a 5 p.m. presser. I anticipated what was coming. I didn’t feel it would do coach Dungy justice to pull quotes from a transcript, so here’s the whole thing.

Coach Dungy has always been one of my favorite NFL coaches and he’s been an inspiration to me in my own life. I greatly respect who he is as a person and as a football coach. When you look at what he did on the football field, it’s really incredible. He’s the only NFL head coach to have six straight seasons of 12 or more wins. That’s almost unfathomable. And he’s the only NFL head coach to have 10 consecutive playoff appearances. That means he’s been in the playoffs every year since 1999. Wrap your head around that stat. And of course, he was the first African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl. I could go on and on. He’s a first ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer and I’m counting the days to his induction. But it’s who he is and what he’s done off the field that’s even more impressive. Coach Dungy’s focus has always been and will always be on treating people right and caring for others. I can honestly say, he’s as good a role model as you will find. And a class act.

Look for coach Dungy’s new book, Uncommon, in stores next month.

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Tony Dungy Announces Retirement

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Running For My Life: My Journey in the Game of Football and Beyond
by Warrick Dunn and Don Yaeger, 288 pages, $25.95

If you’re looking for a last-minute Christmas/holiday gift idea, I suggest the great new book by Tampa Bay Bucs running back Warrick Dunn — Running For My Life. I received my review copy from Harper Collins a few weeks ago and I can tell you it’s a very inspiring, uplifting and eye-opening read.

Warrick is truly one of the good guys in the National Football League. It’s pretty well-known what he does for families through his Warrick Dunn Foundation and amazing Homes for the Holidays program. In case you don’t know, about 12 years ago Warrick started this program where he makes the down payment on a home selected by a single parent associated with an approved, non-profit, affordable homeownership program. He provides furniture for every room, kitchen appliances and dishes, washers, dryers and refrigerators, lawn & garden equipment, linens, a fully-stocked kitchen, cleaning supplies and home decor items. The whole nine yards. To date, Warrick has assisted 78 single parents and 205 dependents in Tampa, Atlanta and Baton Rouge. He’s really an amazing and caring person. He’s helped change a lot of people’s lives for the better.

Anyway, in this revealing autobiography, which was written along with New York Times author Don Yaeger, Warrick tells his incredibly moving story of courage and determination in the face of the devastating loss of his mother, Betty Smothers. Warrick and his five brothers and sisters all idolized their mother, who was a Baton Rouge police officer. As the oldest, Warrick was the closest to her, and thus the man of the house. On January 7, 1993, while Warrick’s mom worked a second job as a supermarket security guard, she was ambushed, shot, and killed while making a bank deposit. At the time, Warrick was a high school senior, just a few weeks away from choosing among his college football scholarship offers. As you can imagine, the loss of his mom devastated him. In fact, that isn’t even a powerful enough word. He was only eighteen when his circumstances changed and he had to look after his five siblings, but he somehow managed to enroll at Florida State and, in only his freshman year, help their team quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner and roommate Charlie Ward, win the National Championship for the 1993–94 season. This was just the beginning of a successful career as a student athlete, which resulted in his selection to the FSU Hall of Fame.

Despite his small stature by NFL standards, Warrick’s athleticism, incomparable drive, and personality convinced Tampa Bay Bucs coach Tony Dungy to select him in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft with the 12th overall pick. He proved coach Dungy right. During his career with the Bucs and, subsequently, the Atlanta Falcons, Warrick amassed five 1,000-yard rushing seasons, was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl three times, and became one of only twenty-three running backs to exceed the 10,000-yard career rushing mark. This season, he returned to the Bucs and continues his NFL success story.

I was surprised to learn that despite how much Warrick has helped others throughout his lifetime thus far, there was one person he neglected to help — himself. He spent all of his emotional energy on his siblings and their pain, and never focused on his own pain. His only solace was the football field, where he truly was “running for his life.” It wasn’t until a Falcons teammate suggested psychological counseling that Warrick began to battle the demons that still haunt him from his mother’s death.

Running for My Life is really a must read. It’s the story of an athlete’s drive to help his family and ensure that his mother’s legacy and values continue. It’s the story of what it really takes to be a man.

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Book Review: Running For My Life

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

How many professional sports leagues can pinpoint the exact spot, the exact day, even the exact time they “arrived?” The National Football League can: Yankee Stadium, December 28, 1958, 4:51 PM. Fifty years ago this December 28 — the final day of the 2008 NFL regular season — what would become known as “The Greatest Game Ever Played” took place — the 1958 NFL Championship Game between the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants at Yankee Stadium in New York City. And when Colts fullback Alan Ameche burst through a hole for a one-yard touchdown with 6:45 left in overtime — at 4:51 on a foggy, drizzly day — he took the National Football League with him into a new era. The NFL would never be the same. America had discovered it.

It may be hard for today’s young sports fan to believe, but 50 years ago, the sports scene — and the NFL — was vastly different. There was no SportsCenter, no internet (and therefore no EMQB), no sports-talk radio, no fantasy football. The “X-Games” didn’t exist because, for most Americans, there were no “alternative” games. Baseball was the No. 1 sport with fans. Then came this late-winter nationally televised NFL epic between larger-than-life teams featuring picturesque names like “Huff” and “Katcavage” and “Unitas” in a game that surged back and forth into the first sudden-death overtime in NFL title game history.

Here’s a heads-up for you. You can watch this game — digitally restored and colorized by ESPN Films in association with NFL Films — on ESPN next weekend — Saturday, December 13 at 9 p.m. ET. I’m not so sure it was the greatest NFL game ever played, but it was probably the most important.

Source: NFL Media

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‘The Greatest Game Ever Played’ Remembered Fifty Years Later

I got a heads-up today on Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy’s new book entitled Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance (due out February 2009). This is the follow-up to The New York Times #1 best-seller Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life which sold more than a million copies and is one of the best-selling sports-related titles in history. Coach Dungy will once again partner with Tyndale House Publishers on this new book he considers to be his legacy message:

“Our young men today are falling into a trap. Society is telling them material success is what’s important, but if we buy into that idea, we can spend a lifetime chasing that success and never really have the positive impact on people that would make our lives truly significant.”

Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance reveals lessons on achieving significance that coach Dungy has learned from his parents, his athletic and coaching careers, his mentors, and his journey with God. The book particularly focuses on what it means to be a man of significance in a culture that is offering young men few positive role models.

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Tony Dungy to Release New Book

The Indianapolis Colts released starting defensive tackle Ed Johnson after he was arrested earlier today on a drug possession charge. Ed was stopped for speeding between midnight and 1 a.m. on I-465 just north of Indianapolis. Police also charged him with possession of marijuana. A disappointed Colts president Bill Polian released the following statement today:

“We will, effective tomorrow, waive defensive tackle Ed Johnson. We consider every violation of a team rule or NFL policy on an individual case-by-case basis. If club discipline is appropriate we consider the past record of the individual involved and the extent to which team rules were violated when imposing penalties. In this particular case, Ed was well aware that his past history required him to be in complete compliance with Club rules. He was repeatedly told this during the off-season. Along with his teammates, he was reminded as recently as yesterday of Coach Dungy’s rules of behavior. Unfortunately, he chose to violate those rules. Given the circumstances surrounding Ed’s original employment with the Colts, we feel in this case that we have no choice but to take this action.”

It’s the right course of action because, obviously, Ed doesn’t “get it”. And now he’s out of a job. You hope an incident like this would set a player straight, but with Ed’s history, it’s doubtful. He was temporarily expelled from Penn State in 2005 for violating the school policy on sexual misconduct and confining another student against that student’s will. He was reinstated in 2006, but later suspended for the Outback Bowl for violating team rules.

The Colts are in trouble defensively. With Ed, they gave up 153 rushing yards to the Chicago Bears in a 29-13 Kickoff Weekend loss. Now they face two teams who are known for their ability to run the football — the Vikings and Jags — back to back. Good luck. They’ll probably have to move defensive end Raheem Brock inside with Keyunta Dawson while Darrell Reid, Eric Foster and Daniel Muir back them up. It’s a list of relative unknowns and probably not a favorable situation for the Colts.

Source: Colts.com

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Ed Johnson Cut by Colts After Arrest

The winter storm that has an icy grip on Indianapolis has slowed things down outside. But as promised, today was a whirlwind of activity around the Media Work Room here at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine. The players being shuttled in and out were mostly wide receivers, running backs and quarterbacks.

My day was really one big press conference with a few of my own interviews thrown in for good measure. I took part in every head coach presser — Tom Coughlin (Giants), Brad Childress (Vikings), Gary Kubiak (Texans), Tony Dungy (Colts), Herm Edwards (Chiefs), Scott Linehan (Rams), Jim Zorn (Redskins), Jack Del Rio (Jags), Mike McCarthy (Packers) and Romeo Crennel (Browns).

Several team VIPs were also speaking with the media — Packers GM Ted Thompson, Texans GM Rick Smith, Redskins VP of Football Ops Vinny Cerrato, Jags VP of Player Personnel James Harris, Browns GM Phil Savage and Rams Executive VP of Player Personnel Bill Devaney.

We also had a surprise guest — Cleveland Browns RB Jamal Lewis who recently signed a new three-year contract with the team. Jamal said he wants to play three more years and finish his career as a Cleveland Brown. He was thankful the team gave him that opportunity. He just wants to help the Browns get to the Super Bowl and feels they are making strides to get there. When asked how much gas he had left in his proverbial tank, he said:

“I’ve been answering that question for the last three years. I’m the old Jamal. A lot of gas is left in the tank. I work hard in the offseason to prepare myself for a 20-to-24-game season. I’m healthy and when I’m healthy I’m a good Jamal.”

Coach Childress gave some great insight into the career of Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson. While Tarvaris had an up-and-down 2007 season, his second half play in a loss to the Broncos in the final game of the season was what the team would look for mentality and physically next fall. Coach said he looked forward to Tarvaris logging more games in his third season as a starter. Personally, I think I would’ve pulled the plug by now. But I would like to see Tarvaris succeed. He certainly needs to keep working on his mechanics and he needs to be more consistent. Coach Childress also mentioned that DE Kenechi Udeze, who is battling a form of leukemia, told him: “Coach, this is nothing more than a cold. I’m gonna beat this.”

That would have been a full day in itself. But the offensive skill position players were in and out of the Media Work Room all day as well. Big names that are expected to be called very early in this upcoming Draft — like Matt Ryan (Boston College), Darren McFadden (Arkansas), Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois) and Mario Manningham (Michigan) — all stopped by for a visit. And Brian Brohm (Louisville), who hopes to have a great Combine workout to challenge Matt Ryan for the top QB spot, felt his game was NFL-ready:

“I think the system I was in is going to help me tremendously to play in the NFL. Under Coach Petrino, it was pretty much the same type of system the New York Giants run. It’s where he got the offense when he was with Tom Coughlin in Jacksonville. We were in that system for three years. Then we switched over to a more accountable one back spread with zone running my last year. But just being able to adjust to new systems and being in a pro style system, I think is going to help me out a lot.”

I couldn’t agree more, but I don’t think he’ll be able to do enough to be the first QB taken in April. I think this is a solid group of QBs. The aforementioned Matt Ryan and Brian Brohm. Kentucky’s Andre Woodson. Michigan’s Chad Henne. USC’s John David Booty. Hawaii’s Colt Brennan. These guys were superstars in college and I feel like they can make an impact in the NFL.

Finally, what better way to end the day than to slide (literally — remember, I’m stuck in the middle of a winter storm here in Indy) four blocks down Maryland Ave. to Conseco Fieldhouse for the Pacers/Nets game. A special thanks to Pacers Director of Media Relations David Benner for the hook-up. By the way, Indiana won 113-103. (Check out our Sports Channel’s NBA blog — NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.)

Additional Photos by David Kindervater

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NFL Scouting Combine 2008: Day Two

After being eliminated in the Divisional playoff round and failing to repeat as Super Bowl champions, it was unknown whether Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy would return as the team’s leader. It was rumored that me might want to hang up his whistle and return to his home in Tampa. But any doubts were put to rest today as Coach Dungy announced that he would return for at least one more season. During a press conference announcing the news today, Coach Dungy said:

“I love this franchise, I love my family. I wouldn’t have come back if I was going to shortchange either one, or my children were not for it. It was really a family decision. I enjoy my job, the players, the staff we have here and Bill (Polian) and Jim (Caldwell). But it is a platform and that’s something I talked to my wife and pastor about. I said ‘I could stop and start a ministry, but I might not have a platform like this.’ So I see it as a little more than a job.”

Assistant head coach and QB coach Jim Caldwell was given a raise and promoted to “head coach in waiting.” Well, not exactly. Officially, he will be called associate head coach. He’ll wait for Coach Dungy to step down before he assumes leadership of the team. Either way, this team is good hands. The Colts are set for a long time to come.

First of all, I’m thrilled that Coach Dungy is returning to the Colts. The NFL needs him. He’s one of the classiest and smartest coaches in the league and he’s respected by everyone. Coach Caldwell will be a great replacement, whether that’s in one year or two years down the road. As Peyton Manning’s mentor for the past six years and Coach Dungy’s assistant for the past three, Coach Caldwell knows this team and will allow for an easy transition to “new” leadership. He had become a trendy candidate over the past year, interviewing for jobs with the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens earlier this month and the Arizona Cardinals last January. Now the Colts have him officially on-board for the long-term and they have their future secure with two great leaders.

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Tony Dungy to Remain Head Coach of Colts, Assistant Jim Caldwell Ready and Waiting