Fixing on fixes: In his conference call with the New York media on Wednesday in advance of Sunday’s game against the Giants, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees said he has shaken off last week’s miserable five-interception performance against the Atlanta Falcons. “Everything that happened is correctable, and I can fix it,” Brees says. “Also know this: I’m not losing any confidence.” The New York Daily News has the full story here.
Here’s the kicker: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently discussed a proposal to eliminate kickoffs with Rich McKay, the head of the league’s competition committee, ESPN is reporting, citing a recent Time magazine interview. Goodell and McKay discussed an idea brought up by Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano in which a team, instead of kicking off, would get the ball at its own 30-yard line in a fourth-and-15 situation. The team then would punt the ball away or, to replace an onside kick, could go for it and, if they failed to get a first down, the opposing squad would start with great field position. The full story is here.
Flashback: Wisconsin is going retro for the Rose Bowl. Former coach Barry Alvarez will return to the sidelines to coach the Badgers when they face No. 8 Stanford on New Year’s Day. Today’s announcement came two days after coach Bret Bielema stepped down to take over as coach of Arkansas. “I’m very excited about coming back,” Alvarez says. “This will be a one-game [situation]—I’m not looking to do it any longer than one game.” The Associated Press has the full story here.
