Super Bowl week was interrupted constantly by news conferences for NFC Central Division teams.
The Vikings` Dennis Green had two press conference, one to introduce himself as new head coach and another to announce Tony Dungy as defensive coordinator.
The Packers` Mike Holmgren had a press conference to introduce himself and talk about the addition of coordinators Sherman Lewis (offense) and Ray Rhodes (defense) from a San Francisco staff where Holmgren was offensive coordinator.
Holmgren also mentioned he will try to explain to Bears coach Mike Ditka why the 49ers ran up their 52-14 score on the final Monday night.
It was the game that might have propelled three Bill Walsh proteges into head coaching positions in the NFC Central to chase Ditka-Green, Holmgren and Tampa Bay`s Sam Wyche.
Wyche did not have a press conference here, but Detroit`s Wayne Fontes announced via speakerphone the Lions have added Dan Henning as offensive coordinator.
Henning`s arrival marks the continued departure of the run-and-shoot offense from the Lions` repertoire. While Henning plans to use four wide receivers, Fontes wants more power-running formations including tight ends to spring Barry Sanders.
”Personally, I think it will make Detroit a lot better,” said Washington defensive coach Richie Petitbon. ”I think they`ll be able to run consistently. If they can find a guy who can run it, who knows, they`ll probably go someplace.”
Petitbon was joking about the obvious ability of Sanders, who should benefit from a more conventional attack.
The addition of four new offensive coaches in the NFC Central-Green, Holmgren, Wyche and Henning-is a tribute to Ditka`s dominance and to the defenses of Bears coordinator Vince Tobin.
Had the 49ers not pummeled the Bears 52-14 on that last Monday night, maybe there wouldn`t have been such a Walsh rush.
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Holmgren said he talked to Tobin during the week to explain why last-string quarterback Bill Musgrave threw a touchdown pass in the last moments of a rout Ditka vowed to remember.
”I did not call the last six minutes of the game,” Holmgren said. ”Our young quarterback did, and on that last play, I wish he wouldn`t have thrown. I fully understand why Mike is upset. If I were in his shoes, I`d have been upset, too. I`ll talk to him one of these days and try to explain it. I hope he believes me.”
Holmgren is smart enough to realize that Bear-Packer feelings get hurt easily. Ditka liked fired coach Lindy Infante and hasn`t had reason to stoke the rivalry since Forrest Gregg left.
Green`s press conference established that he is now the fastest talker in the league. At machine-gun pace, Green vowed to speed up Viking practices and heart rates in an effort to revive a team that consistently underachieves.
Green perpetuated a notion that haunted predecessor Jerry Burns by saying the Vikings are a team with ”a tremendous amount of talent.”
”The biggest thing they need as an approach from a guy who has never been here before,” Green said.
As for Herschel Walker and whether Green would like the running back/
bobsledder back, Green said: ”You see he recorded the No. 1 time in the bobsled in Europe. That`s an indication of power, thrust and explosion. We`d love to have that here with the Minnesota Vikings.”
Green has downplayed his appointment as the second black head coach in the NFL.
”I`m not one of two; I`m one of 28,” he said. ”The significance is a guy can work his way up the ladder and reach the highest order of football.” Former Viking and Bear Alan Page called Green ”a great example of the way equal opportunity should work-qualified people getting the opportunity to perform. We hear a lot about affirmative action, but we ought to be focused on equal opportunity. He is qualified, and he gets a chance to succeed or fail just like anybody else.”
The Bears did not capitalize on the Super Bowl spotlight to introduce the addition of special teams coach Danny Abramowitz. But CBS commentator John Madden praised Abramowitz for a different reason.
In Madden`s first game as an announcer, CBS wanted Madden to interview Abramowitz at halftime of a Saints-49ers game. Abramowitz was a Saints radio announcer at the time and had played for both clubs.
”I`d never asked a question in my life,” Madden said. ”This sounds stupid now, but I was petrified, so I just made a statement. I said, `I thought New Orleans would run and the 49ers would pass and it`s just the opposite.` And I put the mike in front of him and Danny Abramowitz just kept talking. I just stood there until commercial. God love him.”
So the Bears are still a part of the Super Bowl, six years removed. The Saturday Night Live Super Fans will make an appearance during the pregame show on CBS, no doubt to figure out why their favorite team isn`t playing.
For next year, coach Ditka will have to find a way to beat newcomers Holmgren, Green, Wyche and Henning.