Leslie Frazier

For the second time in two days, the NFC East champion Eagles watched a rebuilding Chicago Bears team raid Andy Reid's coaching staff. The latest foray landed the Bears a special-teams coach in Dave Toub, who had been an assistant to Eagles special-teams coach John Harbaugh the last three seasons. Toub, 41, also helped coach the Eagles' defensive line and assisted with quality control. Toub's hiring came one day after Eagles linebackers coach Ron Rivera was named the Bears' defensive coordinator.

Another day, another candidate. The Eagles interviewed Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Joe Woods yesterday for their vacant defensive coordinator position, a league source confirmed. The team had interviewed Chicago Bears defensive backs coach Jon Hoke on Monday. Everybody interviewed so far has coached defensive backs, including Dennis Allen, who was hired by the Denver Broncos as their defensive coordinator. A team source has said the Eagles intend to interview at least one coach from the Super Bowl staffs, who can't be approached until after Sunday's game.

NEW ORLEANS - Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier told reporters at the coaches' breakfast yesterday that the ideal situation would be to draft and develop a quarterback, but, "You'd have to consider a guy like Kevin [Kolb] if he becomes available. " Of course, the Eagles made it clear at these NFL meetings that Kolb is available. They have described Kolb suitors as "aggressive. " Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt and San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh refused to discuss any potential trade targets yesterday.

Chicago Bears defensive lineman Terry "Tank" Johnson pleaded guilty yesterday to violating probation in a 2005 gun case. Cook County Judge John Moran denied a request to lift the player's home confinement, but said Johnson could leave his house to attend practices. Moran delayed sentencing until March 15 so that a presentencing investigation can be done. Dressed in a gray suit, Johnson arrived early for the hearing and signed autographs for fans while waiting for the courtroom to open.

Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy reportedly met with owner Jim Irsay yesterday and will decide today whether he will stay with the team. According to ESPN, Dungy's family will figure heavily in his decision. Dungy, apparently isn't sure he wants to spend another season commuting from Indianapolis to Tampa, Fla., to see his wife and children. Dungy and his wife, Lauren, were to spend the past week mulling his future. But, it is uncertain how much time they spent on the decision because they had to go to New York where their son Jordan underwent surgery on a broken leg. Jordan is back in Tampa, doing well after surgery.

Are the Dallas Cowboys considering releasing controversial wide receiver Terrell Owens? Possibly, according to a report yesterday that cited team and league sources. ESPN.com reported that at least two sources think Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones, the son of owner Jerry Jones, will try to convince his father that Owens should go. Last year, however, the elder Jones gave Owens a $12 million signing bonus, which means there would be a salary-cap hit if he's released.

The Chicago Bears lost just three regular-season games. Two of the losses were to Andy Reid's old pal Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. As the New York Giants were to the Eagles last year, so the Packers were to the NFC Central Division champion Bears. As the Eagles prepare to play Chicago in Saturday's conference semifinal game at Soldier Field, you can bet Reid will be studying how the Packers attacked the Bears' defense. What the Eagles coach will find is that Green Bay didn't get into a shoot-out with Chicago.

Remember that diverse, attacking defense that shut down the Eagles in their '98 opener? The one the Seattle Seahawks brought into Veterans Stadium and stunned quarterback Bobby Hoying and his charges into nine sacks, two lost fumbles and an interception in the 38-0 'Hawks win? Coach Ray Rhodes credited Seattle linebackers coach Jim Johnson with building that defense. He gets to try to do the same in Philadelphia. The Eagles named Johnson their defensive coordinator yesterday as they nearly finished hiring a staff to replace the ones fired with Rhodes.

MINNEAPOLIS - Adrian Peterson rammed his way into the end zone to make Minnesota's early lead even larger, lowering his shoulder to finish the run as if to pour four weeks of frustration out on his unsuccessful tackler. The Minnesota Vikings finally ended their habit of stumbling down the stretch. Peterson powered in for three first-quarter touchdowns to build a cushion so big the Vikes couldn't lose it, and they earned their first victory Sunday by beating bumbling Arizona, 34-10.

According to reports, the Seattle Seahawks either have or haven't already reached an agreement to hire Pete Carroll as their new head coach. But a deal seems imminent. ESPN, citing multiple NFL sources, reported Carroll and the team have a deal in principle that could be announced as early as today. The Associated Press, however, reported there is no deal yet and that talks may continue into today. Seattle fired head coach Jim Mora Friday. Both ESPN and AP reported that the Seahawks are preparing to interview candidates for their general manager's position.

Practice for the Senior Bowl began Monday, and NFL coaches and scouts gathered once again in godforsaken Mobile, Ala., to pretend they can divine something about the current crop of potential draft picks that four years of videotape couldn't already tell them. Some of these players won't take part in the February scouting combine, and this might be the only chance to see them work out live and, well, everyone else is doing it. So, off they go with their clipboards and their stopwatches and their stubborn belief that the only way to beat the next guy is to put in one more hour than he does.

Practice for the Senior Bowl began Monday, and NFL coaches and scouts gathered once again in godforsaken Mobile, Ala., to pretend they can divine something about the current crop of potential draft picks that four years of videotape couldn't already tell them. Some of these players won't take part in the February scouting combine, and this might be the only chance to see them work out live and, well, everyone else is doing it. So, off they go with their clipboards and their stopwatches and their stubborn belief that the only way to beat the next guy is to put in one more hour than he does.

This one ranks right up there as far as excessive celebration goes. The NFL (No Fun League), playing it strictly by the book, fined Saints running back Pierre Thomas $12,500 for a uniform violation and a touchdown celebration in which he placed a bow on a football and gave it to a fan during Monday night's game against the Atlanta Falcons. The fine for the celebration is $7,500. Thomas also violated NFL policies by wearing Christmas-themed green and red tape on his black and gold Saints uniform, and his fine for that is $5,000.

CHICAGO BEARS coach Lovie Smith expects running back Matt Forte to return this season from a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Smith said he "looked pretty good" yesterday, but he wouldn't put a timetable on Forte's return. Chances are he will miss a few games, although he played through a similar injury in 2009. "Can't tell you exactly when or whether it's this week or next week or whatever, but hopefully we'll get him back soon," Smith said. Forte was injured in the first quarter of Sunday's 10-3 loss to Kansas City and left the game.

DONOVAN McNABB is available again. The Minnesota Vikings yesterday waived the 13-year NFL quarterback who spent his first 11 seasons as an Eagle, giving him the opportunity to sign with another team for the stretch run in a parting that coach Leslie Frazier described as mutual. Frazier pushed for the Vikings to trade a sixth-round draft pick this summer to Washington in exchange for McNabb. He wanted stability he believed McNabb would bring to the offense after the NFL lockout kept rookie Christian Ponder from practicing with the team or working with his coaches until training camp.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Donovan McNabb is available again. The Minnesota Vikings waived the former Eagles quarterback on Thursday, giving him the opportunity to sign with another team for the stretch run in a parting coach Leslie Frazier described as mutual. McNabb, though, said during an NFL Network interview Thursday night that the decision was his. "I definitely asked for my release," McNabb told the network. "There is no idea of where the next destination is. I think the most important thing was for me, first and foremost, to do what was best not only for me but for my family, and secondly, getting away from things to get ready for the next chapter in the book.

FROM HEALTHY, first-place surprise to battered and struggling, the Washington Redskins had their fortunes take another dive yesterday when running back Tim Hightower was declared out for the season with a torn ligament in his left knee, and receiver Santana Moss underwent surgery on his broken left hand that is expected to sideline him for 5-7 weeks. Both were injured in Sunday's loss to Carolina. That makes five starters lost to significant injuries over the last 2 weeks, coinciding with a two-game losing streak and a quarterback switch.

MINNEAPOLIS - Adrian Peterson rammed his way into the end zone to make Minnesota's early lead even larger, lowering his shoulder to finish the run as if to pour four weeks of frustration out on his unsuccessful tackler. The Minnesota Vikings finally ended their habit of stumbling down the stretch. Peterson powered in for three first-quarter touchdowns to build a cushion so big the Vikes couldn't lose it, and they earned their first victory Sunday by beating bumbling Arizona, 34-10.

MINNEAPOLIS - In the battle of the former Eagles quarterbacks, the McNabbs got the best of the Kolbs, but the show belonged to Minnesota's Adrian Peterson. Peterson rammed his way into the end zone to make the Vikings' early lead even larger, lowering his shoulder to finish the run as if to pour 4 weeks of frustration out on his unsuccessful tackler. The Vikings finally ended their troubling habit of stumbling down the stretch. Peterson powered in for three first-quarter touchdowns to build a cushion so big even Minnesota couldn't lose it, and the Vikings earned their first victory yesterday by beating the bumbling Arizona Cardinals, 34-10.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - The Minnesota Vikings wanted the Donovan McNabb who led the Eagles to five NFC title games in 11 seasons, making plays with his arm and his legs while becoming one of the better quarterbacks in the league. Through four games this season, it looks as if they acquired the Donovan McNabb who was benched twice in Washington last season after being unable to get the Redskins' offense off the ground. The Vikings rank 31st in the league in passing offense, with McNabb unable to find any consistency during an 0-4 start that has some wondering when he will be hitting the bench again.