Harbaugh wanted team-first values, not the personality-dominated locker room that had gotten increasingly difficult to manage in recent years.
"We believe in a team system, not a star system," Harbaugh said. "When you're in the locker room, players respect one another and no player, no coach - nobody in the organization - is doing what's in the best interests of our team by setting themselves above or apart from the rest of the team.
"If there's any other way to do it besides the team-first principle, I'm not interested."
MEETING THEIR MENTORS
BY KEN MURRAY
Bill Belichick (Patriots) vs. Eric Mangini (Jets)
Relationship: Belichick is grudgingly respectful of Mangini.
Background: Mangini served 10 seasons under Belichick, starting with the Browns in 1995. He was defensive coordinator of the Patriots in 2005 and left to become head coach of the Jets. In 2007, Mangini told the NFL that Belichick had illegally taped his sideline signals during a game, triggering Spygate.
First meeting: Sept. 17, 2006. The Patriots won, 24-17, in East Rutherford, N.J. They led 24-0, but the Jets had the ball with a chance to tie in the final minute.
Record: Belichick's Patriots have won five of seven meetings.
Tony Dungy (Colts) vs. Lovie Smith (Bears)
Relationship: Close friends.
Background: Dungy gave Smith his first NFL job in 1996 as linebackers coach with the Buccaneers. Smith served three years as defensive coordinator with the Rams, then became head coach of the Bears in 2004.
First meeting: Nov. 21, 2004. The Colts riddled the Bears at Soldier Field, 41-0. Chicago's starting quarterback was rookie Craig Krenzel.
Record: Dungy has won two of three meetings, including the 2007 Super Bowl in Miami.
Mike Holmgren (Seahawks) vs. Andy Reid (Eagles)
Relationship: Close friends.
Background: Reid was an assistant coach for seven years under Holmgren in Green Bay, serving as quarterbacks coach in 1997 and 1998 before taking the Eagles job.
First meeting: Sept. 23, 2001. On the first weekend with NFL games after Sept. 11, Reid's Eagles whipped the Seahawks, 27-3, in Seattle.
Record: Reid has won three of five meetings. In each instance, the visiting team won.
EAGLES (5-4-1) @RAVENS (6-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. TV: Chs. 45, 5
Radio: 97.9 FM, 1090 AM
Line: Ravens by 1
