Gary Kubiak

If you believe Jacoby Jones, the hurt and the anger and the frustration have finally subsided. Jones says he doesn't care how Houston fans will receive him on Sunday and that playing his former team, the Houston Texans, will be just like any other game. He says he has no ill will towards the Texans for releasing him after he muffed a punt and lost a fumble in the AFC divisional round last January, key plays in the Ravens' 20-13 victory at M&T Bank Stadium. And he says he has put the pain of that loss behind him. “That's the only way you can be successful in life,” the 28-year-old wide receiver and return specialist said Wednesday.

Disciplinarian or communicator?Head coach or coordinator?Offense or defense?Decisions, decisions.When Art Modell gets around to choosing the second head coach in Ravens history sometime in late January, his screening committee will have explored a wide range of coaching options.There are impressive candidates at every level, from Super Bowl coaches Mike Holmgren and George Seifert down to college coaches (with NFL experience) Tyrone Willingham and Nick Saban.But if his track record and what he said yesterday are any indication, the man Modell ultimately will choose has an NFL background, a list of impressive credentials, and most likely is a coordinator in the league right now.Consider that five of Modell's last six hires with the Ravens/Browns were coordinators he promoted to their first head coaching jobs (the one exception was outgoing Ted Marchibroda)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- John Elway's latest Super Bowl bid ended yesterday with the Denver quarterback being helped from the interview room in Rich Stadium.Elway had answered reporters' questions for several minutes following the 10-7 loss to Buffalo in the AFC championship game when he winced and doubled over."I'm getting kind of lightheaded," he said. "I think I've got to cut this off."Elway was helped from the podium by two Denver staffers and escorted to the team bus. Later reports said the 31-year-old quarterback was simply worn out following the punishing contest.

The Houston Texans appeared like a different team without five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson in their 25-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Quarterback Matt Schaub threw for 416 yards and two touchdowns, but he completed just 47.1 percent (24-of-51) of his passes, was sacked three times, and tossed two interceptions. Coach Gary Kubiak told Baltimore media during a conference call Wednesday that Johnson, who underwent surgery on his hamstring last week, is out for Sunday's contest against the Ravens, but as far as the defense is concerned, the Texans still pose a significant challenge through the air. Tight ends Owen Daniels and Joel Dreessen combined for 12 catches for 201 yards and one touchdown, and starting wide receiver Kevin Walter hauled in five receptions for 81 yards and one touchdown against Oakland.

Regular-season performance of all NFL head coaches hired since the Ravens fired Ted Marchibroda after the 1998 season: Playoff Coach Years W-L appearances AFC East Bills Gregg Williams 2001-2003 17-31 0 Mike Mularkey 2004-2005 14-18 0 Dick Jauron 2006-present 14-18 0 Dolphins Dave Wannstedt 2000-2004 42-31 2 Nick Saban 2005-2006 15-17 0 Cam Cameron 2007 1-15 0 Jets Al Groh 2000 9-7 0 Herm Edwards 2001-2005 39-41 3 Eric Mangini 2006-present 14-18...

The Ravens got a reprieve when the Houston Texans placed Mario Williams on injured reserve after the outside linebacker tore a pectoral muscle in the Sunday's 25-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders. Williams - who got his fifth sack of the season on the play that he sustained his injury - was replaced by Brooks Reed, a rookie who finished with four tackles and two quarterback hits against the Raiders. But Reed is no Williams, which is music to the ears of Ravens left tackle Bryant McKinnie.

Interviewed twice in the past 12 months for coaching openings in the NFL, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak could be introduced as Colorado University's coach as early as tomorrow, the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News reported yesterday.He would replace Rick Neuheisel, who was hired a week ago by the University of Washington.Kubiak was a candidate for the Dallas Cowboys' vacancy last February, and earlier this month interviewed with Cleveland Browns president Carmen Policy about the coaching job with that expansion team.

Andre Johnson didn't earn five Pro Bowl invites and a reputation as being one of the most dangerous wide receivers in the NFL by being a wallflower. But there's no denying that the Houston Texans is off to the quietest start of his 10-year career. Through six games, the 31-year-old Johnson has caught 25 passes for 358 yards and two touchdowns. The number of receptions and receiving yards are the lowest to open a season in which he has played the first six contests. Houston coach Gary Kubiak conceded that the team has trimmed about 20 snaps per game from Johnson's usual rotation in an effort to keep him healthy for the entire season, but Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees said he's not buying that as the sole reason for Johnson's reduced production.

BaseballColorado Rockies -- Agreed to terms with SS Walt Weiss on a two-year contract and OF Jack Daugherty on a minor-league contract. Traded SS Freddie Benavides to the Montreal Expos for P Ivan Arteaga and P Rodney Pedraza. Assigned Pedraza to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Named Stan Kyles pitching coach at Single-A Bend and Bill Champion pitching coach at Double-A New Haven.Houston Astros -- Named Tim Purpura assistant director of minor league operations.Kansas City Royals -- Agreed to terms with OF Hubie Brooks on a minor-league contract.

Ravens fans placated by the NFL's decision to award the franchise with three prime-time games at M&T Bank Stadium may raise their hackles when they read an analysis piece on NFL.com. Gregg Rosenthal, the website's Around the League editor, has compiled a power rankings list of the 32 head coaches in the NFL. It's a tiered list trying to answer the question of which coach is better suited to lead and build a team right now. Rosenthal placed the Ravens' John Harbaugh in a category labeled “Middle of the pack,” joining the likes of the Atlanta Falcons' Mike Smith, the St. Louis Rams' Jeff Fisher, the Houston Texans' Gary Kubiak, the Chicago Bears' Lovie Smith, the Cincinnati Bengals' Marvin Lewis, the Seattle Seahawks' Pete Carroll and the Arizona Cardinals' Ken Whisenhunt.