Rich Mckay

Tampa Bay? No way. For 17-year-old Rich McKay, it was culture shock. L.A was his city, football was his life and the USC Trojans were his passion. USC's coach, John McKay, was his father. One of the Trojan receivers, J.K. McKay, was his older brother. The USC quarterback, Pat Haden, was a close family friend.

PALM BEACH, Fla. — NFL owners on Wednesday voted to expand the playoff overtime rules to the regular season, increasing the likelihood that both teams will get to touch the ball in the extra period. The rule means that if a team scores a field goal on the first possession of overtime, the opposing team will get a possession. A touchdown on the first overtime possession will still result in sudden-death victory. That was one of five rule proposals that passed on the final day of the annual league meetings at the Breakers hotel.

PALM BEACH, Fla. — NFL owners on Wednesday voted to expand the playoff overtime rules to the regular season, increasing the likelihood that both teams will get to touch the ball in the extra period. The rule means that if a team scores a field goal on the first possession of overtime, the opposing team will get a possession. A touchdown on the first overtime possession will still result in sudden-death victory. That was one of five rule proposals that passed on the final day of the annual league meetings at the Breakers hotel.

Reporting from New Orleans ? The NFL might be a safer place, but not necessarily a happier one. By a count of 26-6, teams voted Tuesday to modify the kickoff by moving forward five yards to the 35, thereby increasing the likelihood of touchbacks and decreasing that of returns, citing frequent injuries as the impetus for change. The 20-yard line will remain the spot on touchbacks, instead of the proposed change to the 25, and a two-man wedge still will be permitted. Rich McKay, chairman of the competition committee, said the move should result in 5% to 15% more touchbacks.

It was a clash of wills that threatened to tear apart the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On one side was Coach Jon Gruden, once the boy wonder of coaching, a renowned workaholic so confident in his own philosophy and methods that he walked out on Al Davis rather than submit to the Raider way. On the other side was General Manager Rich McKay, whose claim to fame in his younger years was that he was the son of legendary USC Coach John McKay. Whom would you take?

Rich McKay wants out as general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Super Bowl champions are willing to let him go without receiving compensation. The Buccaneers gave McKay permission to talk to other teams, and Tampa Bay's general manager since 1995 could end up with the Atlanta Falcons, who are looking for a general manager to lead their coaching search to replace the fired Dan Reeves.

The Denver Broncos like to throw, throw, throw. And if that doesn't work, they throw some more. "We're expecting a ton of it," Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine told the New York Daily News last week during a break from preparations to play the Broncos on Sunday. He said Denver Coach Josh McDaniels -- a former Patriots assistant -- has "the New England mentality that if you can't run it, let's throw it every snap. "It's something that we're going to get, given the struggles we've had defending the pass, and given their struggles in the run game.

Reporting from New Orleans ? The NFL might be a safer place, but not necessarily a happier one. By a count of 26-6, teams voted Tuesday to modify the kickoff by moving forward five yards to the 35, thereby increasing the likelihood of touchbacks and decreasing that of returns, citing frequent injuries as the impetus for change. The 20-yard line will remain the spot on touchbacks, instead of the proposed change to the 25, and a two-man wedge still will be permitted. Rich McKay, chairman of the competition committee, said the move should result in 5% to 15% more touchbacks.

The guy who once had a hard time pinpointing Tampa in a U.S. atlas has helped put the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers on the map. Tampa Bay General Manager Rich McKay, among the NFL's most influential executives, has turned a franchise famous for its futility into one of the league's consistent winners.

Minnesota Viking defensive coordinator Tony Dungy has emerged as the leading candidate for the Tampa Bay Buccaneer coaching job. Dungy met with General Manager Rich McKay last week before the East-West Shrine game in Palo Alto, Calif., and talked with Tampa Bay again Monday. . . . San Francisco 49er fullback William Floyd underwent a third knee ligament reconstruction over the weekend and is expected to be ready for next season.

The Denver Broncos like to throw, throw, throw. And if that doesn't work, they throw some more. "We're expecting a ton of it," Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine told the New York Daily News last week during a break from preparations to play the Broncos on Sunday. He said Denver Coach Josh McDaniels -- a former Patriots assistant -- has "the New England mentality that if you can't run it, let's throw it every snap. "It's something that we're going to get, given the struggles we've had defending the pass, and given their struggles in the run game.

It was a clash of wills that threatened to tear apart the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On one side was Coach Jon Gruden, once the boy wonder of coaching, a renowned workaholic so confident in his own philosophy and methods that he walked out on Al Davis rather than submit to the Raider way. On the other side was General Manager Rich McKay, whose claim to fame in his younger years was that he was the son of legendary USC Coach John McKay. Whom would you take?

Rich McKay wants out as general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Super Bowl champions are willing to let him go without receiving compensation. The Buccaneers gave McKay permission to talk to other teams, and Tampa Bay's general manager since 1995 could end up with the Atlanta Falcons, who are looking for a general manager to lead their coaching search to replace the fired Dan Reeves.

The guy who once had a hard time pinpointing Tampa in a U.S. atlas has helped put the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers on the map. Tampa Bay General Manager Rich McKay, among the NFL's most influential executives, has turned a franchise famous for its futility into one of the league's consistent winners.

Tampa Bay? No way. For 17-year-old Rich McKay, it was culture shock. L.A was his city, football was his life and the USC Trojans were his passion. USC's coach, John McKay, was his father. One of the Trojan receivers, J.K. McKay, was his older brother. The USC quarterback, Pat Haden, was a close family friend.

Reggie Bush wore jersey No. 5 for USC. He won't get to wear the same number for the New Orleans Saints. NFL rules stipulate that running backs wear numbers between 20 and 49, and Atlanta Falcons General Manager Rich McKay, co-chairman of the NFL's competition committee, said Tuesday the panel had recommended against Bush's request for No. 5.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' coaching search appeared near an end Sunday when Minnesota Viking defensive coordinator Tony Dungy arrived in Tampa, to meet with team owner Malcolm Glazer. Dungy is the leading candidate for the job, vacated by the Dec. 27 firing of Sam Wyche. He denied weekend reports that the job had been offered. "I'm going to meet with Mr. Glazer tonight and, hopefully, that will go well and I think we'll be on our way," Dungy told a Chicago radio station.