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Chicago Bears: Ron Rivera interview for the defensive coordinator job last night and has emerged as the front-runner for the job. Rivera went to dinner with team officials and the Chicago Sun-Times reports Rivera could be signed as soon as today because the Jets are also in hot pursuit and new coach Lovie Smith doesn't want to lose out on him. "I'm told that [Rivera] played some pretty decent football around here,'' Smith said, referring to Rivera's career as a Bears linebacker. "I've known Ron for a while. I know he's done an excellent job with the Eagles and is a pretty good coach.''

Denver Broncos: LB Al Wilson seemed to be the last healthy linebacker standing in Denver when the season ended yet still had a good season, and he was rewarded for that by being named to the Pro Bowl. The Denver Post reports Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy named Wilson to the team Thursday as the AFC's "need player." Each Pro Bowl coach gets to name one "need player" to the team. The game is Feb. 8, and it could be his last as a member of the Broncos. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent March 3 and there is a good chance the Broncos won't be able to re-sign him.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Keyshawn Johnson won't be a Buc for very much longer, but for now he's still a member of the organization. But his stay in Tampa got more tumultuous as he was issued a temporary restraining order for allegedly threatening to kill a man. A permanent restraining order hearing is set for Feb. 6 in Oakland, Calif. According to the Tampa Tribune the restraining order states Johnson "threatened to kill plaintiff and beat him to a pulp.'' It also cites instances which Johnson left messages on an answering machine saying he knows where the man lives and "will get him.'' The plaintiff claims he started a relationship with Johnson's ex-wife, Shikiri, and once Johnson found out the threats began. The man said Johnson confronted him at a funeral Jan. 9 and since then he has reported receiving five to six threatening calls each day.

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