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When the Super Bowl kicks off this Sunday, Ralph Cindrich will be watching two of his clients’ battle for the Lombardi Trophy.

Long time client, Jeff Saturday, will take his usual spot at Center anchoring the Colts offensive line and allowing Peyton Manning to work his magic.  Prior to the season, Cindrich was able to negotiate a new three year deal making Saturday one of the highest paid Centers.  Saturday has spent his entire 11 year career with the Colts and won his first world championship in Super Bowl XLI when the Colts beat the Bears.

On the other side line, Saints Offensive Tackle and Special Teamer, Zach Strief, will be gunning for his first Super Bowl ring.  Since the Saints selected Strief in the 2006 draft, he’s played in 57 games, including all games the past three seasons.  When asked who he was rooting for, Cindrich remarked that he doesn’t play favorites; he wants to see a hard fought game by both clients.

Earlier this month, Smith gained attention for his dance steps after his touchdown gave the Ravens a 48-3 lead over Detroit.

Now his agent Ralph Cindrich is making it known through his Twitter account that Smith has notified the Ravens that he wants a trade, just six days before the Ravens try to clinch a playoff spot.

“Ravens QB Troy Smith, Ohio State alum, native + Heisman winner wants playing time. Ravens notified. Will seek trade after play offs, SB run,” Cindrich writes.

Smith has shown promise when given the chance to play and was likely to open the 2008 as the Ravens starter over Joe Flacco if not for being sidelined by a rare form of tonsillitis.

It’s unclear what kind of market Smith would generate and if the Ravens would be motivated to trade a backup quarterback they trust.

Today, Gradkowski returns to his native Pittsburgh for a game against the Steelers in a city where his name still resonates with those who remember him as a high school legend.

Gradkowski’s NFL career is in its early stage, and he has a long way to go before people mention him among the likes of Johnny Unitas, George Blanda, Joe Namath, Joe Montana and Dan Marino.

Yet, back home, Gradkowski’s name carries as much significance as the aforementioned greats from western Pennsylvania — the so-called cradle of quarterbacks — for what he accomplished at Seton-La Salle High.

“Just to be mentioned with those guys is just kind of unbelievable,” Gradkowski said. “I don’t look at myself in the league of Dan Marino or Joe Montana. It’s neat to go home, because they always show you love.”

Gradkowski played in the esteemed Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League, which spawned Marino, Montana, Namath and Unitas. He shattered the conference and state passing records his senior season with 2,978 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Some of Gradkowski’s earliest recollections are of Marino, who starred at Central Catholic High and attended the University of Pittsburgh. Marino entered the NFL the year Gradkowski was born, 1983.

Kids from Pittsburgh hear all about the exploits quarterbacks reared in this area from the first time they pick up a football. Until he reached high school, Gradkowski donned the No. 13 Marino made famous and yearned to play quarterback.

The admiration from the locals, however, didn’t translate into nationwide recognition. Despite his high school success, Gradkowski was overlooked by the University of Pittsburgh and other high-profile programs. He jumped at his lone offer from a Division I school and bolted for Toledo.

“I never really wanted to stay home for college,” Gradkowski said. “Even if Pitt would have recruited me, I always wanted to get away to school, so maybe it was a good thing they never recruited me.”

Gradkowski enjoyed a record-breaking career at Toledo, throwing for 9,225 yards and 85 touchdowns. He completed 68.2 percent of his passes and also rushed for 1,018 yards.

Gradkowski was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL draft and started 11 games his rookie season. His coach, Jon Gruden, was smitten right away.

“This guy gets it done,” said Gruden, now a broadcaster on “Monday Night Football.” “He completes passes, and he’s very mobile. He’s an explosive guy. “… He’s a winner, and he’s a guy that has a charismatic flair to him. He’s a leader.”

Gradkowski said he expects as many as 100 friends, family members and well-wishers at today’s game. The trip home included a feast for numerous teammates at his mother’s house.

It won’t be the first time he has tested the allegiance of fans whose earliest memories include waving a Terrible Towel.

Today marks his third career start at Pittsburgh. This time, Gradkowski is better prepared for a game in the stadium where he watched games from the stands.

Last season, Gradkowski started against the Super Bowl-bound Steelers in the season finale, 26 days after he signed with the Cleveland Browns. He did so because of injuries to Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn and Ken Dorsey.

The results were predictable. Gradkowski completed 5 of 16 passes for 18 yards and a 1.0 passer rating in a 31-0 loss. The Steelers intercepted two of his passes and sacked him three times.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he expects to see a much more polished Gradkowski today.

“It was such different circumstances when he was in Cleveland a year ago,” Tomlin said last week. “When I watch him on tape, I see a guy that’s got very good accuracy and pretty good mobility, can release the ball from a variety of body positions and locations. It seems like he’s been a sparkplug for that offensive unit.”

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“If they didn’t match up to scholarship requirements, coaches would make them go through the gauntlet until (they went) down,” said Cindrich, a sports agent who played linebacker at Pitt and in the NFL in the early 1970s. “Why did they do that? If someone quits, they give up their scholarship.”

What was acceptable behavior decades ago has become grounds for dismissal, as the conduct of coaches has come to the forefront of college football with the firings of Mark Mangino by Kansas, Mike Leach by Texas Tech and Jim Leavitt by South Florida in the past several weeks following allegations of emotional, mental and physical abuse.

The most stunning development is that all three were prominent coaches at BCS programs. Mangino and Leach are former recipients of national coach of the year honors, while Leavitt was the only coach in the 13-year history of USF football.

Mangino was fired Dec. 3 amid allegations that he was verbally abusive and forced one player to do bear crawls on scorching artificial turf that caused third-degree burns on his hands.

Leach was let go Dec. 30 after being accused of forcing a player suffering concussion-like symptoms to stand in a shed during practice.

Leavitt was dismissed Jan. 8, not so much for striking a player at halftime of the Louisville game but trying to cover it up.

“Shoot, when I was in high school, we did bear crawls all the time,” said Bill Fralic, the former Penn Hills and Pitt All-America tackle who spent eight seasons in the NFL. “I used to get paddled all the time, too, in grade school. I don’t think you can do that anymore.

“I’m sure it was hell, because I’ve been through some of that stuff. But toughness carries you through at the end of the day. With that stuff, you can win a lot of football games with mediocre talent.

“I didn’t want to go through it, but I was forced to. I think society has gotten softer.”

Which begs this question: Where is the line drawn between motivation and humiliation, and when do college football coaches cross it?

“I just wonder how much of this has gone on over the years under the disguise of motivation and mentoring,” said Dennis Dodd, a national college football analyst for CBS Sports. “You can put a lot of false labels on this stuff. When it comes down to it, it’s still humiliation of a player and mistreatment.

“These (coaches) have all the power. I don’t see the reason to do this stuff. It’s a power trip and a character flaw.

“I think something significant is happening here, that we’ve seen three of these in (just over) a month. I wonder if any teams are going to bring in someone from the university to say: ‘This is what you can’t do.’ ”

While NCAA guidelines outline principles for institutional control, student-athlete well-being and sportsmanship and ethical conduct, the onus of responsibility is on each institution to ensure appropriate behavior.

Cindrich doesn’t expect schools to be extremely specific, in part because it takes away some of the leverage they have over coaches with lucrative long-term contracts by having a vague out-clause written into the deal.

Mangino had four years left on a $9.2 million extension. Leach had four years remaining on a $12.7 million deal. And Leavitt was in the second year of a seven-year, $12.6 million extension. Where Mangino reached a $3 million settlement with Kansas, Leach and Leavitt have filed suit against their respective universities to challenge that there was cause for firing.

“If someone is looking to run someone out of town, that is a good way of doing it,” said Cindrich, whose clientele includes college and pro coaches. “It’s too easy of a way to get rid of someone.”

That could be the case for Leach and Texas Tech, as his firing was prompted by the furor caused after he ordered sophomore receiver Adam James, the son of ESPN college football analyst Craig James, to stay in a dark room during practice after Adam complained of concussion-like symptoms.

That football-related concussions are a hot-button topic only made matters worse, but high school football coaches Terry Smith of Gateway and Bill Cherpak of Thomas Jefferson also believe the reaction to the Texas Tech case shows the sense of entitlement belonging to today’s athletes.

“(The abuse is) not near as bad as it used to be,” said Smith, who played at Gateway and Penn State. “In today’s society, not as much is tolerated. I can remember being coached and called names and pushed and shoved and kicked and grabbed by the facemask, but it was tolerated then.

“That’s part of what’s wrong in society today. Kids are growing up with no respect for authority and no fear of authority. You look at the Texas Tech incident. Craig James has some influence and used it.”

Smith recalled being stunned at a prospect camp when a college position coach berated one of Smith’s players with profane language during a drill. Surprisingly enough, the player still signed to play at that coach’s school and had a productive college career.

Even so, Smith warns his players not to choose a school if they don’t like those types of motivational tactics.

“The mental side, that’s sometimes worse than being hit,” Smith said. “You hear: ‘You’re stupid’ enough, for a young, fragile mind, that might not go over too well.

“If you know their reputation, you’ve got to tell your player: ‘Here’s their coaching style. If you can handle this, then this is an option. If you can’t handle it, you’ve got to take them off your list.’

“Don’t get there and think something is going to change.”

Pretty depressing, isn’t it? Can I get you a Kleenex?

Since 1999, Saturday has felt only one man’s supple hands under his ample backside — at least that’s the prevailing rumor — and it’s Peyton Manning. It would have seemed like some kind of a cosmic betrayal if Manning tomorrow was taking snaps from, say, Jamey Richard.

I only bring up this nightmare scenario because it almost happened. Saturday and the Colts came this close to parting ways last winter. After turning down a contract proposal that wasn’t to his liking, Saturday was just days short of entering free agency and doing something he really didn’t want to do: leave Indianapolis.

Everything changed, though, in late February when the salary cap was fortuitously increased by $4 million. On Feb. 26, Saturday signed a three-year, $13.3 million contract that included a $7.45 million signing bonus.

How close was he to leaving?

“Real close,” Saturday said this week. “The way it was presented to me, if that extra cap space hadn’t become available, there wasn’t going to be an agreement. It was that close. I never wanted to leave. I’ve always wanted to finish my career here. But it almost happened.”

In fact, Saturday prepared his family — his wife, Karen, and three kids (ages 9, 7 and 3) — for the possibility they would soon be moving. He didn’t want to go, but business is business. A paycheck is a paycheck.

“I don’t think there is any question that Peyton (Manning) came in and said, ‘Get it done,’ ” said Ralph Cindrich, Saturday’s Pittsburgh-based representative. “You look at (Manning’s) stats when Jeff was out, and it was worse looking at the film.”

When asked about the role he played in Saturday’s return, Manning was a bit uncomfortable and circumspect. He doesn’t want anybody to think he’s one of those mega-stars who moonlights as a general manager and tells management how to do its business.

He has power — shoot, he should have power and they should seek his input — but if Manning were truly the master puppeteer, the Colts would be shooting for 17-0 on Saturday night.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

By Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bruce Gradkowski was confident he would someday be an NFL starter. He just didn’t realize it wouldbe this soon.

Gradkowski, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound rookie from Dormont, will be the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they play Oct. 8 at New Orleans. He is replacing Tampa Bay starter Chris Simms, who is out indefinitely after having his spleen removed Sunday night after a game against the Carolina Panthers.

“It’s a tough situation,” Gradkowski said to reporters in Tampa, Fla. “You never want to be named the starter in this situation, but things happen. I just have to take it, go with it and work hard.

“We just need to prepare like we’ve been preparing and come out and make plays. Just keep doing what we’re doing and things will fall into place. I’m just going to bring energy out there on the field and just do my thing. I’m just going to take things as they come and make smart decisions and rely on the guys around me. I’m a rookie, but I’m going to play my game.”

Tampa Bay, which is off this week, will bring an 0-3 record into the game at New Orleans.

It has been a meteoric rise for Gradkowski in Tampa Bay. He was drafted in the sixth round out of Toledo in April and quickly won over Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden with a stellar preseason.

After an injury to third-year pro Luke McCown in training camp, Gradkowski received more repetitions and won the backup job over veteran Tim Rattay. In four preseason games, Gradkowski completed 73.8 percent of his passes for 511 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. He had a passer rating of 105.3.

Gradkowski attempted one pass against Carolina and completed it for 16 yards.

“I was very fortunate to get a lot of reps in training camp,” said Gradkowski, who played at Seton-LaSalle High School. “I was just working hard. It was an unfortunate injury to Luke that got me some reps. I think it prepared me very well, getting in there in game situations with players around me. Now it can only get better. It’s going to be game time and I’m looking forward to it.”

It is not often that a rookie quarterback starts in the NFL. It is even rarer for a player drafted as late as Gradkowski to get the opportunity. But Gruden, at his weekly news conference yesterday, reiterated that he has confidence in his young rookie.

“This guy can make plays,” Gruden said. “I believe he’ll rise to the challenge if we rally around him.”

Montour coach Lou Cerro, who coached Gradkowski at Seton-LaSalle, is not surprised that Gradkowski has ascended to the top of the depth chart this quickly. He said Gradkowski’s work ethic and intellect are the reasons.

“He was excited to be the backup. He’ll be out of his mind now that he’s the starter,” Cerro said. “I’m not that surprised, really. Bruce was always a guy who was a leader on and off the field.

“I’m sure coach Gruden liked his work ethic. He has tremendous work ethic. When he came out of Seton-LaSalle, he was 160 pounds. He put on 30 or 40 pounds at Toledo. And I know Toledo’s offense is unbelievably difficult. He’s a guy who completed 70 percent of his passes, so he’s always making the right decisions.”

Gradkowski said he will be calling Simms and asking him many questions over the next two weeks as he prepares for his first career start. Even though he does not have a lot of experience in the pro game, Gradkowski is confident he can lead the Buccaneers to victories.

“I definitely feel like I’m ready,” Gradkowski said. “I know coach Gruden wouldn’t have thrown me out there if he didn’t think I was ready. I’ve been preparing for this. Coach didn’t bring me in here to be a clipboard holder my whole career. This just came a little faster than [expected]. … I’m going to make this happen.”

Gradkowski is the second quarterback from Seton-LaSalle, or its forerunner South Catholic, to play in the NFL. Dan Darragh played for the Buffalo Bills in the late 1960s after being drafted out of William & Mary in the 13th round of the NFL draft.

Published: May 8, 2006

TAMPA – Bruce Gradkowski was a third-grader playing on the fourth-grade basketball team when his ego got the best of him.

“I got a little cocky,” Gradkowski said.

A “whooping” by Dad took care of that, teaching Gradkowski a valuable lesson – don’t believe the hype, or more specifically, your own hype.

Lesson learned apparently, because as the Pittsburgh native grew up in the shadow of Pennsylvania greats such as Joe Namath, Joe Montana and Dan Marino, and eventually overshadowed them, in high school statistics anyway, Gradkowski grew more humbled.

“Coming out, I never worried about the stats or who to compare myself to,” said Gradkowski, who threw for 2,978 yards at Seton-LaSalle High School, more than Namath, Montana and Marino. “They always [drew comparisons to] Dan Marino, Joe Montana and Joe Namath, but those guys are on a whole new level. Just to be mentioned with them is an honor, but I know personally, I’m not near where I need to be in respect to them.”

Despite those gaudy numbers, Gradkowski didn’t catch the eye of college recruiters.

He put up big numbers everywhere, except for size.

At barely 6-foot-1, Gradkowski doesn’t stand as tall as the prototypical quarterback.

He believes that’s the main reason Toledo was the only Division I-A school to offer him a scholarship and why he lasted until the sixth round of the draft before the Bucs took him with the 194th pick.

“I think I’ve always been underestimated growing up,” he said. “When the draft came and I went in the sixth round, I said, ‘Hey, I’ve been here before, it’s nothing new.’ All I ask for is that chance, that opportunity and Coach [Jon] Gruden has given it to me.”

The Bucs wrapped up their three-day rookie minicamp Sunday. Having called most of the plays at Toledo from the line of scrimmage, Gradkowski had to get used to calling them from the huddle, but what he showed in the short time left quite an impression on Gruden.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence he’s going to be a player,” Gruden said. “We’ve just got to temper our enthusiasm and bring him along, but he really shows a quick, accurate arm. He’s got really good mobility. And he’s got a charisma about him that quarterbacks I think have to have.

“He did well for himself these first three days.”

Gruden admits he and the coaching staff were “harsh” on Gradkowski, but the rookie welcomes the tough love. It’s how he was raised and why he believes he thrives under pressure.

“My dad pushed me hard as a kid,” Gradkowski said. “He was always on me, on me, on me, so it pushed me to do better and to work harder and try to be the best. When I come to [work with] coaches like Coach Gruden, that’s who I feel I learn the best under, when coaches are hard and they demand so much out of you.”

Gradkowski’s father, Bruce Sr., coached him until he reached high school. He was the one responsible for sticking his son at the quarterback position.

“I grew to love it and I love it to this day,” Gradkowski said. “I come out here and I love having command of the offense.”

For now, it’s not Gradkowski’s offense to command. He’s deep on the Bucs depth chart behind starter Chris Simms and backups Luke McCown and Tim Rattay.

“I’m humble to be a part of this right now,” Gradkowski said. “Growing up, this was my dream, to play in the NFL. I watched Dan Marino, he was my idol and I’ve watched some great quarterbacks come through Western Pennsylvania. It’s a dream and as you get older, it becomes a goal and now it’s a reality.

“I’m just happy to be a part of it and have my opportunity.”

ESPN.com

Unrestricted free agent center Seth McKinney, who started all but three games for the Miami Dolphins over the last two seasons, has signed a two-year contract to remain with the team.

McKinney

The retention of McKinney is a key move by the Dolphins as coach Nick Saban and offensive line assistant Hudson Houck continue to address a unit that was a problem area in 2005. Last week, the Dolphins signed seven-year veteran left tackle L.J. Shelton, who started all 16 games for the Cleveland Browns last season. Miami continues to consider other free agent players as well.

McKinney’s contract will pay him $1.5 million in 2006, with a $915,000 signing bonus and base salary of $585,000. To retain McKinney in 2007, Miami must pay him a spring roster bonus of $2.5 million, and he has a base salary of $1 million for that year.

In the first two weeks of free agency, McKinney drew interest from New Orleans and Houston. He visited with officials from the Texans, where his older brother, Steve McKinney, is a starting guard, but ramped up negotiations with the Dolphins shortly after that.

By keeping McKinney, the Dolphins essentially addressed another offensive line spot, because it means that two-year veteran Rex Hadnot, an emerging young player, can remain at guard. Hadnot, who started all 16 games in 2005 and impressed the coaches, moved to center for the final three games of the season, when McKinney was forced onto injured reserve by a knee injury.

McKinney, 26, is a smart, tenacious player, with the kind of temperament you want at center. He continues to improve and his performance should get even better as the Dolphins solidify the guard spots.

The former Texas A&M standout was a third-round choice in the 2002 draft. He started only five games in his first two seasons, then moved into the lineup full-time in 2004. Until he went on injured reserve last December, he had not missed a game to injury during his NFL career, appearing in 61 straight contests.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.