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Jerome Bettis' status for next season is up in the air. Rick Stewart/Getty Images

The NFL's own version of the hot-stove league is abuzz with rumors and wild speculation about the future of Vikings receiver Randy Moss. Trouble is, team officials have yet to complete the organizational discussions that would result in a decision simply to entertain trade offers. "We're not down here at the Senior Bowl trying to peddle Randy Moss," VP of football operations Rob Brzezinski said. "We haven't even completed our internal roster evaluations yet."
-- Minneapolis Star Tribune

"I don't know where all that's coming from," coach Mike Tice said. "That stuff is just speculation, other people trying to tell you how to run your team."
-- St. Paul Pioneer-Press

If those discussions lead to a decision to seek trade offers for Moss, it appears that the Baltimore Ravens will be among the first in line. The Raiders, Jets and Dolphins also have expressed interest in Moss during past offseasons. Any deal would be subject to the approval of owner Red McCombs, who has often noted that the Metrodome has been sold out for every game since Moss joined the team in 1998. McCombs might require a premium, perhaps three first-round draft choices, in return for Moss -- if he authorizes a trade at all.
-- Minneapolis Star Tribune

Although the Ravens said there have been no official talks with Minnesota about Moss, there has been communication between the teams. The Ravens likely would lean toward giving up one draft pick (the No. 22 overall selection this year) and a defensive starter. One team source said linebacker Adalius Thomas would be the most expendable because he is slated to return as a backup to Peter Boulware, who missed the 2004 season with knee and toe injuries, at outside linebacker next season. It's uncertain whether Thomas would be enough to entice Minnesota. Other teams that presumably would join the Ravens in pursuit of Moss are the Redskins and Bears.
-- Baltimore Sun

You know what I do if I'm Nick Saban? I push my roster toward the Vikings. And I tell them to take any two Dolphins they want in exchange for Moss. Best offensive player (Chris Chambers) and best defensive player (Patrick Surtain)? Sure, no problem. Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor? Here you go. And if the Vikings want any one of those players and the No. 2 overall pick in the flimsy upcoming draft, I give them that, too. He would make A.J. Feeley look so much more like an NFL starter than Chambers ever could.
-- Miami Herald

Eagles tight end Chad Lewis suffered a season-ending sprain of his left foot on Sunday while scoring his second touchdown in the Eagles' 27-10 NFC championship win over the Falcons. Reid is hesitant to use backup tight end Mike Bartrum, who is also the team's long snapper. Reid said he was "keeping his eyes open" for tight ends to bring in. One strong possibility would be Jeff Thomason, who has been out of the NFL for two years. His last three seasons were with the Eagles.
-- Philadelphia Inquirer

Jerome Bettis is unsure if he will return to the Steelers next season. Or any other team, for that matter. "I talked to him on the sideline and I kind of got a sense that this might be his last game," center Jeff Hartings said. "As much as I think he'd like to come back, I think he realizes there is not a whole lot left in the tank after 13,000 yards. It's tough for me to think about going through this whole thing again. That's why you have to take some time. You take a month or two and evaluate as soon as the emotion is out of the way."
-- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bettis said, when asked how he would feel if Sunday night's game were his last, "Just frustrated, that you're so close but you're so far away. It's a tough way to go out, if that's the way you go out. But you know, right now, the way I look at it, I don't have any regrets. I don't feel I left anything out. I left it all out on the field. I didn't keep anything inside."
-- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Nine Steelers are eligible for unrestricted free agency, including starters Plaxico Burress, Oliver Ross, Keydrick Vincent and Willie Williams.
-- Pittsburgh Tribune Review

After the 41-27 loss to the Patriots, Burress basically ripped offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and suggested that he's eagerly waiting to test to the free agent market in March.
-- Beaver County Times

It's hard to overstate how well Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel have stood up to the mental strain of their unique situations. Weis has been locked and loaded for Notre Dame since December. Crennel has been the leading candidate for the Browns head coach job since early January. Both have plates so full that the food is falling off the table. But no matter how difficult the workload has been, it obviously hasn't affected the Patriots on the field.
-- Boston Herald

The successors to Weis and Crennel are expected to come in-house, and the transition to tight ends coach Jeff Davidson (the leading candidate on offense) and Eric Mangini (leader for the defensive job) will take some time.
-- Boston Herald

The Browns did not contact Steelers' offensive line coach Russ Grimm yesterday, a sign that he is not at the top of the list to become their next head coach.
-- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Tice is expected to interview some candidates for quarterbacks coach while in Mobile and also needs a wide receivers coach to fill out his staff, but he said, "I'm not going to hire anybody this week."
-- St. Paul Pioneer-Press

USC quarterbacks coach Carl Smith has emerged as a strong candidate to become the Jaguars' next offensive coordinator.
-- Jacksonville Times-Union

San Diego offensive line coach Hudson Houck is considered the leading candidate for the same job with the Dolphins, with one source indicating Houck has essentially agreed to a deal. As for defensive coordinator, the Dolphins received permission from Detroit to interview linebackers/assistant head coach Richard Smith, a 17-year NFL coaching veteran, for the job.
-- Miami Herald

Packers head coach Mike Sherman announced that the team hired long-tenured, well-thought-of and highly sought-after NFL coach Jim Bates as defensive coordinator. The demoted Bob Slowik, though, may think it better to avoid the awkwardness that likely would exist from having to relinquish control of the defense to Bates.
-- Green Bay News-Chronicle

Kurt Schottenheimer, who was fired last week in Green Bay after one season as secondary coach, signed a three-year contract Monday to coach defensive backs for St. Louis. Rams coach Mike Martz said he contacted Schottenheimer within an hour after learning of his dismissal. Schottenheimer apparently was scheduled to discuss with Saban the vacant defensive coordinator position in Miami. He becomes Mike Martz's fifth secondary coach in six years.
-- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Broncos pro personnel director Rick Smith will interview with the 49ers today for their head of football operations job, essentially filling the position created by the firing of GM Terry Donahue.
-- Denver Post

Reuben Droughns hopes Broncos fans are not offended by his desire to seek a trade. "I want to be a tailback, and they've got a lot of people there," Droughns said of the Broncos.
-- Denver Post

Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz appears to be out of the running for a similar spot on Saban's Dolphins staff. According to reports out of South Florida, Saban is likely leaning toward bringing Patriots linebackers coach Dean Pees on board once the Super Bowl is over.
-- Nashville City Paper

Cleveland defensive coordinator Dave Campo denied reports that he has been hired as secondary coach of the Jaguars.
-- Akron Beacon-Journal

Former Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch signed with the Chiefs, but incumbent quarterback Trent Green doesn't need to fear for his job. Crouch has apparently accepted that he won't play the position professionally. The Chiefs will look at Crouch as a safety and send him to NFL Europe this spring to learn his new craft.
-- Kansas City Star