NFL Notes

NEW YORK - Carnell Williams, appropriately enough, ran away with The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

The Tampa Bay running back nicknamed "Cadillac" was the sleek, fast and powerful model the Buccaneers needed to spark their offense. He became a starter immediately, rushed for 1,178 yards and six touchdowns, and was the catalyst in the Buccaneers' turnaround from also-ran to NFC South champion.

Williams drew 47 votes Wednesday from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. His running mate at Auburn, Ronnie Brown of the Dolphins, received one vote, as did tight end Heath Miller of Pittsburgh and offensive lineman Logan Mankins of New England.

"It's always been my dream to play on this level," said Williams, the fifth overall pick in last year's draft. "Ever since I was a kid, playing football in the backyard, middle school, high school, college, I was working to get to this level. To come out here and be named offensive rookie of the year is an amazing accomplishment. That's a great honor."

GETTING DEFENSIVE: Shawne Merriman's relentless style of play made an immediate mark in the NFL, earning him The Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

The San Diego linebacker, known as "Lights Out" for his hard hits and aggressive demeanor, received 28 votes from a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league. He easily beat Seattle linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who got 16.

All the players receiving votes played linebacker in some form this season. Behind Merriman and Tatupu were Odell Thurman of Cincinnati with four votes and DaMarcus Ware of Dallas with one. Merriman finished with a team-high 10 sacks among his 54 tackles.

MORA FIRES COACH: Falcons quarterback Michael Vick will have a new position coach in 2006 after Mike Johnson was fired Wednesday.

Among Johnson's possible successors could be third-string quarterback Ty Detmer, a 14-year NFL veteran who might retire.

PAYING THE BILLS: Tom Donahoe was fired as Buffalo Bills president and general manager in a shakeup that also marked Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy's return to the franchise, this time in a consultant's role.

The moves were announced by Bills owner Ralph Wilson, just a few days after he promised changes for an underachieving team that finished 5-11 and missed the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season.

Donahoe, the only executive to hold the president's title in the franchise's 46-year history, was dismissed after five seasons. Despite increasing the team's ticket base, his ultimate failure was the team's failure to win.

NOT GUILTY: Minnesota Vikings Daunte Culpepper, Bryant McKinnie and Fred Smoot have pleaded not guilty to charges related to the team's bawdy boating party.

A court clerk told The Associated Press on Wednesday that an attorney for Smoot entered a plea Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court and that pleas for Culpepper and McKinnie were entered in late December.

Culpepper, McKinnie, Smoot and teammate Moe Williams face three misdemeanor charges each related to the party Oct. 6 on Lake Minnetonka. They were charged with indecent conduct, disorderly conduct and lewd or lascivious conduct.

Williams' attorney, Joe Friedberg, said he will enter a plea of not guilty today.

HIRING SEASON: San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will interview for the Green Bay Packers' vacant coaching job Monday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Phillips, who just concluded his second year as an assistant to Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, was the Buffalo Bills' coach from 1998-2000. He also was Denver's coach from 1993-94 and twice has served as an interim head coach, in New Orleans and Atlanta.

SWANN SONG: Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Lynn Swann declared his candidacy for Pennsylvania governor in the city where he made his name in professional football.

He told the AP in an interview Wednesday that he made up his mind to run in the fall, after spending months weighing support at events around the state.

Playoff scenario

NEW YORK - If the Washington Redskins beat Tampa Bay on Saturday in an NFC wild card game, they will open the second round of the playoffs at Seattle on Jan. 14.

If the Bucs win that game, they will open that round at Chicago that day.

The NFL announced its tentative plans for second-round games Tuesday, based on potential results of first-round games.

The Washington-Seattle or Tampa Bay-Chicago games would begin at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 14 to be followed by a game in Denver to begin at 8 p.m. The Broncos can play either Cincinnati, which is home Sunday to Pittsburgh or the winner of the Jacksonville-New England game, to be played Saturday night in Foxborough, Mass.

Indianapolis, the top-seeded team in the AFC, will be home at 1 p.m. Jan. 15. The Colts will play Pittsburgh if it wins in Cincinnati or the winner of the Patriots-Jaguars game.

If Tampa Bay beats Washington, the second game Sunday will be in Seattle, where the NFC's top-seeded team will meet the winner of this week's game between Carolina and the New York Giants. If Washington wins in Tampa, the Panthers-Giants winner will play in Chicago in that late Sunday game.

The AFC games will be televised by CBS.

The NFC games will be on Fox.

- Associated Press