NFL notes: Falcons say 49ers? QB a new challenge

Michael Turner?s trademark high-pitched laugh filled the Atlanta Falcons? locker room. ?

Asked about San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Turner grinned Thursday and said, ?I?m glad I?m not on defense.?

Turner, the big running back, and the Falcons? offense want to hold the ball and limit Kaepernick?s time on the field in Sunday?s NFC championship game. ?

Kaepernick comes to Atlanta after running for 181 yards ? an NFL record for a quarterback ? with two touchdowns in last week?s win over Green Bay. Kaepernick also threw for 263 yards with two touchdowns. He became only the third quarterback, after Otto Graham and Jay Cutler, to run and throw for at least two touchdowns in a postseason game. ?

HOME SWEET TO PATRIOTS: The New England Patriots get a chance to extend their home mastery in the final step to the Super Bowl on Sunday against Baltimore, the team the Patriots beat a year ago for the conference crown. That win made them 4-0 in home conference title games. ?

The Patriots are one of the NFL?s best home teams, going 73-15 since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002, including 10-2 in the postseason. Many of those games have been routs. ?

EXTRA POINTS: Torn between loyalty to his players and accepting a new challenge, Chip Kelly ultimately chose the NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles.? ?The hardest thing for me to do was to leave Oregon,? Kelly said Thursday at a news conference introducing him as the 21st coach in team history. ?I knew it was a great fit, but it was whether I could leave what I have. I love those guys, and it had to be a special place for me to leave.? ... The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley as the franchise?s fifth head coach Thursday. ... Seattle moved quickly Thursday to fill its vacant defensive coordinator position by hiring Dan Quinn away from Florida. ... The Cleveland Browns named Norv Turner their new offensive coordinator on Thursday. Turner, fired by the Chargers as head coach earlier this month, led San Diego to a 59-43 record in six years with three division titles. ... The Denver Broncos have named Adam Gase offensive coordinator. Gase was promoted from quarterbacks coach Thursday. ... The San Diego Chargers hired former Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt on Thursday to serve as the team?s offensive coordinator. ... New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma?s defamation lawsuit against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in connection with the bounty case was dismissed by a federal judge on Thursday.
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Source: http://www.pjstar.com/sports/x1926910658/NFL-notes-Falcons-say-49ers-QB-a-new-challenge

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