Buffalo Bills Made History By Hiring NFL's first full-time female coach

The Buffalo Bills promoted Kathryn Smith last Wednesday night for their special teams quality control coach on Rex Ryan's staff, making her the NFL's first full-time female coach.

She will assist special teams coordinator Danny Crossman and his assistant Eric Smith, she will replace Michael Hamlin who was not retained.

Her appointment comes after Jen Welter did a 6 week training camp internship last summer coaching inside linebackers for the Arizona Cardinals.

Smith served as the administrative assistant to head coach Rex Ryan this season after working for 12 years for the New York Jets, including the final 6 with Ryan as Jets head coach.

Bills offensive lineman Richie Incognito expressed his support for Smith in a tweet.

"Congrats Kathryn!! I know you will do a great job," Incognito said in a post that included a thumb's up and smiley face.

This is not the first time the Bills broke the gender barrier. Linda Bogdan, in 1986, became the NFL's first female scout, when she joined the team's player personnel department. Bogdan, who died in 2009, was the daughter of late Bills Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson.

Patriots sign 2-time Pro Bowler Shaun Ellis

Defensive end Shaun Ellis is switching sides in one of the NFL's most intense rivalries.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection signed with the New England Patriots on Monday after 11 seasons with the New York Jets. The Patriots also signed free agent defensive end Andre Carter, who has played 10 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Redskins.

Ellis, 34, had become the longest-tenured player on the Jets since he was taken 12th overall with a pick that New York obtained as compensation for letting coach Bill Belichick sign with the Patriots.

He told the Associated Press last year that he hoped to play 15 years in the NFL and get 100 sacks.

But when Ellis asked for a contract extension last off-season, the Jets cited their policy of having older veterans play out their contracts.

Marc Tyler didn't receive a single penny

 Marc Tyler's father said the suspended USC running back should have known better than to joke about the university paying football players and said he is 100% certain Marc has not taken one illicit penny from the school.  

Price strikes memorabilia deal

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—The pitcher who gave up Derek Jeter’s 3,000th career hit has a deal to sign memorabilia connected with the milestone.

Tampa Bay’s David Price agreed with Steiner Sports to autograph collectibles, including baseballs and pictures. Some of the souvenirs will bear the inscription, “I Gave Up DJ’s 3K,” and be signed by both Price and Jeter.

Jeter became the first Yankee to reach 3,000 hits when he homered off Price last Saturday at Yankee Stadium.