Vrabel Turns Down 49ers' Offer, NFL Previews

Houston Texans linebackers coach Mike Vrabel has turned down an offer to become the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator, according to multiple media reports.

Vrabel, 40, just finished his second year with the Texans, whose 9-7 season ended with a disappointing 30-0 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC wild-card round.

Head coach Bill O'Brien and general manager Rick Smith worked hard behind the scenes to keep Vrabel and will give him a new contract, the Houston Chronicle reported, citing sources.

Vrabel met with new 49ers coach Chip Kelly on Tuesday before declining the job, the Chronicle reported.

Vrabel previously coached three seasons at his alma mater, Ohio State, before leaving for Houston to rejoin defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who coached him in New England.

As a player on the Patriots, Vrabel earned Super Bowl championships in the 2001-02, 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. He has earned high praise from New England coach Bill Belichick for his football smarts. In September, Vrabel, a 14-year NFL veteran, was named as one of the 108 modern-day nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2016.

Harper Doesn't Like Celebrations

Feel like celebrating a first down? Want to show some emotion to fire up your team? Not against the Carolina Panthers, and specifically not if you're being defended by veteran safety Roman Harper.

Harper has used a myriad of ways -- hovering over a player, getting in a player's face, jawing with a player -- throughout his 10-year career to keep opposing receivers from celebrating after moving the sticks.

"It's just the fact that you don't let people celebrate on you," Harper told the Charlotte Observer on Thursday. "You don't let people show you up and continue to build confidence like that. It's good for them to make a big play but you're not going to let them showboat.

"I don't know what I say. I don't know. Sometimes they don't even celebrate and I'm still over there. It's bad. It's a bad habit that I have."

Weekend Preview

AFC

New England Patriots: Tight end Rob Gronkowski didn't seem affected by remarks from Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr., who talked about how the best way to tackle Gronkowski was to go low and hit him in the knees. "It's just part of the game. They're not doing anything illegal out there. I've just got to be aware of it, maybe just got to step up my game a little bit. Maybe throw a juke, I mean I don't know how many jukes I've got, but I've just got to be aware for it." -- Mike Reiss

Denver Broncos: John Elway may have said cornerback Chris Harris Jr. will be a "game-time decision" for Sunday's AFC Championship Game with a left shoulder injury, but Harris said after Thursday's practice he feels "light years ahead" of how he felt before last weekend's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Harris has practiced fully both Wednesday and Thursday so he is on track to start in the Broncos' defense against the Patriots. -- Jeff Legwold
NFC

Arizona Cardinals: Just how relaxed are the Cardinals? During the open portion of practice Thursday, cornerback Patrick Peterson used a media photographer's camera to take photos of his teammates. Coach Bruce Arians said the Cards are "much more" loose than last week. "They got a win under their belt. There's a little more confidence and sometimes you can try too hard." -- Josh Weinfuss

Carolina Panthers: A winter storm could impact the Panthers' preparation the next couple of days. A half-inch of ice and several inches of snow are in the forecast for the Charlotte area. Coach Ron Rivera is prepared to adjust Friday's practice if necessary, but his preference is to stay outside so players are used to the conditions if they spill over into Sunday's NFC title game against the warm-weathered Cardinals. The weather also could impact whether Rivera practices running back Jonathan Stewart (ankle) and defensive end Jared Allen (foot). He doesn't want to risk setbacks in bad conditions. -- David Newton

Sunday, January 24 Schedule (All Times Central)

New England at Denver, 2:05 PM    CBS

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Arizona at Carolina, 5:40 p.m.

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Sunday, January 31 (Time Central)

Rice vs. Irvin, 7 p.m.

Aloha Stadium, Honolulu    

PRO BOWL

Sunday, February 7 Schedule (Time Central)

5:30 p.m., CBS, Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara    

SUPER BOWL 50