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With their fervent fan base deservedly up in Nike Shox arms after one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history, Jed York and Trent Baalke together connected on a badly needed tape-measure home run in the court of public opinion Friday, moving quickly to officially make Jim Harbaugh the 49ers’ 18th head coach, replacing Mike Singletary. A week that began with rumors that Harbaugh would have a hard time co-existing with Baalke as the Niners' head coach if he were to be hired ended with both Harbaugh and Baalke mutually agreeing in Harbaugh’s introductory press conference that Baalke will have the final say on the 53-man roster. The PFW Spin Perceived as not being sufficiently qualified by many in the Bay Area to be the Niners’ general manager, Baalke went a long way toward changing that perception this week with ugg men's sandals the dogged manner in which both he and York pursued Harbaugh, meeting with the former Stanford coach for 6-8 hours on Wednesday before sealing a five-year deal reportedly worth $25 million. That figure is allegedly a lot lower than what Harbaugh might have received from Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, who made a last-ditch effort in an attempt to steal Harbaugh away with an offer reportedly in the neighborhood of $7 million per year. But like Tony Bennett, Harbaugh’s heart was stuck in San Francisco, a feeling he said was only strengthened after his time spent this week in intense, heartfelt discussions with York and Baalke. While Harbaugh was obviously the featured attraction at the press conference late Friday afternoon, it seemed very noteworthy just how much he shared the spotlight with Nike Dunk SB Low Shoes Baalke. In a sense, it was as much a press conference to unveil the new GM as it was to introduce the new head coach, even though the latter couldn’t be a more high-profile figure at the moment, hot on the heels of an amazingly successful season just down the road at Stanford. “I met this man (Harbaugh) about 6-7 years ago at a college all-star game and fell in love with his energy,” Baalke said in an opening statement before Harbaugh was introduced. “He had a real passion to succeed, and in this business, you have to have that. “What we have to do is bring back the culture of winning, to take one day at a time and come to work every day and get a little bit better. It’s important that we represent the York family with class. That’s our No. 1 objective.“ Confirming what everybody expected, Harbaugh said the Niners definitely would go with the West Coast offense in “the birthplace of the West Coast offense.” “It will be similar to Stanford’s in some aspects,” Harbaugh said of his offensive plans. "The West Coast offense is a very broad system which can encompass the Air Force Low Shoes talents of a lot of different types of players." Harbaugh no doubt scored huge points when asked about the impact that 49ers Hall of Fame head coach Bill Walsh has had on his life and career. "He’s the most important person in my life,” Harbaugh said, “I look at his picture every day on my computer screen. He is a legendary coach and a great man.” Harbaugh also hinted strongly that, as is widely expected, some members of his Stanford coaching staff could be following him to Santa Clara. “There are guys on our staff that I would love to bring here, but there are also excellent coaches on the 49ers,” he said. “Together, we will put together a great staff. My job is to start talking with our players and getting to know them and simultaneously put together a staff.” All in all, it looks like the Niners are ready to hit the streets running. Benefiting from playing in the league’s weakest division, a substantial turnaround in short order seems like a very reasonable possibility. Displaying class and professionalism Friday without going overboard, which Singletary seemed to do on an almost daily basis, York, Baalke and Harbaugh together took a very Air Yeeyz Shoes strong first step.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)—Erik Walden(notes) 2010 handbag remained confident about his future in the NFL after he got cut, figuring his next chance would come as a special teams contributor. Even he didn’t imagine making big plays on defense to help send the Green Bay Packers to the playoffs. After being released by Miami on Sept. 28, Walden was at home working out when he got a call from Packers assistant director of pro personnel Eliot Wolf— the son of former Packers general manager Ron Wolf—telling him the injury-riddled Packers wanted to give him a chance to play in Green Bay. “He said, ‘Look, this is the situation, it’s an incredible opportunity,’ so my eyes lit up,” Walden said. “I’m just trying to cash in and contribute, kind of make a name for myself. But at the same time, the bigger picture is helping us get to where we want to be, get these wins and get this train rolling.” Walden signed Oct. 27 and was pressed into action only four days later, making his Packers debut against the New York Jets. The linebacker saved his best performance for ugg mall Sunday, with two sacks and 11 total tackles as the Packers clinched a playoff berth with a 10-3 victory over the Chicago Bears. Going into a playoff game at Philadelphia on Sunday, Walden might be called on again for a team that is playing strong defense despite dealing with injuries all season. “He did it all,” cornerback Charles Woodson(notes) said. “I think he impressed a lot of people around here (Sunday). When you play at that high of a level, now we expect you to do it all the time. So we look for big things from him coming into these playoffs.” The Packers have 15 players on injured reserve, including three defensive starters, and have had to make up for prolonged absences by several other significant players throughout the year. Walden is one of four players to start at right outside linebacker for the Packers this season. “It’s just nice to have someone in there to make some plays and take a little heat off me,” linebacker Clay Matthews(notes) said. “I told him he’s doing New GHD a fantastic job. He’s been working his butt off since he got here. It’s not easy to come in here halfway through the year. Now he’s starting for a playoff team and making sacks, making plays. More power to him.” Safety Charlie Peprah(notes) said the Packers won’t get anywhere without their role players. “It’s not going to be every game that Clay Matthews is going to do his thing,” Peprah said. “It’s not going to be every game Charles Woodson is going to do his thing or whatever. But if you’re out there, we’re going to need you to step up. And thank goodness he stepped up and came up big for us. He’s playing good ball.” Walden was taken out of Middle Tennessee State by Dallas in the sixth round of the 2008 draft and had played for Kansas City and Miami. He was cut by the Dolphins in Turbo CHI September, but remembered something Bill Parcells told him. “I was working out, trying to stay in shape and spending time with my son,” Walden said. “I was just waiting. The advice I got from Parcells (was), if you can play special teams, you’ll always have a job in this league. So I never doubted I’d get back on. It was just a matter of when and it being the right fit.” It’s too soon to say what Walden’s future might be in Green Bay, but coaches like what they see so far. “I can’t say enough about the young man and the way he’s performed, the way he’s worked,” head coach Mike McCarthy said. “The extra hours that you see him and (outside linebackers coach) Kevin Greene put in throughout the evenings upon his arrival here. We’ve done a very good job getting Nike Dunk SB Low Shoes players ready to play in a short period of time. Our team is formed, this is who we are and we head into the playoffs.”

BEREA, Ohio (AP)—As Eric Mangini air maxes packed picture frames and two years of football into boxes, Browns president Mike Holmgren was already looking for his replacement. One day after another lost season, the search was underway in Cleveland for a new coach, the one as Holmgren put it, “can eventually someday lead us to the championship. That is my only goal.” Attention Jon Gruden, John Fox, Jim Harbaugh, Marty Mornhinweg, Brad Childress and others: Holmgren may have you on his list. For now, though, Holmgren doesn’t have his own name on it. But that could change. Granted a second season by Holmgren, Mangini was fired on Monday, dismissed less than two years after being hired by owner Randy Lerner, who was convinced he had found the next Bill Belichick. The Browns went 5-11 for the second straight season, and although they showed some significant progress under Mangini, it wasn’t enough. During a morning meeting, only hours after an embarrassing 41-9 home loss to Pittsburgh, Holmgren thanked Mangini for his efforts. Then, he told him his time was up. “It’s difficult,” Holmgren said. “I’ve never had to do this before. I like the man a lot. But I want to win here. We want to win here. We did not win enough.” At 10:04 a.m., the Browns released a statement announcing the coaching change. By 11 a.m., Holmgren was sending request forms to NFL teams asking permission to speak with cheap ugg boots their coaches. Holmgren did not reveal names of any potential candidates. His search will not not be limited to those with pro experience or ones favoring a West Coast offense. And, he doesn’t have a timetable to name Cleveland’s fifth coach since 1999. Money, he said, is no object. Only weeks ago, Holmgren hinted about a return to coaching. He hasn’t ruled it out, but the 62-year-old with three Super Bowl visits on a sparkling 17-year Hall-of-Fame-worthy resume, insists he’s enjoying his executive role. Still, the bug hasn’t completely left, and Holmgren may coach again. “I’ll always be a coach,” he said. “Heck, people in the building call me coach. To tell you right now that I would never coach again, whether it’s here or any place, that probably wouldn’t be honest. As of right now, I am the president of the Cleveland Browns and my job is to find the best coach available, the right coach for this job. That’s what I am trying to do and that does not include me right now. “I probably won’t coach again, but I don’t want to lie to you—ever.” Holmgren has not yet spoken with Fox, whose contract was not renewed in Carolina, or Gruden, the former Tampa Bay coach and ESPN analyst who worked under Holmgren in San Francisco and Green Bay. Mornhinweg, Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator, is also from the Holmgren coaching tree and a close winter boots 5760 friend. All are probable targets. Interestingly, Holmgren, Fox, Gruden and Mornhinweg are all represented by the same agent, Bob LaMonte. According to several reports, the Browns have contacted the New York Giants about talking to defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert will serve as the Browns’ point men in the search he described as “pretty wide. We’re not limiting ourselves in any way.” If Holmgren can’t land one of his preferred candidates, it’s possible he will relocate his office and slide in as Cleveland’s coach. It would be a seamless transition, but that’s the backup plan. For now, Holmgren’s entering his first coaching search, hoping it will be his last. “I don’t want to do this again,” he said. “Historically, if you look at teams that don’t have to do this very much, they’ve been successful. It’s very, very important that we get this right.” The Browns haven’t gotten it right with a coach since returning to the league; Mangini followed Chris Palmer, Butch Davis and Romeo Crennel on Cleveland’s coaching carousel. The instability up top and lack of continuity perhaps best explains the Browns’ 64-129 record and one Air Max 87 playoff appearance since their rebirth in 1999. Mangini’s two seasons in Cleveland were marked by losing streaks, flickers of hope, key injuries and far too much drama for a franchise still looking for a foothold 12 years into its expansion era. The Browns didn’t have any luck, either. All three quarterbacks suffered high ankle sprains this season, with injuries to Jake Delhomme(notes) and Seneca Wallace(notes) pushing rookie Colt McCoy(notes) into the starting lineup at least one year early. McCoy was supposed sit and learn but he handled the assignment like a seasoned veteran, and when the Browns stunned New England on Nov. 7, it appeared Cleveland had arrived. Instead, the upset only triggered a slide. The Browns went 2-6 down the stretch, losing their final four games. Cleveland struggled in close games, going 3-9 in tilts decided by 10 points or less. Sunday’s loss dropped Mangini to 2-10 in the AFC North. Holmgren was left with little choice but to cut ties with Mangini, who has two years left on a contract worth a reported $8 million. Mangini’s assistants remain under Air jordan 3.5 contract. Holmgren gave them the rest of this week off and will meet with the staff again next week. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan may interview for the Panthers’ open position. After being fired for the second time in just over two years, Mangini addressed his team one last time for nearly 20 minutes. “In football, you go with through a lot of emotions with people, from laughing to crying to being angry to jubilation,” tight end Benjamin Watson(notes) said. “It’s definitely not a time to just say bye. I know it was tough for him. It was tough for us to hear it. But when you sign up for football, that’s kind of how it goes.” Mangini was followed into the room by Holmgren, who didn’t provide any clues about who will take over. He challenged the Browns to get better in the offseason, a message McCoy, who spent time in Holmgren’s office this season analyzing film and his throwing mechanics, took to heart. The trials of an eventful first pro season were not lost on McCoy. The former Texas star rose from third-stringer to perhaps the Browns’ future quarterback. He’ll begin his second year with a second coach. “I’ve never been through a coaching change, junior high, high school, college,” he said. “It’s new territory for me, new ground. But it’s something that being in Coach sandals this business, being in the NFL, I’ve learned so many lessons just in my first year. This is just one more thing that has happened.”

PITTSBURGH (AP)—Pittsburgh air maxes fired football coach Mike Haywood on Saturday, saying he could not continue in the job he held for only 21/2 weeks because of his arrest on a domestic violence charge. Haywood was released Saturday from St. Joseph County Jail in Indiana on $1,000 cash bond, said an officer at the jail who declined to give her name, after the charge was upgraded from a misdemeanor to felony domestic battery in the presence of a minor. Within hours of Haywood’s afternoon release, Pittsburgh put out a statement from Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg, saying Haywood had been dismissed, “effective immediately,” and the school was reopening its search. “To be clear, the university’s decision is not tied to any expectation with respect to the terms on which the legal proceeding now pending in Indiana might ultimately be concluded,” Nordenberg said in the statement. “Instead, it reflects a strong belief that moving forward with Mr. Haywood as our head coach is not possible under the existing circumstances.” Pitt moved swiftly to oust Haywood following an arrest that sullied a university that is proud of its Big Ten-like academics. It also raised questions why Haywood—who had only two seasons as a mid-major head coach, including a one-win season—was chosen Dec. 16 following a brief search. Haywood was arrested about 3 p.m. Friday after a custody issue developed with a woman with whom Haywood has a child, police said. The unidentified woman told police that Haywood grabbed her by the arm and neck and pushed her as she tried to leave the home that Haywood owns in South Bend, Ind., where he once was a Notre Dame assistant. Assistant St. Joseph County Police Chief Bill Redman said Red Monkey jeans the woman had marks on her neck, arms and back. Haywood’s hiring by athletic director Steve Pederson was greeted unenthusiastically by fans, boosters, alumni and students who questioned why a school with annual Top 25 aspirations hired him away from mid-major Miami (Ohio). Dave Wannstedt, forced to resign last month following a disappointing 7-5 season, had coached two NFL teams before his 2004 hiring. “This is a matter of real regret for the many people at Pitt who had looked forward to working with him,” Nordenberg said. “However, head coaches are among the university’s most visible representatives and are expected to maintain high standards of personal conduct and to avoid situations that might reflect negatively on the university.” Pederson emphasized Haywood would be a “role model” for Pitt’s players, most of whom wanted Wannstedt retained following seasons of nine, 10 and seven wins. But Haywood’s introductory press conference, in which he never mentioned the word winning but repeatedly emphasized that his players would be disciplined, dress properly and attend class, was met with a lukewarm response. According to Nordenberg’s statement, Pitt will reopen its search during the same week the Panthers (7-5)—the Big East preseason favorites—are preparing to play Kentucky (6-6) in the Compass Bowl next Saturday. Wannstedt, angered and disillusioned by his ouster after six seasons, has not said if he will coach the Panthers. While Pederson chose Haywood, his own job is not in jeopardy, according to an additional statement issued Sunday night by Pitt. Pederson was fired by Nebraska in 2007 following his failed hiring of football coach Bill Callahan, but returned to Pitt several months later for his second turn as AD. “Mr. Pederson has played a key role in elevating Pitt’s athletics programs, remains an important member of the university’s senior leadership team and continues to Timberland shoes high enjoy the full support of the chancellor,” according to the statement. Haywood’s firing came before he had landed a recruit, held a practice or coached a game at a school where successful coaches such as Pop Warner, Jock Sutherland, Johnny Majors and Jackie Sherrill once worked. Since Haywood took over—though he had yet to occupy Wannstedt’s office— nearly half of Wannstedt’s strong 18-man recruiting class has decided to consider other schools or has committed elsewhere. Before the firing was announced on Saturday, Haywood told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, “It isn’t fair. The truth will eventually come out.” Haywood led Miami (Ohio) to a 9-4 record and the Mid-American Conference title in his second season with the RedHawks, but the title came during a mostly down season for the conference. The RedHawks were outmatched against three BCS conference schools, losing to four-win Cincinnati 45-3, Missouri 51-13 and Florida 34-12. They also lost to Ohio 34-13. Pitt beat Cincinnati 28-10 under Wannstedt. Previously, the 46-year-old Haywood worked as an assistant at Notre Dame, his alma mater, under Charlie Weis, but was ousted from his play-calling responsibilities late in the 2008 season. Haywood is considered an exemplary offensive coach and tutored several players who went on to NFL careers, including former Doak Walker Award winner Cedric Benson at Texas and Kevin Faulk at LSU. He also has been an assistant at Army, Ohio and Ball State. Pederson praised Haywood’s character when he was winter boots 5760 hired last month, calling his values “in line with the values of this great university.” Haywood was the only one of the five candidates interviewed to be brought to Pitt’s campus. It is uncertain whether Haywood signed a contract to coach at Pitt, because such contracts often take weeks or months to get worked out even after a coach has been hired. Such contracts routinely contain morals clauses that permit a school to fire a coach who gets into legal or personal trouble or embarrasses the school with his behavior. Haywood had not retained any Pitt assistants and was planning to bring along most of his Miami staff. On the day Haywood was arrested, Miami hired Don Treadwell, a former Michigan State offensive coordinator, as coach.

SAN DIEGO (AP)—Flavia sheepkin boots Pennetta routed 18-year-old CoCo Vandeweghe 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday to give Italy its second straight Fed Cup final victory over the United States. Pennetta’s victory in the fourth singles match gave the Italians a 3-1 decision in the best-of-five finale. Her victory came after Melanie Oudin stunned French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 6-1 to keep the United States alive. Pennetta won two matches during the weekend to carry the Italians. Vandeweghe, making her Fed Cup debut, lost twice. Italy beat the United States 4-0 last year. The Italians have won three titles in five years. This is the second straight final the U.S. has played without Venus and Serena Williams, who are out with injuries. With Billie Jean King watching from the front row, Pennetta won six straight games in the first set after Vandeweghe broke serve in the first game. In the epic second game, Vandeweghe took a 40-0 lead, helped by an ace on a second serve. But consecutive double faults let Pennetta back in. Seven deuces later, she broke Vandeweghe. On the second match point, Vandeweghe hit a backhand service return out. Pennetta raised her arms over her head, shook hands with Vandeweghe, then joined in a group hug with her teammates and captain Corrado Barazzutti In the first match, the 19-year-old Oudin dominated the 30-year-old Schiavone from midway through the first set to pull the United States to 2-1. Oudin said King came into the players’ lounge before the match, wished her luck and patted her on the back. “I heard her cheering,” Oudin said. “I was sports jerseys playing for myself, the team and the whole U.S. Sometimes the Fed Cup can bring out the best in people and that’s what happened today. “Today is the best I’ve played in a long time. I felt confident out there.” Said Schiavone: “I feel sad for the team. It’s just one point and it’s not finished. “ Captain Mary Joe Fernandez substituted Oudin for the United States’ No. 1 player, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who cramped up in her loss to Pennetta on Saturday. Fernandez had made the bold move to name Vandeweghe as the Americans’ No. 2 player over Oudin, but Vandeweghe lost 6-2, 6-4 to Schiavone in the first match on Saturday. Oudin won the last three games of the first set, then won the first three games of the second set, the first two at love. After Schiavone held serve in the fourth game, Oudin closed it out by winning three straight games. She won match point on an ace, and the crowd roared when the official review showed it was just in. Starting with the final point of the first set, Oudin won 13 straight points before double-faulting at 40-0 in the third game of the second set. She held serve to take a 3-0 lead. Oudin set the tone in the second game of the first set when she broke Schiavone’s serve to take a 2-1 lead. Neither player held serve until Oudin did so in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead. When Schiavone hit a forehand out on UGG Bailey Button Boots set point, Oudin clenched her fist in celebration. “She was ready for everything and her energy, she played very long rallies,” Schiavone said of the American teenager.

Qantas chief executive Alan air max Shoes Joyce says the airline's A380 fleet could be back in the air in the next 24 to 48 hours after safety checks are completed on the planes' engines. The airline grounded its six A380s yesterday after an engine exploded on a flight to Sydney shortly after take-off from Singapore. "We believe over the next 24 to 48 hours these checks will be complete on all the A380s," Mr Joyce said. "If we don't find any adverse findings out of the checks the aircraft will resume operations." Mr Joyce says teams of Qantas and Rolls-Royce engineers are working around the clock to determine what caused the explosion. "Qantas engineers with Airbus and Rolls Royce engineers have been working around the clock trying to identify what the potential root causes to the problem on QF32 [were]," he said. "We've agreed as a consequence of that work with Airbus and with Rolls-Royce a regime of checks that are going to take place on the engines. "Those checks will involve eight hours for each engine to be undertaken as part of the check regime that they're recommending." Mr Joyce says the number one engine on UGG Adirondack Boots the flight, which would not stop after the plane