Original Seahawk Sherman Smith joins Pete Carroll's coaching staff | NFL

Sherman Smith will join Pete Carroll's staff as the running-backs coach, according to The Washington Post, which would give the Seahawks' rebuilding project a part of the franchise's original foundation.

Smith was an original Seahawk, joining the franchise for its inaugural season of 1976. He was the team's leading rusher its first four seasons. He played seven seasons in Seattle and ranks sixth on the franchise's career rushing chart with 3,429 yards.

Smith was the offensive coordinator in Washington the past two years under Jim Zorn. Smith was told last week he would not be retained by new coach Mike Shanahan in Washington.

Smith interviewed with Carroll in Seattle on Thursday. Before going to Washington in 2008, Smith coached 13 seasons for the Titans.

Around the league

• Mike Solari, Seattle's offensive-line coach the past two years, has agreed to be San Francisco's offensive-line coach. Solari declined an opportunity to stay on the Seahawks' coaching staff as tight-ends coach.

• Wade Phillips has a new two-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys, a deal indicating that owner Jerry Jones is encouraged yet not satisfied. The Cowboys have won two NFC East titles in three years under Phillips, and two weeks ago got their first playoff victory since 1996.

While Phillips is 34-17 in Dallas (playoffs included), there had been speculation about his status since Jones had failed to pick up the 2010 option that was part of the deal Phillips got when he replaced Bill Parcells after the 2006 season. Jones refused to give any specifics about the financial terms of the new deal, but said it was "serious money" while making clear there would be a hefty bonus for reaching a Super Bowl.

• Michael Vick is taking his road to redemption to television. Vick tells his side of how he got involved in a dogfighting ring that sent him to prison and temporarily halted his NFL career as part of a series that debuts Feb. 2 on BET. Vick says the 10-part series will show he's a changed man from his tragic fall from stardom "that was all my fault."

In the first episode, Vick openly discusses living a "double life" of running the inhumane operation at the same time he was making Pro Bowls and signing a $100 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Vick explains in detail the childhood experiences he had with dogfighting and how the activity morphed from his NFL sideshow job to a bustling second career that spanned state lines.

• Jets coach Rex Ryan sent a game ball to Marty Schottenheimer after last weekend's playoff upset of the Chargers, the team that fired the father of New York's offensive coordinator following a 14-2 regular season. Brian Schottenheimer said he was touched when he learned of his boss' gesture.

Marty Schottenheimer was fired in February 2007 after the Chargers lost their first playoff game despite having the NFL's best record that season. He had 35 wins and two AFC West titles in his last three seasons in San Diego. Marty Schottenheimer is coaching college players at the East-West Shrine Game this week.

• Defensive end Shaun Ellis, one of the Jets' top pass rushers, has returned to practice on a limited basis with a broken left hand and is expected to play against the Colts.

• An engineer's report for the University of New Mexico says the school's football practice facility is vulnerable to the same type of winds that caused the Dallas Cowboys' practice field canopy to collapse last May. The report says the Albuquerque school's steel and fabric facility could be subjected to unforeseen pressure if hit by a major wind storm.

• Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Tommie Boyd has been charged with criminal sexual conduct after authorities say the high-school track coach, 38, had sexual contact with a teenage student. Police say a relationship with the girl began in 2007 when she was a 14-year-old freshman at Fraser High School (Mich.) and continued into 2009.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.