RON HILL APPOINTED NFL VP OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
(212) 450-2000 * FAX (212) 681-7573

WWW.NFLMedia.com
Joe Browne, Executive Vice President-Communications
Greg Aiello, Vice President-Public Relations

FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-52 8/31/06

RON HILL APPOINTED NFL VP OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS

RON HILL, a 26-year NFL scout and player personnel executive, has been named NFL vice president of football operations, the league announced today.

Hill will work under the NFL’s new Senior Vice President of Football Operations RAY ANDERSON in multiple areas, including officiating, the NFL Competition Committee, and development programs for coaches and football executives.

He will manage the NFL’s relationships with college football coaches and athletic directors, the league’s medical committees, the Senior Bowl and other college all-star events, and with other professional and employee groups involved in football.

Hill also will serve as an advisor on football issues to the NFL’s youth football and international departments, the NFL Players Association, and league apparel and equipment suppliers. He also will be a liaison with the NFL broadcasting department on the competitive aspects of game scheduling.

Hill has worked for four NFL teams over the past 26 years.

He began with the Dallas Cowboys in 1979 as an area and regional scout. From 1984-94, he was a regional scout and assistant director of player personnel for the Denver Broncos.

Hill then joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1994 as their director of pro personnel. In 1998, he moved to the Atlanta Falcons where he worked for seven years as vice president of football operations and vice president of player personnel.

Hill is a native of Okolona, Mississippi, and a graduate of Mississippi State University, where he obtained a master’s degree in administration and education.
# # #

New England Patriots Reject Seahawks and Jets Offers For Deion Branch

The New England Patriots have treated their star wide receiver Deion Branch like crap. First they fail to offer a competitive contract to him, then fine him something like $14,000 for each day of his training camp holdout, and now they've rejected trade offers from the Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets.

Now, Deion's running -- right to the NFL Players Association to file a grevance.

I hope he wins in arbitration.