NFL notes: Cowboys expected to hire former Tennessee coach

The Dallas Cowboys are expected to hire Derek Dooley as receivers coach, a source said Saturday.

The son of Vince Dooley was fired as the head coach of the University of Tennessee on Nov. 18. He was 15-21 in his three seasons with the Volunteers, with three consecutive losing seasons.

He also previously was head coach at Louisiana Tech, where he went 17-20 in three seasons.

Dooley, 44, replaces Jimmy Robinson, who could remain with the team in another role, possibly as a consultant.

Dooley coached with Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett while both were with the Dolphins. Dooley was the tight ends coach in 2005-06. It is the only NFL experience Dooley has in a 16-year coaching career.

He will be the fourth Cowboys assistant with head coaching experience. The others: new defensive line coach Rob Marinelli (Detroit Lions, 2006-08), new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin (North Carolina State, 1980-82) and offensive line coach Bill Callahan (Oakland Raiders, 2002-03, and Nebraska, 2004-07).

-- Charean Williams

Williams to Titans?

Suspended former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has agreed to become the Tennessee Titans' assistant head coach, pending his reinstatement.

ESPN reported that Williams could be reinstated this week.

Goodell's welcome

An effigy of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell dangles from the front porch of a New Orleans home that is otherwise decorated with Saints paraphernalia.

With restaurants and bars gearing up for an influx of Super Bowl XLVII visitors, the "Refuse to Serve Roger Goodell" page on Facebook had 107 likes as of Friday.

New Orleans is celebrating the return of Saints coach Sean Payton after a season of NFL banishment as a result of the "bountygate" scandal -- when the team ran a pay-for-hits program. But Goodell, who suspended Payton and other current and former Saints players and coaches last year, is being ridiculed with a fervor usually reserved for scandal-scarred politicians.

"They believe he completely used the Saints as an example of something that was going on league-wide," said Pauline Patterson, co-owner of a bar where the words "Go To Hell Goodell" are visible over the fireplace.

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