Feb. 01--DALLAS -- Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews and his father have had a lot of football talks over the years.

The Super Bowl was not one of them.

Matthews' father, Clay Jr., played 19 seasons as a linebacker with Cleveland and Atlanta without making it to the NFL's biggest stage. Bruce Matthews, the player's uncle, also logged 19 NFL seasons with one Super Bowl appearance -- a loss.

"Well, he didn't make it, so there weren't a lot of conversations there," Matthews said of his father. "Hopefully, we can pull one off for the whole Matthews' family."

Matthews' younger brother Casey, an Oregon linebacker, is the next family member in line for the NFL. Casey Matthews played in the Senior Bowl last week in Mobile, Ala.

Matthews said the fact that his dad and uncle do not have a Super Bowl ring does not diminish their accomplishments.

"It doesn't determine people's careers, win or lose, despite what the media says," he said. "They had great careers for 19 years and the games, the years, the plays they made speak for themselves."

RIVERA'S IMPACT: New Panthers coach Ron Rivera speaks only a little Spanish, but his hiring has been a source of pride in the Hispanic community, according to Marly Rivera, a reporter for ESPN Deportes who is covering the Super Bowl.

Rivera is the third Hispanic head coach in NFL history and first since Tom Flores, who won two Super Bowl rings with the Raiders in the 1980s and last coached with Seattle in 1994.

"I remember telling (Rivera) everyone thinks Jack Del Rio's Hispanic so you're going to have to do something about it," said Marly Rivera, who interviewed Rivera for a story on Hispanic sports figures when he was the defensive coordinator in San Diego.

Rivera's father is from Puerto Rico and his mother is of Mexican and Filipino descent. Marly Rivera pointed to the popularity of New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and Rivera's hiring as signs of a "Hispanic renaissance" in the NFL. J.P.

POLAMALU EDGES MATTHEWS: Now that the voters have chosen Troy Polamalu over Clay Matthews for The Associated Press 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, the two stars can prove their worth against each other on the field.

In the Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh safety Polamalu received 17 votes Monday from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who cover the league, edging Green Bay linebacker Matthews by a hair -- two votes.

Despite missing two games, in which Pittsburgh went 1-1, Polamalu became the sixth Steeler to win the award.

He had seven interceptions this season along with 63 tackles, but made his mark with big plays.

Matthews made the All-Pro team thanks to 60 tackles, 13 1/2 sacks (fourth in league), an interception return for a touchdown and, like Polamalu, a penchant for delivering decisive plays. AP

Around the league

CINCINNATI: The Bengals fired longtime offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski.

LABOR UPDATE: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and union executive director DeMaurice Smith have met in New York about labor negotiations. They agreed to have a formal bargaining session with both negotiating teams in the Dallas area on Saturday, the day before the Super Bowl.

N.Y. JETS: Sal Alosi, the embattled strength and conditioning coach, resigned Monday, less than two months after he was caught tripping an opposing player during a punt return and suspended by the team.

Observer News Services

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