Hmmm A team with a long legacy of losing having unexpected success with a charming group of underdog players and making a run at a championship.

The Tampa Bay Rays ? The Arizona Cardinals? "With what (the Rays) did, I'd be happy," Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "Except I'd like to win it all."

Rays manager Joe Maddon is a longtime Cardinals fan with a framed No. 70 jersey hanging on his Tropicana Field office wall. He made good-luck calls to Whisenhunt before each of the first two playoff games and did again Friday. (Whisenhunt, acknowledg?ing his superstitions, missed the first call and they won, so he hasn't taken the others.)

Maddon also sees some parallels. "I think the similarity lies more than anything with everyone waiting for them to drop off or lose: 'The Arizona Cardinals, they don't have a chance; they had a nice little season,'?" Maddon said. "And while everyone's waiting for them to drop off, they've actually played better."

Maddon planned to be at his home in California during Super Bowl weekend rather than Tampa but will change his plans if the Cards are playing: "I'll be there."

Giants' Spagnuolo named coach of Rams

ST. LOUIS - The Rams and Steve Spagnuolo agreed Saturday on a four-year contract to make the Giants defensive coordinator their coach. The team said Spagnuolo, 49, will be introduced Monday.

Spagnuolo, who replaces Jim Haslett, takes over a team that finished 2-14. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch said Spagnuolo will be paid just less than $12 million over the four years.

Salty Peppers: Four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers said he won't sign a long-term deal with the Panthers when he becomes an unrestricted free agent Feb. 26. He said the team's defensive system is not for him.

Saints: Linebacker Jonathan Vilma was arrested Friday in Miami on charges of resisting arrest and reckless driving.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

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