PHOENIX -- A smile lit up Sean McDermott's face Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings when a reporter at the AFC coaches' breakfast reminded the Buffalo Bills' coach of mixed martial arts training that was part of the routine when he served as the Carolina Panthers' defensive coordinator.
McDermott, an accomplished high school wrestler, explained that he adopted MMA training as a way to stay in shape and save his knees from the rigors of running. McDermott sparred in the team's weight room as early as 4 or 5 a.m., drawing jokes from arriving players as their coach got his "butt kicked" by the MMA expert invited by the team.