In brief

Admitted: Ticket, clothing and ... that's pretty much it

SAN DIEGO -- Sunday's game has received a "Special Events Readiness Level Two" rating by the Department of Homeland Security, giving responsibility for security to the local police rather than the federal government. More than 4,000 local, state and federal officers will guard the game. The Secret Service, FBI, FEMA, U.S. Customs and other agencies will be part of the task force.

Among the security measures: a 7-mile no-fly zone (i.e. no blimps or other aircraft), and a small airport 3 miles from the stadium will be shut down for the day. There will be barricades surrounding Qualcomm Stadium. There will be camera surveillance inside and outside the stadium. There is no tailgating, and anyone entering the stadium will be subject to personal screening (there are 90 metal detectors).

On the list of prohibited items distributed to the media Thursday: cans of hair spray, beach balls, Frisbees and, in the no-duh category, explosives, pepper spray, mace, knives and "weapons."

Said Milt Ahlerich, the NFL's vice president for security: "Security is at exactly the same level as it was last year."

IN HONOR: A seat in the press box at Qualcomm Stadium will be left open in honor of late Boston Globe columnist Will McDonough, who died recently.

OFFICIALS PICKED: Referee Bill Carollo will head the seven-man crew selected to officiate.

Carollo is completing his 14th season in the league and will work his second Super Bowl, first as a referee. He was side judge in the 1996 game between Pittsburgh and Dallas and has officiated in five conference championships, four divisional playoffs and two wild-card games.

The rest of the officiating crew: Ed Coukart as umpire, Dale Williams as head linesman, Mark Steinkerchner as line judge, Tom Sifferman as field judge, Rick Patterson as side judge and Don Carey as back judge. Ed Hochuli and Scott Dawson will serve as alternate officials.

Around the NFL

WINDFALL FOR JOHNSON: Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Johnson signed a four-year contract extension worth more than $4-million Thursday, making him the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL.

Johnson, 61, withdrew from consideration for the 49ers head-coaching position Wednesday.

His average salary of more than $1-million surpasses the contract of former Washington defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis, who signed a three-year deal worth about $850,000 a year last offseason. Lewis was hired as Bengals coach last week.

"When you've been in the league a long time and you've paid your dues, you want to be appreciated. They showed me I was appreciated," Johnson said.

He was making plans to fly to California when Eagles coach Andy Reid approached him with the extension.

"As I've said many times over the past four years, I'm very partial to Jim, and I believe he's the best in the business," Reid said. "There is no question Jim's done an outstanding job here in Philadelphia. As an organization, we made it a point to make him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the league. He's very deserving."

TURF STUDY: The NFL Players Association released its biennial ranking of playing surfaces, and surprise: Veterans Stadium ranked worst, giving it a clean sweep of the bottom spot since the survey began in 1994.

"It's true," NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw said. "It's a horrible field. Just awful."

Much to the rejoicing of players around the league, it will be demolished after baseball season and replaced by a new stadium in nearby South Philadelphia.

With the Vet gone, Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., becomes the next NFLPA target. The home of the Giants and Jets ranked second on the worst fields list, even though it has natural turf.

Raymond James Stadium ranked first on the list of best surfaces. It was followed by Arizona, Seattle, Carolina and Jacksonville.

HIT AND RUN CASE: Investigators collected blood and hair samples from a car owned by Dallas cornerback Dwayne Goodrich, who is accused in a hit-and-run accident that killed two good Samaritans. Court records show that investigators collected samples from an impact point in the center of the windshield. Tissue and hair were found under weather stripping near the windshield, and fiber and hair were found near the right headlight, the records indicate. They stated glass fragments with blood were collected from the right dashboard.

RULES CHANGES: Players are backing a change in the rules that would allow both teams to get the ball in overtime. Union head Gene Upshaw said the union will recommend the change to the league's competition committee. If this group approves a new rule, owners would vote on it at their meeting in March in Phoenix. To pass, 24 of the 32 teams would have to okay it.

The union also is pushing for changes in the penalty for using banned dietary supplements. The penalty, instituted last year primarily to keep players from using supplements that included the caffeinelike substance Ephedra, called for a four-game suspension for first-time offenders, and it hit Carolina especially hard. Defensive linemen Brentson Buckner and Julius Peppers tested positive and were suspended four games.

WORKER KILLED: A worker fell 200 feet to his death Wednesday afternoon inside St. Louis' domed stadium. A work crew was replacing sound-absorbing tiles in the ceiling when Michael Holt, 45, fell from a beam, said Bruce Sommer, director of the convention center complex that includes the Edward Jones Dome. He was wearing a harness when he fell, a fire department spokesman said.

BENGALS: Oklahoma assistant and former NFL player Jonathan Hayes was named tight ends coach, completing new coach Marvin Lewis' staff.

CARDINALS: Arizona will increase ticket prices an average of 6.3 percent despite another losing season. Team officials said the average ticket price of $45.43 still will be well below the league's average of $58.37.

CHIEFS: Kick returner Dante Hall, who was selected to his first Pro Bowl this season, signed a five-year contract.

COLTS: Quarterback Jim Druckenmiller, a former first-round draft pick, signed as a free agent. The team also signed kicker Brett Conway, who had 100 points for Washington in 2001 but hurt his leg in this season's opener and was released in December.

49ERS: Ohio State director of athletics Andy Geiger dispelled Internet reports that coach Jim Tressel is a long-shot candidate for the vacant San Francisco position.

JAGUARS: Jacksonville filled out its front office by hiring James Harris as vice president of player personnel. Harris had been Ravens director of pro personnel since 1997.

PACKERS: Former Bengals defensive coordinator Mark Duffner was named linebackers coach.

RAVENS: Turned down by his former team, the Bears, Hall of Famer Mike Singletary joined Baltimore for his first coaching job, signing a three-year contract to become linebackers coach.

STEELERS: Running back Antwon McCray, offensive lineman Dave Costa and fullback Wes Ours, all free agents, signed.

TITANS: Defensive end Jevon Kearse will visit with several specialists next week and might have another operation on his left foot. Kearse broke the fifth metatarsal in the foot in the season opener. Coach Jeff Fisher said there's a chance he could injure the foot again, and team doctors have suggested surgery.