Arizona Hires First Female Football Coach In NFL

In March, Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians was asked when the NFL would have a female coach. he answer was Monday.

The Cardinals hired Jen Welter as an assistant coaching intern for training camp and the preseason to work with inside linebackers. She is believed to be the first female coach of any kind in the NFL.

"Someone asked me yesterday, 'When are we going to have female coaches?'" Arians said. "The minute they can prove they can make a player better, they'll be hired."

Russell Wilson will shut down contract negotiations with the Seahawks if he does not have a new deal by the time Seattle begins training camp on Friday, sources told ESPN's John Clayton and Jim Trotter.

Although a long-term deal for Wilson remains Seattle's top priority, the star quarterback does not want contract talks to extend into training camp, according to sources.

Wilson currently is scheduled to make $1.54 million this season -- the fourth and final year of his rookie contract -- and would face the possibility of being designated with the Seahawks' franchise tag next February if he does not reach a long-term deal.

The 26-year-old Wilson publicly has hinted that he is seeking a contract that would pay him approximately $25 million per year, a deal that would make him the NFL's highest-paid player.