Cowher's wife dies at age 54

Kaye Cowher , the wife of ex-Steelers coach Bill Cowher and a former basketball player at North Carolina State and in the now-defunct Women's Professional Basketball League, has died of skin cancer. She was 54.

She died Friday in her native North Carolina, where the family relocated at her urging during Cowher's final year as coach in 2006, one season after the Steelers won the Super Bowl. The family had lived since in Raleigh, N.C.

"Kaye was such a loving and compassionate person and she was the foundation of our family," Bill Cowher, now an NFL analyst with CBS, said in a statement Saturday.

"Kaye was always at my side throughout my career as a player, coach, NFL analyst and, most importantly, as a parent to our three daughters."

He added: "Kaye was the rock that we could all lean on in the tough times. She was looked up to by so many people and I cannot say enough about what Kaye meant to our family."

Steelers president Art Rooney II said: "Kaye was a very private person who was very devoted to her family. Kaye made many friends in our organization and our community."

The Cowhers met at North Carolina State, where Bill played linebacker before beginning an NFL career.

They married in 1981, after the former Kaye Young played alongside twin sister Faye in college and during a three-season pro basketball career.

After leading North Carolina State to a 29-5 record and the first Atlantic Coast Conference women's title in 1978, the sisters played one season with the New York Stars and two with the New Jersey Gems in a league that was a forerunner to the WNBA. During the twins' WPBL careers, they filmed a Wrigley Doublemint gum commercial.

At the time of her death, Kaye Cowher served on the North Carolina State Board of Visitors, which advises the school's chancellor and board of trustees.

A private funeral service will be held Monday in North Carolina.

JETS: Center Nick Mangold says he will report for training camp with the rest of the team next weekend despite not having a new contract in place.

Mangold told the NFL Network on Friday night that it wouldn't do him any good to hold out, so "I'll be there with bells on."

The Jets report for training camp on Aug. 1 in Cortland, N.Y.

The All-Pro center is making $3.3 million entering the final year of his rookie deal, but is seeking a long-term contract extension. He decided to participate in minicamp despite being unhappy with the lack of negotiations.

All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis , also seeking an extension, has not indicated if he will report to camp.

GIANTS: The team has agreed to terms with free agent linebacker Keith Bulluck .

Agent Gary Wichard says Bulluck and the team came to an agreement Saturday. Media reports said the deal was for one year and $2.5 million.

Bulluck has spent his entire 10-year career with the Tennessee Titans. The 33-year-old Bulluck is coming off a serious knee injury. He tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in December. He was second on the team with 118 tackles in 14 games.