What I did on my summer vacation: training camps are in high gear, which means NFL head coaches have returned to their football cocoons. But for a while this summer, they put aside the X's and O's to get some R&R

Off the hook

Dennis Green, Cardinals. Traveled from San Diego to Boston to Nantucket, where he was filmed for a segment in ESPN's The New American Sportsman (airs this fall). Green reeled in a 12-pound bluefish in adverse conditions in Nantucket Sound. "It was only 300 yards off shore, but the water was really rough," he says. "Hopefully, they won't get seasick watching it."

Jeff Fisher, Titans. In another fish tale, Fisher took his oldest son, Brandon, to the Boca Paila Fishing Lodge in Quintana Roo, Mexico, about 80 miles south of Cancun, where they went saltwater fishing in the Caribbean. Fisher went for the "Grand Slam"--landing a bonefish, permit and tarpon all in the same day--but he managed only a single, catching a bonefish. The Fishers had to leave a day early to avoid Hurricane Emily.

All in the family

Mike Shanahan, Broncos. He and his wife threw a wedding reception at their Cherry Hills, Colo., home for their son, Kyle, an offensive quality control coach for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms was one of the groomsmen,, and Jenna Bush was among the 450 invited guests. The celebration lasted until 5 a.m., and revelers danced on a Plexiglas floor that covered the family swimming pool.

Steve Mariucci, Lions. Took his family to Italy, where they visited his ancestors' hometown, including the house in which Mariucci's father was born.

Marvin Lewis, Bengals. He and his wife, Peggy, spent a week in Greece, where they visited the village in which Peggy's father was born and the site of the first Olympic Games in Athens. They also took a cruise to Venice, Italy. "All I can say is that it was amazing--the architecture, the artwork and the scenery in both Greece and Venice," Lewis says.

Answering nature's call

Mike Holmgren, Seahawks. Relaxed at a cabin in the Santa Cruz Mountains, surrounded by redwoods and only 10 minutes from the beach. His wife, four daughters and three granddaughters accompanied him. "I was outnumbered, to say the least," he says. Holmgren also went back to Green Bay to present former running back Edgar Bennett for induction into the Packers Hall of Fame.

Mike Mularkey, Bills. He and his family spent time in the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, where they hiked and did some whitewater rafting. They also went to Destin, Fla., but had to evacuate the Gulf of Mexico resort town to avoid Hurricane Dennis.

Mike Tice, Vikings. Spent much of his summer rehabbing from the ankle surgery he had in May for a torn tendon. He took his annual trip to Victor, Wash., about an hour south of Seattle, where he and his wife maintain a home. There, he sat on his deck smoking cigars and watching the eagles roost in the trees.

Brian Billick, Ravens. Spent a week at a cottage on a lake in northern Minnesota with family and friends. Billick read, slept in a hammock, took kayak rides with his wife and played his one round of golf for the year.

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