Herm Edwards gets the boot in KC

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Herm Edwards, the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs during the worst two-year span in team history, was fired Friday.

Edwards goes out with a three-year regular-season record of 15-33 and with one year remaining on a four-year, $12 million contract. As head coach of the New York Jets in 2001-05, he had a regular-season mark of 39-41 and was 2-3 in the playoffs.

Edwards had been waiting to learn his fate since president and general manager Carl Peterson abruptly resigned on Dec. 15. When Scott Pioli was introduced as Peterson's successor on Jan. 13, he was noncommittal and said only that he intended to speak with Edwards.

"This was not an easy decision. Herm is an outstanding football coach and a man of integrity. We appreciate his leadership over the past three seasons, and we wish him all the best in the future," Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said in a written statement.

Pioli said he has had several conversations with Edwards over the last week."After careful consideration, Clark and I felt that it was best to make a change," Pioli said.

Edwards expressed his gratitude to the Hunt family and said he respected "the tough decision that was made to move in a new direction." "There is not a more gracious family in all of professional sports than the Hunts," Edwards said in a statement released by the team. "To the players and coaches who worked so hard for our team, I appreciate their efforts."

Following a 10-year career as an NFL cornerback, Edwards' first experience with Kansas City came as a training camp assistant in 1989. Seventeen years later, he had the distinction of being the first man to become head coach of the team that brought him into the NFL through the league's minority coaching fellowship program.

Edwards' most costly mistake may have been overlooking Brodie Croyle's history of injuries and designating him as the foundation quarterback. A third-round pick out of Alabama in 2006, Croyle could never stay healthy and was 0-8 as a starter when he went down for the season with a knee injury.

Edwards' first year in Kansas City was a success. The Chiefs went 9-7 and captured the last wild-card playoff spot. He became only the fifth man to take two different teams to the postseason in his first year as head coach; the Jets went to the playoffs three times in his five seasons there.

He wanted to begin dismantling an aging team and start rebuilding in 2007. But he ran into opposition from a front office that felt there was enough left for another playoff run. After an encouraging 4-3 start, age and ineffectiveness at several key positions created problems and Kansas City ended 2007 on a nine-game losing streak.

With Hunt's blessing, Edwards finally launched his youth movement in 2008 and opened the season at New England with the youngest squad in the league.

He knew it was going to be a difficult chore because of all the youth. But he did not foresee an injury epidemic that robbed him of his two top quarterbacks, made a shambles of the linebacker corps and weakened the defensive line, offensive line and secondary.

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Rex Ryan becomes the new face in a BIG city

NEW YORK -- The New York Jets are confident Rex Ryan was worth the wait. The Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator was hired Monday as New York's coach, three weeks after the Jets fired Eric Mangini following a late-season collapse.

"We got the right man for the job," owner Woody Johnson said in a statement.

It became apparent the 46-year-old Ryan was at the top of the Jets' list of candidates when several other teams filled their coaching vacancies and New York's remained open. The Jets needed Baltimore's season to end -- which happened Sunday with a 23-14 loss at Pittsburgh in the AFC championship game -- before offering him the job.

Ryan, the son of former NFL coach Buddy Ryan, will be formally introduced at a news conference Wednesday at the Jets' facility in Florham Park, N.J.

"It's been a dream of mine to become a head coach in the NFL," Ryan said in a statement. "Coming here to the New York Jets, where my father once coached and was part of the Super Bowl III staff, is fantastic. I look around at the facilities and the people they have in place and see a first-class organization. I'm just proud to be part of it."

The Jets announced the hiring, but released no other details. The contract is for four years, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity earlier Monday because the deal had not yet been announced.

The deal was finalized Monday afternoon after Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum flew down to Baltimore in the morning to iron out the details, Jets spokesman Bruce Speight said.

"There is no doubt in my mind that Rex has the expertise and instincts to build on the foundation that we have in place and take this franchise to the ranks of the NFL's elite," Johnson said.

Ryan takes over a team that started 8-3, but missed the playoffs with quarterback Brett Favre after losing four of its last five games.

"I'm very much looking forward to meeting Coach Ryan," wide receiver Chansi Stuckey said in an e-mail to the Associated Press. "His reputation precedes him by the success that Baltimore has had, and I'm very excited to get started."

The Ravens' defensive coordinator the last four seasons is the twin brother of Cleveland defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. His Baltimore defense helped the Ravens to the AFC championship game and has been ranked in the top six in total yardage allowed the last four seasons under Ryan, including second overall this season while leading the NFL with 34 takeaways.

"I think it's a gain for them and a loss for us, but it's well-deserved," Ravens linebacker Bart Scott said. "It was a long time coming."

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Steve Spagnola gets out of dodge before the Giants demise

ST. LOUIS -- At the start of the St. Louis Rams' coaching search, Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was not really on the list.

General manager Billy Devaney assumed New York would be back in the Super Bowl and didn't think he could afford to wait for Spagnuolo.

"I'm such a great predictor of football games," Devaney said Monday. "As soon as they were eliminated it was like, 'Wow, let's start this process."'

Devaney's long-term friendship with Spagnuolo helped speed things from there. Their close relationship was evident at the introductory news conference Monday, with coach and GM, both about 5-foot-7, exchanging height-challenged related digs while adjusting the microphone level.

Friendship aside, the 47-year-old Spagnuolo played an integral role in thwarting the New England Patriots' perfect season in last year's Super Bowl and had another successful year last season despite dealing with injuries to key personnel. He quickly won over ownership and agreed to a four-year contract worth just under $12 million Saturday.

"It was like, automatically, he's basically at the end at the head of the class and going to meet ownership," Devaney said. "There was a plan, there was a confidence, the leadership part came out."

The enthusiasm, too, as he headed into the task of rebuilding a franchise that was 2-14 last year and is 5-27 the last two seasons.

"He was excited about it," Devaney said. "All the hot-button topics that were raised, he embraced fully."

Spagnuolo left his interview Thursday in Los Angeles ready to start rebuilding the Rams.

"When it was all said and done, I had a good feeling," Spagnuolo said. "I was sold, as they were. When you feel the right fit, when you feel you're around the right people, and it's something that has been in your heart for a long time, that's the time to do it."

He stopped well short of a turnaround timetable, though, for a franchise that last went to the playoffs in 2003.

"I'm not going to go there," Spagnuolo said. "We're going to have to start at the beginning here, take it one step at a time, and build on it.

"It's not about predictions and bold promises; it's about building."

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Tampa Bay Bucs fire John Grunden and GM Bruce Allen

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have fired coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen after the team collapsed following a 9-3 start and failed to make the playoffs.

Gruden, who helped lead the Buccaneers to a victory over the Oakland Raiders in the 2003 Super Bowl, was Tampa Bay's coach for seven years before being dismissed Friday. Allen was general manager for the last five seasons.

A source close to Gruden said the coach was "blindsided" but the move, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported.

The Buccaneers were tied for first place in the NFC South heading into December, but finished with losses to Carolina and Atlanta on the road and San Diego and Oakland at home, where they had been 6-0. One more win would have landed a NFC wild-card berth.

The 9-7 record this season left Tampa out of the playoffs for the fourth time in six years.

"We will be forever grateful to Jon for bringing us the Super Bowl title, and we thank Bruce for his contributions to our franchise," Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer said in a statement. "However after careful consideration, we feel that this decision is in the best interest of our organization moving forward."

Gruden had been the head coach of the Buccaneers for seven seasons, coming from the Oakland Raiders. His overall record with Tampa Bay is 57-55, but 22-26 over the past three

seasons.

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Jim Schwartz named leader of the helpless 0-16 Detroit Lions

DETROIT -- Jim Schwartz faces the biggest challenge among the 32 NFL teams next season: turning around a team that didn't win a single game. Bring it on, says the Detroit Lions' new coach.

"There's no better feeling in football than turning a situation around. That's what drives me here," the 42-year-old former Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator said during his introductory news conference Friday at Ford Field.

The Lions badly want the one-time Georgetown University economics major to come up with a formula to fix a franchise coming off an 0-16 season, an eight-season stretch that has been the worst in the league since World War II and a run of more than 50 years with only one playoff win.

While Detroit's football future is far from certain, Schwartz told reporters they can count on at least one thing.

"We'll put a team on the field that you'll be proud of," he said a day after agreeing to a four-year contract worth about $11 million.

The son of a police officer and one of nine kids, Schwartz said he was a blue-collar guy who will fit in well with the culture of Detroit.

"This is what I am," he said, joking that he was wearing one of the two suits he owns.
Friday's coming-out party for Schwartz was the culmination of years of hard work in the NFL.

He began as a scout in Cleveland, moving on as an assistant in Baltimore, then became one of the league's best defensive coordinators in Tennessee.

Schwartz singled out New England coach Bill Belichick and Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher as mentors. He replaces Rod Marinelli, who was fired two weeks ago after he went 10-38 in three seasons, dropping Detroit to 31-97 since 2001 when former team president Matt Millen took over a mediocre franchise and turned it into a laughingstock.

The Chicago Cardinals, who won just 23 percent of their games from 1936-43, are the last team to perform as poorly as Detroit has over an eight-season stretch.

Detroit will count on Schwartz to use his background to come up with ways to improve a defense that ranked last in the league and gave up 517 points -- threatening the NFL record for points allowed (533) in a season set by the 1981 Baltimore Colts.

Schwartz started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Maryland in 1989, later had the same position at Minnesota and went on to become a secondary coach for North Carolina Central and linebackers coach at Colgate.

The Baltimore native became a head coaching candidate because of his work in Tennessee, leading to interviews in previous years with Miami, Atlanta, Washington and San Francisco.

His 2003 defense ranked first in the NFL in rushing defense and led the league in third down defense at 27.7 percent -- the lowest since the 1998 Oakland Raiders. The Titans ranked in the top seven in yards allowed each of the past two seasons and finished second in points allowed per game at 14.6 in 2008.

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Mark Sanchez looks like he's headed to the NFL

Sources close to Mark Sanchez and USC tell ESPN's Chris Mortensen that the quarterback plans to announce Thursday that he will forgo his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

Sanchez's father, Nick Sanchez, told ESPN's Shelley Smith on Wednesday his son is undecided.

"Mark is waiting for Coach [Pete] Carroll to return from Hawaii, which is tonight," Nick Sanchez told Smith. "Mark didn't want to do anything without Coach Carroll."

Nick Sanchez said his son will meet with Carroll either Wednesday night or early Thursday.

"Mark has gone both ways on this," Nick Sanchez said, "and he is still undecided."

There is a news conference planned for 10 a.m. PT at USC's Heritage Hall.

"None of us will know probably until the 10 o'clock press conference," Nick Sanchez said.

Sources tell Mortensen that family members have discouraged Sanchez from turning pro and that Carroll asked his quarterback to wait until Thursday's NFL deadline for underclassmen to allow for a change of heart.

If Sanchez submits his paperwork to the NFL on Thursday, as expected, he would have four days to change his mind, as long as he does not enter into an agreement with an agent.

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Dallas Cowboys discussing the release of Terrell Owens

Improving locker room chemistry will be the highest priority for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason and that will force serious discussions between Wade Phillips' coaching staff and owner Jerry Jones about whether to release controversial wide receiver Terrell Owens, according to team and league sources.

"I think we all know that chemistry is the problem with this team more than the schemes or anything else," a Cowboys source said. "Are we going to continue to allow talent to outweigh everything else in the decisions we make with players and putting the roster together? We're like the Redskins used to be when they signed every player they wanted. There's more to it than talent. It has to be more about the team.

"The big one [Owens] didn't get discussed yet, but I'm sure it will and real hard."

The Cowboys released twice-suspended cornerback Pacman Jones last week and Tank Johnson is expected to depart through free agency. Both decisions are at least partly related to the renewed emphasis on creating a different atmosphere in the locker room. The Cowboys began their ill-fated 2008 season with three players on the roster who had been suspended by the league or their previous teams -- Jones, Johnson and Owens.

At least two sources believe that vice president Stephen Jones will attempt to convince his father that Owens should be finished with the Cowboys. But Jerry Jones just last year invested a $12 million signing bonus in Owens, which means there would be salary-cap fallout. In fact, Jerry Jones has suggested that there might be enough damage that the team would find it difficult to sign NFL sack leader DeMarcus Ware to a new contract.
"I think some of people want to just cut our losses and get rid of all those guys … T.O., Tank, Pacman,'' another Cowboys source said. "But I really think Jerry likes the thrill of trying to make it all work."

The discussions involving Owens have not yet been formally initiated and probably will not occur until the Cowboys are more certain of the composition of their coaching staff.

Not only does Owens have relationship issues with quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Jason Witten, but the controversial receiver consistently criticized Garrett's play calling and his offensive schemes to the point that sources say the offensive coordinator does not believe they can coexist.

Regardless, Owens could still be jettisoned. His detractors can argue their belief that Owens, 35, is a poor route runner with inconsistent hands and generally a descending player who seldom accepts responsibility for his own shortcomings. There is fear internally that he will become more volatile if his performance continues to deteriorate -- and that he may feel more empowered if he perceives that his presence forced Garrett to depart.

Of particular concern is the apparent negative influence Owens has had on teammates such as Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton and even running back Marion Barber.

"You have to be worried about his influence over there, and I think we'd get some of those players back over to our side if he was gone,'' another source said. "I think we have to decide how detrimental he is to Witten and Romo.''

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Scott Pioli joins the Kasas City Chiefs, could mean end for Edwards!

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Scott Pioli, who helped build and lead a dynasty in New England, is now in charge of a Kansas City franchise that hasn't won a playoff game in 14 years.

The 43-year-old Pioli will be introduced on Wednesday as Chiefs general manager, replacing Carl Peterson. Pioli was seen packing up his office Tuesday afternoon, a Patriots source told ESPN's Michael Smith.

"He will have complete charge of football operations," Ryan Petkoff, a spokesman for Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt, told The Associated Press. "He will report only to Clark."

The decision to hire Pioli likely means Herm Edwards will not be back as Chiefs head coach next season. Among the top candidates to succeed Edwards is New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

A source close to the situation told ESPN.com's Bill Williamson that Edwards sent his assistant coaching staff home to await word on the future in light of the Pioli hiring news.

At this point, Pioli is expected to meet with coaches Thursday so a decision on Edwards and his staff's future could be made in the coming days.

He inherits a young team coming off a 2-14 season but is stepping into a situation that seems ripe for a quick turnaround.

The fan base is loyal, though restive, and the team will be playing next year in a virtually new stadium. Arrowhead, which opened in 1972 and is notorious for being loud and rough on visiting teams, is undergoing a $325 million renovation, which includes new luxury boxes, wider concourses and enhanced amenities in addition to new practice facilities, an enlarged indoor field and a brand new state-of-the-art headquarters building.

In addition, the Chiefs are about $32 million under the salary cap, extra money that will come in handy because they own the overall No. 3 pick in the draft. Besides that, there are a number of promising young players who Edwards was counting on as the foundation of his rebuilding project."We are very excited to welcome Scott to the Chiefs," Hunt said in a statement. "With his proven track record of success, Scott is the finest player personnel executive in the NFL, and we look forward to his leadership in building a championship organization."

Pioli's NFL career started when Belichick hired him as a pro personnel assistant for the Browns in 1992. Belichick then brought him to New England shortly after he became head coach of the Patriots.

Now Pioli takes charge of those same efforts to turn this Kansas City Cheifs team around like he did with New England.

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Tony Dungy steps down as Colts coach

INDIANAPOLIS -- Tony Dungy always considered football just a career path.
Not his life's mission.

On Monday, Dungy began the transition from head coach to full-time dad and devoted volunteer by announcing his retirement after seven years leading the Indianapolis Colts.

"We just felt this was the right time," Dungy said. "Don't shed any tears for me. I got to live a dream most people don't get to live."

The move triggered a succession plan Indianapolis put in place a year ago, making Jim Caldwell, the associate head coach, Dungy's replacement.

But the culmination of a 31-year NFL career, which started with Dungy winning a Super Bowl ring as a player in Pittsburgh and ended two years after he became the first black coach to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, brought out some rare emotional moments from the usually stoic Dungy.

"My wife Lauren told me to bring some Kleenex. I thought I would make it a little farther than the first sentence," Dungy said, his voice cracking.

He told owner Jim Irsay of his decision Sunday.

"And we spent about 2½ hours crying," Dungy said. "But I had a real peace about it."

The 53-year-old Dungy informed his staff of the decision Monday morning, then met with some players after the traditional one-week waiting period ended. Dungy and his wife, Lauren, spent the last five years discussing whether he should continue coaching.

Dungy made a remarkable impact around the league. In an era when there were few black head coaches, Dungy helped open the door to rising stars and a growing number of minority candidates. Among those from his Tampa Bay staff who have had head coaching jobs are Herm Edwards, now with Kansas City, Chicago's Lovie Smith, Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin and former Detroit coach Rod Marinelli.

Dungy also set league records for most consecutive playoff seasons (10) and consecutive 12-win seasons (six), and leaves with the highest average of regular-season victories of any coach in league history (10.7).

"People often say that teams reflect their head coach, and that can be said of Tony Dungy's teams, which are consistent winners every single year," New England coach Bill Belichick said. "Tony has been such a fixture in this league that his absence will take some getting used to."

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Young mastermind Josh McDaniels to coach Denver Broncos

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos apparently have turned from "The Mastermind" to "The Wunderkid."

Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has agreed to take over the Broncos, ESPN reported Sunday night. The network said the 32-year-old McDaniels will be introduced as Denver's new coach on Monday.

The Broncos did not respond to phone messages and e-mails from the Associated Press seeking comment.

McDaniels would replace Mike Shanahan, who was fired Dec. 30 after 14 seasons with three years and $21 million left on his contract. He's the only one of six NFL head coaches to ever get fired by the team for which he won back-to-back Super Bowls

The Broncos won it all in 1997 and '98 but have slipped into mediocrity, winning just one playoff game in the decade since John Elway retired.

McDaniels is a rising star who has spent his entire eight-year NFL coaching career in New England, where he worked his way up from personnel assistant in the scouting department to offensive coordinator for Bill Belichick.

Under his tutelage, Tom Brady threw for a record 50 touchdowns last season and the Patriots came within a whisker of the first 19-0 season in NFL history.

McDaniels' reputation grew ever larger this year when Brady was lost with a knee injury in the opener and Matt Cassel, who hadn't started a game since high school, led the Patriots to an 11-5 record.

McDaniels would be the third member of Belichick's coaching staff to become a head coach in the NFL, following Romeo Crennel with Cleveland in 2005 and Eric Mangini, who joined the Jets a year later. Both were fired this offseason with Mangini replacing Crennel in Cleveland.

McDaniels was the second of seven candidates the Broncos' brain trust interviewed. Owner Pat Bowlen, chief operating officer Joe Ellis and personnel chief Jim Goodman met with him in Rhode Island on Jan. 4, and Goodman conducted a second, lengthy interview with him in the Boston area.

McDaniels will inherit an explosive offense that appears to be one healthy running back away from greatness and a dismal defense that needs another overhaul. That led many observers to believe defensive minds such as the Giants' Steve Spagnuolo or the Vikings' Leslie Frazier had the inside track for the job in Denver.

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Boston College set to fire Jeff Jagodzinski

Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski did indeed interview with the New York Jets and he will therefore not be retained by the school, two people close to the situation told ESPN's Joe Schad on Tuesday.

Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo, who told Jagodzinski he would be fired if he interviewed, had not spoken with the coach as of 6 p.m. this evening, but he was hoping to meet with Jagodzinski face-to-face as early as Wednesday.

"It's just a matter of putting two and two together," Chris Cameron, BC's associate director for media relations, said Tuesday night. "He was told by Gene on Saturday that if he went on the interview he'd be fired."

DeFilippo, sources say, thought that Jagodzinski was "disloyal" by not speaking with him before scheduling the Jets interview. One source said on Tuesday that Jagodzinski's decision to follow through on the interview made his fate "a done deal."

DeFilippo said late Tuesday afternoon that he called Jagodzinski in the morning and was waiting for a return phone call. At that time, he didn't know if Jagodzinski already had met with the Jets, who are seeking a replacement for Eric Mangini.

"Haven't heard a word,'' DeFilippo said, according to the Boston Globe.

Sitting in his office late Tuesday afternoon, a relaxed DeFilippo told The Associated Press he last spoke to Jagodzinski on Sunday.

"Sometimes two people who really, really like each other can disagree on an issue. That's OK. Nothing wrong with that," DeFilippo said. "I really like Jags a lot and I've enjoyed working with him here for two years and he did a wonderful job here.

"So we're going to sit down, hopefully, and talk and we'll see where we come out."

The Jets declined comment Tuesday through a team spokesman, neither confirming nor denying that Jagodzinski was interviewing for the coaching vacancy.

Sources told the Globe that Jagodzinski has made multiple inquiries into returning to the NFL, where he was a coach for the eight seasons before taking over the head coaching job at BC.
The newspaper reported that Jagodzinski has put out feelers for offensive coordinator positions as well as head coaching spots.

The Globe also reported that Jagodzinski had told members of his staff that he would give them an update sometime on Tuesday. But nobody had publicly acknowledged speaking to the coach.

A source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN's Kelly Naqi that DeFilippo had no idea that Jagodzinski had an interview scheduled with the Jets. The AD found out when a reporter called him on Saturday morning to get his comment on it. DeFilippo immediately called Jagodzinski and asked if it were true, according to the source, and the coach confirmed it.

"The surprise factor definitely played a big role in this situation," the source said.

DeFilippo told Jagodzinski to meet with him in person that afternoon and -- with another representative from BC present -- told Jagodzinski that he'd be fired if he went through with the interview. The source said Jagodzinski made it abundantly clear at that meeting that he was going to go through with the interview, so it was just a matter of time before his termination would become official.

The source said BC was unaware if Jagodzinski had been inquiring about other job openings in the NFL.

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Bob Stoops makes it clear he is an Oklahoma Sooner for now...

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- It's becoming an annual event: A prime coaching job opens up, Bob Stoops' name lands on the supposed short list of candidates, only for him to say he's happy at Oklahoma.

The latest supposed will-he-or-won't-he scenario: Stoops to the Denver Broncos?

Not happening, Stoops said Saturday after his team practiced at Barry University, just a few miles south of the site of Thursday's Bowl Championship Series title game between his Sooners and the Florida Gators.

"What situation? That's a rumor that I have not heard and no one has contacted me about that so I don't know anything about it," Stoops said. "We're preparing for a national championship, that's all my focus, all my concentration is on that, so obviously I'm not a candidate. I'm sure someone might have told me ... if I was."

The Broncos fired Mike Shanahan after 14 seasons on Tuesday.

"There's no story," Stoops said. "I'm not a candidate. This is the first I've heard about it."

Maybe so, but Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson -- who's from Colorado -- said he heard rumblings of Denver having interest in his boss, who just completed 10 years with the Sooners and earned a $3 million bonus for lasting a decade at the school.

"I love Colorado, but I don't know if that's for him," Wilson said.

Denver already has put together a list of strong candidates, including New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. Also, Rick Dennison -- the offensive coordinator under Shanahan -- wants an interview as well.

Stoops indicated that he would try to shoot down the rumor with his players.

"It won't take long," Stoops said.

Still, even if there really is no interest in the Denver job, Stoops hasn't closed the door on one day giving the NFL a try.

"At some point in my life or career, that may be the case," Stoops said.

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Denver Broncos fire Mike Shanahan after 14 seasons

DENVER -- Mike Shanahan became the latest and most stunning victim of the NFL coaching purge, fired Tuesday by the Denver Broncos after a late-season collapse knocked the team out of the playoffs for the third straight year.

Shanahan joined Eric Mangini, Rod Marinelli and Romeo Crennel on the unemployment line after going 24-24 over the past three seasons, including three straight losses in 2008 that turned a three-game division lead to an 8-8 record.

Despite that, and the 52-21 loss to the Chargers that ended Denver's season Sunday, this was a shocker: the ouster of a 14-year coaching veteran who brought two Super Bowl titles to a city yearning for a championship and was considered by many in this town to be "coach for life."

In a statement, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said: "After giving this careful consideration, I have concluded that a change in our football operations is in the best interests of the Denver Broncos. This is certainly a difficult decision, but one that I feel must be made and which will ultimately be in the best interests of all concerned."

Shanahan, 56, was 146-89, but the Broncos remained stuck at only one postseason victory since John Elway retired in 1999 after Denver's second championship.

This season was especially ugly. It included a historic collapse that saw Denver become the first team since divisional play started in 1967 to blow a three-game lead with three games left.

The Broncos' defense gave up 448 points, third worst in the NFL, including 112 during the three-game collapse at the end. It was ranked 29th in yards allowed and tied for last in the NFL with a minus-17 turnover margin.

In years past, Shanahan had relieved defensive coordinators -- Greg Robinson, Ray Rhodes, Larry Coyer and Jim Bates -- in almost revolving-door fashion.
This year, as the defense floundered, it became obvious it wasn't just a coaching problem. It was an issue of talent on the field, and in Denver, Shanahan makes all the personnel decisions.

His top two draft picks in 2007, Jarvis Moss and Channing Crowder, were barely a factor this season. Two of Denver's top veteran acquisitions from last year, Niko Koutouvides and Dewayne Robertson, also did very little.

Shanahan had three years left on his contract, worth about $20 million.

"I appreciate the 21 years that Mike Shanahan has given to the organization as an assistant and head coach, and the two Super Bowl wins in that time," Bowlen said in the statement. "His contributions hold a special place in Broncos history."

Bowlen said that the team will hold a news conference on Wednesday morning to make the announcement, and Shanahan will speak shortly thereafter.

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Romeo not so suave: OUT IN CLEVELAND

Cleveland Browns senior vice president and general manager Phil Savage was fired on Sunday and team sources said that coach Romeo Crennel will also lose his job.

After the Browns lost their final six games of the year, the team confirmed Savage's ouster. An official announcement on the GM and the coach is expected as early as Monday and no later than Tuesday.

Browns owner Randy Lerner told Savage by phone before the team left Pittsburgh after losing a 31-0 season finale to the Steelers. The Browns finished the season with a 4-12 record, dropping to a last-place finish in the AFC North behind the Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1).

Lerner is expected to make a run at former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, but there has been no indication that Cowher would embrace a job in Cleveland.

The Browns must adhere to the Rooney Rule and also interview minority candidates for the head coaching vacancy.

If Cowher rebuffs Lerner, sources say the owner wants to go through a thorough process and is expected to interview a handful of candidates for the GM and head coaching positions. League sources have speculated that Patriots vice president of personnel Scott Pioli is a potential successor to Savage. Lerner does not have a prior relationship with Pioli.

If Pioli is hired, head coaching candidates are expected to be Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz.

Lerner was unavailable for immediate comment Sunday and a Browns spokesman also had no comment. Savage also could not be reached for comment.

It was believed that Savage's future was somewhat secure, but in the past week, sources say he was notified by Lerner that he may not be involved in the franchise's process to address the future.

The Browns had high expectations after a 10-6 season in 2007 that resulted in lucrative contract extensions for both Savage and Crennel. Savage received a new four-year deal worth $2.7 million annually and Crennel got a two-year extension through 2011. Crennel has between $9-and-$10 million remaining on his contract, a source said.

Savage has had well-acclaimed drafts since he became the GM in 2004. In April 2007, he drafted Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas with the third overall pick and traded back into the first round to choose Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. The Browns have had 10-12 players who were either selected to the Pro Bowl or who were Pro Bowl alternates during the past two years.

However, injuries and uneven play on offense and defense contributed to a dismal start that headed downhill after Quinn's season ended with a broken finger on his throwing hand on Nov. 17 in a Monday night 29-27 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

That was the last game the Cleveland offense produced a touchdown during the six-game losing streak to end the season.

Shortly after the Buffalo game, Savage had a nasty e-mail exchange with a disgruntled Browns fan that became public. Earlier, he was embroiled in a dispute with tight end Kellen Winslow, who claimed he was discouraged from disclosing that he had been sidelined by a staph infection, an ongoing dilemma for the team in recent years.

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Tom Bardy behind in recovery could mean controversy

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has fallen behind in his recovery efforts from knee surgery and could risk missing next season if another operation is needed, NBCSports.com has reported.

Brady, who underwent surgery Oct. 6 after tearing the ACL and MCL ligaments in his left knee in the first quarter of the team's first game of the season, had subsequent operations on the knee after it became infected.

That infection resulted in a buildup of scar tissue, which may require surgery on the knee, the Web site reported, citing an anonymous NFL source.

The scar tissue also has affected Brady's ability to begin fully rehabilitating his leg, the report said, and the repaired ligaments remain loose. Another surgery also could be needed for that condition, the Web site reported.

The Boston Globe cited league sources and sources close to Brady that dismissed the report. According to the newspaper, the infection appears to have cleared and Brady's rehab is progressing as expected.

Backup quarterback Matt Cassel replaced Brady as the starter and has helped lead the Patriots to an 11-win season, but New England fell short of the playoffs when Miami beat the Jets on Sunday to win the AFC East.

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Bill Parcells possibly on the move again?

Will Bill Parcells become a free agent -- again?

It's a possibility, hinging on whether Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga's sale of his majority ownership of the team goes through, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.

When Parcells joined the Dolphins as executive vice president of football operations last year, his deal included a onetime out clause that would allow him to walk away, with the rest of his $12 million guaranteed contract fully paid, no strings attached, if Huizenga were to sell the team.

Earlier this year, Huizenga agreed to sell 95 percent of the Dolphins to New York developer and team part-owner Stephen Ross. Huizenga hopes to close on the deal by early January to ensure that the capital gains taxes on the sale remain at 15 percent before President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office Jan. 20, Mortensen reported.

Parcells' contract specifically states only Huizenga can be in authority over him. Once Ross officially becomes majority owner, Parcells has to notify Ross within 30 days that he intends to exercise his walk-away clause and collect the full balance of $9 million, Mortensen reported.

At that time, Parcells would be a free agent. And any team that wants his services would not owe compensation to the Dolphins, according to the report.

Among the teams sources say are on Parcells' radar are the New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns and the Oakland Raiders. However, if Parcells' son-in-law, New England Patriots vice president Scott Pioli, is interested in any of those jobs, Parcells is unlikely to wind up with that team, Mortensen reported.

Parcells could negotiate with Ross to extend his opt-out clause by one year. But as presently written, the clause doesn't extend after one season, according to the report.

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Mike Singletary to get extension from San Francisco 49ers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Mike Singletary has been a remarkable short-term solution to the San Francisco 49ers' woes. With each passing week, the interim coach is looking more like the long-term fix, as well.

The Sacramento Bee is reporting that, according to a source close to the situation, the 49ers are planning to offer a multiyear contract to Singletary shortly after the team ends its season with Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins.

NFL teams cannot sign interim coaches during the season under the league's Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate, but the 49ers do not have to bring in more candidates if they are planning to take the interim tag off Singletary.

On Wednesday, Singletary acknowledged he had met with the team's top officials about his future earlier in the week. According to the Bee, Singletary laid out a plan for the 49ers that wowed the club's leadership.

"I will just say this: I don't interpret anything as … really good or really bad," said Singletary, whose club has won four of its past six games. "I think the most important thing is that I just continue to stay focused. After it's all said and done, we can look back at how positive things are, and our direction or whatever, and we can fully pay attention to it."

Team owners John and Jed York haven't responded to requests for comment on Singletary's situation, but they undoubtedly have noticed the 49ers' improved play -- along with the groundswell of Bay Area fan support for the Hall of Fame linebacker.

Singletary's players certainly are in their coach's corner.

"The way guys have responded to him and played for him says a lot," said quarterback Shaun Hill, who is 4-3 as a starter and has one of the NFL's best passer ratings since Singletary promoted him. "Those decisions aren't up to us, but we feel like we can turn the corner with what we have."

Singletary took over for Mike Nolan on Oct. 20, one day after San Francisco dropped to 2-5 with a loss at the Giants. The 49ers then lost the first two games of Singletary's tenure before the current surge, led by Hill's cool passing and a once-awful defense that has allowed fewer than 17 points in five of the past six games.

With a victory over Washington in Sunday's finale, the Niners could finish 7-9 to match their best record in six consecutive losing seasons since John York fired coach Steve Mariucci after a second-round playoff defeat.

If Singletary returns, most believe he'll have to find a new offensive coordinator -- San Francisco's seventh new face at the job in seven years.

Mike Martz, hired in January by Nolan in an effort to revitalize the NFL's worst offense in two of the previous three seasons, has breathed life into San Francisco's effort. But the former St. Louis head coach runs a pass-first scheme that doesn't seem to fit well with Singletary's belief in a run-oriented attack.

Martz acquiesced to Singletary's now-obvious promotion of Hill over Martz favorite J.T. O'Sullivan and bent his game plans to accommodate Singletary's desire for a sturdier running game. Although Martz and Singletary seem to get along well, both might be better off on their own.

"I think everything that I asked him to do, he made every attempt to do the things he needed to do," Singletary said when asked about Martz's future in San Francisco. "Going forward, I just feel that after the season, we have to sit down … and look at what gives us the best opportunity to win."

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Plaxico Burress in the headlines again...but not for catching touchdowns

TOTOWA, N.J. (AP)—The bloody pants that Plaxico Burress wore when he accidentally shot himself last month, plus a handgun, a rifle and an assortment of ammunition were seized Tuesday by authorities from the home of the New York Giants receiver.

In addition to a 9-mm handgun, a .30-06-caliber rifle and the ammunition, including a clip for a .45 gun, police also said they recovered the sneakers that Burress wore during the accidental shooting during the three-hour search of the Super Bowl star’s Totowa home.

Investigators are trying to determine whether the weapons are registered, so it is unclear whether Burress will face additional charges.

Totowa police chief Robert Coyle said it would is hard to successfully prosecute someone if they have legally registered weapons in one state and stored them in New Jersey.

Burress still faces two felony gun-possession charges following the accidental shooting at a Manhattan nightclub last month.

Benjamin Brafman, the receiver’s criminal attorney, said Wednesday morning that he believed that only a registered rifle was taken from the home. He did not know whether Burress would face additional charges.

"We have not had a chance to review this new information," Brafman said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday morning. "When we do, we will have additional comment."

Burress was not at home during the search by Totowa police, four New York City detectives and a Brafman associate, Coyle said, adding the player's wife was present.

Brafman said his client was out of town but did not elaborate.

The New York Post reported that authorities discovered a suitcase full of money, but Coyle said that was not true.

Burress accidentally shot himself in the right thigh at the Latin Quarter nightclub on Nov. 29 when he fumbled with an unlicensed handgun tucked into the waistband of his sweat pants. He checked himself into New York-Cornell Hospital and later turned himself in to police.

The Giants suspended Burress for the rest of the season and also withheld $1 million owed to him as part of his signing bonus.

Burress is due back in court March 31 and faces up to 3½ years in prison on each count.

Burress was also sued last week in Florida's Broward County Circuit Court for rear-ending a woman in May while driving his nearly $140,000 Mercedes-Benz.

According to a document provided by the woman's attorney, his car insurance lapsed three days before the crash. A letter from Allstate says Burress neglected to pay his premiums.

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JUDGES EXTEND INJUCTION: PLAYERS CLEARED FOR REMAINDER OF SEASON

MINNEAPOLIS -- A federal judge extended his preliminary injunction against the NFL's suspension of five players for violating the league's anti-doping policy, a move their lawyer said will let them play the rest of the season.

In his ruling Thursday, U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson asked both parties to propose a schedule by Dec. 22 for further proceedings that would lead to an eventual hearing on the merits of the case, a process that could take months. The regular season ends Dec. 28.

Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Minnesota Vikings and Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints were suspended last week for four games each. They tested positive during training camp for a banned diuretic, bumetanide, in the dietary supplement StarCaps.

Bumetanide can be used as a masking agent for steroids. Diuretics are also used to quickly shed weight. The StarCaps label didn't list the diuretic as an ingredient.

"The players and the union are thrilled," Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney for the NFL Players Association, told the Associated Press. Kessler said the judge's timeframe is long enough that the players can finish the season and go to the playoffs if their teams make it that far.

Kevin and Pat Williams, who aren't related, are star defensive tackles for a Vikings team that is 8-5 and in first place in the NFC North. They play Sunday at Arizona.

"My attorney gave me a little bit of it, but I was focused on the game. I really wasn't focused on that," Smith said Thursday night after the Saints lost in overtime to Chicago 27-24. "So I got to sit back either tonight or tomorrow and talk to him and see what happens."

Smith said he wasn't even aware, until told by a reporter, that Magnuson had extended the injunction.

"I guess that's a good thing, so see what happens, you know," he said.

"Since there has to be discovery and other proceedings, it's unlikely we would agree on a schedule for a trial until sometime after the Super Bowl," Kessler said.

Magnuson issued his initial injunction Dec. 5 after hearing arguments from the league and the NFLPA. That move came two days after a Minnesota state court judge had issued a restraining order in a lawsuit brought by the Vikings players.

The union argued the NFL didn't properly inform players about what it knew about StarCaps. The NFL's attorneys argued that claim, and others, had been considered and rejected in a process set out by the league's collective bargaining agreement.

Magnuson urged both sides to negotiate a solution. If they can't, he will preserve the status quo until there is a full evidentiary hearing on the case. The two sides have until Dec. 22 to negotiate a proposed schedule for filing papers ahead of that hearing, otherwise the judge will schedule it himself. Magnuson did not set a hearing date.

The judge said the players union had shown it will likely succeed on its claims that the NFL breached its duty to the players by failing to share what it knew about StarCaps. Another issue is whether Jeffrey Pash, the NFL's chief legal officer who upheld the five players' suspensions, was too partial to be an arbitrator.

"We are extraordinarily pleased for Kevin and Pat as well as for the Vikings fans," Peter Ginsberg, an attorney for the Williamses, said in a statement. "We appreciate the court's decision to allow us to conduct a full and fair hearing to explore the full extent of the NFL's failure to live up to its obligations to the players."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement the league accepted the decision.

"This is consistent with the approach the judge has taken in giving careful consideration to these issues, which we fully respect," Aiello said.

Richard Berthelsen, acting executive director of the players union, said the decision shows that the league can't ignore the rights of players in issuing arbitration rulings, and that courts will intervene if it does.

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