AROUND THE NFL
Chiefs fire defensive co-ordinator Sutton with ex-Bills coach Rex Ryan a rumoured replacement ... Romo earns a pay raise at CBS ... Do-over for NFC finale? Yeah, right
KANSAS CITY — At his season-ending news conference on Monday, Andy Reid did say he would “work like crazy on my end to make sure it’s right” while evaluating his players and coaching staff.
Less than 24 hours later, it was clear he meant crazy-fast with a move that surprised no one.
Reid wasted zero time in dismissing Bob Sutton, his defensive coordinator since taking over as coach of the team in 2013.
“Bob is a good football coach and a great person,” Reid said in a statement on Tuesday. “He played an integral role in the success of our team over the last six seasons. This was not an easy decision, but one I feel is in the best interests of the Kansas Chiefs moving forward.”
While the Chiefs had the No. 1 ranked offence in the NFL this season, they also gave up 405.5 yards per game (second most) and 26.3 (ninth most).
Still, Sutton might have kept his job had linebacker
Dee Ford not taken an offside penalty with a minute to go in the AFC championship game. If the Chiefs would have surrendered 31 points instead of 37, they’d be going to their first Super Bowl since 1970 and everybody would have forgotten that broadcaster Tony Romo did a better job of figuring out the Patriots offence on Sunday than Sutton.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter says former Bills and Jets head coach Rex Ryan isa possibility to fill the vacancy.
SIDELINE TO SIDELINE
Speaking of Romo, a report in the New York Post says CBS hopes to extend its contract with the former Dallas Cowboy, who was a good quarterback and is now becoming an even better analyst. Romo’s current deal, which expires at the end of next season, reportedly pays him a $4-million annual salary. The 38-year-old Romo told The Athletic he has had offers to make a comeback, but it sounds like he’s more liable to stick with Team CBS. “I envision probably doing this a long time,” Romo said ... Asked on Tuesday what stands out to him about the style of Rams DT Aaron Donald, Bill Belichick replied: “Everything. He’s pretty much unblockable.” ... After he was able to convert three, third-and-10s in the Patriots’ overtime drive for the game winning touchdown Sunday,
Tom Brady told a Boston radio station that Dante
Scarnecchia is the best offensive line coach in the history of the NFL. On Tuesday, Pats OC Josh McDaniels echoed similar statements while crediting the pass protection of the O-line, backs and tight ends. “Those plays always come down to player execution,” McDaniels said. “I thought our guys did a really good job under pressure in those situations.” ... Belichick was asked about the investigation that his being held over somebody shining a laser into Brady’s eyes during Sunday’s game. “Yeah, right, now we’re focused on getting ready for the Rams,” he said.
FAT CHANCE
Is it too late to do-over the final minutes of the SaintsRams game? One New Orleans lawyer doesn’t think so. According to WDSU.com, a gentleman by the name of
Frank D’Amico has filed a lawsuit seeking to compel
Roger Goodell to invoke Rule 17 of the official rule book. It gives the commissioner the power to order a do-over as the remedy for extraordinary unfair outcomes. If D’Amico is successful, the teams would get together to pick up the game from the moment Saints DB Nickell Robey-Coleman crushed receiver Tommylee Lewis before the intended pass arrived. The chances of it happening are much worse than the odds of winning Powerball ... Former running back Darren McFadden, who most recently played with the Cowboys in 2017, was arrested on a DWI after falling asleep in the drive-thru of a Whataburger about four miles from his Dallas home.
STAND UP FOR YOURSELF
Projected first-round pick, Michigan defensive end
Rashan Gary, has started his own sports agency. He is both the CEO and a top client, while his mother is the president and Ian Clarke is the head sports agent. “Rashan Gary Sports is set up for players to take ownership of their intellectual property,” Clarke told The Associated Press. “Our model, which we’d rather keep quiet for now, helps players with their finances on the front end. We’re looking to be in all major league sports. There are agents we’re having conversations with and it’s just a matter of securing some of those deals.” Gary said the agency is going to change the game. “I always had a dream of playing in the NFL and leaving a legacy. The older I got, I understood that football is not forever. This is a step to take care of my family in the long run.”
EXTRA POINTS
While the Cowboys have officially hired Jon Kitna as their quarterback coach, they haven’t yet finalized their search for a new offensive coordinator. “We’re still in the throes of evaluation,” Jerry
Jones told the team’s website. “We’re in no hurry.” ... There’s speculation Jones could take a run at Sean Payton as his new head coach. Stay tuned ... The Cardinals made official the hiring of former CFL star Tom
Clements as their pass game coordinator/quarterbacks coach ... CBS has said no to a cannabis company the wanted to advertise its product during the Super Bowl. Beer ads are expected to be bigger and better than ever ... RB Alvin
Kamara is among three Saints added to the Pro Bowl.