Steelers Landry Jones has audition
49ers dismiss Kelly; Chargers fire McCoy
PITTSBURGH — It was a game, yeah. But in some ways, it was also a job interview for Aretsia’s Landry Jones.
And while the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback — who will become a free agent in March — didn’t exactly ace it while filling in for Ben Roethlisberger in an otherwise meaningless regular seasonfinale against Cleveland, Jones did finish with a flourish.
Jones hit Cobi Hamilton in the left corner of the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown with 2:57 left in overtime to lift the Steelers to a 27-24 victory over the Browns, giving Jones’ résumé a little boost in the process.
“It was hard the way that we won,” Jones said. “But in the end, for a quarterback to do it in overtime, to do it on the last drive and to throw a pass like that — those are the things you dream about. I think for me that was just a big deal in my career.”
Jones completed 24 of 37 for 277 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.
“Landry Jones stayed in the fight, did a great job leading us down the stretch,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “He had a noblink attitude and demeanor, and it was good.”
49ERS: San Francisco fired coach Chip Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke on Sunday in the latest overhaul for a franchise that has fallen from perennial Super Bowl contender to the bottom of the standings in three seasons.
Team CEO Jed York announced the moves just hours after the Niners (2-14) matched a franchise record for losses in a season
Kelly entered the NFL as one of the most highly sought coaches after his success in college at Oregon. After winning 10 games in each of his first two seasons in Philadelphia in 2013-14, Kelly was fired with a 6-9 record for the Eagles late last season.
CHARGERS: San Diego fired Mike McCoy following a second straight last-place finish in the AFC West and a third straight season out of the playoffs. McCoy was 27-37 in four seasons.
RAVENS: Steve Smith was the last one off the field. He got well wishes from Bengals players and did a few interviews at midfield. He waved to the fans as he headed for the locker room, stopping to give a young Ravens fan his gloves.
The 37-year-old receiver has played his stellar career without slowing down, but there was no reason to rush into retirement.
Smith caught three passes for 34 yards during Baltimore’s 27-10 loss to the Bengals on Sunday. He was emotional before the game and again after it, but he had no regrets about his decision to move on with his life.
“I enjoyed it, but it’s over,” said Smith , who finishes tied for fourth in NFL history with 51 games of 100 yards receiving. “I know it’s my time.
FALCONS: Michael Vick made a triumphant return to the Georgia Dome, riding onto the field in a convertible to a raucous ovation that made it clear the Atlanta Falcons have forgiven their former franchise quarterback.
Despite an online campaign calling for the Falcons to revoke their invitation over a dogfighting case that sent Vick to prison for nearly two years, he received by far the loudest ovation from the sellout crowd of 70,835 during a halftime ceremony honoring the final regular-season game at the team’s home of 25 years.
TEXANS: A concussion that sidelined quarterback Tom Savage could have the biggest impact coming out of Houston’s 24-17 loss at Tennessee.
Savage started for the AFC South champions, left in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion and was cleared. He took a snap to kneel down on the final play of the first half and was diagnosed with a concussion after being re-evaluated at halftime.
That left Brock Osweiler, benched for Savage last month, running the offense. He threw for 253 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a 1-yard TD on fourthand-goal in the fourth quarter.