Titans’ Murray won’t play vs. Pats

Seahawks fire offensive coordinator, line coach; Denver adds assistant

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Titans coach Mike Mularkey said running back DeMarco Murray will not play against the New England Patriots in the AFC divisional round.

Mularkey said Wednesday that Murray is not close enough to compete Saturday night in the divisional round in New England because of a knee injury.

The coach had listed Murray as day to day after the Titans (10-7) beat Kansas City in the wild-card round. But Murray has yet to practice.

In his place, Derrick Henry will start his third straight game at running back.

JAGUARS: Backup linebacker Blair Brown sprained his left ankle during practice Wednesday, a potentially big loss considering starters Telvin Smith and Paul Posluszny already were dealing with injuries.

Brown was wearing a walking boot and using crutches to get around the locker room, saying he “landed on it wrong” during a drill.

SEAHAWKS: What’s expected to be an offseason makeover for Seattle is starting with its coaching staff.

The Seahawks fired offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and offensive line coach Tom Cable on Wednesday. Bevell was in charge of calling plays, while Cable was responsible for a run game and offensive line that failed to meet expectations.

It was a stunning sweep for head coach Pete Carroll, who has been immensely loyal to his assistants during his tenure. Carroll’s only other significant firing was offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates following the 2010 season, Carroll’s first in Seattle.

BRONCOS: Coach Vance Joseph is going with experience this time, hiring Tom McMahon to replace Brock Olivo as his special teams coordinator.

Joseph gave Olivo his first shot at coaching special teams last season, but Olivo oversaw one of the worst special teams in the league and was among six assistants Joseph fired last week.

Rookie punt returner Isaiah McKenzie fumbled six times but kept his job for most of the year. Olivo’s units also had trouble getting the right personnel onto the field, twice telegraphing trick plays because of it.

McMahon is a 26-year coaching veteran who has coached NFL special teams for the past 11 seasons, including the past five in Indianapolis.

GIANTS: A rocket scientist has blasted his way into the lead to be the Giants’ next head coach.

The New York Daily News has learned that all signs are pointing to Matt Patricia, the New England Patriots defensive coordinator with a degree in aeronautical engineering, as the man the Giants will hire to point Big Blue back in the right direction.

This comes after the Giants have seemingly wrapped up their first round of interviews.

On Wednesday, co-owner John Mara, new general manager Dave Gettleman, and assistant general manager Kevin Abrams met with former Broncos running backs coach Eric Studesville at the franchise’s headquarters. He has 21 years of NFL coaching experience.

RAIDERS: The Fritz Pollard Alliance called Wednesday for the NFL to investigate whether Oakland violated the “Rooney Rule” when they hired Jon Gruden.

Fritz Pollard Alliance counsel Cyrus Mehri and N. Jeremi Duru said they were concerned that Raiders owner Mark Davis came to an agreement with Gruden before the team interviewed any minority candidates as required by the NFL since 2003.

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie said Tuesday he interviewed two minority candidates before Gruden’s hiring: Oakland tight ends coach Bobby Johnson and USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin, an ex-assistant at UNM.

Also, ESPN.com reported that Rich Gannon has declined to become Oakland’s quarterbacks coach.