NFL notes
JETS
McKnight killed
Joe McKnight, who played three seasons for the New York Jets and was a standout at the University of Southern California, was fatally shot in Louisiana on Thursday, authorities said.
McKnight, 28, was shot “multiple times,” Col. John N. Fortunato, a spokesman for the Jefferson Parish sheriff’s office, said in an interview. The shooting occurred around 2:45 p.m. Central time at Behrman Highway and Holmes Boulevard in Terrytown, La., about 5 miles southeast of New Orleans, the office said in a statement. McKnight was pronounced dead at the scene.
It was not clear what led up to the shooting, Fortunato said. Local news reports described the shooting as related to an episode of road rage, but Fortunato said that had not been confirmed. A suspect, Ronald Gasser, 54, was taken into custody at the scene and was being questioned by detectives, the sheriff’s office said.
McKnight arrived at Southern California as one of the more promising recruits in the nation, eliciting comparisons to the former Trojans star Reggie Bush, but his production never matched the hype. The Jets, seduced by his speed and versatility, traded up to select him in the fourth round of the 2010 draft.
McKnight had trouble cracking the Jets’ running back rotation but revealed value as a returner, running back kickoffs for touchdowns in 2011 and 2012, his final full season with the team. He spent three seasons with the team, starting once in 39 games and gaining 505 yards rushing and 177 receiving.
The end of his tenure with the Jets was defined by turbulence: a failed conditioning test, an arrest on traffic warrants and a concussion. The team released him among their final cuts in August 2013, and McKnight played only two more games in the NFL, both with Kansas City in 2014.
CHIEFS
Howard on IR
Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Jaye Howard has been put on injured reserve with a hip injury.
The five-year veteran has been out for several weeks, and the Chiefs decided Thursday that he was unlikely to make it back this season. There was no corresponding roster move made.
Howard signed a two-year deal to remain in Kansas City in the offseason, even though he had a breakout season a year ago. But his season included just 18 tackles and a sack in parts of eight games.
The Chiefs have already lost Allen Bailey to injury this season, and defensive tackle Dontari Poe remained sidelined this week with back spasms. Rakeem NunezRoches, Kendall Reyes, Jarvis Jenkins and rookie Chris Jones have been rotating through the line in their place.
PATRIOTS
Gronk surgery today
The Rams are heavy underdogs for Sunday’s game at New England, but at least they can stop game-planning for Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Gronkowski is scheduled to undergo back surgery today in Los Angeles, according to multiple reports.
Gronkowski has had a series of injuries this season. He suffered a chest injury that forced him to sit out against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11 but played against the New York Jets last week.
Gronkowski has 25 receptions, three for touchdowns.
Rams Coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday that he was preparing for Gronkowski and quarterback Tom Brady regardless of their not practicing Tuesday.
“I don’t know what the situation is, we’ll see,” Fisher said of Gronkowski. “He’s an impact player on their offense. But I can assure you that Tom is going to show up; he always does, week after week after week. At his age and with his experience, he doesn’t need a lot of practice reps. We’re not going to be misled by the lack of practice as far as the quarterback is concerned.”
Even with Gronkowski’s absence, the Rams still have a formidable challenge defending Patriots tight ends. Martellus Bennett has 43 catches, four for touchdowns.
BEARS
Cutler out for season
Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will not return this season, headed for injured reserve with an injury to his right shoulder.
Bears Coach John Fox made the announcement after Thursday’s practice at Halas Hall.
After working through an array of treatment options and working to rehabilitate his throwing shoulder, Cutler will now have surgery to repair a torn labrum this weekend.
“I talked to him earlier today. He’s in good spirits,” Fox said. “It wasn’t like [surgery] was never going to be an option. You try to avoid it, espe- cially for a quarterback on your throwing shoulder. But he talked to many capable doctors, like he should. So that’s been the determination at this point.”
Cutler played the entire game for the Bears in a Week 11 loss to the Giants. He was 17-for-30 for 252 yards and a touchdown but finished the game with a loss-sealing interception. The following day, news of his shoulder problem surfaced and despite Fox’s assertion last week that Cutler’s injury would not be season-ending, it now classifies as just that.
Cutler is currently in the third season of a seven-year, $126 million contract extension. But the $54 million in guaranteed money is paid out and the Bears could part ways with the veteran quarterback at no cost any time before the start of next season. All early indications are that a separation is forthcoming. But Fox declined to answer a question about Cutler’s future beyond 2016 on Thursday.
“I think right now we have five games left and all our focus for myself, the coaching staff and the players is on San Fran,” Fox said. “The offseason is the offseason. We’re not there yet.”
NFL
Hiring full-timers
BUFFALO, N.Y. — NFL executive Troy Vincent said Thursday he expects the league to hire as many as 17 full-time officials for the start of next season.
The additions are allowed under the collective bargaining agreement and would increase the size of officiating crews from seven to eight, the league’s vice president of football operations said during a visit to Buffalo on Thursday.
Vincent said hiring full-time officials and discussions to expand replay reviews top the agenda of the NFL’s competition committee, which is scheduled to meet in February following the Super Bowl.
Currently, NFL officiating crews are part-time staff and hold jobs outside of football.
Vincent said full-time officials would allow the NFL to spend more time training them.
What has yet to be decided is where the additional official would line up on the field. One proposal is for the person to serve as a middle sideline judge to monitor interior defensive line penalties. Another is to oversee hits to the quarterback.