L.A. Rams OC LaFleur interviews with Titans
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans have interviewed three candidates in their search for a new coach, none of them with experience as a head coach in the NFL. Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur was the third, with the Titans announcing Friday they had concluded their interview with him as they continue their search to replace
Mike Mularkey, who was fired Monday. LaFleur, 38, is coming off his first season in his position, though Rams coach Sean McVay called the plays. LaFleur was quarterbacks coach with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015 and 2016, with
Matt Ryan named league MVP and offensive player of the year the latter season. LaFleur also coached quarterbacks at Notre Dame in 2014. In four seasons with the Washington Redskins (2010-13), LaFleur was quarterbacks coach and worked with
Robert Griffin III, who became the franchise’s first rookie QB named to the Pro Bowl. LaFleur got his start in the NFL as an offensive assistant with the Houston Texans. His coaching career began in college at his alma mater, Saginaw Valley State, where he had played quarterback. He also coached at Central Michigan and Northern Michigan. On Thursday, the Titans interviewed a pair of defensive coordinators — Houston’s Mike Vrabel and the Carolina Panthers’ Steve Wilks.
› ALAMEDA, Calif. — The NFL said the Oakland Raiders complied with the “Rooney Rule” when they hired Jon Gruden as head coach. The league said a review found the Raiders conducted “bona fide” interviews with minority candidates during their search for a replacement for Jack Del Rio. The Fritz Pollard Alliance, which had called for an investigation out of concern Raiders owner Mark Davis came to an agreement with Gruden before the team interviewed any minority candidates, released a statement saying the NFL made the wrong call in not penalizing Davis.
SOCCER
› Akron’s Joao Moutinho was selected Friday by Los Angeles FC with the No. 1 overall pick in Major League Soccer’s amateur draft. The day also featured a major trade as the Philadelphia Union acquired winger Davis Accam from Chicago for $1.2 million in allocation money, and Atlanta United FC also announced the much-anticipated arrival of attacking midfielder Ezequiel Barco. Moutinho, 19, gained attention at the MLS combine. Last season as a freshman defender, he started in all 24 games for the Zips and was named the Mid-American Conference freshman of the year. A native of Lisbon, Portugal, Moutinho told reporters gathered for the draft in Philadelphia that he learned English by watching WWE. LAFC is new to the league this season, named as an expansion team in late 2014 shortly after Chivas USA folded.
BASEBALL
› NEW YORK — Tim Tebow will be at spring training with the New York Mets. The 30-yearold outfielder was among nine spring training invitees announced by the team Friday. The former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback is preparing for his second professional baseball season. He hit .226 with eight home runs, 52 RBIs and 126 strikeouts in 126 games last year at Class A with Columbia in the South Atlantic League and Port St. Lucie in the High-A Florida State League.