Browns hireWilliams to be their DC
Gregg Williams revived his coaching career after a suspension. His next challenge will be to repair the Cleveland Browns’ defense.
Williams was hired Sunday as the Browns’ defensive coordinator to replace Ray Horton, who was fired by coach Hue Jackson less than a week after the team finished a 1- 15 season.
Williams was suspended by the NFL for one season in 2012 for his involvement in the New Orleans Saints’ notorious ‘‘ Bountygate’’ scandal. He spent the last three seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams.
It’s the second time Horton has been dismissed by the Browns after one season. And while he appears to be taking the fall for the team’s failure, Jackson said that’s not the case.
‘‘ This isn’t just Ray,’’ Jackson said on a teleconference. ‘‘ If anybody, the finger is pointed back at me; it’s not pointed at Ray. At the end of the day, the whole buck stops with me, so I get it. I know what it looks like and what the perception is, but that’s not what it is, and this is my decision.’’
SteelersLBcoach arrested
Police confirmed Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers coach Joey Porter was handcuffed and taken away in a squad car after allegedly assaulting a doorman at a bar in thewake of the team’s AFC wild- card victory against the Miami Dolphins.
‘‘ Security guards at a bar . . . summoned a Pittsburgh police officer due to an unruly customer,’’ police said in a statement. ‘‘ The customer was Pittsburgh Steelers coach Joey Porter. He has been arrested.’’
The Steelers released a statement saying they were aware of an incident involving Porter but would have no further comment until they got more details.
Colts VP talkswith 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers interviewed Indianapolis Colts vice president of football operations Jimmy Raye III for their vacant generalmanager job.
Chairman and CEO Jed York met with Raye as part of his interview tour to find replacements for fired coach Chip Kelly and GM Trent Baalke after a 2- 14 season.
Raye is the son of former 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye II. He has spent the last four seasons with the Colts after a 17- year tenure with the San Diego Chargers.
Reid in line for extension
ESPN, citing league sources it didn’t identify, reported the Kansas City Chiefs will try to extend coach Andy Reid’s contract this offseason.
Reid will be entering the final year of his five- year contract next season, and teams generally prefer not to have their coaches heading into the last year of their deals.
Reid is 43- 21 in four seasons with the Chiefs and is 173- 114 overall, including his 14 seasons as the coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.