Los Angeles Times

Patricia leaves Patriots to coach the Lions

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The Detroit Lions hired Matt Patricia on Monday, doubling down on the franchise’s hope it can copy the New England Patriots’ formula for success.

The expected hiring of the defensive coordinato­r came a day after the Patriots lost to the Philadelph­ia Eagles in the Super Bowl.

“This position comes with great responsibi­lity,” Patricia said in a statement released by the Lions, “and I will commit every ounce of my energy to this football team, starting today.”

Lions general manager Bob Quinn made the move, reuniting with a man he worked with for more than decade in New England.

“He has been preparing for this opportunit­y his entire career, and he’s ready for the responsibi­lity and its challenges,” Quinn said.

Quinn fired Jim Caldwell last month with a record eight games above .500 over four years and playoff appearance­s in 2016 and 2014.

The Lions were 9-7 this season and missed the playoffs.

Patricia was the Patriots’ defensive coordinato­r for six seasons, ending with his unit giving up 41 points and 538 yards to the Eagles.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick was no more forthcomin­g about his surprise benching of one-time Super Bowl star Malcolm Butler.

Speaking on a conference call the day after the Patriots blew their chance at a sixth NFL title, Belichick said “there are a lot of things that go into that.” He declined to be specific.

Butler was one of the Patriots’ steadiest players this season, appearing in 98% of the defensive snaps and starting 17 of 18 games.

But the defensive back made it on the field for only one play Sunday — on special teams.

A man being held in a suspected drunk-driving crash that killed Indianapol­is Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson and his Uber driver has twice been deported from the U.S., a revelation Indiana congressma­n Todd Rokita said should anger “all Americans.”

Manuel Orrego-Savala, 37, remained jailed but has not been charged in Sunday’s deadly crash along Interstate 70 in Indianapol­is.

State Police said Monday that the suspect is a citizen of Guatemala who gave officers a fake name when arrested after the crash.

Investigat­ors said he was deported in 2007 and 2009, and was again living illegally in the U.S.

Police said Jackson and Uber driver Jeffrey Monroe, 54, were standing outside Monroe’s car along I-70 after Jackson became ill while Monroe was driving him. Both men were struck and killed by a pickup truck driven by Orrego-Savala, police said.

Investigat­ors said they believe Orrego-Savala, who lives in Indianapol­is, was intoxicate­d and driving without a license.

The Oakland Raiders released former starting cornerback David Amerson, who played just seven games last season.

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