Dallas’ Gregory banned
DE suspended for at least a year
Dallas defensive end Randy Gregory has been suspended for at least a year for another violation of the NFL’s substanceabuse policy.
It’s the third time this season Gregory has been suspended. The first was a four-game ban, followed by 10 games on top of that. The suspension announced Thursday makes him ineligible for the playoffs, which start Jan. 15 for Dallas, the top seed in the NFC.
The suspension is for one calendar year, meaning Gregory could be eligible for the playoffs without another violation if the Cowboys make it again next season.
Gregory played the final two games of his second regular season, recording the first sack of his career in the finale against Philadelphia.
The 24-year-old former Nebraska standout slid to the second round of the 2015 draft over off-field concerns that included a positive test for marijuana at the NFL combine.
Washington fires coaches: The Washington Redskins fired defensive coordinator Joe Barry and other members of the coaching staff.
The team announced the firings of Barry, defensive line coach Robb Akey, defensive backs coach Perry Fewell and head strength and conditioning coach Mike Clark. Head coach Jay Gruden said Monday he thought ultimately it would be his call about which members of his staff were retained.
Barry spent the past two seasons as defensive coordinator, and Washington ranked 28th in the NFL in each of them. The team allowed 377.9 yards a game this past season en route to going 8-7-1 and missing the playoffs.
Washington had the worst third-down defense in the league and was 24th against the run and 25th against the pass.
Dolphins QB Tannehill out: Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was ruled out of Sunday’s playoff game at Pittsburgh before practice Thursday, and backup Matt Moore will start for the fourth week in a row.
The Dolphins determined Tannehill isn’t ready to return from a sprained left knee he suffered in Week 14. Moore, a 10th-year pro, is 2-1 as Tannehill’s replacement and will make his first career postseason start.
Moore has eight touchdown passes, three interceptions and a quarterback rating of 105.6, which is higher than Tannehill’s career-best 93.5 this year.
Bills QB Taylor has surgery: Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor was scheduled for surgery to repair a sports hernia that contributed to a groin injury he sustained this past season.
The Bills confirmed that Taylor was having an operation shortly after the quarterback posted photos of himself in a hospital gown on his Snapchat account. The Bills said they were informed on Wednesday of Taylor’s decision to have surgery after he met with William Meyers, a Philadelphiaarea-based sports hernia specialist.
Taylor previously said he intended to get a second medical opinion this week on the severity of the injury. He went 7-8 this season and was benched in Buffalo’s 30-10 season-ending loss at the New York Jets last weekend.