McDaniels backs out of deal
New England coordinator informs Colts he is staying with the Patriots
Josh McDaniels Tuesday night backed out of a deal to become the Indianapolis Colts new coach, a decision that shocked the franchise hours after it announced his hiring.
The Colts confirmed McDaniels’ decision in a statement Tuesday night after reports emerged that the Patriots offensive coordinator had opted to stay in New England with coach Bill Belichick.
McDaniels had agreed to contract terms with the Colts to replace the fired Chuck Pagano. A news conference had been scheduled for Wednesday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The team said McDaniels informed them Tuesday evening that he would not sign.
“Although we are surprised and disappointed, we will resume our head coaching search immediately and find the right fit to lead our team and organization on and off the field,” the Colts said in the statement.
The Patriots and McDaniels agent, Bob LaMont, did not respond to requests for comment.
The drama came a day after the Detroit Lions landed Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia as their coach.
Steelers
Blaine Stewart, son of late West Virginia coach Bill Stewart, was hired as an offensive assistant. Blaine Stewart played at James Madison University, graduated in three years, and then moved to the University of Charleston to earn his masters of business administration.
Bill Stewart, who died of a heart attack in 2012, gave Mike Tomlin his first coaching job at VMI. The Steelers were down one coach on offense after Todd Haley left and Randy Fichtner was promoted to offensive coordinator and also will keep his old job of coaching the quarterbacks.
Patriots
Cornerback Malcolm Butler said he didn’t miss a curfew or do anything off the field that would have hurt New England’s chances of winning the Super Bowl before he was benched. In a statement released Tuesday on Twitter and Instagram, Butler said reports of misconduct off the field are “ridiculous.”
He said he visited with family every night while in Minneapolis.
He adds, “I never attended any concert, missed curfew, or participated in any of the ridiculous activities being
NFL notebook
reported. They are not only false, but hurtful to me and my family.” Before the Super Bowl, Butler was on the field for 98 percent of the Patriots defensive snaps and started 17 of their 18 games. Patriots coach Bill Belichick has not explained why Butler was benched. After the game, Butler told ESPN that he “could have changed the game.” He also used a profanity and said the Patriots “gave up” on him.
In his statement, Butler apologized for the language he used “during a very emotional time.” His statement was “liked” on Instagram by teammates Tom Brady and Martellus Bennett. Butler is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
• New England tight end Rob Gronkowski can be heard on a 911 call calmly telling a dispatcher that his home was burglarized while he was at the Super Bowl in Minneapolis. Police in Foxborough, Mass., released a portion of the call Tuesday. He can be heard telling the dispatcher Monday: “This is Rob Gronkowski calling, and while I was gone my whole house got robbed, while on the Super Bowl trip.”
A police report said someone broke a window to get in. In a Broadcastify.com recording of a call between responding officers and dispatch, a dispatcher said “multiple safes and possible guns” were taken. The police report redacted details of what was taken.