McDaniels’ stay may give Pats a successor

Coordinator’s agent quits after decision to spurn Colts.

Josh McDaniels sent ripples throughout the NFL with his decision Tuesday night to pull out of an agreement to become the Indianapolis Colts coach.

He has yet to speak publicly about what factored into the 11th hour about-face. But McDaniels’ return as New England’s offensive coordinator keeps a possible successor for Patriots coach Bill Belichick in house.

Belichick gave no indication after Sunday’s Super Bowl loss he plans to exit in 2018. And just last month he said that it was “absolutely” his intention to be back for his 19th season with the Patriots.

But Belichick, 65, is the NFL’s second-oldest coach, behind only Seattle’s Pete Carroll (66).

McDaniels has been one of the hottest names in coaching searches every offseason over the past three years.

At 41, he’s considered one of the NFL’s brightest young minds. He also is someone whom Patriots quarterback Tom Brady trusts and recently called “a great coach and a great friend.”

It’s unclear how McDaniels’ decision will affect him regarding future opportunities with other NFL teams, a gamble should he not get the chance to lead the Patriots.

Charlie Weis, who was Patriots offensive coordinator from 2000-04 and coached alongside McDaniels, is now an analyst on SiriusXM NFL Radio. During an appearance on Mad Dog Sports Radio he called McDaniels’ decision “unbelievable.”

“I know his agent, Bob LaMonte. I had his agent for 15 years,” Weis said. “And I promise you, with 100 percent conviction, this is against what Bob LaMonte wanted him to do.”

LaMonte reportedly quit as McDaniels’ agent after he returned to the Patriots.

“My word is my bond,” LaMonte told Sports Business Journal on Wednesday. “Once you break that, there’s nothing left.”

LaMonte represents several coaches and NFL executives, including Colts general manager Chris Ballard.

■ Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski said his home in Foxborough, Mass., was burglarized while he was at the Super Bowl. A police report says someone broke a window to get in. Officers said “multiple safes and possible guns” were taken.

Eagles: Philadelphia is shutting down today for its first Super Bowl parade, with universities, schools and government offices all closed and mass transit being shifted to serve the needs of Eagles fans heading to the parade, which starts at 11 a.m. near the team’s stadium and ends its 5-mile trek at the art museum steps that Sylvester Stallone climbed in the “Rocky” movies. Organizers expect 2 million people along the parade route.

Vikings: Former running back Adrian Peterson, who has earned nearly $100 million in the NFL, left Minnesota without paying back a loan and must repay more than $600,000 to his lender, a Minneapolis judge ruled. Peterson borrowed $2.4 million from Crown Bank in May 2016 as he was preparing for his final season with the Vikings.

Court records show he took out the loan, which carried an annual interest rate of 7.5 percent, to refinance other debts. Peterson defaulted on the loan the following October, shortly after he injured his knee against the Packers. The injury forced the Vikings to subsequently release him rather than pay him the $18 million Peterson was due to earn for the 2017 season. Peterson pledged his Vikings contract as collateral for the Crown Bank loan.

In its lawsuit, Crown Bank said Peterson repaid a total of $1.9 million on the loan after the bank threatened to sue him to collect. In addition to repaying $609,786 in principal and interest, Peterson was ordered to cover the bank’s $28,868 in legal fees.

49ers: Defensive lineman Cassius Marsh was re-signed to a two-year deal. Marsh, who had 10 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles in six games for the 49ers this season, was claimed off waivers from New England in November and was signed to keep him off the free-agent market next month.

Steelers: President Art Rooney II is optimistic the team can sign All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell to a long-term extension going into the 2018 season but didn’t rule out using the franchise tag for a second straight year as a precaution if the two sides can’t come to an agreement before free agency begins next month. Rooney stressed Wednesday “the good news is both sides want to get something done and hopefully that will lead us to getting it done.”

Bell led the NFL in touches (406) while finishing with 1,946 total yards and 11 touchdowns this season.