Jets hire Downing as passing coordinator

According to a source, the New York Jets hired Todd Downing as their passing game coordinator.

The Jets finished at the bottom of several categories, including 25th in offense (318.2 yards per game) and 29th in points scored (17.4 per game).

Downing was fired last month as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator. This was nearly two months after he was charged with driving under the influence and speeding on Nov. 18.

Payton II out at least a month

SAN FRANCISCO — Newly acquired Golden State guard Gary Payton II will be out at least a month as he fully recovers from offseason core muscle surgery, and Warriors general manager Bob Myers is awaiting a decision from the NBA on whether the Trail Blazers withheld anything on Payton’s health before trading him.

Crowder’s debut after break

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Bucks forward Jae Crowder, acquired at last week’s trade deadline, won’t make his debut with his new team until after the All-star break. Crowder is working to get into playing shape after sitting out all season following his release by Phoenix after last season.

Mavs adding Holiday after buyout

The Dallas Mavericks reportedly plan to sign shooting guard/small forward Justin Holiday off the freeagent buyout market, filling their last open spot on the 15-player roster.

Holiday played 28 games for the Hawks this season before Atlanta traded him to Houston just before the deadline. The 33-year-old agreed to a contract buyout Monday with the rebuilding Rockets, sources said.

Steele, Rees Tide coordinators

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama hired Kevin Steele as defensive coordinator, Tommy Rees as offensive coordinator and Austin Armstrong as inside linebackers coach.

Michigan: Weiss accessed data

Michigan fired football co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss in January after he failed to attend a meeting to discuss whether he had gained access to computer accounts belonging to other people. An athletic department official told Weiss that the university had evidence that he had “inappropriately accessed” the accounts.

Orange women’s lacrosse No. 4

SYRACUSE — The Syracuse women’s lacrosse team is ranked No. 4 in both the ILWOMEN/IWLCA Division I and NIKE/USA Lacrosse Magazine Poll. The Syracuse men are No. 18 by the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll. A Missouri Valley State cheerleader was ejected from Saturday’s game after shoving Alabama A&M’S Dailin Smith during the game.

The MVS booster appeared to be miffed after Smith inadvertently interfered with her routine along the baseline — out of bounds — during the waning moments at MVS. Smith brushed against the cheerleader when he was taking the ball out of bounds. The booster waited patiently for the action to return to her end of the court and once there was a break in the action, she stepped onto the court and shoved Smith and appeared to have a few choice words. She was then ejected by security personnel.

UEFA blamed for near disaster

GENEVA — Uefa-appointed investigators have held European soccer’s ruling body mostly responsible for chaotic security failures at the 2022 Champions League final in Paris that put the lives of Liverpool and Real Madrid fans at risk.

A failed security operation saw tens of thousands of fans held in increasingly crushed queues for hours before the May 28 game at Stade de France. Many fans were fired on with tear gas by police before the game.