Pro Bowl adds
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was added to the Pro Bowl roster Wednesday as an injury replacement for Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee was added to replace Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston. The Pro Bowl is Jan. 31 at Honolulu.
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Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was added to the Pro Bowl roster as an injury replacement for Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers. Carr was originally an alternate for the Jan. 31 game in Hawaii, but will get the chance to play in it in just his second season following Wednesday’s announcement. Carr threw for 3,987 yards with 32 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a 91.1 passer rating this season. He had four fourth-quarter comeback drives as Oakland finished 7-9. Carr is the first Raiders quarterback to be picked for the Pro Bowl since Rich Gannon went from 1999-2002. Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee was also added to the Pro Bowl roster. Lee is an injury replacement for Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston, who was severely limited by a knee injury late in the regular season and in the postseason. Lee, who missed the entire 2014 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, had 155 tackles in 14 games for Dallas. The addition of Lee gives Dallas five players on the Pro Bowl roster. Kicker Dan Bailey, offensive linemen Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin were named to the roster in December.
Tennessee Titans Coach Mike Mularkey has convinced Dick LeBeau to stick around as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, and he also hired Terry Robiskie as the Titans’ new offensive coordinator. The Titans also announced Wednesday night that Bobby April will be their new special teams coordinator. LeBeau joined the Titans last year as assistant head coach for defense. Robiskie spent the past eight seasons coaching wide receivers in Atlanta. He has coached in Miami, Washington, Oakland and was offensive coordinator during six seasons in Cleveland. April is a 24-year veteran coaching special teams and his units have scored a combined 21 touchdowns on returns. He spent the 2015 season with the Jets and has coached in Oakland, Philadelphia, Buffalo, St. Louis and Pittsburgh.
A person familiar with the hiring says new Cleveland Browns Coach Hue Jackson has added defensive coordinator Ray Horton to his staff. Horton is returning to Cleveland, where he ran coach Rob Chudzinski’s defense in 2013, said the person who spoke Wednesday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Browns have not yet announced Horton’s addition. Also, Jackson is bringing in longtime NFL assistant Al Saunders, former Vikings running backs coach Kirby Wilson and Colts offensive coordinator
Pep Hamilton to help his offense, said the person. Horton was expected to come back to Cleveland after he didn’t get Tennessee’s coaching job. Under Horton, the Browns finished ninth in yards allowed and 23rd in points per game. Horton’s defense in Tennessee was ranked 12th overall this past season. A former head coach in San Diego, Saunders was Jackson’s offensive coordinator in 2011 with Oakland. The Buffalo Bills have hired
Kathryn Smith to be their special teams quality control coach, making her the first full-time female member of an NFL coaching staff. The team announced the move in a release Wednesday night. Smith spent last season working as an administrative assistant for Bills assistant coaches on Rex Ryan’s staff. She spent the previous 12 seasons working for the New York Jets in various capacities, including a player personnel assistant in 20072013. In 2014, Smith served as the Jets assistant to the head coach in Ryan’s final season in New York. In her new role, Smith will assist special teams coordinator Danny
Crossman and his assistant Eric Smith.