Lions hire ex-Saints assistant Campbell
The Lions landed the coach they coveted from the start of their search by hiring Dan Campbell.
The Lions tweeted a photo of the former New Orleans Saints tight ends coach signing his deal Wednesday, one day after formally introducing Brad Holmes as their general manager. Campbell signed a six-year contract, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because terms of the deal were not released.
The 44-year-old Campbell, who also had the title of assistant head coach with the Saints, has 11 years of experience in the NFL as a coach and 11 as a player.
He was 5-7 as interim coach of the Dolphins in 2015.
Campbell was a standout tight end at Texas A&M and was drafted in the third round by the Giants in 1999. He also played for the Cowboys, Lions and Saints.
Owner Sheila Ford Hamp fired general manager Bob Quinn and coach Matt Patricia in November. Patricia was 13-29-1 in two-plus seasons as a first-time head coach.
Colts QB Rivers retires
Colts quarterback Philip Rivers announced his retirement after 17 seasons.
“Every year, Jan. 20 is a special and emotional day,” Rivers said in a statement posted on the team’s website. “It is St. Sebastian’s Feast day, the day I played in the AFC championship without an ACL and now the day that after 17 seasons, I’m announcing my retirement from the National Football League. Thank you, God, for allowing me to live out my childhood dream of playing quarterback in the NFL. I am grateful to the Chargers for 16 seasons, and the Colts for the 17th season.”
After being selected fourth overall in the 2004 draft, he was immediately traded from the Giants to the Chargers for Eli Manning. Rivers spent the next two seasons backing up Drew Brees before taking over as the starter when Brees left in free agency.
His 240 consecutive regularseason starts marked the secondlongest streak since 1970, trailing only Brett Favre (297).
Rivers won 134 career games — No. 2 among quarterbacks without a Super Bowl ring — and was eighth all-time. He also finished his career ranked fifth in career completions (5,277), yards passing (63,440) and touchdown passes (421).
Brees’ wife reveals injuries
Drew Brees’ wife, Brittany, posted on Instagram that Drew had serious foot and shoulder injuries this season, and not just the cracked ribs and punctured lung that caused him to miss four games.
“The fact that you played this entire year with a torn rotator cuff, torn fascia in your foot ...” she wrote.
The torn rotator cuff was never reported, though a shoulder injury was. A foot injury also wasn’t disclosed.