Allen is voted the comeback player of year
Chargers receiver Keenan Allen, who bounced back from an injury-plagued 2016 to finish third in the league with 1,393 yards on 102 receptions this season, has been selected 2017 NFL comeback player of the year in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America.
Allen missed the second half of the 2015 season after suffering a lacerated kidney and virtually all of 2016 after tearing a knee ligament in the season opener.
But he played in all 16 games this season and set a franchise record for receptions. His receiving yards were the second-most in team history. The 6-foot-2, 211-pound Allen, known as one of the league’s most precise route runners, had seven 100-yard games and scored six touchdowns.
During a torrid threegame stretch against Buffalo, Dallas and Cleveland from Nov. 19 to Dec. 3, Allen became the first player in NFL history to post three straight games with at least 10 catches, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. He also led the NFL in thirddown receptions (36) and third-down receiving yards (552).
“The way he worked in the offseason was really impressive,” Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said earlier this month. “He was on a mission to get back, and once he got back, he was just determined to show what he can do.
“There are obviously other receivers in the league who are great route runners. I don’t know if anybody is better than Keenan. He has a natural feel for the game that I think he’s just born with. He’s got a great rapport with our quarterback [Philip Rivers] too. He was a tough cover for a lot of people this year.” — Mike DiGiovanna LaFleur interviews for Titans job
Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur interviewed Friday to become head coach of the Tennessee Titans, the Titans announced.
The Titans are searching for a replacement for Mike Mularkey, who was fired last week. LaFleur was the third candidate to interview, following Houston Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel and Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
LaFleur. Vrabel and Wilks have never been an NFL head coach.
LaFleur, 38, did not call plays for the Rams, but he helped coach and play-caller Sean McVay design a scheme that produced the league’s highest-scoring offense and propelled the Rams to their first playoff appearance since 2004.
LaFleur also played a role in helping second-year quarterback Jared Goff develop into one of the league’s most productive passers.
Goff was voted the NFL’s most improved player by the Pro Football Writers of America. — Gary Klein Etc.
The Miami Dolphins have announced several changes in Adam Gase’s coaching staff, including the hiring of Dowell Loggains as offensive coordinator. Jeremiah Washburn was hired as offensive line coach. Defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo, running backs coach Danny Barrett and defensive line coach Terrell Williams were not retained, the Dolphins said. Three assistants changed titles. Shawn Jefferson will become assistant head coach/offense, Ben Johnson will become wide receivers coach, and Clyde Christensen will become director of football and player development. Gase will continue to call plays. He and Loggains were on the Chicago Bears’ staff together in 2015, and Loggains was the Bears’ offensive coordinator the past two years.
Tom Brady is staying mum on his status for the AFC championship game after suffering a right-hand injury earlier in the week. Brady said a bit contentiously only “We’ll see” when asked whether he would play in Sunday’s conference title game against Jacksonville. Brady is listed as questionable for Sunday.
New York Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson faces a slew of charges in Florida, including threatening a police officer’s family and saying he would rape the officer’s wife. A Sunrise police report shows the 24year-old Anderson was stopped early Friday in a sport utility vehicle after it ran two red lights and was swerving while traveling about 105 mph.