Flacco loses his job
Rookie Jackson will start at quarterback for Ravens.
Joe Flacco lost his job as Baltimore Ravens starting quarterback and will be the backup Sunday for the first time in his 11-year NFL career.
Flacco is finally healthy after missing the four games with a right hip injury. The Ravens went 3-1 during his absence under rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson, and coach John Harbaugh has decided to stick with the firstround draft pick with Baltimore striving to end a three-year playoff drought.
Harbaugh said Wednesday: “Every decision is based on making us the strongest possible team we can be.”
Jackson will start Sunday when the Ravens (7-6) host Tampa Bay (5-8).
The 33-year-old Flacco has been a starter since his rookie season in 2008 and was Super Bowl MVP when the Ravens beat San Francisco to end the 2012 season.
Flacco says: “I’m obviously disappointed I can’t be part of this team in the same capacity that I have been for a long time.”
The Chicago Bears placed cornerback Bryce Callahan on injured reserve because of a broken left foot that requires surgery . ... The Seattle Seahawks will be without linebacker Mychal Kendricks for the rest of the season after he suffered injuries to his knee and lower leg that require surgery, according to coach Pete Carroll.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Michigan dismisses running back
Michigan dismissed running back O’Maury Samuels from its football program the same day he was arraigned on two charges, including one for domestic violence. Samuels was also charged with malicious destruction of personal property . ... Prosecutors dismissed a domestic assault case against Missouri defensive end Tre Williams . ... A judge wants to hear more about a proposed plea deal for a former University of Colorado football coach in a domestic violence case after the alleged victim objected to it. Joe Tumpkin wanted to plead guilty to misdemeanor assault Wednesday in Broomfield.
However, the Daily Camera reported Judge Michael Goodbee said he wants Tumpkin’s lawyers and prosecutors to describe in writing how the deal was reached. Tumpkin’s ex-girlfriend, who says she was assaulted over 100 times, opposes the deal.
At least six Minnesota football players were disciplined and not allowed to practice recently in preparation for the Quick Lane Bowl for violating team rules, multiple sources told the Star Tribune. The players face suspension and could miss the Dec. 26 bowl game against Georgia Tech in Detroit.
Memphis All-American running back Darrell Henderson and Florida Atlantic running back Devin Singletary are skipping their senior seasons and entering the NFL draft.
A person familiar with the negotiations tells the Associated Press that Temple is finalizing a contract to make Miami defensive coordinator Manny Diaz its next head coach. Diaz would replace Geoff Collins, who left Temple after two seasons to become the coach at Georgia Tech last week.
ETC. Anaheim UFC card being rescheduled
The UFC postponed a Jan. 26 pay-per-view card at Honda Center, with no makeup date announced.
UFC 233 was already going head to head with a strong Bellator MMA card at The Forum that night that will feature a heavyweight Grand Prix final between MMA legend Fedor Emilianenko and Ryan Bader.
Bellator President Scott Coker mocked the move with a Twitter meme of a baby running scared.
The UFC announced that other fighters on the card, including unbeaten and newly retained welterweight Ben Askren, will be slotted into other cards.
Miami freshman forward Deng Gak will miss the rest of the season with a left knee injury. Miami (5-4) has lost four straight games.
Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal, who has missed two games with a concussion, was placed on injured reserve. The team recalled Janne Kuokkanen from its AHL affiliate in Charlotte. ... The New York Rangers said defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk will be sidelined two to four weeks with a shoulder injury.