Giants fire Shurmur, retain GM Gettelman
The New York Giants have fired coach Pat Shurmur after the onceproud franchise took a step back by winning four games in a season marked by a franchise record-tying nine-game losing streak.
The Giants also announced Monday general manager Dave Gettleman will return despite seeing the team win only nine games in his two seasons.
Co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch informed Shurmur of the decision Monday, less than a day after the Giants (4-12) failed to play the spoiler role and saw the Philadelphia Eagles beat them, 34-17, to win the NFC East.
“Steve and I have had many extensive discussions about the state of the Giants,” Mara said.
“This morning, we made the very difficult decision that it would be in the best interest of the franchise that we relieve Pat of his duties. The last three seasons have been extremely disappointing for the organization and our fans.”
Mara said the owners share in the responsibility for the slide, which included a 3-13 record in 2017 and 5-11 in Shurmur’s first season.
“The last two seasons have been a continuation of what has been a very difficult and disappointing period for our franchise,” Tisch said. “It is never easy to part with someone the caliber of Pat. But John and I came to the conclusion that we need a new voice in the coach’s office and made the decision to bring in new leadership.”
The four-time Super Bowl champions have missed the playoffs seven times in eight years.
Former Packers coach Mike McCarthy is expected to be a candidate, along with Baylor coach Matt Ruhle, a former Giants assistant, and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Dallas coach Jason Garrett, a former Giant, might also draw interest if the Cowboys release him.
Washington fires team president: Washington Redskins team President Bruce Allen was fired after a tumultuous and loss-filled decade with the NFL team once coached by his father.
Owner Dan Snyder announced the move early Monday. From the outset of the 2010 season, the Redskins went 6297-1 with Allen serving as the owner’s right-hand man, a stretch that featured only two playoff appearances and zero playoff victories – along with plenty of public relations disasters.
Allen was hired as Washington’s executive VP and general manager in December 2009, then promoted to president in May 2014.
Allen infamously boasted at a news conference after the 2014 season that the Redskins were “winning off the field” under his watch.
He was mocked more recently for objecting to reporters’ questions about widespread criticism of the organizational culture by asserting, “The culture is actually damn good.”
Browns begin coaching search: Shortly after Freddie Kitchens was dismissed and was spotted leaving the Cleveland Browns’ headquarters carrying his belongings and an orange helmet, the team embarked on its coaching search by asking permission to speak with McDaniels and Baltimore offensive coordinator Greg Roman, a person familiar with the requests told The Associated Press.
The team will also interview San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Minnesota offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams are not confirming the Browns’ interest.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Saleh will meet with the Browns in the Bay Area this week.
The Browns are likely to expand their search to include McCarthy, who has worked in the past with Browns general manager John Dorsey as well as front office executives Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith.
Dolphins cornerback arrested: Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavier Howard was arrested on a domestic battery charge following an argument with his fiancée over the purchase of a purse, according to a police report.
Howard, who made the Pro Bowl in 2018 but missed much of this season with a knee injury, faces a possible suspension to start the 2020 season.
The police report from Davie, Florida, said the argument Sunday night became physical when Howard grabbed his fiancée’s arm and pushed her against a mirrored glass in the hallway of their bedroom. He let her go, causing her to fall to the floor on her right arm, which landed on his crutches, the report said.
Incognito gets extension: Guard Richie Incognito will be staying with the Raiders after their move to Las Vegas.
Incognito signed a two-year, $14 million contract extension that includes $6.35 million in guaranteed money.
The Raiders signed Incognito last offseason to a one-year prove-it deal to bring him out of retirement after a troubled past.