Panthers parting ways with Rivera
The Ron Rivera era has come to an abrupt end in Carolina.
The Panthers fired their alltime winningest head coach with the team on a four-game losing streak and headed to its third non-playoff season in four years.
“I believe this is the best decision for the long-term success of our team,” Panthers owner David Tepper said in a statement Tuesday. “I have a great deal of respect for Ron and the contributions he has made to this franchise and to this community.”
Secondary coach Perry Fewell was been named interim head coach. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner will transition to special assistant to the head coach, and quarterbacks coach Scott Turner will serve as offensive coordinator.
Tepper said he will begin a search for a new coach immediately.
Rivera, 57, was hired in 2011 and was 76-63-1 in the regular season and a 3-4 postseason mark. In nine seasons, Rivera guided the team to a Super Bowl appearance, an NFC championship and three NFC South titles.
But the Panthers have fallen on hard times lately following injuries to quarterback Cam Newton the last two seasons. The Panthers are 5-7 this season and are all but eliminated from playoff contention after a 29-21 loss to the Redskins on Sunday at home.
Duck gets another start: Coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges will make his second straight start on Sunday when the Steelers (7-5) visit the Cardinals (3-8-1). Tomlin named Hodges the starter over Mason Rudolph before last week’s meeting with the Browns.
Hodges responded by completing 14 of 21 passes for 212 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a 20-13 victory that kept the Steelers firmly in the playoff chase with a month to go. The 23-year-old Hodges is the first undrafted rookie free agent to win his first two NFL starts since Ed Ruppert did it as a replacement player for the Redskins during the 1987 players’ strike.
The Steelers are 3-1 in games Hodges has appeared. He led the Steelers to a 24-17 victory on the road at the Chargers on Oct. 13 while filling in for an injured Rudolph.
Extra points: The Browns released DE Chris Smith, whose girlfriend was killed in a roadside accident earlier this season. Smith spent the past two seasons with the Browns. He did not play in Sunday’s loss at Pittsburgh despite the Browns being shorthanded on the defensive line with Myles Garrett out due to suspension . ... The Dolphins placed RB Kalen Ballage on injured reserve after he injured his left leg in Sunday’s victory over the Eagles . ... Rams KR JoJo Natson was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and the team signed TE Kendall Blanton from the practice squad.