Kingsbury fired as coach of Cardinals
The Cardinals fired coach Kliff Kingsbury and parted ways with general manager Steve Keim after a dreadful season that saw constant unwanted headlines, a serious knee injury to star quarterback Kyler Murray, and lots of losing.
Now it's time for a franchise reset — again.
“It's the hardest day in the football life, when you've got to part ways with people that you respect and appreciate all their contributions," Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said Monday.
Kingsbury, 43, — who received a contract extension just last year — finishes his tenure with a 28-37-1 record over four seasons, including a 413 mark this year. The Cardinals ended the season on a seven-game losing streak, falling to the 49ers, 38-13, Sunday.
“I wished it could have worked out better for him,” Bidwill said. “Because in terms of putting in the effort, he's a guy who deserved to have the outcome we were all expecting."
Keim, 50 also received a contract extension last season. He's been with the Cardinals since 1999 and served as the team’s general manager since 2013. He took a medical leave of absence in December, but the team didn't elaborate on the reason.
Now Bidwill begins the process of looking for a new coach and general manager. The job could be attractive to candidates: The Cardinals already have a long-term quarterback and also possess the No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming draft.
Bidwill said he'd prefer to hire a new general manager first and then decide on a head coach, but the order could be switched. He said he's already interviewed two internal candidates — Adrian Wilson and Quentin Harris — and an unnamed external candidate for the GM job.
Wilson and Harris were the two top deputies under Keim this season.
Jackson’s status unclear
Lamar Jackson’s availability for the playoffs is the one question that trumps all others right now when it comes to the Ravens.
Coach John Harbaugh didn't have any major update. One way or another, the answer will come soon enough.
Jackson missed his fifth consecutive game when the Ravens lost, 2716, Sunday at Cincinnati, and the clock is ticking toward Baltimore’s postseason opener — on the road Sunday night against those same Bengals. Jackson’s knee injury, which was not initially thought to be season-ending, has turned into a major problem for the Ravens, who lost three of five down the stretch without their star quarterback.
Packers’ Walker sorry
Packers linebacker Quay Walker apologized after the second ejection of his rookie season and said he has spoken directly to the Lions physician he shoved during the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s game.
Walker issued an apology via Twitter and expressed his regret again while speaking to reporters Monday.
“Another rookie mistake,” Walker said. “Selfish. Just a selfish act of me. Very, just very stupid and dumb. I’ll say immature of me. Once again, made the same mistake twice. I just always seem to overreact at times and I did it again last night. That was pretty much it.”
The incident occurred Sunday during Detroit’s go-ahead touchdown drive midway through the fourth quarter of a 20-16 Lions victory that prevented the Packers from reaching the playoffs. Walker was close behind two Lions staffers as they attended to Detroit running back D’Andre Swift, Walker’s former Georgia teammate.
Lions team physician Sean Lynch put his left hand on Walker’s right elbow to move him away from the staffers so he could check on Swift as well. Walker then shoved Lynch in the back.
Rams’ Yeast doing fine
Rams rookie safety Russ Yeast is headed home after staying overnight in Seattle with a pulmonary contusion.
Rams coach Sean McVay said Yeast is doing fine and is feeling well enough to travel, calling it “a blessing.”
The rookie was hurt during the Rams’ 19-16 overtime loss to the Seahawks in which Yeast got the most significant playing time of his young career.
Several Rams defensive backs dropped by the hospital in Seattle Sunday night to check on their teammate, and the defensive backs all did a group video chat to make sure Yeast was feeling fine.
Falcons’ Pees, 73, retires
Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees announced his retirement one day after completing his second season with the team.
Pees, 73, is ending a 50-year career in football. He previously coached 16 years in the NFL, including a combined 12 seasons as the defensive coordinator at Tennessee (2018-19), Baltimore (2012-17) and New England (2006-09).