Bengals make it official, name Taylor coach
After 16 years without a playoff win under Marvin Lewis, the Bengals decided to try something different. But they had to wait more than a month before hiring Zac Taylor as their next coach in hopes of ending a long streak of futility.
The Rams quarterbacks coach reached a deal Monday a few hours after LA’S 13-3 loss to the Patriots in the Super Bowl at Atlanta. Cincinnati had to wait until after the title game to make his hiring official.
After three straight losing seasons and 28 years without a playoff victory, Cincinnati joined the latest wave — turning to a young, offensiveminded coach.
“Zac is a bright coach with an offensive mind and background, which is important to have in today’s NFL,” owner Mike Brown said in a statement. “And he’s young (35). He embraces new ideas and new ways to do things, which will be a good thing for us.”
The Bengals will introduce Taylor on Tuesday.
Dolphins introduce Flores
Hours after his team won the Super Bowl, New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores was hired as coach of the Miami Dolphins.
“It has been a whirlwind 24 hours,” Flores said with a smile at a news conference that drew two dozen cameras.
“Looking at this crowd here, you’d think we won the Super Bowl,” Miami owner Stephen Ross said. “I’ve never seen this many people in this room. ... To me, you start an organization by signing a great leader. I believe we’ve found that leader.”
Flores was the first person the Dolphins interviewed after they fired coach Adam Gase on Dec. 31. They decided on Jan. 11 to offer the job to Flores, the Patriots’ defensive play-caller, but had to wait until New England’s season ended to complete an agreement.
“I wasn’t in a rush to become a head coach,” said Flores, 37. “I had a good job in New England. I’m thankful I’m part of this organization now. We’re going to do everything possible to build a winner here.”
While preparing for the Super Bowl, Flores also began to hire a Miami staff. The group is expected to include former Colts and Lions coach Jim Caldwell as assistant head coach, Patriots receivers coach Chad O’shea as offensive coordinator and Packers assistant Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator.
Gronkowski ponders future
Rob Gronkowski rumbled down the field, got past two defenders and hauled in the football to set up New England’s go-ahead touchdown in the Super Bowl.
If this was the farewell performance for the Patriots tight end, he went out in playmaking style. Back, knee, ankle and arm ailments sapped him of his ability to stay on the field this season.
“Tonight, it’s about celebrating with my teammates, and that decision will be made a week or two down the future,” said Gronkowski, 29. “Because tonight, that’s what it’s about, is celebrating with my teammates.”
Gronkowski was seen limping out of MercedesBenz Stadium after the game after injuring a quadriceps muscle on a hit in the third quarter.
“Yeah, my quad, it hurts a lot,” he said. “I can barely walk right now.”
Notable
• The Super Bowl was seen by 100.7 million people on television and streaming services, the smallest audience for football’s annual spectacle in a decade. On CBS, the game was seen by 98.2 million people, compared to 103.4 million who watched on NBC last year, according to the Nielsen company. Since reaching a peak of 114.4 million viewers for the Patriots’ 2015 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, the Super Bowl audience has slipped each year since.
• The Browns waived linebacker Tanner Vallejo. He appeared in 13 games and made one start last year, compiling 20 tackles and one forced fumble on defense and seven tackles on special teams.