Pats’ Patricia ‘likely’ headed to Lions
ESPN report: Pact would still have to be worked out
New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will “likely” be hired as head coach of the Detroit Lions once the Patriots’ run through the postseason is completed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday, citing league sources.
The contract would still need to be worked out, according to the report. Under NFL rules, contracts cannot be agreed to “until after the conclusion of the employer club’s playing season.”
Patricia’s Patriots beat the Tennessee Titans 35-14 on Saturday to advance to the AFC Championship Game. They will face the Jacksonville Jaguars next week.
Should the Patriots advance
to the Feb. 4 Super Bowl, Patricia would remain tied to New England at least through then.
Patricia, 43, became the Patriots defensive coordinator in 2012, and since then New England is 75-21.
If he joins the Lions, Patricia would be reunited
with Lions G.M. Bob Quinn, who was director of pro scouting with New England.
The Lions fired Jim Caldwell as head coach after a playoff-less 9-7 season and a 36-28 record in four seasons.
Patricia also has been linked to the New York Giants’ vacant head-coaching position.
Bills hire ’Bama aide
The Buffalo Bills have hired Alabama assistant coach Brian Daboll as their offensive coordinator.
Coach Sean McDermott announced Daboll’s hiring Sunday, two days after firing Rick Dennison.
Daboll, 42, was most recently the offensive coordinator for national champion Alabama. It was the sixth time he was part of a national title-winning team’s coaching staff.
Before joining the Crimson Tide last season, Daboll was the tight ends coach for Super Bowl champion New England. He has 17 seasons of NFL coaching experience, including stints as offensive coordinator for Cleveland, (2009-10), Miami (2011) and Kansas City (2012).
Daboll has previous ties to McDermott, serving as an assistant at William & Mary when McDermott was a senior safety in 1997.
Titan facing surgery
Tennessee right tackle Jack Conklin tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in Saturday’s playoff loss to New England and likely will start training camp on the physically unable to perform list, Titans coach Mike Mularkey said.
Mularkey said Sunday that Conklin will have surgery to repair the ACL within the next two weeks.
Conklin, the eighth pick overall out of Michigan State in 2016, was hurt with 3:14 left in the first quarter. Patriots lineman Malcolm Brown appeared to roll up on Conklin’s leg on a run play.
Mularkey said the timing of Conklin’s injury is unfortunate heading into the offseason. Conklin was an All-Pro as a rookie.
Tight end Jonnu Smith hurt his right medial collateral ligament, but Mularkey said he won’t need surgery.
Shazier appearance
Pittsburgh linebacker Ryan Shazier tried to rally the Steelers with a halftime visit to their locker room Sunday.
Shazier, who underwent surgery to stabilize his spine last month, spoke with his teammates as they were fighting back from a 28-14 deficit.
Still in a wheelchair during his recovery, Shazier was also around following the 45-42 loss, a stunning setback that concluded a challenging season for the AFC North champions.
The 25-year-old Shazier has made significant progress, but his playing future remains uncertain because of the injury he suffered making a routine tackle on Dec. 4 against Cincinnati.