Shula fired by Panthers
Longtime Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula was fired Tuesday. Shula spent seven years with the Panthers.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera fired longtime offensive coordinator Mike Shula on Tuesday, saying the team's offense needs a "different perspective."
Along with Shula, the Panthers also cut ties with quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey two days after a playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Shula spent seven seasons with Carolina, working as the quarterbacks coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2013.
Carolina was 11-5 this season and finished 19th in total offense, but again struggled moving the ball through the air and was 28th in passing. The Panthers were 12th in scoring.
Rivera said the Panthers already have "a few" candidates in mind, and strongly hinted it will be someone with NFL experience, not a college coach, from outside the organization.
Among some of the potential candidates that make sense are Norv Turner, whose brother Ron was hired as an offensive consultant by the Panthers last June, and Rob Chudzinski, who worked as the team's offensive coordinator in 2011 and 2012 before taking over as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
Rivera was a defensive coach under Turner with the then-San Diego Chargers from 2007-10.
Chiefs promote running backs coach to offensive coordinator
The Chiefs have promoted running backs coach Eric Bieniemy to offensive coordinator, filling the job that Matt Nagy left open when he was hired as the head coach of the Chicago Bears.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid announced the promotion in a statement Tuesday.
Bieniemy has spent five seasons with the Chiefs, joining the franchise when Reid was hired as the head coach.
He has experience as an offensive coordinator during a two-year stint at Colorado, his alma mater, and also spent five seasons as running backs coach with the Minnesota Vikings.
Bieniemy was a secondround pick of the Chargers in 1991, and played running back for nine seasons with San Diego, Cincinnati and Philadelphia. He played for Reid in his final season with the Eagles.
Bills GM says Incognito comments may have been misunderstood
Bills general manager Brandon Beane said there may have been a misunderstanding during an on-field exchange that led to Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue accusing Buffalo guard Richie Incognito of using "weak racist slurs."
Beane said the Bills have spoken to Incognito and understand their player's side of the story of the alleged exchange that occurred during Buffalo's 10-3 loss to the Jaguars in an AFC wild-card playoff game on Sunday. Beane confirmed some type of exchange happened but declined to get into details.
Ngakoue declined to reveal exactly what Incognito said since making his allegation in a tweet sent a few hours after the game. Ngakoue said Monday that Incognito knows what he said and there is no point repeating it.
Incognito has not responded to the accusations.
Giants interview Panthers defensive coordinator Wilks
The New York Giants have interviewed Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks for their vacant head coaching job.
The 48-year-old Wilks met with co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch, new general manager Dave Gettleman and assistant general manager Kevin Abrams at the team's headquarters on Tuesday, two days after the Panthers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by New Orleans.
The Giants are nearing the end of their first round of coaching interviews. They plan to speak with recently fired Broncos running backs coach Eric Studesville on Wednesday.
Ravens promote Martindale to defensive coordinator
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh has promoted linebackers coach Don Martindale to defensive coordinator, assuring a seamless transition in the wake of Dean Pees' retirement.
Martindale has been coaching Baltimore linebackers since 2012.
The 54-year-old was the defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos in 2010.
After Pees ended his six-year run as the Ravens' defensive coordinator on Jan. 1, Harbaugh said he wanted to maintain continuity with his new hire.
Matt Ryan misses practice because of personal matter
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan left team headquarters because of an undisclosed personal matter and did not practice with the team.
Team spokesman Brian Cearns said Tuesday the Falcons did not plan to give a reason for his absence, adding that Ryan would address the matter when he meets on Wednesday with reporters "if he decides to do so."
The 2016 NFL MVP was listed as "did not participant in practice, non-injury related." He hasn't missed a game since Week 15 of 2009. No. 2 quarterback Matt Schaub took Ryan's place in practice.