Shoes and other equipment filled 4-foot-high bins in the Miami Dolphins’ locker room Monday, signaling the start of the offseason. Another sign: upheaval in the offices upstairs. The Dolphins’ latest shake-up began before noon when new boss Bill Parcells fired general manager Randy Mueller and two other members of the player personnel staff.
Brian Billick never came close to duplicating the success he enjoyed early in his career as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, and it finally cost him his job. Billick was fired Monday, less than 24 hours after his team concluded a season of high expectations with a disappointing 5-11 record. His entire staff, including defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, also was dismissed.
Darren McFadden will play in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day after the university reviewed a media report linking the All-America running back and an agent to the purchase of a vehicle and found no reason to make him ineligible. Arkansas television station KARK has since apologized to McFadden and his family for the report, but the university said it was looking into the matter.
DeSean Jackson and Robert Jordan returned from their first-quarter benchings and caught touchdown passes to help California rally from a three-TD deficit and beat Air Force 42-36 in the Armed Forces Bowl on Monday. California (7-6), ranked No. 2 in the nation in October before losing six of seven games, managed to finish with its sixth straight winning season.
Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings stomped his foot on the ground, threw his arms in the air, then took a seat on the bench and covered his face. Watching the Commodores play defense can be frustrating. Luckily, Stallings’ team doesn’t have a problem scoring. No. 15 Vanderbilt got out to the best start in school history Monday, beating Iona 97-73 behind A.J.
A day after Carolina finished out of the playoffs for the second straight year, John Fox remained confident that he’ll return as the Panthers’ coach. But speculation about Fox’s status won’t end until owner Jerry Richardson makes his decision public. When asked Monday if Richardson would finally address the status of Fox and general manager Marty Hurney, team spokesman Charlie Dayton said it was…
Brian Billick was fired as coach of the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, less than a day after his team concluded a disappointing 5-11 season. Players were told of the dismissal as they packed up their lockers at the team’s practice facility. Billick won the 2001 Super Bowl in his second season with the Ravens, and led the team to a franchise-best 13-3 record in 2006.
Marv Levy stepped down as the Buffalo Bills general manager Monday, confident he has the team headed in the right direction despite a second consecutive 7-9 finish. “It has been an experience that I have enjoyed immensely,” Levy said in a statement released by the Bills. “Despite an unprecedented number of season-ending injuries, Dick Jauron, his coaching staff and an admirable core of…
Dayton was impressive with its road win over Louisville. The Flyers went a lot further with their 25-point rout of previously unbeaten Pittsburgh last weekend, a victory that moved them into The Associated Press’ Top 25 for the first time in four years. “That kind of win was maybe shocking to everybody, including myself, but I hope the ranking is for the 12-game body of work to this point of the…
Bill Parcells’ shakeup of the Miami Dolphins began Monday with the firing of general manager Randy Mueller. Assistant director of player personnel Mike Baugh and college scouting coordinator Rick Thompson also departed. Also at risk of being fired was coach Cam Cameron, who said he would discuss his future with Parcells this week.