JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars fired coach Jack Del Rio on Tuesday after a 3-8 start, parting ways with the franchise’s second coach during his ninth season.
Del Rio’s job security had been tenuous since majority owner Wayne Weaver said the coach needed to make the playoffs to secure a 10th season in Jacksonville. The Jaguars essentially were eliminated with Sunday’s 20-13 loss to AFC South-leading Houston.
The timing of the move made sense since the Jaguars are struggling to sell tickets and host a Monday night game against San Diego. Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker was named the interim coach.
Del Rio leaves with a 69-73 record, including 1-2 in two playoffs appearances. The Jaguars didn’t win the AFC South in any of his nine seasons.
The move came on the day an agreement was reached to sell the Jaguars to Illinois businessman Shahid Khan.
Weaver made the announcement hours after Del Rio and was dismisse and general manager Gene Smith was given a three-year contract extension. Weaver said Khan will have 100 percent control of the team.
NFL puts its foot down and sits Suh for two games
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Ndamukong Suh’s stomp will cost him two games without pay. It may cost the Lions more than that.
The NFL suspended Detroit’s All-Pro defensive tackle on Tuesday for roughing Green Bay Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith in front of a national television audience during a loss Thanksgiving Day. Before the stomp, Suh shoved Dietrich-Smith’s helmet into the turf.
Suh will miss Sunday night’s game at New Orleans and a Dec. 11 home game against Minnesota, with the Lions desperately trying to keep pace in the NFC. He won’t be reinstated until Dec. 12.
Suh has three days to appeal the suspension.
It was the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year’s fifth violation of on-field rules in his first two years in the NFL.
He leads the league with nine personal fouls since 2010, according to STATS LLC.
Steelers’ Polamalu should be fine to play Sunday
PITTSBURGH — All-Pro free safety Troy Polamalu is free of concussion symptoms and “all things are positive” for the AFC North showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals, coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday.
Polamalu left Sunday night’s 13-9 win at Kansas City when his helmet struck the knee of Steve Maneri while Polamalu dove to tackle the tackle-eligible. That marked the second time this season the reigning AP defensive player of the year was forced out of a game due to a blow to the head,
But Tomlin said Polamalu was “asymptomatic … relatively quickly — and I’m talking about Sunday night.”
Brees airs it out as Saints pummel Giants on Monday Night Football
NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees passed for 363 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score as the New Orleans Saints rolled to a 49-24 victory over the Giants on Monday night, extending New York’s losing skid to three games.
Tight end Jimmy Graham had five catches for 84 yards, including touchdowns of 5 and 29 yards. Brees’ two other scoring strikes went to Lance Moore, who had five catches for 54 yards.
Around the league
• TEXANS: Injury-riddled Houston signed Jake Delhomme for depth at quarterback. Delhomme, 36, will back up rookie T.J. Yates, a fifth-round pick slated to start Sunday’s game against Atlanta. The Texans lost Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart to season-ending injuries.
• CHIEFS: Kansas City released offensive tackle Jared Gaither just days after he committed a costly false start penalty in a loss to Pittsburgh. Gaither had come in for one down after left tackle Branden Albert was slow to get up.
• COLTS: Winless Indianapolis named Dan Orlovsky to replace Curtis Painter at quarterback. Painter replaced the injured Kerry Collins late in a Week 3 loss to Pittsburgh…. The Colts fired defensive coordinator Larry Coyer after starting the season 0-11.
• BEARS: Chicago placed special-teams contributor Brian Iwuh on the waived/injured list and promoted linebacker Patrick Trahan from the practice squad on Tuesday.
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