Denver Broncos fire rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett
The Denver Broncos have fired first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett with two games left in the season. Owner and CEO Greg Penner said he'll lead the search for a new coach with assistance from GM George Paton, in whom he expressed confidence Monday while announcing Hackett's dismissal. Firing Hackett with two games left in a lost season allows Penner to begin his search for a replacement immediately.
news.yahoo.comPaton: Broncos convinced Gregory's troubles are behind him
George Paton was so convinced that Randy Gregory's troubles are behind him that he ponied up $70 million for the pass rusher with a suspension-filled seven-year stint in Dallas. “We talked to a lot of people within the Cowboys organization, people who have been around Randy and his path and we felt like we knew him and then when we spoke with him, really felt good about it,” the Broncos general manager said Friday. Gregory has stayed out of trouble since being activated from the commissioner's exempt list on Oct. 20, 2020.
news.yahoo.com6-win Giants outlast Cowboys, stay in running for NFC East
Washington would claim the NFC East with a win or tie. “I won’t be caught dead in an Eagles hat," said receiver Sterling Shepard, the only player left from New York's last playoff appearance in 2016. Limited to 26 points over its previous three games, the Giants' 31st-ranked offense busted out with 239 yards and 20 points in the first half. Giants: Williams had seven tackles, three sacks and hit the quarterback five times. Giants: LB Blake Martinez left the game briefly after appearing to injure his left ankle or foot in the third quarter.
AP source: Cowboys sign DE Aldon Smith, suspended since 2015
The Dallas Cowboys are taking a chance on another suspended defensive end, signing Aldon Smith to a contract while his playing status in the NFL is uncertain. The Cowboys now have two suspended pass rushers under contract in Smith and Randy Gregory. The 30-year-old Smith had several legal issues as a player with San Francisco and Oakland. He was first suspended with the 49ers in 2014 before receiving a one-year ban in November 2015 with the Raiders. He had 19 1/2 sacks in his second NFL season and was an All-Pro while helping San Francisco reach the Super Bowl.