|
Jan 13 (The Sports Xchange) - The NFL decided Friday to
delay the kickoff time of Sunday's AFC divisional playoff game
in Kansas City between the Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers from
1:05 p.m. ET to 8:20 p.m. because of an impending ice storm.
"Due to public safety concerns in light of the forecasted storm
this weekend in the Kansas City area, Sunday's Steelers-Chiefs
Divisional Playoff game on NBC has been moved," the NFL said in
a statement.
"Moving the game from the original start time will provide local
authorities more time to clear roads in the area as the weather
is expected to improve throughout Sunday. The decision to make
this time change was made in consultation with state and local
officials as well as the Chiefs and the Steelers."
--
The Green Bay Packers ruled out leading wide receiver Jordy
Nelson with a rib injury for Sunday's divisional playoff game
against the Dallas Cowboys.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Friday that team
doctors would not medically clear the ninth-year veteran to
practice Saturday.
Nelson has been sidelined because of cracked ribs he sustained
in last Sunday's 38-13 wild-card playoff win over the New York
Giants.
Nelson, who will be re-evaluated by team doctors on Monday, led
the team in receptions (97), receiving yards (1,257) and
touchdown catches (14) during the regular season.
--
Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter was reinstated
by the team and will return to the sidelines for Sunday's AFC
divisional playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs after
charges he faced were reduced from an alleged altercation at a
bar.
The outside linebackers coach spent four days on
team-administered leave following his arrest last Sunday night
-- hours after the Steelers beat the Miami Dolphins in a
wild-card game -- but the Allegheny County district attorney
tossed out the most serious charges against Porter on Thursday.
Porter is now being charged with disorderly conduct and public
drunkenness after initially being charged with aggravated
assault, resistant arrest and defiant trespass.
The remaining citations have fines of up to $500 and 90 days in
jail on each charge.
--
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed defensive coordinator Mike Smith
to a multi-year contract extension, ending speculation he would
leave after one season to take one of the NFL's open
head-coaching positions.
Smith interviewed for the openings in Jacksonville and San Diego
(now Los Angeles). The Jaguars eventually retained interim coach
Doug Marrone, and Smith chose to remove his name from
consideration for the Chargers' job and other opportunities.
Just hours after the Chargers announced Thursday they were
moving from San Diego to Los Angeles, they selected former
Buffalo Bills interim head coach and offensive coordinator
Anthony Lynn as their next head coach.
--
The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Joe DeCamillis as special teams
coordinator.
DeCamillis, who is entering his 29th NFL season in 2017, joins
new coach Doug Marrone's staff for a second stint with the
Jaguars after previously serving with the club as the special
teams coordinator from 2007-08.
DeCamillis spent the past two seasons as the special teams
coordinator for the Denver Broncos.
(Editing by Larry Fine)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
