Haslett out as Redskins’ defensive coordinator after 5 years
Jim Haslett is done as the Washington Redskins’ defensive coordinator after five seasons.
The Redskins never finished better than 20th in the 32-team NFL in points allowed during his tenure. They were 29th in that category this season, and 30th a year earlier.
Haslett’s departure, announced by the team Wednesday morning, is the first fallout after Washington finished 4-12 for its sixth last-place finish in the NFC East over the past seven years.
The Redskins said in a news release that the team and Haslett “have mutually agreed to part ways.”
Haslett joined the team when Mike Shanahan became head coach and worked under him for four years. Haslett then was kept aboard when Shanahan was fired after last season and replaced by first-time NFL head coach Jay Gruden.
Gruden once worked for Haslett in the now-defunct UFL.
On Monday, Gruden said he “would recommend keeping” Haslett.
Bruce Allen, the Redskins’ president and general manager, said at a news conference Wednesday that Haslett’s exit “was the right decision.”
“Jay and Jim had been talking the last few days,” Allen said. “This morning when they were talking, they decided it was the best way for both sides.”
Allen said other defensive assistant coaches had not been let go.
“We’ll start the defensive coordinator search later today and start exploring some names and bring in some people for interviews,” Allen said. “But Jay will make those decisions later.”
Marrone quits as Bills’ coach: Doug Marrone has stepped down as coach of the Buffalo Bills.
Bills owner Terry Pegula said Wednesday that Marrone exercised the opt-out clause in his contract.
The decision came as a surprise after Marrone led the Bills to a 9-7 finish in his second season in Buffalo. It was the Bills’ first winning season in 10 years. Buffalo, however, missed the playoffs to extend the NFL’s longest active postseason drought to 15 seasons.
The opt-out clause in Marrone’s contract went into effect after Pegula and wife Kim bought the team in October. Marrone had until Wednesday to make his decision.
Ravens security director charged: The Baltimore Ravens’ security director won’t accompany the team to its playoff game in Pittsburgh after being charged with a sex violation.
Darren Sanders, 48, was charged Tuesday with a fourth-degree sexual offense, according to online court records for Baltimore City District Court.
The records tied the charge to a Dec. 14 incident but do not say what specifically happened.
Sanders’ lawyers said he denies the allegations.
A hearing is set for Feb. 9.
“We are investigating this case thoroughly,” Ravens senior vice president Kevin Byrne said Wednesday.
Bryne said Sanders was not at work Wednesday and would not join the team when it travels to its wildcard game against the Steelers on Saturday night.
The charge against Sanders lists his address as that of the Ravens’ team headquarters in Owings Mills, Maryland. Normally, defendants in a criminal case are required to list a home address.
A spokesman for the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office on Wednesday declined to discuss the basis for the charge, saying the office does not comment on active cases.
In Maryland, a fourth-degree sex offense is the lowest level of such a charge. It’s punishable by a maximum one year in jail and a fine of $1,000.
A Baltimore police spokesman did not immediately respond to multiple requests about the case Wednesday.
But Sanders’ lawyers said he did nothing wrong.
“He is innocent and looks forward to his day in court,” the firm of Alperstein & Diener said in a statement.
“Mr. Sanders has worked his entire career to keep others safe as a police officer and as a detective with the Baltimore City Police Department and currently as the senior security director for the Baltimore Ravens,” the statement said. “He is a man who possesses tremendous integrity, and he has worked to ensure public safety by protecting the health, welfare and security of the community.”
News of the summons was first reported by the Baltimore Sun.
Sanders’ first year as a full-time employee with the Ravens was 2004.
This year, Sanders launched the Ravens’ investigation into the Ray Rice domestic violence case after being told by a police officer details of a video that showed Rice hitting his then-fiancee in a hotel elevator.
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a news conference in September that the officer described the scene to Sanders, who relayed the information to other team officials.
“So, (he gave) his description to Darren, Darren took notes and gave his description as he understood it to (coach) John (Harbaugh) and (general manager) and Ozzie (Newsome), I believe,” Bisciotti said.