One of the NFL's quaint traditions renewed itself as Black Monday became a reality in three cities.
The St. Louis Rams fired Steve Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney on Monday, and about an hour later the Tampa Bay Bucs fired Raheem Morris and his entire staff. Morris had a 17-31 mark in three seasons.
Spagnuolo, a former Eagles assistant, left with a 10-38 record. Speculation immediately flared that Spagnuolo would rejoin the Eagles as defensive coordinator.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay fired vice chairman Bill Polian and general manager Chris Polian while leaving coach Jim Caldwell in place, at least for now.
Jacksonville had started the coaching carousel by firing Jack Del Rio on Nov. 29; two weeks later Miami fired Tony Sparano and Kansas City dismissed Todd Haley.
With the Bucs' move on Monday, all three Florida NFL teams will have new coaches next season.
The Jaguars weren't wasting time. They received permission from the Jets to interview offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and from the Falcons to interview offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey for the vacancy.
The Chiefs went 2-1 under interim coach Romeo Crennel, including a win over 15-1 Green Bay, and he could end up with the job next season.
In San Diego, Chargers coach Norv Turner said he knows a decision on his future is being made by team president Dean Spanos, who also is deciding whether GM A.J. Smith returns.
It appears Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey will be back. On Monday, he fired defensive coordinator George Edwards and replaced him with assistant head coach Dave Wannstedt.
Playoff-bound Cincinnati went 0-7 against other playoff teams - AFC North rivals Baltimore and Pittsburgh, plus Denver, San Francisco and Houston. They beat one team (Tennessee) that finished with a winning record.
Baltimore and Green Bay both were 6-0 vs. other playoff teams.
The Associated Press reported that Pittsburgh running back Rashard Mendenhall suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in Sunday's 13-9 win in Cleveland and will require surgery, sidelining him throughout the playoffs.
Saints QB Drew Brees shattered Dan Marino's 27-year-old mark of 5,084 yards passing by throwing for 5,476. He had 468 completions this season, breaking Peyton Manning's 2010 mark of 450. He finished the season completing 71.6 percent of his passes, breaking his own 2009 record of a 70.6 completion percentage.
The Saints' Darren Sproles had a record 2,696 combined yards, breaking the mark of 2,690 set by Derrick Mason with Tennessee in 2000.
New England's Rob Gronkowski set the single-season record for tight ends with 1,327 yards receiving. That broke the mark of 1,310 set earlier Sunday by Jimmy Graham of the Saints. The previous mark of 1,290 was set in 1980 by Kellen Winslow of the San Diego Chargers.
Contact staff writer Don McKee at dmckee@phillynews.com. This article contains information from the Associated Press.
