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A22 sports
Tuesday 16 January 2018
Titans fire coach Mike Mularkey after playoff win

By TERESA M. WALKER Strunk called it “unfortu- unified with them in our vi-
AP Pro Football Writer nate” that they couldn’t sion for the football team.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — find common ground on In Mularkey’s first full sea-
The Tennessee Titans be- how to improve. son, the Titans led the NFL
lieve the potential reward “I also view this as an im- scoring touchdowns inside
from quarterback Mar- portant moment for our the red zone, and they led
cus Mariota working with football team as we try the AFC while ranking third
his third head coach in to make that next step to in rushing offense. Mariota
his fourth NFL season out- sustained success on the also threw 26 touchdowns
weighs the risk of change. field,” Strunk said in a state- with only nine intercep-
Or sticking with the same ment. tions.
coach. Now Robinson will oversee This season, the Titans failed
So now the Titans are look- his first coaching search to take advantage of an
ing for a new coach to re- with the Titans the sev- AFC South in which An-
place Mike Mularkey and enth NFL team to change drew Luck did not play for
build off the franchise’s first coaches since the start of Indianapolis and two-time
playoff win in 14 years to the season. He was hired defending division champ
make them a true NFL con- two days before Mularkey Houston lost rookie quarter-
tender. In this Jan. 6, 2018, file photo, Tennessee Titans head coach had the interim title re- back Deshaun Watson to
“There’s nothing more that Mike Mularkey watches before an NFL wild-card playoff football moved in January 2016. an injury early.
I want for our fans than game against Kansas City Chiefs, in Kansas City, Mo. “This boils down to doing Mariota also had his worst
to bring a championship Associated Press what we think is best for the season yet with a career-
here,” general manager the stretch as the Titans fin- pared to move “full speed” football team moving for- worst 15 interceptions and
Jon Robinson said Monday ished 3-13 to land the No. ahead after talking with ward, taking the next step,” 13 touchdowns. The run
afternoon . “I feel like it’s 1 overall draft pick in 2016. Strunk. He defended offen- Robinson said. game, the basis of Mular-
my charge to put the team That capped a 5-27 record sive coordinator Terry Rob- Robinson said interviews key’s offense, slumped to
in the best position to do over 2014 and 2015 that iskie’s play-calling, saying with candidates could be 15th in the NFL.
that.” was the NFL’s worst. he was happy with Mari- held as early as this week, Robinson said the key is
The Titans fired Mike Mular- Mularkey led the Titans to ota’s development. though the Titans will con- finding the right coach to
key on Monday, less than back-to-back 9-7 records Mularkey also said he didn’t firm a candidate only after get the best out of the Ti-
48 hours after a 35-14 loss — their first consecutive anticipate any changes on an interview is complet- tans’ roster, and the gen-
to New England in the AFC winning records since 2007- his coaching staff a week ed. The general manager eral manager isn’t worried
divisional round. Mularkey 08. He finished with a 21-22 after Strunk issued a state- declined to discuss Patri- about Mariota working with
revived a team with the record after a season in ment on his job security ots offensive coordinator yet another head coach.
NFL’s worst record over two which the Titans cost them- . But talk of an extension Josh McDaniels, saying “Marcus is a pretty resilient
seasons and led them to selves the AFC South title since a 22-21 comeback he couldn’t comment on guy,” Robinson said. “He’s
their first playoff victory in with a three-game skid in win against Kansas City in coaches under contract. a very mentally tough guy.
14 years only to become December and needed the wild-card round ended “This is a very attractive job He takes a lot from the
the first coach let go after to beat the Jaguars, now Monday morning when for a lot of candidates,” standpoint of ownership in
winning a playoff game in the AFC championship Robinson and president Robinson said. “I look for- things. I have zero concern
since San Francisco fired game, to reach the post- and chief executive officer ward to working with who- in Marcus being able to
Steve Mariucci after the season for the first time Steve Underwood told Mu- ever the next head coach adapt and learn, and do
2002 season. since 2008. larkey they was being let is. I think that they will see what’s best to get the of-
Titans controlling owner His devotion to an offense go. that myself and Amy will be fense going.q
Amy Adams Strunk turned he’s known since being of-
to Mularkey in November fensive coordinator in Pitts-
burgh between 2001 and
2015 when she fired Ken 2003 may have cost him. Raptors’ Kyle Lowry makes $1
Whisenhunt after 23 games
million donation to Villanova
. Mularkey went 2-7 down He said Sunday he was pre-

By MIKE CRANSTON
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — When
Villanova officials first con-
tacted Toronto Raptors
guard Kyle Lowry about
making a $1 million dona-
tion to his alma mater, he
was skeptical.
When he found out the
money would be used for
upgrades to the Pavillion,
the facility where he spends
the offseason working out,
he quickly came around.
“If I wasn’t there every day,
if I wasn’t around the play-
ers and using the facilities Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, bottom, and Philadelphia
as much as I do, it would 76ers guard Ben Simmons vie for a loose ball during the third
be a little different,” Lowry quarter of an NBA basketball game in Philadelphia, Monday,
Jan. 15, 2018. The 76ers won 117-111.
said. q Associated Press