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SPORTS Tuesday 13 February 2018

Colts hire Frank Reich as new head coach

By MICHAEL MAROT Foles executed an exqui- confident, he's very con-
AP Sports Writer site game plan to beat fident, that he's going to
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Tom Brady and the favored come back and prove a
Indianapolis Colts' second Patriots, the Colts brought lot of people wrong," Bal-
choice for head coach back a longtime assistant lard said.
could turn out to be even who spent two seasons The Colts also have a de-
better than the first. working with Peyton Man- fense that showed steady
And Frank Reich has the ning. improvement throughout
Super Bowl championship But this wasn't just about the season, the No. 3 over-
gear to prove it. sending a message. all draft pick in April, nearly
Five days after New Eng- "Frank has all the ingredi- $80 million to spend in free
land Patriots offensive co- ents of a successful head agency and a promising
ordinator Josh McDaniels coach: intelligence, inno- backup quarterback in Ja-
reneged on a deal to take vation, character, orga- coby Brissett, who started
the Colts' job, Ballard hired nizational and leadership 15 games in 2017.
Reich, the man who outwit- skills, and a commanding And the Colts already have This Dec. 12, 2017 file photo shows Philadelphia Eagles offensive
ted McDaniels last week presence," team owner three assistants on Reich's coordinator Frank Reich speaking with members of the media
and helped lead the Phila- Jim Irsay said. "He also has staff — probable defensive during a news conference at the team's NFL football training fa-
delphia Eagles to their first a stellar reputation, and his coordinator Matt Eberflus, cility in Philadelphia. Associated Press
NFL title since 1960."Frank myriad of life experiences Mike Phair and Dave De-
is a leader of men who and the people he has Guglielmo. All three agreed
will demand excellence worked with make him the to join McDaniels' staff in son and became receivers however, for rallying the
from our players on and perfect fit for us and our Indy and have been prom- coach in 2011. Buffalo Bills from a 35-3 defi-
off the field," Ballard said fans. I feel extremely for- ised by Ballard that they will In 2012, he coached the cit to a 41-38 overtime vic-
in a statement released tunate and could not be remain on the staff. receivers in Arizona and tory over the Houston Oilers
Sunday. "I look forward to more excited for Colts Na- Reich, meanwhile, returns then was hired as San Di- in January 1993 — the big-
working with Frank to deliv- tion and the future of our to the franchise where he ego's quarterbacks coach gest comeback in playoff
er a championship-caliber franchise." started his coaching career in 2013. The Chargers pro- history.
team to the city of India- It sure didn't take long to as an intern in 2006. He was moted him to offensive Now, in his first head
napolis." make the decision. named an offensive as- coordinator in 2014 where coaching job, he will be
Terms of the deal were not Ballard interviewed the sistant in 2008, succeeded he stayed until joining the paired with the architect of
immediately available, but 56-year-old Reich on Friday, Jim Caldwell as quarter- Eagles in 2016. the second-biggest playoff
Reich is expected to be in- the day after Philadelphia backs coach the next sea- Reich may be best known, comeback, Luck.q
troduced at a news confer- held its victory celebration.
Colts officials posted a no, who was fired hours af- AP source: Yu Darvish, Cubs
He replaces Chuck Paga-
ence Tuesday.
photo of Reich signing the ter finishing the season with reach $126 million, 6-year deal
deal on the team's website. a 4-12 record and missing
The move ends a search the playoffs for the third
that spanned 41 days, in- consecutive year.
cluded two coaching an- Reich takes over a fran- By JAY COHEN
nouncements and the em- chise that appears to have CHICAGO (AP) — The win-
barrassment of McDaniels some key pieces in place ter-long dance is over. Yu
changing his mind Tuesday — especially if Andrew Darvish is joining the Chi-
night just eight hours after Luck is healthy. cago Cubs.
telling the Colts he'd take Luck missed the entire 2017 Darvish has agreed to a
the job. season after having surgery $126 million, six-year con-
On Wednesday, Ballard an- for a partially torn labrum tract with Chicago, giving
swered questions for nearly in his throwing shoulder. the Cubs one of the deep-
20 minutes before finishing He went on injured reserve est rotations in baseball
with "the rivalry is back on." in November because of and taking one of the top
By hiring Reich, another lingering pain in his right players off the slow-mov-
touted offensive coordina- shoulder after he had start- ing free agent market.
tor and a potential lead- ed throwing a football. The 31-year-old Darvish
ing candidate next season, On Wednesday, Ballard met with Cubs officials way
only added another chap- said Luck still hasn't thrown In this Nov. 1, 2017, file photo, Los Angeles Dodgers starting back in December and
ter to the long and bitter a football since October. pitcher Yu Darvish throws during the first inning of Game 7 of the sides remained in con-
series. "He's going to do every- baseball's World Series against the Houston Astros, in Los An- tact while the right-hander
Exactly one week after thing right to get himself geles. listened to other potential
backup quarterback Nick ready to play and I'm very Associated Press suitors.q