Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
SAN DIEGO — Mike McCoy’s interview with San Diego went so well that both sides felt he was a perfect fit to become the Chargers’ new coach.
McCoy had one thing to do, though, before accepting the Chargers’ offer, so it was a good thing Chargers President Dean Spanos’ private plane was at his disposal.
“There was no doubt in my mind when I got back on that plane to go back home,” said McCoy, the former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator who was introduced Tuesday as Chargers’ new coach. “They wanted to keep me here last night. But I said, ‘I’ve got to talk to my wife about this before. If I made the decision without talking to my wife, I might get in a little trouble.’”
McCoy replaces Norv Turner, who was fired along with general manager A.J. Smith after the Chargers finished 7-9 and missed the playoffs for the third straight season.
The move comes three days after the top-seeded Broncos were eliminated from the playoffs in a double-overtime home loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
The 40-year-old McCoy is the same age as Tom Telesco, who was hired as general manager last week.
CARDS SEARCH
PHOENIX — The Arizona Cardinals’ list of potential coaches lost a name when the San Diego Chargers hired Mike McCoy.
Now the Cardinals are going to take a look at Seattle offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, reportedly setting up an interview with the man who provided the game plan that led to the Seahawks’ 58-0 victory over Arizona.
EAGLES SEARCH
PHILADELPHIA — They’re all aboard the Gus Bus in Philly.
Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley arrived in Philadelphia on Tuesday for his second interview with the Eagles, suggesting the nearly three-week search to replace Andy Reid could be nearing an end.
PANTHERS
CHARLOTTE — the Carolina Panthers interviewed Bobby April on Tuesday for their special teams coordinator position.
April spent the past three seasons as the Philadelphia Eagles’ special teams coordinator. He joined the NFL in 1991.
RODGERS OUT
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says injuries to “multiple lower extremities” will keep him out of the Pro Bowl later this month.
Rodgers was to be the NFC’s starting quarterback. But the reigning NFL MVP said on his weekly radio show on Milwaukee’s ESPN 540 AM on Tuesday that he didn’t pass his year-end physical. He wouldn’t get into specifics, though he did say injury to his right ankle that landed him on the injury report several times in the second half of the season “has definitely been a problem.”
101 AWARDS
KANSAS CITY, Mo.— Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was chosen AFC offensive player of the year and Vikings running back Adrian Peterson the NFC’s top offensive player in voting for the 101 Awards.
San Francisco linebacker Aldon Smith was the NFC’s top defensive player, and Seattle’s Pete Carroll the conference coach of the year. Houston’s J.J. Watt was the AFC’s best defensive player and Chuck Pagano and Bruce Arians of Indianapolis shared the AFC coaching honor.
BELCHER UPDATE
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit when he shot his girlfriend nine times and then killed himself in front of his coach and general manager, an autopsy showed.
The Jackson County Medical Examiner report on Belcher, 25, raised new questions about whether police should have done more before the Dec. 1 murder-suicide. Officers found Belcher sleeping in his idling car about five hours earlier, but let him go inside a nearby apartment to sleep it off.
At the time of the autopsy, Belcher’s BAC was 0.17, more than twice the limit of 0.08 percent for Missouri drivers, and it was likely higher when he shot girlfriend Kasandra Perkins, 22, at the couple’s Kansas City home.
A police report released previously said Belcher had gone out the night before with a woman he was dating on the side while Perkins attended a concert with her friends.