49ers release McDonald
Defensive lineman Ray McDonald has been released by the San Francisco 49ers amid an investigation by San Jose police into McDonald on suspicion of sexual assault.
San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke says he informed McDonald and his agent by phone at 11:30 a.m. PST that the defender is “terminated.”
Baalke says, “This is a situation that we can all learn from.” Baalke said CEO Jed York and coach Jim Harbaugh also were involved in the decision.
Baalke says the 49ers notified the NFL office of the allegations against McDonald, saying, “This is a team decision.”
Last month, the Santa Clara County district attorney’s office announced it declined to file charges against the defensive lineman in an investigation stemming from his Aug. 31 arrest in a domestic violence case.
Bears Trestman on thin ice: Chicago Bears coach Marc Trestman is aware of speculation about his future and acknowledges he is not getting the most out of quarterback Jay Cutler.
The Bears (5-9) have two games left in a season that derailed long ago and changes could be coming. Trestman says his focus is on the task at hand, which is preparing for this weekend’s game against Detroit and figuring out a way to end a three-game losing streak.
Even so, he acknowledges there is “noise out there” about his future. He also says he feels “very supported” within the Bears’ headquarters.
Browns coach peeved with Kosar remarks: Browns coach Mike Pettine calls former Cleveland quarterback Bernie Kosar’s harsh condemnation of the team’s front office “a little dramatic.”
Kosar blasted the organization Monday, a day after the Browns were shut out by Cincinnati in rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel’s starting debut.
Pettine says he respects Kosar as a player and that he’s entitled to his opinion, but feels with the interaction between ownership, the front office and coaching staff, “the commitment is all there for us to be successful.”
Pettine said he’s “very encouraged” about the future with the Browns, who haven’t been to the playoffs since 2002 and have undergone numerous coaching and quarterback changes in recent years. Pettine said it’s easier to criticize a team on a three-game losing streak, and he “didn’t hear a lot of that when we got our seventh win.”
Newton back at practice: Cam Newton returned to practice Wednesday eight days after a horrific-looking automobile accident left him with two fractures in his lower back.
Whether or not he starts Sunday against the Cleveland Browns remains unclear.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said the team put Newton through a “rigorous” rehab schedule and will now wait to see how much soreness the fourth-year quarterback has today. Rivera wouldn’t say definitively if he’ll start Newton or Derek Anderson in a game with playoff implications for the Panthers (5-8-1).
The Panthers are a half-game behind the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South with two games remaining.
“Come Friday I want to have a good feel for him,” Rivera said. “I don’t want to let it drag or linger. We want our quarterbacks to know who’s getting the reps if they’re going to be the starter.”
Newton, wearing a long sleeve black shirt under his red practice jersey and a helmet, was limited in practice according to the team’s injury report and split reps with the first team with Anderson.
Chargers to return to Qualcomm: The San Diego Chargers will be staying at Qualcomm Stadium for at least another year.
Mark Fabiani, special counsel to Chargers President Dean Spanos, said in a statement Tuesday night that the team will not exercise its lease termination clause before next season and will continue to work to get a new facility built in San Diego. He noted that 2015 will be the team’s 14th year working to get a new stadium in San Diego.
The Chargers have announced their return each year since 2007. The team says they need a new stadium to stay financially competitive with other franchises.