NFL
Browns named eighth new head coach in 16 years
CLEVELAND – The Browns hired former Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson as their new head coach, the team’s eighth since 1999.
Jackson will bring head coaching experience, knowledge of the AFC North and a knack for fixing quarterbacks to the Browns, who fired Mike Pettine after a 3-13 season. The 50-year-old has spent the past two seasons directing Cincinnati.
He coached Oakland in 2011, leading the Raiders to an 8-8 record. Jackson waited for his second chance as a head coach and he’ll get it in Cleveland, where coaches – and quarterbacks – have come and gone with regularity for more than a decade.
Reed shifts to coaching; joins staff in Buffalo
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Five-time All-Pro safety Ed Reed is making the transition to coaching by joining Rex Ryan’s staff with the Buffalo Bills.
The team announced Wednesday night that Reed had agreed in principle to be an assistant defensive backs coach. Reed will be reunited with Ryan, who was the Ravens’ defensive coordinator during the safety’s first seven seasons in Baltimore. Reed ended his career in 2013 playing for the Ryan-coached New York Jets.
On Sunday, Ryan hired his twin brother Rob to serve as assistant head coach responsible for defense.
Skiing
Picabo Street can’t hide from assault charge
SALT LAKE CITY – Olympic gold medalist skier Picabo Street was charged with assault and domestic violence after authorities say she pushed her father down the stairs in a Utah home in December.
Charging documents show Street told police she locked her 76-year-old father in the basement of a Park City house after pushing him and then called authorities. She says her father pulled her hair in the Dec. 23 fight that police say Street’s three children witnessed.
Street is charged with misdemeanor domestic violence in the presence of a child and misdemeanor assault.
Street’s attorney, Jason Richards, says she denies any wrongdoing in what she considers a private family matter. He says Street is hopeful a plea deal can be reached.
Street won a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
World Cup events find a way to be made up
HINTERSTODER, Austria – The International Ski Federation says the Austrian resort of Hinterstoder will host an additional men’s World Cup giant slalom in February as a replacement for the classic race in Adelboden that was canceled last Saturday.
A super-G and a GS in the weekend of Feb. 27-28 have already been scheduled for Hinterstoder, which will now carry out an extra GS on Feb. 26.
Fog and rain forced organizers in Switzerland to call off Saturday’s race.
Ski jumper Mueller has surgery after test crash
TAUPLITZ, Austria – Austrian ski jumper Lukas Mueller underwent surgery on his lower spine Wednesday hours after crashing during test ski flying on the world championship hill.
An equipment problem caused Mueller to fall while landing a 120-meter jump in heavy snowfall. Initially he couldn’t move his legs but his condition improved while receiving first aid, according to emergency doctor Ulf Karner.
“It’s a very serious spine injury with yet unforeseeable consequences,” Karner told the Austria Press Agency.
Mueller was taken to the university clinic in Graz by ambulance as an emergency helicopter couldn’t fly because of fog.
The 23-year-old Mueller, who was the 2009 junior world champion on the normal hill, competed in 16 World Cup events from 2009-13, and finished sixth at the first stop of the 2009-10 Four Hills Tour in Oberstdorf, Germany.
Associated Press
