DALLAS — Bill Belichick won The Associated Press 2010 NFL coach of the year award Wednesday, the third time the New England Patriots coach has earned the honor.
Belichick, who also won in 2003 and 2007, trails only Don Shula, a four-time winner of the award.
For leading the Patriots to a 14-2 record, the best in the league, Belichick received 30 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. That easily beat Raheem Morris, who led a turnaround in Tampa Bay and got 11 1/2 votes.
Also receiving votes were Kansas City’s Todd Haley (4 1/2), whose Chiefs went 11-5 and won the AFC West; and four coaches with one selection apiece: Atlanta’s Mike Smith, Philadelphia’s Andy Reid, Chicago’s Lovie Smith and St. Louis’ Steve Spagnuolo.
• Los Angeles City Council members voted to form a working group to hold discussions with the developers behind a proposed 64,000- seat football stadium and to order an independent report on the plan’s financial details. The vote came a day after AEG announced a naming-rights deal with Farmers Insurance Exchange, reportedly worth up to $1 billion.
• The Tennessee Titans received permission to talk with Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and New York Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell as coaching candidates to replace Jeff Fisher.
• The Philadelphia Eagles promoted offensive line coach Juan Castillo to defensive coordinator.
Piniella joins Giants as assistant
SAN FRANCISCO — Longtime manager Lou Piniella agreed to a one- year contract with the San Francisco Giants to work as a special assistant and report to general manager Brian Sabean.
Piniella, 67, retired as a manager during the 2010 season with the Chicago Cubs in order to return home to Tampa, Fla., and help his ailing mother, 91-year-old Margaret. He was with her Wednesday in the hospital after she underwent a procedure and reported she is doing OK.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers and pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo agreed to a one-year deal worth $2,725,000.
Ohio State recruit arrested
CLEVELAND — Ohio State offensive line recruit Chris Carter was arrested Tuesday on a sexual imposition allegation after a complaint that he fondled a girl at their high school while pretending to measure her for an ROTC uniform.
The girl had said he had a book in which Carter wrote down measurements. Police said Carter provided the book and it revealed as many as eight victims.
Carter was not listed as a signee and his future at Ohio State is in limbo. Asked to elaborate on Carter’s status, coach Jim Tressel said, “We didn’t know much about and we can’t talk about it.”
Footnotes.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Drew Gooden will be sidelined four to six weeks because of lingering problems with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.
• New York Rangers forward Ruslan Fedotenko, already out with a separated shoulder, will be sidelined for three more weeks after undergoing an appendectomy.
The Associated Press
