49ers dismiss offensive coordinator Martz
Football Betting Lines
12/30/2008 - Santa Clara, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz was dismissed from the coaching staff on Tuesday, as announced by head coach Mike Singletary.
Martz, who coordinated the prolific offensive juggernaut Rams to the Super Bowl title in the 1999 campaign, was in his first year in San Francisco, which ranked 12th in the NFC in total points.
The 57-year-old was also the head coach in St. Louis from 2000-05 before becoming the offensive coordinator for Detroit the next two seasons.
"After an evaluation period I felt it was best to go in a different direction," said Singletary. "This was not an easy decision because I appreciate Mike Martz, and I enjoyed working with him. He is a true professional, and I wish him the best in the future. I do recognize the need for a long term solution on the offensive side of the ball."
The 49ers brass overlooked Martz after Mike Nolan was let go following a 2-5 start to the season. Under Singletary, who was named permanent head coach on Sunday, San Fran won five of its final nine games to finish a respectable 7-9, good for second place in the NFC West.
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Giants placed cornerback Sam Madison was on injured reserve on Tuesday. Madison broke his right ankle in the regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings. New York als
<< Stars place two on IR
Frisco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Stars placed left wing Fabian
Brunnstrom and center Joel Lundqvist on injured reserve on Tuesday.
Both were placed on the IR retroactively, with Brunnstrom's dating to December
27 and Lundqvis
<< Stoke City plays down Fuller, Griffin spat
Stoke-on-Trent, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Stoke City chairman Peter Coates
does not believe Ricardo Fuller's clash with captain Andy Griffin will lead to
dressing room unrest at the Britannia Stadium.
Potters manager Tony Pulis has alr
<< Roethlisberger attends practice, doesn't participate
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger
was at the team's practice on Tuesday, but did not participate in any drills.
Roethlisberger left last Sunday's 31-0 win over Cleveland on a stretcher
after
<< Auburn DL Marks to enter NFL Draft
Auburn, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Auburn defensive lineman Sen'Derrick Marks will
skip his senior season and enter the NFL Draft, the program announced on
Tuesday.
Marks, a second-team All-SEC selection this season, has made 37 career st
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Photographer Matt Goins and writer Vinnie Perrone have been honored with 2008 Media Eclipse Awards. The Eclipse Awards are distributed by The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing
D'Backs sign Snyder >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to terms with
catcher Chris Snyder on a three-year contract through the 2011 season with a
club option for 2012 on Tuesday. No further terms of the agreement were
disclos
Portsmouth: No bids for Defoe, Johnson >>
Portsmouth, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Portsmouth has angrily denied reports
that it has received firm offers for Jermain Defoe and Glen Johnson.
England striker Defoe has been linked with January moves to both Aston Villa
and former c
AFC South: Colts are California Dreamin' >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray in
Indianapolis, but in less than a week the Colts will be safe and warm in San
Diego, preparing for the Chargers in the opening round of the AFC Playoffs.
Indianapolis, current
Broncos fire Shanahan after team's collapse >>
Englewood, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Longtime Denver Broncos head coach Mike
Shanahan was fired Tuesday, just two days after Denver missed the playoffs for
the third straight season.
The Broncos held a three-game lead in the AFC West wit
FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract
Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
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