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Reeling Rams fire Fisher as coach

 
Published Dec. 13, 2016

LOS ANGELES — Jeff Fisher's tenure in Los Angeles didn't last one full season.

The Rams fired their coach on Monday. Special teams coordinator John Fassel will serve as interim coach. The Rams are at Seattle on Thursday night.

Fisher, 58, was the team's coach since 2012 and was 31-45-1 with the Rams. He oversaw the move from St. Louis to Los Angeles this past offseason.

The lack of success on the field, capped by a 42-14 home rout against the Falcons on Sunday, spelled the end for Fisher, who tied Dan Reeves with 165 career regular-season defeats. That's the most in league history, and Fisher has the lowest winning percentage (.512) among coaches with 130-plus losses.

Los Angeles is 4-9 and has scored a league-low 194 points.

"Making a decision such as this, especially during the season, is one of the most difficult in sports," said owner Stan Kroenke, who gave Fisher a contract extension before the season, though it was not made public until recently.

Patriots hang on

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady connected with Chris Hogan for a 79-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to help the Patriots overcome a sloppy second half and claim a 30-23 win over the Ravens.

Brady threw for 406 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the fourth NFL quarterback with at least 450 career touchdown passes. He also threw just his second interception of the season.

LeGarrette Blount rushed for 72 yards on 18 carries, passing 1,000 yards for the first time since his rookie season with the Bucs in 2010.

SMITH SHOOTING: New Orleans district attorney Leon Cannizzaro said he'll seek 60 years in prison for the man who killed Saints star Will Smith — the maximum 40 years for manslaughter, plus another 20 for attempted manslaughter in the wounding of Smith's wife. Cardell Hayes, 29, was found guilty Sunday night.

TANNEHILL INJURY: Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill's left knee injury is less serious than feared and no surgery is expected, but it remains unlikely he'll play again this season. His injury was diagnosed as a sprained ACL and MCL, coach Adam Gase said.

CARDINALS: Wide receiver Michael Floyd was arrested in Scottsdale, Ariz., early Monday morning on charges of driving under the influence and failure to obey a police officer.

CHARGERS: The NFL suspended nose tackle Tenny Palepoi without pay for four games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

LIONS: Quarterback Matthew Stafford's finger injury should not prevent him from playing this weekend against the Giants, coach Jim Caldwell said.

VIKINGS: Running back Adrian Peterson said he's targeting a return to practice this week and a potential return to game action Dec. 24 in Green Bay. Peterson had surgery Sept. 22 to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.