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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Former Titans kicker Bironas killed in crash

Associated Press

Rob Bironas, who was one of the NFL’s most accurate kickers, died in a car crash in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 36.

The former Tennessee Titans player died Saturday night when he lost control on a curve in his 2009 GMC Yukon Denali and crashed after 11 p.m. less than a mile from home, Metro Nashville Police said.

In a statement on the department website, police said his SUV was speeding when it went off the road and hit a line of trees before coming to a stop upside down in a culvert.

Bironas was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Police said there was no evidence of alcohol or drugs at the scene.

The Titans released Bironas in March after nine seasons. The Tennessean reported that Bironas worked out for the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the offseason.

Bironas married Rachel Bradshaw, daughter of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, in June. Police spokesman Don Aaron said a police chaplain was with her after the crash. Bradshaw did not appear on the “Fox NFL Sunday” pregame show and was going to Nashville to be with his daughter.

Bironas was the fourth-most accurate kicker in NFL history, connecting on 85.7 percent (239 of 279). Only David Akers made more field goals (247) between 2005 and 2013 than Bironas. For kickers with 100 or more field goals since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, Bironas ranked third, making 75.2 percent of his kicks from 40 yards or longer (94 of 125).

Eagles, ’Skins brawl after ‘cheap shot’

A brawl broke out after Washington’s Chris Baker laid out Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles on an apparent interception in the fourth quarter Sunday.

Baker and Eagles left tackle Jason Peters were ejected.

Baker claimed he did nothing wrong, while the Eagles called it a “cheap shot.”

While Bashaud Breeland was returning the interception that later was overturned on video review, Baker blindsided Foles, putting his shoulder into the quarterback’s chest. Players from both teams pushed and shoved each other along the Washington sideline with 9:55 remaining and the game tied 27-27. Foles didn’t miss a play.

Peters’ ejection came after he threw a punch at Baker.

“The guy just cheap-shotted Nick Foles and I reacted,” Peters said.