Shellshocked: Is Art Finished As Coach?
Art Shell was in his office Wednesday, not taking phone calls.
On Tuesday night, KNBC-TV reported Los Angeles Raiders owner Al Davis told Shell he will no longer be the team’s coach.
Mark Arteaga, Shell’s administrative assistant, said Wednesday Shell was unavailable for comment.
The Daily News of Los Angeles reported Monday that assistant coach Mike White was expected to replace Shell.
Both the Los Angeles Times and KNBC reported Tuesday that White was in line to succeed Shell, but both said Davis agonized over the decision, and KNBC said it was possible Davis could change his mind.
Shell, who has been with the Raiders as a player and coach for 27 years, has reportedly been offered an unspecified front-office position.
Arnsparger retires
San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Bill Arnsparger is retiring after 23 pro seasons.
San Diego coach Bobby Ross planned to talk with assistants Willie Shaw (defensive backs) and Dale Lindsey (linebackers) about replacing Arnsparger, 68. The two are the only candidates and Ross said he does not have a deadline for filling the position.
Eagles appear closer to hire
Gary Stevens, the offense and quarterbacks coach for the Miami Dolphins, is the leading candidate for the Philadelphia Eagles’ head coaching job, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday.
Stevens met with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie in Miami this week and could be hired as early as Friday. He would replace Rich Kotite, who was fired and since named coach of the New York Jets.
Stevens, 51, has never been a head coach at either the college or pro level.
Montana scopes out future
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Joe Montana underwent arthroscopic knee surgery after the season, casting further doubts about his future.
The Chiefs have said they want Montana to return for at least another season, but there may be some disagreement within the team. Though coach Marty Schottenheimer and general manager Carl Peterson have indicated publicly they want Montana to return, one NFL source says the Chiefs are concerned that the team’s long-term interests may not be served best by letting Montana play another season.
Humphries’ off-field woes
One day after redislocating his left elbow while swinging a golf club, San Diego Chargers quarterback Stan Humphries is facing probable surgery.
Humphries had a magnetic resonance imaging test Wednesday on his nonthrowing elbow, but the result is not yet known. Humphries, 29, was injured Tuesday while hitting golf balls at the Pebble Beach Polo Field driving range. Humphries was scheduled to play in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.