Now that the Jets have signed coach Rex Ryan to a contract extension, they have turned their focus to his assistants — and retained nearly everyone from the 2013 staff.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman, assistant head coach and running backs coach Anthony Lynn and defensive line coach Karl Dunbar — all of whom had expiring contracts — will be back. The Jets also announced Bobby April III was promoted to linebackers coach (replacing Brian VanGorder, now the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame) after serving as quality control-defense last season.
The Jets have one opening, after losing special teams coach Ben Kotwica to the Redskins earlier this week.
— Brian Costello
VIKINGS
The Metrodome has deflated for the last time.
Officials from the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority opened the stadium’s relief vents to begin the deflation at 7:15 a.m. Saturday in downtown Minneapolis. Fans providing the air that supports the roof were turned off. The 10 acres of Teflon-coated fabric were done deflating in 35 minutes.
Bill McCarthy, vice chairman of the authority, called it “a sad and exciting day at the same time.” The deflation and the demolition of the dome beginning next week will make way for construction of a new $1 billion Vikings stadium.
The muffin-shaped dome opened in 1982 and was once a focal point of Minnesota professional sports.
TITANS
UCLA defensive coordinator Lou Spanos was hired as Ken Whisenhunt’s new linebackers coach.
Spanos has worked in the NFL for 17 of his 19 years as a coach, including 15 seasons with the Steelers. He also spent two seasons coaching linebackers for the Redskins.
During Spanos’ time in Pittsburgh, the Steelers ranked in the top 10 for total yards allowed 13 times.
BENGALS
Matt Burke was hired by Cincinnati as linebackers coach, the position he held the last five seasons with the Lions. Burke succeeds Paul Guenther, who recently was promoted to defensive coordinator.
The Los Angeles Police Department says former NFL defensive back Darren Sharper has been arrested on suspicion of rape.
LAPD says Sharper was arrested and booked Friday and faces a Feb. 14 court appearance. LAPD says it is investigating Sharper in connection with two sexual assaults that occurred in October and earlier this month in the West Los Angeles area.
A spokeswoman for the New Orleans Police Department says it is also investigating an allegation of sexual assault filed against Sharper on Sept. 24.
Sharper, 38, played 14 seasons in the NFL (1997-2010), mostly with the Packers. He also played with the Vikings and Saints and retired after the 2010 season.
He has been working as an analyst for the NFL Network, but has been suspended without pay.