Texas A&M assistant barred after striking opponents
Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin reportedly removed one of his assistants at halftime of the Liberty Bowl after the coach learned that the assistant had hit two West Virginia players on the sideline in the first half Monday.
Student assistant Michael Richardson was seen twice hitting West Virginia players who ran out of bounds. He struck cornerback Daryl Worley in the back of the head and also shoved running back Andrew Buie.
Told of Richardson’s actions at halftime, Sumlin confined Richardson to the locker room for the second half, school officials said.
Richardson played linebacker for Texas A&M as a freshman in 2012 before a neck injury ended his career. He has acted as a student assistant coach for the past two years.
Giants bringing Coughlin back
The New York Giants told head coach Tom Coughlin that he will be back in 2015, according to multiple reports Monday.
Coughlin, who has two Super Bowl wins with the Giants, had a meeting with owner John Mara later Monday to discuss potential coaching staff changes, ESPN.com reported.
The Giants went 6-10 this season, missing the playoffs for the third straight season. The Giants opened the season 3-2, but they lost their next seven games.
Coughlin was hired in 2004, the year the Giants drafted quarterback Eli Manning. The 68-year-old Coughlin, one of 13 coaches to win the Super Bowl more than once, has gone 96-80 in his 11 seasons with the Giants.
Lions’ Suh suspended
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been suspended for his team’s playoff game in Dallas on Sunday.
Suh stepped on the lower leg of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers as Rodgers lay on the ground during the fourth quarter of the Packers’ 30-20 win Sunday.
Suh is expected to appeal.
The Lions are likely to be without their top two defensive tackles when they meet Dallas, but the Cowboys might be without one of their own interior defenders as well.
Defensive tackle Henry Melton suffered a leg injury on Sunday, according to NFL Media. Melton was to undergo an MRI on Monday.
Manziel disputes report of party
Johnny Manziel said reports that his tardiness to Saturday’s walkthrough was caused by late-night partying are “100 percent false”.
The Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback said he went out with friends from his hometown of Kerrville, Texas, on Friday night in Cleveland, but he did not throw a party.
“It’s about action,” Manziel said Monday. “It’s about being accountable and doing what I’m gonna say instead of looking like a jackass.”
QB Zaire to start for Notre Dame against LSU
Notre Dame will start Malik Zaire at quarterback over Everett Golson in the Music City Bowl game against LSU on Tuesday.
Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly told reporters Monday that Zaire, a redshirt freshman, will get his first career start but Golson, a redshirt junior, also will see playing time.
“I want to challenge (Zaire) and put him in this kind of environment,” Kelly said of the bowl game in Nashville, Tenn.
The left-handed Zaire replaced Golson in the regular-season finale at USC — a blowout loss. Zaire completed 9 of 20 passes against USC for 170 yards, adding 18 rushing yards and a touchdown on six carries.