Lindley to start at QB again for Cardinals
Ryan Lindley will start his third consecutive game at quarterback on Sunday when the Arizona Cardinals play the Carolina Panthers in an NFC wild-card matchup, coach Bruce Arians confirmed Thursday.
Arians ruled out quarterback Drew Stanton because of a sprained knee that has sidelined him for the Cardinals’ final three games of the regular season. He underwent an arthroscopic procedure last week after developing an infection in the knee.
Lindley started for the Cardinals in losses to the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers to end the regular season. He passed for 316 yards and two touchdowns last Sunday against the 49ers but threw three interceptions.
The Cardinals lost starter Carson Palmer to a season-ending knee injury during a Nov. 9 game against the St. Louis Rams.
Colts avert TV blackout with sellout
The Indianapolis Colts announced Thursday that Sunday’s AFC wild-card playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals is sold out, avoiding a local television blackout.
The Colts met the NFL’s 72-hour deadline for all tickets to be sold. Last year, the league allowed ticket sales to be extended beyond the deadline to prevent local TV blackouts.
While the game is considered a sellout, not every seat is sold and tickets are available for the game, including those return by the Bengals.
The Colts (11-5) posted a 27-0 victory over the Bengals (10-5-1) in a regular-season game in Indianapolis on Oct. 19.
49ers to interview Ryan on Sunday
Recently fired New York Jets coach Rex Ryan is scheduled to interview on Sunday with the San Francisco 49ers for their head coaching vacancy, according to reports.
The 49ers are looking to fill the opening created when Jim Harbaugh left the team after Sunday’s season finale and ended up as the head coach at Michigan, which fired Brady Hoke on Dec. 2.
The 52-year-old Ryan and general manager John Idzik were ousted by the Jets this week. Ryan spent six seasons as Jets coach and compiled a 46-50 record. In his final season, the Jets finished with a 4-12 record and missed the playoffs for the fourth year in a row.
Jets plan Marrone meeting
New York Jets owner Woody Johnson said he plans to phone Doug Marrone to gauge the interest of the former Buffalo Bills’ coach in replacing Rex Ryan.
Ryan was fired Monday along with general manager John Idzik. Marrone exercised an opt-out clause in his contract and resigned as head coach of the Bills on Friday.
Marrone was the Jets’ offensive line coach from 2002 through 2005.
Marrone had the clause written into his four-year, $16 million contract to protect him in the event that owner Ralph Wilson died. Wilson died on March 25, so the clause became active when the season ended. Wilson’s three-day option would have expired at midnight Wednesday.
The terms of the contract will result in Marrone being paid his $4 million salary in 2015 with no offset should he find another job. It is believed Marrone was trying to get a contract extension during the three-day window.
Bruins send Lindblad, Trotman to AHL
Boston Bruins forward Matt Lindblad and defenseman Zach Trotman were assigned to Providence of the American Hockey League on Thursday.
Lindblad has played in two games for the Bruins this season. In 29 games for Providence this season, Lindblad has six goals and six assists.
Trotman has seen action in 17 games for Boston this season and has four assists. He has played in 19 games with the Bruins.
In eight games for Providence this season, Trotman has two assists.