Sports

’Boys to hire Kiffin, 72, as DC

The Cowboys hired former Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin as the replacement for Rob Ryan yesterday.

The move signals a switch back to the 4-3 alignment eight years after Bill Parcells implemented the 3-4.

Dallas coach Jason Garrett said he had two days of discussions with the 72-year-old Kiffin and came away believing the Cowboys have the personnel to make the switch work.

The most notable change will be Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware becoming a defensive end, and Anthony Spencer could make the same move if the Cowboys re-sign him.

Kiffin hasn’t coached in the NFL since ending a 13-year run in Tampa in 2008. He spent the past four years coaching in college with his son, Lane Kiffin, at Tennessee and USC.

At Tampa, Kiffin’s defenses frequently were among the league’s best, and the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl with him after the 2002 season.

Ryan was fired Tuesday after two seasons. His defenses were inconsistent pressuring the quarterback and didn’t force many turnovers.

EAGLES: The Eagles are scheduled to meet with Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden on Monday, continuing their slow search to replace Andy Reid. Older brother Jon Gruden, currently an ESPN analyst, has been on top of the fans’ wish list long before Reid was fired. He led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title in 2002, beating the Eagles in the NFC championship along the way.

The Eagles are expected to interview Indianapolis offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. No dates have been set for either.

BEARS: Longtime NFL assistant and current CFL coach Marc Trestman is denying a rumor Chicago is set to hire him.

In an email to the Montreal Gazette, Trestman said he had not heard from the Bears, who fired coach Lovie Smith after the season.

CHIEFS:
Andy Reid is wasting about as much time putting together his first coaching staff in Kansas City as he did in finding his new job.

The Chiefs coach announced former Eagles coach Doug Peterson would be his offensive coordinator and longtime Jets assistant Bob Sutton the defensive coordinator.

BROWNS: Toledo native Rob Chudzinski was introduced as the Browns’ sixth full-time coach since 1999. Though he never has been a head coach, “Chud” was selected over candidates with more experience and stronger resumes.

“It’s a dream come true, almost unbelievable in a lot of ways,” Chudzinski said.

After interviewing several high-profile candidates, including Oregon coach Chip Kelly, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner picked Chudzinski, who spent the past two years as Carolina’s offensive coordinator.

STEELERS: Former Pittsburgh running back Christopher Rainey’s girlfriend says she was not assaulted, and that the state of Florida should drop the battery charge against him.

Rainey was cut by the Steelers after his arrest on Thursday.

REDSKINS: The Hogettes, the group of male fans who have cheered on the Redskins for three decades while wearing dresses, floppy hats and pig snouts, announced the group is retiring.

The Hogettes said on their website that it’s a “new era.” They say they’ll still be Redskins fans and will be continue to help raise money for children’s charities — in more “incognito” fashion.