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Feeling burned out, Lions coach Ross resigns

By Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 7, 2000

PONTIAC, Mich. -- Detroit Lions coach Bobby Ross resigned Monday, a day after an embarrassing loss to Miami.

Assistant head coach Gary Moeller will take his place and was given a three-year contract.

"This is all his own doing. I think he felt that he just burned himself out physically and mentally, that he didn't have any more to give," owner William Clay Ford said at a Silverdome news conference. "I think he made the right decision. ... I think it was a very wise choice."

Ross alluded to the possibility of quitting after the Lions lost 23-8 Sunday to the Dolphins, calling it "one of the most embarrassing losses I have ever had."

"We showed right from the start of the game that we weren't ready to play, and ultimately, that is my responsibility. I won't back down from that," Ross said. "This loss is going to very hard for me to digest. I'm going to have to go home and reflect on some things and talk them over with my wife."

Ross' resignation is the third coaching change this season.

Two weeks ago, Arizona fired Vince Tobin and replaced him with Dave McGinnis. On Sept. 25, Bruce Coslet resigned in Cincinnati and was replaced by Dick LeBeau.

Ross has one year remaining on his five-year contract with the Lions. Vice president Chuck Schmidt said details of the contract buyout have not been determined.

Schmidt said Ross had thought about resigning before Monday.

"This isn't the only time he felt this way," Schmidt said. "He doesn't get too high, but he gets down pretty low.

"I can't say I talked him out of it before, but has he thought about this? Sure."

In his fourth year with the Lions, Ross compiled a 27-30 regular-season record and an 0-2 mark in playoff appearances in 1997 and last season.

The 63-year-old Ross, who did not attend the news conference, submitted a letter of resignation to Ford.

"I am sorry, also, for not giving you the championship trophy you so richly deserved. Your strong support was my constant motivation throughout my time here," Ross wrote.

CARDINAL GOES EXTRA YARD: The NFL has decided Aeneas Williams' fumble return in Arizona's upset of the Redskins was 104 yards, tying a league record.

The Cardinals' statistics crew said the cornerback's return of Stephen Davis' first-quarter fumble into the end zone was 103 yards.

After watching the tape, the Cardinals front office was so certain the return should be 104 yards that owner Bill Bidwill and vice president Larry Wilson were at Sun Devil Stadium with a tape measure Monday morning.

The NFL announced later that the yardage had been changed. The return ties the record set by Oakland's Jack Tatum against the Packers on Sept. 24, 1972.

CARRUTH TRIAL: A judge ruled that prosecutors must explain why they are excluding blacks as jurors in the Rae Carruth murder trial in Charlotte, N.C.

"The court wants rebuttal evidence from the state," Superior Court Judge Charles Lamm said after defense attorney David Rudolf renewed his claim that jury selection has been biased against blacks, particularly black men.

Rudolf objected after lead prosecutor Gentry Caudill used the state's 12th preemptory challenge to excuse a middle-aged black man who works as a detention officer in the Mecklenburg County Jail.

No jury members were selected.

BILLS: Starting offensive guard Jamie Nails was arrested in East Aurora, N.Y., and charged with driving while intoxicated.

BRONCOS: The arraignment for linebacker Bill Romanowski in a prescription-drug fraud case was postponed and rescheduled for Nov. 14. Romanowski, 34, is accused of using a prescription diet drug prescribed for his wife and a friend.

COWBOYS: Injuries have knocked out wide receiver Raghib Ismail and safety George Teague for the season. Ismail tore a ligament in his right knee in the first quarter against Philadelphia. Teague broke his right foot during a fourth-quarter interception that was wiped out by a penalty.

FALCONS: Quarterback Chris Chandler is doubtful for Sunday's game at Detroit after sustaining a concussion against the Bucs.

GIANTS: Jason Sehorn's broken rib is feeling better, and the cornerback hopes to play Sunday against the Super Bowl champion Rams. Sehorn is scheduled to have X-rays on the rib this week

JAGUARS: Linebacker Hardy Nickerson had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, which probably will keep him out Sunday against Seattle. The former Buc has missed three games.

PATRIOTS: Quarterback Drew Bledsoe held out hope that his jammed right thumb might heal enough for him to play Sunday against the Browns. He said X-rays did not show any broken bones.

RAIDERS: Coach Jon Gruden said kicker Sebastian Janikowski will be hospitalized for three days for treatment of cellulitis in his kicking foot. The bacterial infection should clear up in several days with antibiotics.

RAMS: Running back Marshall Faulk had knee surgery and is expected to be out three weeks. The operation removed loose cartilage from Faulk's right knee, an injury that forced the MVP candidate to miss Sunday night's loss to the Panthers. ... Kicker Pete Stoyanovich was released a day after he missed two field-goal attempts. Coach Mike Martz said the team would sign Jeff Hall.

RAVENS: Defensive tackle Larry Webster returned from his third suspension for violating the NFL's alcohol and substance policy. Webster was suspended in April and ordered to miss eight games after an appeal. He hopes to be in uniform against Dallas on Nov. 19.

REDSKINS: Kicker Kris Heppner, who missed fourth-quarter field goals of 51 and 33 yards in the loss at Arizona, was cut. Coach Norv Turner will audition replacements this week.

SEAHAWKS: For the third week in a row, quarterback Brock Huard is likely to be sidelined because of a lingering concussion. Team doctors and trainers told coach Mike Holmgren that Huard's headaches had returned.

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