Football
Eagles to hire Shurmur — Former Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur is joining Chip Kelly’s staff with the Philadelphia Eagles, a person familiar with the hiring told The Associated Press on Monday. Shurmur is expected to be Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Eagles haven’t announced any coaching moves. Shurmur went 9-23 in two seasons in Cleveland. He was fired along with general manager Tom Heckert on Dec. 31. Shurmur began his NFL coaching career with the Eagles, serving as an assistant under Andy Reid for 10 seasons. He was the Eagles’ tight ends coach from 1999-2001 and quarterbacks coach until 2008. Kelly has been quietly assembling his coaching staff without releasing any names. Hiring Shurmur is somewhat curious considering he’s a disciple of the West Coast offense, which relies heavily on passes based on timing and rhythm. Kelly uses an up-tempo, spread offense that’s centered around a mobile quarterback and incorporates more running. Kelly is expected to call the plays for the Eagles, but Shurmur’s experience developing quarterbacks could make him a valuable assistant.
Basketball
Cavs’ Varejao out for season — Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao will miss the rest of the season after developing a blood clot in his lower right lung. Varejao, who underwent surgery on a torn leg muscle on Jan. 10, remains hospitalized at The Cleveland Clinic. The Cavs said he was admitted last Thursday and will likely remain there for several more days as he receives treatment. Varejao is expected to make a full recovery but he will remain on blood thinning medication for at least three months, the team said Monday. Varejao was leading the NBA in rebounding and having an All-Star season before he injured his leg on Dec. 18 against Toronto.
Baylor still on top — Baylor remained No. 1 in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll for a third straight week after two easy victories. The Lady Bears cruised to wins over Kansas State and West Virginia and have 28 straight Big 12 regular-season victories. Baylor had 35 first-place ballots. The Lady Bears will face No. 24 Iowa State and 20th-ranked Oklahoma this week. Notre Dame, UConn, Duke and Kentucky rounded out the first five. The Huskies handed the Blue Devils their first loss of the season, 79-49 on Monday night.
Ex-Miami coaches know of allegations — Two former Miami assistant coaches have been told they will be charged with “unethical conduct" when the NCAA presents the Hurricanes’ athletic department with its notice of allegations, said two people familiar with the situation. The people spoke to The Associated Press Monday on condition of anonymity because neither the NCAA or Miami have announced the contents of the long-awaited letter, which the Hurricanes may receive at any time. The people say the coaches will be cited for violating NCAA bylaw 10.1, a broad rule that covers conduct and cooperating with investigations. One of the coaches has been told to expect arrival of an actual copy of the allegations today, one person told the AP. A CBSSports.com report published Monday said that the NCAA could not prove former booster and convicted Ponzi scheme architect Nevin Shapiro’s claim that former Miami men’s basketball coach Frank Haith or a member of his Miami staff paid $10,000 to the family of former Hurricanes’ player DeQuan Jones.
Cycling
Greipel wins stage —Germany’s Andre Greipel won the first stage of the Tour Down Under today in Adelaide, Australia, becoming the most successful rider in the race’s history by claiming his 12th stage win overall. Greipel’s Lotto Belisol teammates led him into a prominent position at the final bend and he drew away to win the 85-mile stage effortlessly from Arnaud Demare of France, Australia’s Mark Renshaw and defending champion Simon Gerrans. The same teamwork guided Greipel to victory in the tour’s 30-mile criterium on Sunday — his third win in that event — and he will wear the tour leader’s jersey into the second stage on Wednesday.
— From wire reports
