Meester goes out with style
The Jacksonville Jaguars honored retiring center Brad Meester with a reception.
The pass-catching kind.
The Jaguars called a screen play for the 14-year veteran who announced Wednesday that Sunday’s game against Tennessee would be his home finale.
Meester spent his entire career in Jacksonville, and he was the only player announced in pregame introductions Sunday.
The Jaguars also planned a tribute on the field after the game, but offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch didn’t wait, dialing up a play for Meester in the first quarter.
Meester reported as an eligible receiver, lined up at tight end and caught a screen pass. Meester had fellow offensive linemen Uche Nwaneri and Austin Pasztor out front and plenty of open space, but Meester ran into Nwaneri.
Still, he gained 9 yards and set up Chad Henne’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Marcedes Lewis on the next play.
Hefty price to pay
If the Detroit Lions fire Jim Schwartz after the season, they will owe him more than $12 million, according to ESPN.
Schwartz, who led the Lions to the playoffs in 2011 and has a 29-49 career record, received a contract extension before last year that runs through the 2015 season, but terms of the deal had remained a closely guarded secret.
At $6 million or so per season, Schwartz ranks among the highest-paid coaches in the NFL.
The Lions have not balked at eating money when firing coaches in the past. They fired Steve Mariucci with five games left in the 2005 season and more than $11 million remaining on his contract.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Lions are “beginning to mull candidates who could replace” Schwartz if they go down that road.
One candidate Schefter mentioned was Penn State Coach Bill O’Brien, whospent five seasons as an assistant with the New England Patriots and has a reputation for developing quarterbacks.
O’Brien signed a new contract with Penn State last summer that lowered his buyout to a multiple of his base salary, which comes to about $6.8 million for any NFL team that wants to hire him this year.
Big on tackles
Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly tied an NFL record with 24 tackles in a 17-13 victory Sunday over the New Orleans Saints.
STATS has been tracking tackles - as listed by press box stats - since 1994.
That’s the season tackles became a recognized statistic in the NFL.
Kuechly matched the single-game high held by David Harris of the New York Jets. Harris had 24 tackles Nov. 4, 2007, against Washington.
Kuechly has more tackles than any player in the NFL since coming into the league in 2012. The former first-round draft pick from Boston College also intercepted a pass by Drew Brees as the Panthers clinched a playoff spot.
Injury news
Carolina top receiver Steve Smith, Denver linebacker Von Miller and St. Louis left tackle Jake Long all were forced to leave games Sunday because of knee injuries. Detroit cornerback Bill Bentley also was being evaluated for a head injury after a frightening collision. He was able to walk off the field with some assistance.
Long was carted off the field after hurting his right knee on the Rams’ first offensive series in a 23-13 victory over Tampa Bay. Long’s knee appeared to give out on pass protection against the Buccaneers’ Adrian Clayborn. Long has started every game this season and was the first overall pick of the 2008 draft by Miami. He is finishing the first season of a two-year free agent deal. Smith was hurt during a 17-13 victory over New Orleans that clinched the Panthers’ first playoff spot since 2008. Smith was injured in the first quarter and tried to return in the second quarter but couldn’t run on it. He is scheduled today for an MRI. Miller left in the first quarter of a 37-13victory over Houston that clinched the AFC West for the Broncos.
There was no update on his injury after the game. … Also on the injury front, Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews left a 38-31 loss to Pittsburgh after reinjuring his right thumb. He was hurt sacking Ben Roethlisberger in the second quarter and ran to the sideline.
Sports, Pages 18 on 12/23/2013