COWBOYS
RB Randle waived
IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys' patience with Joseph Randle ran out Tuesday.
The Cowboys waived the third-year running back only two days after owner Jerry Jones said the team would show "patience" with Randle as he deals with personal issues.
It ended a bizarre week for Randle: He strained his oblique in the Oct. 25 game against the Giants, and then lost his starting job to Darren McFadden as he watched from the sideline; he found out he faces discipline from the league under the personal conduct policy for his involvement in a domestic violence incident in Wichita, Kan., last spring; and he expressed concerns about his girlfriend, calling police to his house Wednesday afternoon, though they found nothing wrong.
Randle spent most of last week away from the team facility, including meeting with team counselors as the Cowboys expressed concern for his mental health. He did not attend Sunday's game against Seattle at AT&T Stadium as the Cowboys made him inactive.
Randle, a fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma State in 2013, started the first six games this season, gaining 315 yards and scoring four touchdowns on 76 carries. He finished his 35-game career in Dallas with 181 carries for 820 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Cowboys didn't trust Randle, though.
He was arrested twice in a four-month span from last October to February. He was investigated for shoplifting, marijuana possession and domestic violence.
The involvement in the domestic violence incident in Wichita might play a role in his NFL future.
Randle didn't face felony charges for domestic violence after the Sedgwick County (Kan.) district attorney's office concluded there was "a lack of evidence" to go forward with the case in August. But the NFL still can punish him under the personal conduct policy and some sort of discipline is expected.
TITANS
Struggling coach fired
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans fired Ken Whisenhunt on Tuesday after he struggled to a 3-20 start in his tenure with the organization, with his latest loss coming in Houston where the controlling owner's father founded the franchise.
It was apparently the last straw for the Titans, who announced the move Tuesday and named Mike Mularkey as the interim coach for the rest of the season.
"We have expected more progress on the field, and I felt it was time to move in a different direction," Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement. "I would like to thank Ken for his efforts with our team, as he worked very hard to try to move us forward."
The Titans went 2-14 in Whisenhunt's debut season. It was their worst record since 1994, after going 7-9 in 2013 under Mike Munchak. Tennessee drafted Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota with the No. 2 pick overall in the draft, then named him the starter.
They won their opener 42-14 in Tampa Bay, then lost six straight for the longest skid in the NFL. Three of the losses were by a combined six points, and Whisenhunt was just 1-11 at home.
COLTS
Offensive coordinator fired
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts have fired offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton less than 24 hours after a 29-26 overtime loss at Carolina.
Former Browns coach Rob Chudzinski will replace Hamilton as the play-caller. The Colts made the announcement on Tuesday.
In a statement, Coach Chuck Pagano said the offense hadn't played with the necessary consistency and it was "his responsibility" to give the Colts (3-5) their best chance to succeed.
Pagano also has faced criticism because the Colts opened the season with Super Bowl aspirations and are 0-5 outside the terrible AFC South.
Hamilton was hired in 2013 after spending three seasons as an assistant at Stanford, where he worked with future Colts quarterback Andrew Luck.
BROWNS
Manziel set to start
CLEVELAND -- Johnny Manziel is preparing to start against unbeaten Cincinnati on Thursday night because Josh McCown is still struggling with a painful rib injury.
McCown, 36, took several hard hits in Sunday's 34-20 loss to Arizona, and he said Tuesday that it's been difficult to breathe or sleep since the game.
McCown would not rule himself out against the Bengals, but he didn't sound optimistic his injury would be significantly better by kickoff.
McCown would not disclose whether his ribs were broken, but his difficulty with breathing and lingering soreness from hits he took two weeks ago in St. Louis indicate he's probably dealing with more than bruising. The quick turnaround will make it even more challenging for him to be ready for the AFC North-leading Bengals (7-0).
Manziel took the majority of snaps in practice with Cleveland's starting offense last week when McCown was limited by a sore right shoulder and ribs.
Manziel, who won his only start earlier this season when McCown was out with a concussion, remains under investigation by the NFL for a recent domestic dispute.
Manziel started against the Bengals last season and was roughed up in a 30-0 loss. He completed 10 of 18 passes for 80 yards and was sacked three times.
CHARGERS
WR lacerates kidney
SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen is done for the season after injuring a kidney while making a spectacular touchdown catch in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
The Chargers placed Allen on season-ending injured reserve on Tuesday.
Allen, who was second in the NFL with 67 catches on the season, was hurt while making a touchdown catch just before halftime of Sunday's 29-26 loss at Baltimore. At the time, the Chargers thought Allen had the wind knocked out of him.
Allen was on pace for a 134-catch season that would have broken the team record of 100 set by LaDainian Tomlinson in 2003.
Allen was third in the NFL this season with 725 yards receiving. He had four touchdown receptions.
Running back Branden Oliver and linebacker Tourek Williams were also placed on injured reserve.
NFL
Twickenham to host games
The NFL said Tuesday that it would play at least three regular-season games over the next three years at Twickenham Stadium in London, the latest venue to host the league in Britain.
By agreeing to play at Twickenham, which is controlled by the Rugby Football Union, the league has signaled that it plans to play a fourth regular-season game in London as soon as next season.
Since 2007, when the league began playing regular-season matchups in London, every game has been played in Wembley Stadium, including three matchups this season.
The NFL had said it was considering playing more games in London each year. But scheduling constraints at Wembley forced the league to look for other venues.
The league has agreed to play at least two games a year at the stadium Tottenham Hotspur is building in north London, but that site will not open until 2018 at the earliest.
Last month, the NFL also extended its agreement to play at least two games a year at Wembley through 2020.
Sports on 11/04/2015