Raiders can offensive coordinator

By: Associated Press - | Wednesday, November 29, 2006 1:54 AM PST ∞

The Oakland Raiders replaced offensive coordinator Tom Walsh on Tuesday, promoting tight ends coach John Shoop to take charge of the team's struggling offense.

Walsh is a close friend of coach Art Shell, having served as his offensive coordinator during Shell's first stint as Raiders coach. But Walsh had been out of the NFL since being fired with Shell after the 1994 season and was the recipient of much of the blame for the NFL's worst offense.

Walsh's previous jobs as a bed and breakfast operator and mayor of Swan Valley, Idaho, made him the butt of jokes during the team's struggles. But Shell stood by Walsh despite all the criticisms, including those from players.

Shell said earlier in the season that he does not like changing his coaching staff during the season, but the move was made anyway with five games left. Shell called it a "difficult decision" that had to be made for the good of the team.

"Tom has been diligent in his effort to get our offense going in the right direction," Shell said in a statement. "In no way should the lack of a more successful offense be placed totally at his feet. Everyone plays a part in the success of any team. ... We look forward to John's input as we continue our goal of bringing the Raiders back to prominence."

Shoop, quarterbacks coach for Oakland last year, served as offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears from 2001-03, helping the team post a 13-3 record and win the NFC Central in 2001. Shoop has also worked with Tampa Bay and Carolina in his 12 years in the NFL.

The Bears won just 11 games in Shoop's final two seasons as coordinator and many players complained about his play calling when coach Dick Jauron was fired.

Oakland (2-9) has scored a league-low 132 points this year.

Holmes out all year

Running back Priest Holmes will not return to the Kansas City Chiefs this season. Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson said, however, recent medical tests on Holmes have been encouraging and Holmes hopes to return for the 2007 season. Tuesday was the last day the Chiefs could have activated Holmes.

"He does not, at this time, plan to give up football," Peterson said. "We're looking at another evaluation in January or February of '07."

The three-time Pro Bowler, who turned 33 last month, has not played since Oct. 30, 2005, when he was injured on a hit by Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman. The hit left him with head and neck trauma, diagnosed by three spinal specialists.

Holmes is under contract through 2009.

Since Holmes' injury, Larry Johnson has emerged as Kansas City's marquee running back and Holmes has been all but invisible, staying at his home in Texas instead of working out with the Chiefs in Kansas City.

Kicker on notice

The Washington Redskins signed kicker Shaun Suisham to the practice squad, effectively putting Nick Novak on notice after another inconsistent performance. Novak has made only 5 of 10 field goal attempts this year, a 50 percent success rate that is last among current regular kickers.

Suisham made 4 of 6 attempts over parts of two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He was 1-for-2 in this year's opener while Mike Vanderjagt was injured, then handled kickoffs for several games after Vanderjagt returned.

Et cetera

EAGLES: QB Donovan McNabb could miss as much as a year or could be ready for the 2007 season opener after having surgery to repair a torn knee ligament. McNabb had a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews performed the reconstructive knee surgery in Birmingham, Ala.

STEELERS: S Troy Polamalu has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and will miss Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.

BROWNS: RT Ryan Tucker will miss the rest of the season because of an undisclosed illness.

BENGALS: RB Chris Perry (broken leg) was placed on injured reserve.

TEXANS: Pro Bowl KR Jerome Mathis was activated after he missed 11 games because of a broken foot.

JETS: OL Adrian Jones apologized to the team and his family, three days after being charged with driving while intoxicated. Jones, 25, was fined $20,000 by the team and will be monitored by the NFL as a result of being a first-time offender of the league's substance abuse policy.