49ers Clubhouse

San Francisco Chronicle

Mora Jr. talks with Panthers

January 21, 2003

49ers' defensive coordinator also interviews with Donahue
Staff and News Services
San Francisco defensive coordinator Jim Mora Jr. is going to Carolina. Now the only question is whether he will stay, particularly in light of Mora's interview with general manager Terry Donahue for the 49ers' head-coaching job.
In order to keep his options open, Mora went to Carolina for an interview Monday for the Panthers' defensive coordinator job, which became open when Jack Del Rio was hired as the Jacksonville Jaguars' head coach.
Mora wanted to cover his bases should the 49ers hire a head coach who wants to bring in his own defensive staff.
Mora, 41, has known Donahue since he was 10. Donahue and Mora's father, the former Saints' and Colts' head coach, worked together at UCLA.
MRI FOR NEDNEY: Titans kicker Joe Nedney had an MRI exam on his hyperextended right knee Monday after he was injured trying to make a tackle in the first half of the AFC Championship Game against the Raiders.
Results of the test were not immediately available, and coach Jeff Fisher declined to say whether Nedney will need surgery to repair any damage.
SHOCKEY DOCKED: Giants rookie Jeremy Shockey was fined $10,000 for throwing a cup of ice into the stands and making an obscene gesture during a first- round playoff loss to the 49ers at Candlestick Park two weeks ago.
The NFL docked the All-Pro tight end $5,000 for each act, league spokesman Greg Aiello said.
JAGS PICK TOP AIDES: Jacksonville hired University of Virginia assistant coach Bill Musgrave as offensive coordinator and Ravens linebacker coach Mike Smith as defensive coordinator, a source within the league told the Associated Press.
The moves are in keeping with the team's front-office youth movement. Smith is 43 and Musgrave is 35. They'll work with Del Rio, 39.
BRONCOS' COYER PROMOTED: Denver promoted Larry Coyer to defensive coordinator, filling the spot left by Ray Rhodes, who resigned on Jan. 11 after the Broncos failed to reach the playoffs for the third time in four years.
Coyer, 59, has coached 33 years in the NFL, USFL and on the collegiate level. He has served as the Broncos' linebackers coach for three years, helping the unit become the core of Denver's defense.
The Broncos also promoted former player Steve Watson to wide receivers coach.
RATINGS BOOST: The shift to prime time worked for the NFL, with the conference championship games drawing preliminary ratings a combined 8 percent higher than last season.
The CBS telecast of the Raiders' 41-24 victory over Tennessee in the AFC title game from 3:45-7:20 p.m. Sunday drew a 26.4 preliminary rating, the best since January 1999.
KPIX (Channel 5) had a 44.5 rating/69 share. That rating was the second best in the nation, trailing only Nashville's 54.7/70.
Fox's broadcast of Tampa Bay's 27-10 win over Philadelphia in the NFC title game, which started earlier Sunday, had a 23.8 preliminary rating.

Tell us what you think on the new 49ers Clubhouse message board.

49ers' defensive coordinator also interviews with Donahue

Staff and News Services

San Francisco defensive coordinator Jim Mora Jr. is going to Carolina. Now the only question is whether he will stay, particularly in light of Mora's interview with general manager Terry Donahue for the 49ers' head-coaching job.

In order to keep his options open, Mora went to Carolina for an interview Monday for the Panthers' defensive coordinator job, which became open when Jack Del Rio was hired as the Jacksonville Jaguars' head coach.

Mora wanted to cover his bases should the 49ers hire a head coach who wants to bring in his own defensive staff.

Mora, 41, has known Donahue since he was 10. Donahue and Mora's father, the former Saints' and Colts' head coach, worked together at UCLA.

MRI FOR NEDNEY: Titans kicker Joe Nedney had an MRI exam on his hyperextended right knee Monday after he was injured trying to make a tackle in the first half of the AFC Championship Game against the Raiders.

Results of the test were not immediately available, and coach Jeff Fisher declined to say whether Nedney will need surgery to repair any damage.

SHOCKEY DOCKED: Giants rookie Jeremy Shockey was fined $10,000 for throwing a cup of ice into the stands and making an obscene gesture during a first- round playoff loss to the 49ers at Candlestick Park two weeks ago.

The NFL docked the All-Pro tight end $5,000 for each act, league spokesman Greg Aiello said.

JAGS PICK TOP AIDES: Jacksonville hired University of Virginia assistant coach Bill Musgrave as offensive coordinator and Ravens linebacker coach Mike Smith as defensive coordinator, a source within the league told the Associated Press.

The moves are in keeping with the team's front-office youth movement. Smith is 43 and Musgrave is 35. They'll work with Del Rio, 39.

BRONCOS' COYER PROMOTED: Denver promoted Larry Coyer to defensive coordinator, filling the spot left by Ray Rhodes, who resigned on Jan. 11 after the Broncos failed to reach the playoffs for the third time in four years.

Coyer, 59, has coached 33 years in the NFL, USFL and on the collegiate level. He has served as the Broncos' linebackers coach for three years, helping the unit become the core of Denver's defense.

The Broncos also promoted former player Steve Watson to wide receivers coach.

RATINGS BOOST: The shift to prime time worked for the NFL, with the conference championship games drawing preliminary ratings a combined 8 percent higher than last season.

The CBS telecast of the Raiders' 41-24 victory over Tennessee in the AFC title game from 3:45-7:20 p.m. Sunday drew a 26.4 preliminary rating, the best since January 1999.

KPIX (Channel 5) had a 44.5 rating/69 share. That rating was the second best in the nation, trailing only Nashville's 54.7/70.

Fox's broadcast of Tampa Bay's 27-10 win over Philadelphia in the NFC title game, which started earlier Sunday, had a 23.8 preliminary rating.

Tell us what you think on the new 49ers Clubhouse message board.