Detroit Lions Looking to let go head coach Jim Schwartz

Detroit Lions ownership is “on the fence” about Jim Schwartz’s job status, but it is “leaning towards keeping him,” league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter .

Some members of the Lions coaching staff expect to be fired in the coming days, a league source told ESPN’s Adam Caplan. The source said some of the coaches felt the players have not performed with a sense of urgency since the team's last win on Thanksgiving against the visiting Green Bay Packers.

The Lions have not come close to meeting expectations this season. The team was eliminated from playoff contention after losing in overtime to the visiting New York Giants last Sunday.

After Schwartz guided the Lions to a playoff berth in 2011 for the first time since the 1999 season, the Lions have won only 11 out of their last 31 games over the last two seasons. And Schwartz's coaching record through nearly five seasons with the team is a disappointing 29-50.

Veteran running back Reggie Bush made it clear that something has been missing this season.

“I just think that maybe our chemistry as a team definitely struggled and lacked a little bit — and obviously the turnovers and big plays, making more plays when needed," Bush said this week, according to the Detroit Free Press.

If the Lions decide to fire Schwartz it will come at a cost. Schwartz signed a contract extension last year through 2015. It's valued at more than $6 million per season, according to Schefter.

The Lions, who have lost three games in a row, play their season finale on the road against the division rival Minnesota Vikings later today.

Cleveland Browns Coach Rob Chudzinski is on the Hot Seat

Even though the Cleveland Browns have won only four games this season -- and lost six straight -- first-year coach Rob Chudzinski has never appeared on my weekly look at coaching hot seats. That's primarily because teams rarely consider firing a coach that soon after hiring him. However, it appears that Chud's job may well be in jeopardy.

"There are some bad vibes indicating uncertainty about the future of #Browns HC Rob Chudzinski. Incredible," tweeted ESPNCleveland.com's Tony Grossi.

Time will tell whether those "bad vibes" amount to a firing in the end, but it would be a shocker. Despite the shoddy record this season, Chudzinski has kept his team focused and playing hard, even though they have had no quarterback or running back to speak of. He also can take some credit for the maturation of WR Josh Gordon and TE Jordan Cameron.

The Browns close out their 2013 campaign with a road tilt against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

UFC 168 Picks - Rousey huge fave in rematch for women's title UFC Odds

The co-main event for UFC 168 is going to be a rematch for the womens bantamweight title between the challenger Miesha Tate and the defending champion Ronda Rousey.

Tate is a large underdog in this matchup at +600, while Rousey is a huge favorite at -900.

Tate (13-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) made her Octagon debut against Cat Zingano at the Ultimate Fighter 17 finale eight months ago. She got the better of Zingano in the first two rounds of action, convincingly winning each frame with her wrestling. She ran out of gas, however, in the third round, and Zingano got the better of her, landing some brutal strikes, especially with her knees. After a number of unanswered strikes, referee Kim Winslow stepped in to stop the fight, simultaneously as Tate was attempting a takedown.

Zingago won the job of coaching against Ronda Rousey on the following season of The Ultimate Fighter with Rousey’s title on the line. Unfortunately, Zingano suffered a knee injury and backed out of the coaching gig. Conveniently, she was replaced by Tate, who many believe the UFC were hoping would win the fight. Tate coached opposite Rousey on the reality series, and had quite a successful run. Both of her fighters went on to win the tournament; Julianna Pena for the women, and Chris Holdsworth for the men.

“Cupcake” has poor striking skills, but she has been working on it. She is a talented wrestler who works solid takedowns, as her former nickname would suggest. Tate owns two ‘female fighter of the year’ awards, and two ‘submission of the year’ awards. She is a talented submission artist who has won six of her 13 professional mixed martial arts bouts by way of tapout. Her conditioning is not very good, as was evident in her last outing against Zingano. If she did not run out of gas, she would have very likely secured a unanimous 30-27 decision.

Rousey (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) survived a first round standing rear naked choke by Liz Carmouche at UFC 157 over 10 months ago, and then came back to defeat her with her infamous armbar with only 11 seconds remaining in the very same round. The victory marked her first in the Octagon, and seventh in a row in the sport; all seven coming by way of armbar submission within the very first frame of action.

Five of her stoppage victories have occurred in under one minute. Rousey is an Olympic bronze medalist judoka who is an extraordinary grappler. She works beautiful takedowns, and her submission game is excellent. She is raw in the stand-up department, but has been working her striking with coach Edvard Tarverdyan, and has been making improvements in that department.

Though she has never been out of the first round, Rousey takes her training and cardio very seriously, so I expect her to have the advantage in the conditioning department against Tate, as she heads into this championship rematch. “Rowdy” is an incredible tough fighter who is full of heart and has no quit in her. UFC Picks She will be after Tate from the opening bell, looking to hurt her, and finish her.

Knicks Looking to Get Rajon Rondo From Celtics?

This idea has been tossed around in various forms for a while now, it's not shocking. But the way the Knicks are hoping to get Rondo is a little unusual. It's not in free agency in 2015 but later this season or next summer when he comes back from a torn ACL. The Knicks are hoping Rondo will be interested in making a maneuver similar to what Carmelo Anthony did back in 2011 and eventually try to force a trade to the Knicks, sources said."

 

While the Knicks may want Rondo, they simply don't have the assets to even come close to tempting the Celtics unless they are shipping out Anthony or Tyson Chandler. Rondo might become a Knick at some point, however that likely won't occur until he hits the free agent market in 2015.

 

"They're one confident bunch," a league executive said. "To listen to them, they expect to have Carmelo re-signed and have another star with him in another year. They're so sure about it you'd think they already know what will happen."

 

The Knicks will once again be way over the cap next season, however they should be well below once we get to July 1, 2015.

 

Rondo's name has been in the rumor mill since last season and he will probably stay there until he is either traded or signs his next contract.

Will Lakers Bryant shut it down for the year?

Bryant is expected to return from the fractured knee in about five weeks, so there will be plenty of games remaining in the season for him to show all doubters that he can stay healthy moving forward. Bryant will likely be able to play at his natural position when he does return as the Lakers may have all their point guards back in the lineup.

Bryant is averaging 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists through the six games that he played before the knee injury.

NFL Coaches on the Hot Seat after 2013 season?

6. Rex Ryan, New York Jets: Most seem to agree that Ryan has done about all he could do with the roster he was given this season, but he seems to think the writing is on the wall regarding his tenuous future with the team. In the end, it may just be time for Ryan and the Jets to make a change. If Ryan is dumped, he should be highly coveted as a defensive coordinator, if he doesn't draw any bids as a head coach elsewhere.

 

7. Mike Munchak, Tennessee Titans: We noted this morning that Munchak's people reportedly have reached out to Penn St. regarding their head coach job, in case Bill O'Brien leaves for an NFL gig. So, he's at least aware that things could change with the Titans. It sounds like Munchak could be the top candidate to replace O'Brien, if he exits State College.

 

8. Greg Schiano, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Schiano also was mentioned in that PSU report, though it sounds like he wouldn't be near the top of their wish list. Here is how ESPN Bucs reporter Pat Yasinskas summed up Schiano's job security on Tuesday morning: "Essentially, Schiano’s fate is in the hands of Bryan, Joel and Ed Glazer. The three brothers are the team’s chairmen. They’re very private and sometimes unpredictable. If they’re going to part ways with Schiano, it likely would come soon after Sunday’s season finale at New Orleans."

 

9. Tom Coughlin, New York Giants: Coughlin has had a habit in the past of going from hot seat to Super Bowl champion, but that's not how this season went down. It seems unlikely that the Giants will fire Coughlin, despite their 6-9 record. On the other hand, it wouldn't be that surprising if Coughlin and the Giants' front office simply agree that it's time to move on after a decade and two Super Bowl championships.

What about Trading Zach Randolph This Year from Memphis?

The Grizzlies are probably shopping Randolph however his contract is not desirable as he is making $18.23 million this season and owns a $16.93 million player option for 2014-15. At this time Memphis can only get back bad deals for similar money, which doesn't do them any good. They would likely swap Randolph for Pau Gasol, however that deal does not appeal to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Randolph is averaging close to a double-double (16.6 points and 9.9 rebounds) through 25 games, however he still has shortcomings on defense and the high salary is a problem for most teams. Randolph will probably remain with the Grizzlies this season as all 12 clubs ahead of them in the West are already set at power forward or have no desire to add him. As far as the East? Well, the race is really just down to Miami and Indiana and they don't want Randolph as well.