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Detroit Lions’ Jim Caldwell wants replay reviews expanded

Lion Coach Jim Caldwell addresses reporters during a news conference on Sunday in Arlington, Texas.
(Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press)
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The disputed call in the fourth quarter of Detroit’s playoff loss at Dallas was not subject to a replay review.

Lions Coach Jim Caldwell wonders whether it’s time to change that.

“I think without question it was probably not officiated correctly in my estimation,” Caldwell said Monday, a day after Detroit’s 24-20 loss. “Nevertheless, I do think in this day and age, with modern times where we have technology that can take out the human factor in certain key situations in big games, that we should use that technology to do so.”

With the Lions ahead, 20-17, and in Dallas territory, referee Pete Morelli initially announced a pass interference penalty on linebacker Anthony Hitchens. Then officials reversed themselves, leaving Detroit facing a fourth down.

The Lions punted and the Cowboys drove for the winning touchdown.

“I’m angry about it, and trying to keep my composure here, but I’m probably angry for our team, and the fans,” Caldwell said. “That’s the thing that stirs your blood.”

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Caldwell said the league reached out to him after the game, although he did not say what was discussed.

Dean Blandino, the NFL’s director of officials, told the Associated Press that there have been proposals to expand the use of replay reviews for personal fouls. There also have been proposals to allow coaches to challenge any call.

On the play Sunday, Morelli said the head linesman believed there wasn’t enough contact for a penalty, so none was called even though the back judge had thrown a flag.

Saints linebacker Junior Galette is arrested

New Orleans Saints linebacker Junior Galette was arrested in a domestic violence case in which a woman says her face was scratched and her ear bloodied after an earring was ripped off.

Galette was booked for misdemeanor simple battery stemming from the disturbance at the player’s house in Kenner, a New Orleans suburb. Prosecutors could later charge him. It is not clear whether Galette, who left jail Monday afternoon on $600 bond, has a lawyer.

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Officers arrested Galette under Kenner Police policy because of visible injuries.

The woman contends Galette and cousin Terrance Banks, of Newark, N.J., forcibly removed her from the home during an argument that began when she demanded cab fare. Banks also was arrested and was released on $300 bond.

The Saints said they are aware of the arrest and are gathering information. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league knows of the arrest and is looking into it.

Ron Rivera’s house sustains damage in fire

An overnight fire at the home of Carolina Panthers Coach Ron Rivera left his family displaced.

The Rivera family’s 7,000-square-foot, two-story home in Charlotte, N.C., was damaged from an early-morning blaze that spewed heavy smoke and fire from the attic.

No one was injured in the blaze, which took about an hour to extinguish.

The Charlotte Fire Investigative Task Force determined the cause of the accidental fire to be a fireplace and estimated the damages at about $500,000.

Rivera and his wife, along with his two brothers and their wives were in the house sleeping at the time of the fire. All made it out safely along with two family pets.

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49ers continue search for coach

Jed York, chief executive of the San Francisco 49ers, is looking for a teacher in the team’s next coach, and the search for Jim Harbaugh’s successor entered its second week.

The team is not confirming any interviews or acknowledging potential candidates, even internal faces such as defensive coordinator Vic Fangio or defensive line coach Jim Tomsula. Fangio interviewed last week, a person with direct knowledge of the meeting said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the session wasn’t made public.

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels spoke Monday of his interview with San Francisco, calling it an “initial meeting” that hasn’t moved any further.

The 49ers interviewed Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase on Friday in Colorado and have had a busy initial stretch.

San Francisco also had been expected to meet with Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn last week during the defending Super Bowl champions’ playoff bye. Former Broncos, Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan was reportedly interviewed and has ties to the team as its offensive coordinator from 1992 to 1994. Shanahan also met with the Buffalo Bills about their opening and reportedly with the Raiders too.

The 49ers still had plans to meet with Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and Detroit defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.

San Francisco did not reach the playoffs for the first time in Harbaugh’s four years after three consecutive trips to the NFC championship game and a three-point Super Bowl loss to Baltimore after the 2012 season.

Harbaugh was hired last week as coach at the University of Michigan.

Raiders interview coaching candidates

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The Raiders are picking up the pace on their coaching search, interviewing 49ers tight ends coach Eric Mangini and Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton.

Colts Coach Chuck Pagano confirmed that Hamilton met with the Raiders on Sunday night after Indianapolis’ playoff victory over Cincinnati.

Hamilton joined the Colts when Bruce Arians left for Arizona after the 2012 season. Since then, Hamilton has mentored Andrew Luck and led an offense that set season franchise records for net yards (6,506) and net passing yards (4,894) in 2014.

Hamilton was the 49ers quarterbacks coach in 2006 and was an assistant at Stanford from 2010 to 2012.

The Raiders also interviewed Mangini, a person with knowledge of the meeting said on condition of anonymity because the team is not releasing details on interviews.

Mangini had a 33-47 record as coach of the New York Jets for three seasons and of the Cleveland Browns for two. He has been an assistant in San Francisco the last two years.

The Raiders have interviewed Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and Philadelphia offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur for the job, a person with knowledge of the search said. Seattle Coach Pete Carroll said last week that Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell also interviewed for the job.

The Raiders fired Dennis Allen as coach four games into last season. Interim Coach Tony Sparano is also a candidate.

Josh McDaniels interviews for Falcons job

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New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said his interview for the Atlanta Falcons’ coaching vacancy was “fine.”

McDaniels also interviewed with the San Francisco 49ers last week. In his weekly conference call, he described the interviews as “initial meetings.”

The Falcons are expected to interview former Jets Coach Rex Ryan on Tuesday. Ryan had two interviews with Atlanta before the team hired Mike Smith in 2008. Smith was fired last week after a 6-10 finish in 2014.

The Falcons interviewed Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase on Friday and former Buffalo coach Doug Marrone on Monday, according to multiple reports.

Marrone opted out of his contract with the Bills after a 9-7 season.

Detroit-Dallas game draws large TV viewership

The Detroit-Dallas game Sunday averaged 42.3 million viewers on Fox, the third-highest total in NFL wild-card history.

The broadcast trailed only the San Francisco-Green Bay game last year on Fox at 47.1 million and the 2012 Pittsburgh-Denver game on CBS at 42.4 million, the NFL and Nielsen said.

The Lions-Cowboys game was the most-watched telecast since the Academy Awards averaged 43.6 million viewers on ABC in March.

The four wild-card games averaged 29.9 million viewers. The Cincinnati-Indianapolis averaged 28.3 million Sunday on CBS. On Saturday, the Baltimore-Pittsburgh game averaged 28 million on NBC and the Arizona-Carolina game 21.7 million on ESPN.

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