Mora’s Stance Proves Costly

Jim Mora stood by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to the end with the Indianapolis Colts.

It ended up costing Mora his job Tuesday, with team President Bill Polian firing Mora.

“There are a number of reasons I got fired, but the main one is that I was asked by Bill Polian to fire Vic Fangio and I wouldn’t do it,” Mora said during a 45-minute news conference at Indianapolis. “He was not the only one I was asked to fire.”

Mora, 66, would not say how many assistants he was asked to fire. Polian said all the assistants, except Fangio, would be “retained” under the final year of their contracts--for now.

Mora said Fangio insisted he should not give up his job to save Fangio’s. Mora said Fangio already has been offered the defensive coordinator’s post with the expansion Houston Texans.

“What it came down to, in my mind, was what was right and what was wrong,” Mora said.

Polian believed Fangio’s system did not work well with the Colts’ young defense, which included six first-time starters this season and finished 29th in defense and 31st in points given up.

Mora had a 32-32 regular-season record with the Colts, including 6-10 this season, when the Colts were expected to be Super Bowl contenders.

He was 0-2 in the playoffs.

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Mike Shanahan is staying with the Denver Broncos, turning down a possible move to succeed Steve Spurrier as Florida coach.

Shanahan said he spoke with Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley, but they didn’t discuss contract terms.

Shanahan said his main question was whether Bronco owner Pat Bowlen wanted him to stay. Bowlen does and “that’s all I needed to know,” Shanahan said.

Bowlen said Shanahan has four years left on his contract.

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Minnesota Viking owner Red McCombs told Mike Tice he’s the leading candidate to replace Dennis Green as coach.

Tice was interim coach in Minnesota’s 19-3 loss to Baltimore on Monday night, after Green was forced out last week after 10 years as coach. The Vikings finished 5-11 and out of the playoffs for the first time since 1995.

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Michael Strahan’s record-breaking sack of Brett Favre will not be reviewed by the Elias Sports Bureau, official statisticians for the NFL.

Seymour Siwoff, president of the bureau, said the only way the sack would be reviewed--or changed statistically--was if one of the teams filed an appeal, which they won’t.

Strahan sacked Favre easily toward the end of the Green Bay Packers’ 34-25 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday. Some questioned whether Favre allowed the sack to happen.

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Chicago Bear fullback Daimon Shelton will sit out the playoffs after losing his appeal of a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.... The San Francisco 49ers signed end Troy Wilson to bolster their depth on a defensive line weakened by injury. The 49ers play Green Bay on Sunday, with ends John Engelberger and Chike Okeafor unlikely to play. Engelberger, a starter for most of the season, sprained an ankle in the 49ers’ 38-0 victory over New Orleans on Sunday, and Okeafor broke a leg last month against Philadelphia.... The Texans signed guard Jim Jones, cornerback Anthony Malbrough and running back Frank Moreau, increasing their roster to 13 players.... The Dallas Cowboys reassigned offensive coordinator Jack Reilly to a senior assistant position. The Cowboys ranked 29th in offense this season.... Cowboy Coach Dave Campo had hip-replacement surgery.... Kansas City Chief tight end Tony Gonzalez has a sprained knee and will not need surgery, but will sit out next month’s Pro Bowl.

Playoff Schedule

SATURDAY

Tampa Bay at Phila., 1:30 p.m., Ch. 7

New York Jets at Oakland, 5 p.m., Ch. 7

SUNDAY

S.F. at Green Bay, 9:30 a.m., Ch. 11

Baltimore at Miami, 1 p.m., Ch. 2

JAN. 19

AFC Divisional PlayoffsCh. 2

NFC Divisional PlayoffsCh. 11

JAN. 20

AFC Divisional PlayoffsCh. 2

NFC Divisional PlayoffsCh. 11

JAN. 27

AFC ChampionshipCh. 2

NFC ChampionshipCh. 11

FEB. 3

Super Bowl VICh. 11