Walsh out as Raiders offensive coordinator

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 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.”

Shoop, quarterbacks coach for Oakland last year, served as offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears from 2001 to 2003, 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. Walsh was unavailable for comment. He will remain on the staff.

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Running back Priest Holmes will not return to the Kansas City Chiefs this season.

However, Chiefs General Manager Carl Peterson said that 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.”

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb could be sidelined between eight and 12 months after having surgery to repair a torn knee ligament. Head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder said there was a “good” chance McNabb will be healthy for Philadelphia’s season opener, which would be about nine months.

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Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and will sit out Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay.... Washington signed kicker Shaun Suisham to the practice squad, effectively putting Nick Novak on notice after another inconsistent performance. Novak has made only five of 10 field-goal attempts this season.... Pro Bowl kick returner Jerome Mathis was moved to the Houston Texans’ active roster. Mathis sat out the first 11 games recovering from a broken foot.... Cincinnati put running back Chris Perry on injured reserve, a day after he had a pin put in a broken bone in his lower right leg.... New York Jets offensive lineman Adrian Jones apologized to the team and his family, three days after being charged with driving while intoxicated. Jones 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.