Marinelli is hired by Bears

Rod Marinelli joined the Chicago Bears as a defensive line coach Saturday, returning to his roots after becoming the NFL’s first head coach to post an 0-16 season.

Marinelli was 10-38 in three years with the Detroit Lions and was fired after failing to win a game this season. But before that, he was Tampa Bay’s defensive line coach for a decade. The Buccaneers’ line racked up 328.5 sacks under Marinelli, the most in the league during that span.

Marinelli will also serve as the Bears’ assistant head coach. He held that title his last four seasons in Tampa Bay.

Freeney is fined

The NFL has fined Indianapolis defensive end Dwight Freeney $20,000 for comments he made after the Colts’ 23-17 overtime loss at San Diego on Jan. 3.

In a postgame interview with Yahoo Sports, Freeney used two expletives in criticizing the officiating at the end of the game. Indianapolis was called for three defensive penalties on the Chargers’ winning drive in overtime.

Etc.

Adam “Pacman” Jones suggested Saturday his days with the Dallas Cowboys might not be over. In an interview on CBS’ NFL pregame show, the troubled cornerback said that not only does he expect to play football next season, “I think I might be back in Dallas.” Host James Brown then asked, “And you have an inkling that Jerry Jones will give you another shot?” Jones grinned and said, “Yeah, I do,” but didn’t offer any details to back his assertion. Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said the team had no comment. Dallas released Jones on Wednesday after a turbulent season in which he was suspended six games for an off-field scuffle and made little impact on the field. . . . Rob Chudzinski, the Cleveland Browns’ offensive coordinator for the last two seasons, is interviewing with 49ers Coach Mike Singletary for San Francisco’s vacant offensive coordinator job.