Jauron is fired as coach by the Bills

Dick Jauron was fired as coach by the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday and replaced on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.

Bills owner Ralph Wilson said he made the decision “for the best interest of his team.” The move came two days after the Bills (3-6) lost to Tennessee, 41-17.

Fewell is the team’s fifth head coach since Wade Phillips was fired after the 2000 season, and the team’s first black head coach.

Wilson credited Fewell for having done “a great job with our defense and demonstrated excellent leadership skills.” Wilson added that Bills players and staff have a lot of confidence in Fewell.

Fewell, who has never been a head coach at any level, will make his debut Sunday when the Bills play at Jacksonville. He is in his 12th NFL season and fourth with Buffalo.

Jauron leaves with a 24-33 record over three-plus seasons, including 5-14 in the last 19 games.

Johnson is a Bengal

Running back Larry Johnson, who was released by the Kansas City Chiefs last week after several controversies, signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Coach Marvin Lewis said it’s possible Johnson could get playing time in Oakland on Sunday if starter Cedric Benson is still limited because of a strained hip.

Johnson was benched for three games in 2008 by then-Chiefs coach Herm Edwards for violating team rules, and the NFL added a game. He later was sentenced to two years’ probation after pleading guilty to disturbing the peace at a Kansas City nightspot.

Three weeks ago, he posted a gay slur on his Twitter account and questioned the competence of Coach Todd Haley, drawing a two-week suspension.

Bowe suspended

Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe was suspended without pay for four games for violating the NFL’s policy against performance-enhancing substances.

Bowe’s agent, Todd France, said his client was guilty only of taking a weight-loss supplement.

Neither the Chiefs nor the league would make further comment.

Sears reinstated

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reinstated guard Arron Sears to the team from the reserve/did not report list.

Sears has not been with the team since off-season workouts because of personal reasons. The Buccaneers have not discussed specifics of his situation.

Hauschka released

Steve Hauschka, who missed a 36-yard field-goal try and had a point-after try blocked in the Baltimore Ravens’ 16-0 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Monday night, was released.

Injuries

Browns receiver Josh Cribbs was released from a hospital. Cribbs was injured on the last play of Monday’s game when he took a blow under the chin from defensive end Dwan Edwards after throwing a lateral pass. . . . Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown will sit out Thursday night’s game at Carolina because of an injured right foot. . . . Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook will visit two concussion specialists today in Pittsburgh. Westbrook suffered his second concussion in three weeks during Philadelphia’s 31-23 loss at San Diego on Sunday.