Cleveland Browns close to hiring Chip Kelly

The Cleveland Browns are nearing a deal with Oregon Coach Chip Kelly to be their next coach, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press.

The Browns interviewed Kelly on Friday and he was also supposed to meet with Philadelphia. However, a person familiar with the interviews but not authorized to discuss them publicly says the Eagles are “heading in another direction” because Kelly is nearing a deal with Cleveland.

Kelly, 49, who turned down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, said Thursday night after Oregon’s Fiesta Bowl win over Kansas State that he wanted to get the interview process over quickly.

Andy Reid became coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, signing a five-year deal, two people familiar with the situation told the AP. The agreement was finalized shortly after the Chiefs announced they had parted ways with general manager Scott Pioli after four tumultuous seasons.

It’s expected that Reid will pursue longtime Green Bay personnel man John Dorsey or former Cleveland GM Tom Heckert (or perhaps both) to work with him in the front office. Reid inherits a team that went 2-14 this season.

The Eagles were granted permission to interview Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and are scheduled to meet with Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy on Sunday. McCoy is also scheduled to interview with the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. . . . Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson has scheduled a meeting with Ron Rivera on Saturday morning to discuss the coach’s future with the team. . . . Former offensive lineman Jack Davis, an original member of the Boston Patriots when the team formed in 1960 as part of the American Football League, died at the age of 80. . . . The Washington Redskins restored cornerback Cedric Griffin to the 53-man roster after his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

ETC.

Dodgers, Howell agree

The Dodgers have reached an agreement with left-handed reliever J.P. Howell on a one-year, $2.85-million deal, according to people who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contract is pending a physical examination. Howell, 29, was 1-0 with a 3.04 ERA in 55 games with Tampa Bay last season. He would fill a void for a Dodgers bullpen that is short on left-handers.

—Dylan Hernandez

Federal mediator Scot L. Beckenbaugh met separately with representatives of the NHL and the players’ association over nearly 13 hoursFriday. Neither side would comment, but a league spokesman said Beckenbaugh was to resume mediation today. Although Friday was the second straight day the NHL and NHLPA didn’t conduct large-group negotiations, it was considered a positive sign that Beckenbaugh kept things going after tempers flared Thursday.

—Helene Elliott

The PGA Tour’s seasoning-open tournament Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, Hawaii, was delayed because of severe wind squalls. All first-round scores were erased, and the round will start over Saturday with 36 holes, weather permitting.

College football players making themselves available for the NFL draft included: Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, Wisconsin center Travis Frederick, Louisiana State safety Eric Reid, cornerback Tharold Simon, running back Spencer Ware and punter Brad Wing Florida International announced the hiring of Coach Ron Turner South Carolina starting quarterback Connor Shaw will miss spring practice after having surgery on his left foot Tulane says it has received a national letter of intent from junior college quarterback Nick Montana, who played at Westlake Village Oaks Christian High Former Cornell captain David Archer was hired as the school’s 27th head coach.

Lance Armstrong reportedly is weighing confessing to using banned performance-enhancing drugs and blood transfusions during his run of seven Tour de France titles. Armstrong, who was stripped in October of his Tour titles and banned for life from competition by the U.S. Anti Doping Agency, is pursuing admission as a route to regaining his eligibility, the New York Times first reported.

—Lance Pugmire

In the ATP tournament at Doha, Qatar, Richard Gasquet and Nikolay Davydenko advanced easily to the final. Davydenko knocked off top-seeded David Ferrer, 6-2, 6-3 At Brisbane, Australia, Lesya Tsureno advanced to the final with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. She will play Serena Williams, who advanced by walkover when top-ranked Victoria Azarenka withdrew because of an infected right big toe Bryan Stoltenberg, 40, an All-American offensive lineman for Colorado died Friday from injuries suffered in a car accident last month Concord De La Salle High football Coach Bob Ladouceur announced his retirement after 34 years, ending a run that included a national-record 151-game winning streak from 1992 to 2003 and 20 unbeaten seasons.