In Jacksonville, Gene Frenette noted as Jaguars Owner Shad Khan "contemplates possible changes in the offseason, it will be interesting to see if he quietly nudges" 73-year-old Exec VP/Football Operations Tom Coughlin into retirement or "lets him continue to run a football operation that isn't producing the desired results." Frenette: "One thing is certain: Coughlin's silence and keeping a low profile can't hide the fact that he, too, must bear ample blame for the Jaguars' state of decline" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 11/26).
TESTING THEIR PATIENCE: In DC, Sam Fortier wrote this Redskins season have "tested even the die-hards who spend hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars on the team." Fans said that they "still believe in Owner Daniel Snyder because he cares and is willing to spend the money necessary to win, but they expressed mixed feelings about team President Bruce Allen because, while Snyder trusts him, he has built three winning teams in 10 years." They "don't know whom to blame for what they see as the team's solid foundation underperforming." The crowd for Lions-Redskins on Sunday "became a mix of Lions fans, Redskins die-hards and those who couldn't pass up a good deal." The concourses at FedExField featured fans "wearing the apparel of at least 21 NFL teams" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/26).
DIGGING DEEPER: In Seattle, Geoff Baker notes NHL Seattle GM Ron Francis "did not immediately respond Tuesday to questions about player allegations against his former coach, Bill Peters, stemming from their time together" with the Hurricanes. Former NHLer Michal Jordan "took to Twitter on Tuesday and accused Peters ... of multiple physical altercations with players and of kicking him and punching a teammate in the head during a game while they were on the bench." An "ensuing tweet" from Durham-based WTVD-ABC's Mark Armstrong cited a Hurricanes source as saying that a "'player leadership group' went to then-GM Francis with concerns about Peters and his treatment of players but didn't indicate what came of the meeting" (SEATTLE TIMES, 11/27).
