NFL regular season ends with double firing

St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers ring in the changes and wave farewell to coaches after disappointing seasons.

Head coach Steve Spagnuolo of the St. Louis Rams
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 After a 10th loss in a row Tampa Bay Buccaneers part ways with head coach Raheem Morris [GALLO/GETTY] 

The St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired their coaches on Monday, one day after concluding miserable National Football League seasons with losses to playoff-bound rivals.

The Rams, who matched Indianapolis at a league-worst 2-14, dumped Steve Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney. Spagnuolo was 10-38 in three seasons with the Rams. He was hired less than a month into Devaney’s tenure.

St. Louis lost 34-27 to visiting San Francisco on Sunday.

“This was a difficult decision,” Rams owner Stan Kroenke said.

“No one individual is to blame for this disappointing season and we all must hold ourselves accountable.

“However, we believe it’s in the best interest of the St. Louis Rams to make these changes as we continue our quest to build a team that consistently competes for playoffs and championships.”

Bucking Morris

Tampa Bay fired coach Raheem Morris after the Buccaneers lost 45-24 to Atlanta on Sunday, the team’s 10th loss in a row. That is the worst one-season run since the Bucs dropped their first 12 games in 1977.

“I have a lot of respect and appreciation for the passion coach Morris gave to our football team, but this change is one we felt was necessary,” Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik said.

The Bucaneers finished 4-12 after winning four of their first six games, the reversal of Morris’ first campaign in 2009 when the team opened 1-12.

“We want to thank coach Morris for all his hard work and dedication as head coach of the Buccaneers,” said Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer, whose family also owns English Premier League giants Manchester United.

Schedule for 2011 season playoffs:

Wild Card Weekend
Jan. 7 (AFC) – Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans
Jan. 7 (NFC) – Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints
Jan. 8 (NFC) – Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants
Jan. 8 (AFC) – Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

Divisional Playoffs
Jan. 14 (NFC) – New Orleans or New York or Atlanta at San Francisco 49ers
Jan. 14 (AFC) – Denver or Pittsburgh or Cincinnati at New England Patriots
Jan. 15 (AFC) – Houston or Denver or Pittsburgh at Baltimore Ravens
Jan. 15 (NFC) – New York or Atlanta or Detroit at Green Bay Packers

AFC/NFC Conference Championships
Jan. 22

Super Bowl
Feb. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

Source: News Agencies