CHAMPAIGN
http://www.thebengalslockerroom.com/authentic-josh-malone-jersey , Ill. (AP) — Illinois defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson abruptly resigned
Monday, citing personal "health-related circumstances beyond my control."Coach
Lovie Smith said Nickerson told him it was in the program's "best interest" to
leave. The former NFL linebacker had been defensive coordinator and linebackers
coach for more than two seasons after joining Smith and the Illini in 2016.In
year three under Smith and Nickerson, the defense has allowed 52.6 points per
game during the last three weeks in blowout losses to Purdue, Wisconsin and
Maryland — all losses. The Illini lost to Maryland 63-33 on Saturday, giving up
more than 700 yards. "Hardy informed me yesterday that he felt it was in the
program's best interest to leave our staff," Smith said. "I've known and coached
with Hardy for many years, and know what an outstanding person he is. We are all
disappointed in the performance of our defense this season
Tyler Boyd Jersey , and we all bear responsibility for that. I wish Hardy nothing but the best as he moves forward with his career."The Illini (3-5, 1-4
Big Ten) have been hurt by big plays despite a defense that had returned eight
starters this season. Illinois hosts Minnesota (4-4, 1-4) on Saturday."When I
was contacted about being offered this job back in 2016, I was excited for the
opportunity to come in to coordinate and run Illinois' defense," Nickerson said
in a statement provided by the school. "I had every intention of helping put our
defensive student-athletes in the best possible position to win, and,
ultimately
Carl Lawson Jersey , to make the University of Illinois community and fans proud of our results. Due to health-related circumstances beyond my control
I must step aside at this time."Nickerson is the second defensive assistant to
leave the team since August. Cornerbacks coach Donnie Abraham resigned less than
three weeks before the season opener. Abraham and Nickerson both played for
Smith in the NFL. Lovie Smith's son, Miles, has taken over as an assistant.
Smith himself is expected to call plays for the defense for now.Illinois is
ranked 106th nationally in scoring defense, 125th in total defense, and 116th
and 120th in rushing and pass defense, respectively.In another blow, redshirt
defensive tackle Lere Oladipo has been suspended after being arrested in
Champaign early Sunday on charges of domestic battery. Oladipo
Womens Michael Johnson Jersey , 20, was arrested in a university parking lot after responding to a call and finding a woman with a minor injury to her
lip, according to a spokesman for the University of Illinois police.Oladipo was
released Sunday on $1,000 bail, police said. He has played in four games this
season, totaling seven tackles, and made one start. If the Bengals and Dolphins
followed the NFL’s rules regarding the hiring of head coaches
Jonah Williams Cincinnati Bengals Jersey , they most likely wouldn’t have hired head coaches on Monday. Because they wouldn’t have had time to negotiate
contracts and finalize arrangements.“No contract shall be executed, and no
agreement to execute a contract . . . shall be permitted until after the
conclusion of the employer club’s playing season,” the league’s anti-tampering
policy states. This means that there can be no offer nor acceptance of terms
before an assistant coach’s season has ended. Which means that, for guys like
Zac Taylor and Brian Flores, a whole lot of things would have had to happen
after Sunday night to put the wheels in motion for what happened Monday.The
reality is that teams routinely ignore the rules, winking and nodding and
otherwise doing a deal without officially doing a deal, allowing for the coach
or the team (in theory or
Jonah Williams Jersey 2019 , as happened a year ago, in practice) to pull the plug before pen is put to paper.The NFL decided not to change the rule in the
aftermath of last year’s Josh McDaniels debacle. The fact that two more teams
wandered to the wrong side of it this year make an official change to the rule
even more necessary.There’s no good reason to keep the current procedure in
place, if teams aren’t going to follow it — and if the league isn’t going to do
anything about it.
