NFL roundup: Bills to hire Marrone; Kelly spurns Browns

Two NFL teams ventured into the college ranks to try to fill their head coaching vacancies, and while the Buffalo Bills apparently were successful in landing Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone, the Browns were spurned by Oregon coach Chip Kelly, leaving Cleveland to continue its search.

Marrone, 48, agreed to a tentative deal Sunday to become the Bills' head coach. He posted a 25-25 record in four seasons at Syracuse and had his best season with the Orange in 2012 at 8-5.

Marrone has experience as an NFL player and assistant coach. He was the New Orleans Saints' offensive coordinator from 2006-08.

The Bills also interviewed Kelly, who reportedly got close to a deal with the Browns.

However, multiple media outlets reported Kelly will not take the job, and Sports Illustrated reported that Kelly would focus on either the Philadelphia Eagles' job or return to Oregon.

After meeting with Kelly in Arizona, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner flew back to Cleveland without getting an answer from Kelly, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Nike co-founder Phil Knight, who is a strong Oregon booster, is making a bid to keep Kelly at Oregon, according to NFL.com.

--The Chicago Bears received permission to interview Houston Texans offensive coordinator Rick Dennison for their head coaching job, ESPN reported Sunday.

The team is reportedly interviewing Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy on Sunday and Montreal Alouettes (Canadian Football League) coach Marc Trestman on Monday.

--San Francisco 49ers director of player personnel Tom Gamble has emerged as the top candidate for the New York Jets' general manager job, ESPN reported.

Gamble reportedly declined a second interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars so he could concentrate on the Jets' job.

Meanwhile, the Jaguars reportedly narrowed their general manager candidates to Atlanta Falcons director of player personnel Dave Caldwell and Arizona Cardinals vice president of player personnel Steve Keim.

--Dr. James Andrews told USA Today that he did not clear Robert Griffin III to return to the Washington Redskins' Dec. 9 game against the Baltimore Ravens after Griffin sprained his right knee.

The issue resurfaced Sunday against Seattle, when Griffin came up limping after a first-quarter play, then left the game in the second half.

Andrews, who was on the sideline during the Dec. 9 game, said Redskins coach Mike Shanahan bypassed him for advice that day and sent Griffin back into the game for four plays before Griffin sat out the remainder of the game.

--Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen will undergo surgery to a repair a torn labrum, according to 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.

Allen first appeared on the Vikings' injury report with a shoulder injury on Nov. 9. He continued playing the remainder of the season, and he finished with 12 sacks. He added six tackles and a sack Saturday in the Vikings' playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.

--Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was sent to a hospital with flu-like symptoms Sunday and was not present at Indianapolis' AFC wild-card playoff game against the host Baltimore Ravens.

Quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen called the Colts' offensive plays against the Ravens, a game Indianapolis lost 24-9.

A Colts spokesman told the Indianapolis Star that Arians was "doing fine."

--The Colts' trade for cornerback Vontae Davis ended up costing them just one draft pick, ESPN reported.

The Colts acquired Davis from the Miami Dolphins for a second- and conditional sixth-round pick. Reportedly, the condition of the sixth-round pick was that Davis had to play at least 65 percent of the Colts' defensive plays during the regular season. A sprained left knee caused Davis to play less than the 65 percent threshold.

--Bengals safety Robert Sands, who spent the entire 2012 season on injured reserve with a chest injury, was arrested Friday and charged with assault and domestic violence in Florence, Ky.

Media outlets reported that Sands' wife was treated for minor injuries following an alleged assault at the couple's home.

Sands played in one game as a rookie in 2011. He was a fifth-round draft pick out of West Virginia.