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Bobby April is out as special teams coach of the St. Louis Rams, who said Tuesday they're not renewing his contract for a fourth season.
The Rams were last in the NFL in punt coverage, allowing 15.1 yards a return, and 30th in kickoff coverage at 23.9. They gave up two touchdowns on kickoff returns, two on punt returns and one on a recovery of a fumbled punt in the end zone.
In three years under the 50-year-old April, St. Louis allowed 10 special teams touchdowns.
April nearly to lost his job in 2002, after Kansas City's Dante Hall had kickoff and punt returns for touchdowns in December. By the end of the season, head coach Mike Martz put defensive assistants in charge of the kickoff coverage unit.
The rest of the assistants were retained for next season, although there might be changes. Defensive coordinator Lovie Smith had a second interview for the head coaching opening with the Chicago Bears on Tuesday, and offensive line coach Jim Hanifan has retired. Tickets
Dick Vermeil did not cry tears of joy on Tuesday.
Two days after Peyton Manning dissected the Kansas City Chiefs for 38 points in an AFC divisional playoff game, maligned defensive coordinator Greg Robinson announced his resignation.
"At first it stunned me," said a teary-eyed Vermeil after accepting Robinson's resignation. "It's tough to say goodbye to Greg. I love the guy. I'm going to miss him."
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However, Robinson had no answers for Manning and the Colts' offense on Sunday.
Indianapolis scored touchdowns on its first three possessions of the first half
and a field goal and two more touchdowns on its first three possessions of the
second half.
The Colts totaled 434 yards and 27 first downs.
"I have decided to take a left turn and I think it's the right thing for this organization," said Robinson, who has served as the Chiefs defensive coordinator for the last three seasons.
The Chiefs won the AFC West title with a 13-3 record primarily due to an explosive offense which produced an NFL-high 484 points. But the defense ranked 29th in the league and yielded 45 points in late-season losses at Denver and Minnesota.
In the playoffs, they offered little resistance against Manning and the Colts, allowing scoring drives of 70, 76, 71, 54, 61 and 81 yards.