INDIANAPOLIS — Colts General Manager Chis Ballard showed up for a news conference Wednesday – just not the one he expected.

Instead of introducing Josh McDaniels as the team’s new head coach, Ballard stood in front of reporters trying to explain why New England’s longtime offensive coordinator reneged on a deal he initially accepted.

But if Ballard’s disgust about losing his top choice wasn’t clear from the occasional glare or the strong pitch in his voice, he left no doubt with one parting shot.

“The rivalry is back on,” he said before leaving.

Conducting a coaching search in February isn’t what Ballard or Indy envisioned when Chuck Pagano was fired just hours after Indy completed a 4-12 season on Dec. 31.

Exactly 24 hours after announcing McDaniels’ hiring on the team’s Twitter account and roughly 16 hours after he called back to tell Ballard he was out, the search begins anew for the jilted Colts.

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Their other finalist, Mike Vrabel, has already taken the Tennessee job. Another top-tier candidate, Mike Nagy, has already been hired in Chicago. Baylor Coach Matt Rhule, who also interviewed for the job, is back on campus getting ready for spring football. And it’s unclear where the Colts may turn next.

“We have a list of candidates, I’ve had them from the get-go,” Ballard said. “There are other guys we wanted to interview, but because of the playoffs, we weren’t able to.

“We’ll move forward with them and we will get the right leader for the Indianapolis Colts – one that believes what we believe and wants to go where we want to go. I’m very confident in this.”

n Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich is scheduled to interview Friday with the Colts, according to a person familiar with the situation.

LIONS: Matt Patricia was introduced as coach of the Detroit Lions, who desperately hope he takes full advantage of his first opportunity to lead a football team and end the team’s decades-long search for a coach who can lead it to elusive success in the playoffs.

Matt Patricia

Since winning the 1957 NFL title, Detroit’s only postseason victory was more than a quarter-century ago.

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Lions GM Bob Quinn fired Coach Jim Caldwell last month with a 36-28 mark over four years and two playoff appearances. The Lions went 9-7 last season and missed the playoffs, ranking among the NFL’s worst rushing teams for the fourth straight year.

Patricia, 43, helped New England win three Super Bowls over 14 years. He was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator the past six seasons.

The Lions hired Paul Pasqualoni to be Patricia’s defensive coordinator.

SUPER BOWL PARADE: Philadelphia is gearing up and shutting down for its first Super Bowl parade, with universities, schools and government offices all shuttering and mass transit being shifted to serve the needs of parade-going Eagles fans.

Museums, city courts and even the Philadelphia Zoo will close as Philadelphia focuses on Thursday’s celebrations. Visitors who might be in town for reasons other than feting Sunday’s 41-33 win over the New England Patriots will still be able to visit places like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.

The parade starts near the team’s stadium and ends its 5-mile trek at the art museum steps that Sylvester Stallone climbed in the “Rocky” movies – a fitting finish for a team seen as the underdog, just like the fictional fighter.

Organizers said they’re preparing for as many as 2 million people to jam the parade route..

Bud Light will offer free beers to revelers at two dozen bars along the parade route, thanks to a promise its brewer made to Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson before the season.

STEELERS: Team president Art Rooney II is optimistic the team can sign Le’Veon Bell to a long-term extension.


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