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Alameda, Calif. • The Oakland Raiders promoted offensive line coach Tony Sparano to interim coach on Tuesday, a day after firing head coach Dennis Allen.
General manager Reggie McKenzie announced the move to Sparano after cutting ties to Allen four games into his third season as coach.
Sparano had a 29-32 record as head coach in Miami from 2008-11. He took over a one-win team in 2008 and led the Dolphins to an 11-5 record and an AFC East title. That was his only winning season and he was fired with three games remaining in 2011.
Sparano has been offensive line coach the past two seasons in Oakland.
"Tony Sparano has a strong presence in this organization," McKenzie said. "His experience and leadership qualities will serve the team well in helping reach the goal of everyone here, which is to win football games."
Sparano becomes Oakland's eighth coach in the past 12 seasons.
The Raiders have not made the playoffs or had a winning record since winning the 2002 AFC championship.
The Raiders are off this week after losing 38-14 to Miami in London on Sunday for their 10th straight loss dating to last season. Oakland next plays at home against San Diego on Oct. 12.
Allen was the first head coach hired by Oakland after Al Davis' death in October 2011. His 8-28 record is the worst for the franchise since before Davis arrived in 1963. His contract was set to run through next season.
"After thorough evaluation, we have determined to move in another direction," McKenzie said. "We appreciate Dennis Allen's dedication to the organization and wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future."
Allen is the third coach fired during the season by Oakland since Davis arrived. Mike Shanahan was fired after four games in 1989 and Lane Kiffin was let go four games into the 2008 season.
The Raiders have had 11 straight seasons without a winning record or a playoff berth. Oakland will now have its eighth coach since 2003.
Allen and McKenzie were hired after the team finished 8-8 under coach Hue Jackson in 2011, falling one game short of a playoff bid.
They were expected to steady a franchise that ran into disrepair during Davis' final years as owner. Instead, the team has only gotten worse.
Autopsy: Belcher had chronic brain injury
Kansas City, Mo. • An autopsy performed one year after Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his 22-year-old girlfriend and killed himself found signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the degenerative brain disease found in athletes and others with a history of repetitive brain injuries.
Belcher, 25, killed Kasandra Perkins on Dec. 1, 2012, before shooting himself in front of team staff at the Chiefs training facility.
Bears pass on Ross, elevate Williams
• The Chicago Bears have waived receiver Rashad Ross and elevated receiver Chris Williams from the practice squad to the active roster.
Ross appeared in the last two games for the Bears, returning five kickoffs for 106 yards. Williams worked with the practice squad the past two weeks after his NFL debut in Week 2 at San Francisco. —
Week 5 schedule
Thursday
Minnesota at Green Bay, 6:25 p.m.
Sunday
11 a.m. games
• Cleveland at Tennessee
• Tampa Bay at New Orleans
• Houston at Dallas
• Chicago at Carolina
• St. Louis at Philadelphia
• Atlanta at N.Y. Giants
• Buffalo at Detroit
• Baltimore at Indianapolis
• Pittsburgh at Jacksonville
Afternoon games
• Arizona at Denver, 2:05 p.m.
• Kansas City at S.F., 2:25 p.m.
• N.Y. Jets at San Diego, 2:25 p.m.
• Cincinnati at New England, 6:30 p.m.
Open: Miami, Oakland
Monday • Seattle at Washington,6:30 p.m.