Raiders promote Jackson to be head coach

The Raiders announced Monday that they have promoted offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, who will become their sixth head coach since 2003.

Jackson was widely considered the leading contender when the Raiders announced Jan. 4 that they were not picking up an option to keep Tom Cable. It's Jackson's first head-coaching job at any level.

Jackson was hired a year ago to take over the play-calling from Cable. Oakland more than doubled its scoring total from the previous year, which helped the Raiders go 8-8 and avoid an eighth straight losing season.

Favre files exit papers

Brett Favre made another move toward leaving the game for good by filing retirement papers with the league, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed.

This is merely a procedural matter, to start the clock on a player's pension and Hall of Fame eligibility. Favre has done this before, only to change his mind.

But the news, first reported by Fox Sports on its website, was another sign that Favre's thrill-filled 20-year career has ended, as he repeatedly insisted throughout a painfully disappointing season for the Vikings.

Favre had only 11 touchdown passes in 13 games, threw 19 interceptions and had a career-low 69.9 passer rating. A sprained throwing shoulder ended his record streak at 297 starts, and he suffered a concussion in his last game, Dec. 20 against the Bears.

Around the league

ESPN reported that new Panthers coach Ron Rivera hired Sean McDermott as defensive coordinator, two days after the Eagles fired him from that job . . . The Dolphins are expected to hire Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, a person familiar with the negotiations said.