Month: April 2023

Lions fire defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant

Posted on 04/04/2023

Detroit’s defensive deficiencies have cost one assistant his job.

The Lions fired defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press first reported the news.

Lions coach Dan Campbell confirmed the news later Monday, calling Pleasant’s ouster “a tough decision.”

“We’re in a production-based business,” Campbell explained, “and after seven weeks, I felt like this change needed to be made.”

Campbell added that Brian Duker, previously the safeties coach, will take over Pleasant’s responsibilities.

Pleasant joined the Lions as part of Campbell’s original staff in 2021. Detroit’s coaches were essentially given a free pass for the team’s struggles last season, but in 2022, the Lions’ issues on the defensive side of the ball have proven to be too significant to continue with the status quo. The Lions rank dead last in yards allowed per game at 421.3, and Detroit stands 27th in the NFL against the pass, surrendering over 265 yards per contest through the air.

The Lions have scored enough points to win more than one game this season. Detroit ranks ninth in scoring, but because its defense has been so shoddy, the Lions have

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NPR freezes hiring, expecting a $20 million budget shortfall : NPR

Posted on 01/04/2023

NPR expects a $20 million shortfall in sponsorships this fiscal year. It plans to freeze hiring, among other things to reduce expenses.

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Stephen Voss/Stephen Voss

NPR expects a $20 million shortfall in sponsorships this fiscal year. It plans to freeze hiring, among other things to reduce expenses.

Stephen Voss/Stephen Voss

NPR will need to cut at least $10 million from the current fiscal year ending next September 30, the network’s chief executive, John Lansing, announced Wednesday, due to a sharp drop in revenue from sponsors.

Lansing told staffers in a memo that he intended to avoid layoffs, but would be forced to severely curtail hiring, amounting to what he described as “close to a total hiring freeze.” The network will also sharply cut back discretionary spending and non-essential travel.

“As we did during the pandemic, we are prioritizing our staff and not anticipating layoffs at this time,” Lansing wrote. Yet he noted that he recognized the strain that a near-freeze on hiring would put on NPR’s current journalists and their non-newsroom colleagues. The figure represents approximately 3 percent of NPR’s annual budget.

“It means we won’t have the skills and support of the

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