ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Jim Schwartz was hired to turn around the Detroit Lions and he did it for three seasons. He failed to keep the Lions going in the right direction the next two years -- and it cost him his job. The Lions fired Schwartz on Monday, one day after their late-season slide ended with a loss at Minnesota. He had two years and nearly $12 million left on his contract. Schwartz informed the players of the decision during a team meeting. "I feel awful for him," Lions centre Dominic Raiola said. "I feel like we let him down." Team President Tom Lewand said the search has begun for what he thinks is one of the most -- if not the most -- attractive opportunities for a head coach in the NFL. "I can verify that by the number of calls we have already gotten since the announcement was made," Lewand said. "Going through a thorough process is extremely important. That doesnt necessarily it has to be a long process." San Diego Chargers offensive co-ordinator Ken Whisenhunt is among the potential candidates. Whisenhunt led the Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl during a six-year run as their coach and Lions general manager Martin Mayhew is a former Washington Redskins teammate. The Lions also let offensive co-ordinator Scott Linehan and wide receivers coach Tim Lappano seek other jobs, saying the rest of the staff is under contract, including some assistants for the 2014 season. Detroit flopped to a 7-9 record this year after a 6-3 record start put the franchise in a position to win a division title for the first time since 1993. "That is the reason we are sitting here having this conversation," Lewand said. Schwartz was 29-51 over five seasons, including a 10-6 mark in 2011 that lifted the Lions to their only post-season appearance this century. The former Tennessee Titans defensive co-ordinator was hired in 2009 when Detroit was coming off the NFLs first 0-16 season. "Jim inherited a very tough job," Mayhew acknowledged. Schwartz led the Lions to two wins in his first year, six the next and to double digits in victories two years ago for the first time since 1995 to help them end an 11-year post-season drought. The Lions lost their last eight games last year after a .500 start. They collapsed again this season with four straight losses and six in a seven-game stretch -- blowing fourth-quarter leads in each setback -- after they took control of the NFC North race. Detroit and the 2000 San Diego Chargers are the only NFL teams since 1940 to lose fourth-quarter leads in seven games in a season, according to STATS. "From where we were in 2008 to where we are now its a big difference," quarterback Matthew Stafford said. "We owe a lot of that to him. Hes a really smart guy and helped us get to where we are. Obviously, we didnt win as many games as we needed to or as we should have this year." The Lions took on the personality of their demonstrative and emotionally charged coach and that wasnt always good news for them. When Detroit ran the ball instead of having turnover-prone Stafford throw late in regulation of its 23-20 overtime loss to the New York Giants in Week 16, the crowd reacted with a loud chorus of boos. Schwartz responded by looking away from the field and screaming something toward the stands. Schwartz negated a video review and was called for unsportsmanlike conduct by angrily throwing a challenge flag last season when Houstons Justin Forsett scored after two Lions tackled him, leading to a defeat during an eight-game, season-ending slide. The previous year, Schwartz had a heated exchange with San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh and had to be separated following their postgame handshake. "The stuff that happened with Harbaugh just was an incident," Detroit guard Rob Sims said. "The stuff with the fans just was an incident. Thats not an everyday occurrence." Schwartz was 12-32 in games in November or later for a .273 winning percentage that was the worst for a coach in five-plus straight seasons with a team since Denvers Lou Saban won one-quarter of those late-season games from 1967-1971, according to STATS. His .363 winning percentage overall with the Lions is the worst by an NFL coach in his first five full seasons since John McKay won fewer than 30 per cent of his games with the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1976-1980. The Lions gave Schwartz an extension entering the 2012 season, when he had one year left on his four-deal worth about $11 million. The second contract made him the longest-tenured coach the franchise has had since Wayne Fontes led the Lions from 1988-96. Bobby Ross, Gary Moeller, Marty Mornhinweg, Steve Mariucci, Dick Jauron -- on an interim basis -- and Rod Marinelli all had a chance to lead a franchise with only one playoff victory since winning the 1957 NFL title before Schwartz got a shot to be a head coach for the first time at any level. The Lions would like to hire someone, who runs a 4-3 defence and has head coaching experience, but theyre not going to overlook assistants who fit the profile theyre looking for. "The goal isnt to hire the biggest name or the most popular candidate and win the next press conference," Lewand said. "Its to win football games in 2014 and to win a championship." Deebo Samuel Jersey . Miralem Pjanic dribbled through the defence to score an extraordinary goal in the 43rd minute at the Stadio Olimpico and Gervinho added another from a rebound in the 65th for Romas ninth straight victory — ending Milans five-match winning streak. 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Greg Monroe did his part to end Detroits slide, but Jared Sullinger was just as clutch to push Boston to a victory. Sullinger scored 10 of his 14 points in overtime to help the Celtics snap their five-game losing streak with a 109-102 win. It feels awesome, Sullinger said of closing out the win. Everybodys in a smiling mood. Jeff Green supplied 32 points to pace Boston and Kelly Olynyk added 20 in a reserve role. Monroe was a force inside down the stretch, and his 29-point effort off the bench was a huge reason his team made a game of it late. His effort was all for naught, however, as Detroit lost its 10th straight game. I got into a good rhythm and I just have to continue to be comfortable coming off the bench, said Monroe. Andre Drummond deposited 27 points with 14 rebounds and five blocks in the setback. Rajon Rondo assisted on Sullingers 3-pointer to open the extra session, then he ripped the ball away from Monroe, raced up the floor and found Green, who knocked down a corner 3 to push the Celtics lead to 94-88. Evan Turner followed with a tough runner to force a Detroit timeout with 3:18 left. Like he did in the fourth quarter, Monroe kept the Pistons in it with four straight points, but Sullinger countered with another 3-pointer which preceded his jumper that made it 101-92. The Celtics didnt necessarily help themselves in the final minute, as Drummond followed Turners free throw with a three-point play, then Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a 3 after Olynyk went 1-of-2 from the line. Green went to the line and calmly made a pair of free throws as the Celtics held on. Olynyk scored the final five points of a 10-3 run to open the fourth and give Boston a 71-61 lead. Turner then found Green for a 3-pointer later on in the quarter to make it 80-68. (We) played well in a lot of the fourth quarter, until the very end, Celtics coach Brad Stevens admitted. The Pistons used a heavy dose of Monroe in the latter stages, though, as he scored nine straight to cuut the margin to 84-82 with 1:31 remaining.dddddddddddd Green stopped the run with a pair of free throws, but Monroe kept up his momentum with a bucket to keep it a two-point game. Rondo threw the ball away at the other end which set up free throws for Drummond, who split the pair to cut it to 86-85 with 23.1 seconds left. Turner knocked down two free throws to extend the lead, then Caron Butler buried a quick 3-pointer to tie the game at 88-88. Green drove the lane in the closing seconds and let go a floater that Drummond sent back his way to send the contest to overtime. Neither team shot the ball particularly well in the third quarter, as Boston managed to make 7-of-24 shots from the floor and Detroit converted 6-of-22. The Celtics did, however, turn their one-point halftime deficit into a three- point lead, taking a 61-58 advantage into the fourth. Greens basket with over five minutes left in the first gave the Celtics an 18-8 lead, but Monroe scored the next six points as Detroit responded with a 13-0 run. Phil Pressey quelled the surge with a 3-pointer to tie the game, then Caldwell-Pope closed the quarter with a dunk that gave the Pistons a 23-21 lead entering the second. Detroit still led in the early stages of the second, however, it went scoreless for nearly five minutes in the quarter. Meanwhile, Boston slowly took advantage courtesy of an 11-0 run for a 42-35 lead with 1:26 remaining until half. Caldwell-Pope ended the drought with a 3-pointer, which was followed by a layup from Drummond and a trey from Kyle Singler that helped the visitors to a 43-42 edge at the break. Game Notes Marcus Smart, Bostons sixth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, was held scoreless in his return to the lineup from a 10-game absence due to a sprained ankle ... Detroit has also lost four straight on the road ... Boston snapped a six-game losing streak at TD Garden and improved to 3-7 at home ... The Pistons had a 55-49 edge on the glass ... The Celtics scored 21 points off turnovers ... Detroit owned a 56-30 scoring edge in the paint. ' ' '