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An Associated Press reporter created a stir on Sunday evening by writing on Twitter that Raiders coach Dennis Allen had been fired. Then the reporter deleted his tweet without explanation. Now the reporter has apologized.

Terry Collins, who identifies himself on Twitter as “Veteran award-winning journalist,” initially tweeted that Allen is already fired and that an announcement could come as soon as Tuesday. Collins does not have a history of breaking news in the NFL, and no other reporter had confirmed the report, so there were immediately questions about it. Soon Collins had deleted his tweet, and later Collins tweeted an apology saying that what he had previously called a report from sources were just unconfirmed “rumors.”

[tweet https://twitter.com/APtcollins/status/516422190636736512%5D

Allen is on the hot seat after his Raiders lost to the Dolphins today, dropping to 0-4. It wouldn’t be surprising if Allen really does get fired this week, with the Raiders on their bye.

But that firing hasn’t happened yet.