2014 January - Pro Football Rumors

Dominic Rhodes Attempting Comeback

January 27th, 2014 at 10:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Former NFL running back Dominic Rhodes is going to attempt a comeback at the age of 35, tweets Alex Marvez of FOXSports1. Rhodes last played with the Colts in 2010, rushing for 172 yards in three games.

Rhodes came on the scene as an undrafted rookie out of Midwestern State in 2001. Replacing injured starter Edgerrin James, Rhodes ran for 1,104 yards and nine touchdowns. After missing the entire 2002 season, Rhodes settled in as a reliable backup in Indianapolis for the next four seasons, winning a championship in Super Bowl XLI. Rhodes played with the Raiders in 2007 before playing another two seasons for the Colts.

Following the 2010 season, Rhodes was suspended for the entire 2011 season by Commissioner Roger Goodell. Rhodes went on to sign with the Virginia Destroyers of the UFL, winning a championship and the league’s offensive player of the league award. Rhodes also played with the UFL’s Florida Tuskers during the 2010 season.

Rhodes averaged four yards per carry throughout his career and has caught 147 passes. At age 35, the ex-Colt will face an uphill battle, as only a trio of 32-year-old running backs saw significant NFL action in 2013: Fred Jackson, Willis McGahee and Ronnie Brown.

Coaching Notes: Cowboys, Browns, Eagles

January 27th, 2014 at 8:50pm CST by Ben Levine

There were a handful of coaching moves today. Here are the highlights from around the league…

The Cowboys will hire former Lions‘ offensive coordinator Scott Linehan as their passing game coordinator, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Linehan had been Detroit’s offensive coach since 2009, but was fired at the end of the December. Rapoport also mentions that Linehan will be hired to call plays on offense, the Cowboys’ third playcaller in three seasons.
The Browns have continued to poach the Bills coaching staff, announcing today that linebackers coach Jim O’Neil will be joining Mike Pettine in Cleveland as the team’s defensive coordinator. Pettine will also take Buffalo coaches Brian Fleury and Jeff Hafley along with him. The Bills defense set a franchise record in 2013 with 57 sacks.
The Eagles filled some roles on their coaching staff, signing Bill Musgrave as their quarterbacks coach and promoting Mike Dawson from defensive quality control coach to assistant defensive line coach, according to Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Additionally, 22-year-old Michael Clay, will take over Dawson’s former role. Clay played for Eagles’ head coach Chip Kelly at Oregon for four seasons.

NFC Notes: Bennett, Kuhn, Redskins

January 27th, 2014 at 7:34pm CST by Ben Levine

A couple of notes from around the NFC on this Monday evening…

Upcoming free agent Mike Bennett has expressed interest in returning to the Seahawks, tweets Todd Dybas of the Tacoma News Tribune. However, Seattle may have competition in the Bears, says Chicago Sun-Times reporter Patrick Finley. Signing with Chicago would team up the defensive end with his brother, tight end Martellus Bennett, who is expected to recruit his older sibling.
The Packers‘ signing of Ina Liaina does not necessarily have an impact on the status of free agent fullback John Kuhn, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. As the writer points out, Kuhn shined as a third-down option and blocker for rookie Eddie Lacy while Liaina, who Green Bay inked earlier today, has basically no NFL experience.
Rich Tandler of CSNWashington takes a look at the Redskins current salary cap situation and how it applies to the team’s defensive line. Tandler believes the current group has not justified their current salaries and that defensive ends Adam Carriker and Stephen Bowen are potential cap casualties.
Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea believes that of the 49ers free agents, wide receiver Anquan Boldin and kicker Phil Dawson are the most likely to re-sign. Maiocco also mentions that defensive backs Donte Whitner and Tarell Brown are expected to test the market.

Packers Sign Ina Liaina

January 27th, 2014 at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

The Packers have signed fullback Ina Liaina to a two-year deal, according to agent Angelo Wright of SportsWest Football (via Twitter). Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com adds that it’s a reserve/futures contract (Twitter link).

Liaina, who went undrafted in 2013, was signed in May by the Dolphins, but only lasted a few weeks on the roster before being cut. The San Jose State product, who played predominantly at fullback and on special teams, had 98 rushing yards on 33 attempts during his final college season in 2012.

The Packers reportedly worked out another fullback, Jonathan Amosa, today, so it appears that the team elected to sign Liaina over Amosa or any other free agent options.

AFC Notes: Chris Johnson, Dolphins, Bills

January 27th, 2014 at 4:44pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s round up a few Monday updates from around the AFC….

Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports (via Twitter) that Titans running back Chris Johnson will undergo a surgical procedure to repair a torn meniscus. Johnson remains under contract for now, but is a strong candidate to be released and hit the open market this offseason, so his health could be a significant factor in the next deal he signs.
Despite Joe Philbin‘s 15-17 record to date, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross believes Philbin is the long-term answer as head coach, according to James Walker of ESPN.com, who notes that the organization’s confidence in Philbin was on full display during Miami’s GM search (Twitter links).
While the Ravens ultimately passed on Kyle Shanahan and hired Gary Kubiak as their offensive coordinator, it sounds as if Shanahan made a favorable impression in Baltimore, tweets Albert Breer of NFL Network.
Multiple former Bills coaches are already headed to Cleveland to join the Browns‘ staff, and Buffalo head coach Doug Marrone confirmed today to reporters, including Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter links), that Jeff Hafley and Brian Fleury will also be joining the Browns as defensive coaches.
Although adding more receiving weapons for Tom Brady should be a priority for the Patriots, the development of the team’s young receivers is equally important, writes Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com.

Steelers Sign So’oto, Poole To Futures Deals

January 27th, 2014 at 3:52pm CST by Luke Adams

The Steelers have officially signed a pair of players to reserve/futures contracts, the team announced today (Twitter link). Linebacker Vic So’oto and running back Tauren Poole have inked deals with the Steelers for next season.

So’oto spent time with the Cardinals in 2013 before finishing the season on the Saints’ practice squad. Poole also bounced around a little, spending time on the Panthers’ and Colts’ practice squads this past season.

So’oto, Poole, and other players who didn’t finish the 2013 season on an active roster are eligible to sign futures contracts before free agency begins in March. While the deals don’t come with any guarantees for 2014, they could provide an opportunity to compete for a roster spot.

Browns Notes: O’Neil, Shanahan, McDaniels

January 27th, 2014 at 2:09pm CST by Luke Adams

When the Browns hired Mike Pettine as their head coach last week, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported that the former Bills defensive coordinator would likely be bringing a coach with him from Buffalo. According to Mehta, the Browns were expected to hire Bills linebackers coach Jim O’Neil as their defensive coordinator, assuming Buffalo let him out of his contract. Today, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported (via Twitter) that the Bills have indeed given O’Neil permission to talk to the Browns, adding that the interview is merely a formality. Here’s more from out of Cleveland, including word of another coach heading from Buffalo to the Browns:

Chuck Driesbach, who was fired by the Bills earlier this month, will be joining Pettine’s Cleveland staff in some capacity, reports Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The longtime college coach was working with Buffalo’s linebackers before he was let go.
As Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweeted this afternoon, Kyle Shanahan won’t be joining the Ravens’ coaching staff, and Rapoport believes that Shanahan could be a candidate for the offensive coordinator vacancy in Cleveland (Twitter link).
In his latest MMQB column, Peter King writes that Pettine seems like the “ultimate compromise candidate” for the Browns, who aggressively pursued Josh McDaniels of the Pats. Referring to McDaniels as the “apple of owner Jimmy Haslam’s eye,” King says the team had multiple conversations with the Pats’ offensive coordinator about the possibility of him re-entering Cleveland’s coaching derby.

Ravens Hire Gary Kubiak As OC

January 27th, 2014 at 1:50pm CST by David Kipke

1:50pm: The Ravens have officially announced the hiring of Kubiak as the team’s offensive coordinator and Dennison as the QB coach.

12:19pm: The Ravens will officially announce their new offensive coordinator later this afternoon, according to the team (Twitter link). Wilson tweets that Dennison is expected to join the staff under Kubiak, though it’s not clear if any other additions will be announced today.

11:07am: While there are still some details to be ironed out, everything points to Kubiak becoming the Ravens’ new offensive coordinator, tweets Zrebiec.

According to Michael Preston of the Baltimore Sun, Kubiak is trying to put together an offensive staff before he officially accepts the job, meaning the team’s old coaches could be in trouble. Preston adds that Kubiak’s hiring has been pushed by Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome and owner Steve Bisciotti rather than Harbaugh (Twitter links).

MONDAY, 8:06am: The third candidate in the mix for the Ravens’ offensive coordinator job appears to be Gary Kubiak, who has emerged as the favorite for the position, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, former Texans offensive coordinator Rick Dennison has also spoken with John Harbaugh over the last few days, though based on Schefter’s report, it sounds as if Dennison may be drawing Baltimore’s interest for another spot on the staff, rather than the OC vacancy.

SUNDAY, 10:53pm: The Ravens have recently interviewed a third candidate in their search to fill the offensive coordinator vacancy previously occupied by Jim Caldwell, according to Jeff Zrebiec and Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun. Until now, it was believed that former Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and current Ravens wide receivers coach Jim Hostler were the only remaining candidates.

Former Steelers running back coach Kirby Wilson, who appears poised to join the Vikings’ staff, had also been in the mix for the Ravens’ position, but was informed this weekend that Baltimore was going in a different direction.

Falcons Extend Smith, Dimitroff, McKay

January 27th, 2014 at 12:29pm CST by Luke Adams

The Falcons have officially extended the contracts of head coach Mike Smith, general manager Thomas Dimitroff, and president/CEO Rich McKay, the team announced today (link via Jay Adams of AtlantaFalcons.com). Smith and Dimitroff each had one year added to their current deals, while McKay received four new years, extending his contract through May 2019.

“We are fortunate to have talented key leaders at the Falcons who are dedicated to a common goal of being a league leader on and off the field,” owner and chairman Arthur Blank said in a statement. “I have great respect for the skills and commitment of Rich, Thomas and Smitty, and I look forward to continuing to support and work with them in the years to come.”

Smith and Dimitroff have spent six seasons with the Falcons so far, and are coming off a disappointing 4-12 campaign. However, the team still has a 60-36 record during their respective tenures, with 2013 representing the lone sub-.500 season during that six-year stretch.

For Smith, who received a three-year contract extension with one year left on his original deal in February 2011, the one-year extension removes his lame-duck status heading into the 2014 season.

NFC Notes: Avril, Gonzalez, 49ers, Eagles

January 27th, 2014 at 11:01am CST by Luke Adams

Cliff Avril may have cost himself some long-term money when he reportedly turned down a three-year, $30MM extension offer from the Lions before the 2012 season. Avril ultimately played the 2012 season as a franchise player, then signed a more modest two-year deal with the Seahawks a year ago. However, as he told reporters yesterday, including Kyle Meinke of MLive.com, Avril doesn’t have any regrets or hard feelings toward the Lions, who didn’t re-engaged in contract discussions after applying the franchise tag on the defensive end.

“It’s not like I’m making pennies,” Avril said. “Again, I can’t complain. I’m fortunate enough to be where I’m at right now. There’s definitely no bitterness though.”

Here are a few more Monday notes from around the NFC:

Tony Gonzalez, who played in his record-tying 14th Pro Bowl last night, expressed that he is “at peace” and will not be talked out of his plans to retire after the 2013 season, according to a tweet by ESPN.com’s Falcons reporter Vaughn McClure.
While the Falcons may focus on scouting players who are best suited for the team’s 3-4 scheme, GM Thomas Dimitroff acknowledged that Atlanta could use any pass-rushers capable of getting the quarterback consistently. McClure has the quotes and the details.
Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle explains why it may be in both Colin Kaepernick‘s and the 49ers‘ best interests to work out a long-term deal sooner rather than later.
There’s a 75% chance Anquan Boldin re-signs with the 49ers, in the opinion of ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson, who also predicts the odds of other free agents returning to San Francisco.
Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com spoke to cap expert Joel Corry about a number of decisions facing the Eagles this offseason.
The Packers are working out free agent fullback Jonathan Amosa today, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Amosa, a University of Washington product, was with Green Bay during training camp.

David Kipke contributed to this post.