Let’s check out some assorted notes from around the league on this Saturday afternoon…
- The Panthers could see some changes if their season doesn’t turn around, and ESPN.com’s David Newton believes the “fall guy” could be offensive coordinator Mike Shula. Meanwhile, the writer attributes the team’s lack of success to injuries, the absence of Greg Hardy and general manager Dave Gettleman’s mismanagement of the salary cap.
- Count Falcons coach Mike Smith among those who are still in favor of the team’s 2011 trade for wideout Julio Jones. “I don’t know what happened with the Cleveland Browns, but we got better as a football team when we acquired Julio Jones,” Smith said (via Marla Ridenour of the Beacon Journal). “He’s an elite wide receiver that demands resources from the defense that, in turn, is going to make everybody else around him better.”
- Ira Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune opines that Bears defensive end Jared Allen is “on the short list” of free agent disappointments (Twitter link).
- ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini looks at the top five questions for the Jets as their season winds down. Notably, the writer questions whether general manager John Idzik and coach Rex Ryan will stick around, if the team’s future quarterback is currently on the roster, and if Percy Harvin is worth $10MM next season.