2015 January - Pro Football Rumors

AFC Coaching Notes: McDaniels, Kubiak, Jets

January 10th, 2015 at 4:34pm CST by Rob DiRe

We have already looked at some of the NFC’s biggest coaching stories, and to follow up here are some of the most important AFC rumors:

The early game today features a pair of offensive minds that could have head coaching opportunities this offseason, in Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, writes Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). McDaniels has drawn interest from the Falcons and 49ers, while Kubiak has ties to both the Jets and Bears.
Kubiak has not interviewed yet, choosing to wait until the team’s season is over. However, even if Baltimore is eliminated, Kubiak may not interview for a head coaching job. He loves the Ravens and has friends with the organization, reports Rapoport (via Twitter).
As former Jets head coach Rex Ryan interviews for potential head coaching jobs, one question teams are curious about is who he plans to bring in as an offensive coordinator. Ryan is pitching a potential union with former Bears coach Marc Trestman, reports Rapoport (via Twitter).
Trestman and Raiders quarterback coach John DeFilippo are in the running to replace Kyle Shanahan as the Browns‘ offensive coordinator, writes Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Fowler writes that the most important qualities Cleveland is looking for in an offensive coordinator are the ability to work with Johnny Manziel and scheme flexibility in case the team moves on from its young quarterback.
The Browns have also asked for permission to interview Raiders assistant coach Al Saunders, who has experience as an offensive coordinator and head coach during his 30 years in the NFL, reports Steve Corkran of the San Jose Mercury News.
If former Bills coach Doug Marrone cannot land another head coaching job this year, he would likely be welcome to join the Texans’ staff as a consultant, reports Chris Mortensen of ESPN (via Twitter). Marrone is close with Texans coach Bill O’Brien.
The Jets could be waiting for Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, but owner Woody Johnson should be worried about his ability to get the in-demand Seahawks assistant, writes Conor Orr of NFL.com. If the Jets wait on Quinn and loses him to another suitor, it could leave the team in a bad spot.

NFC Coaching Notes: Quinn, 49ers, Rams

January 10th, 2015 at 3:37pm CST by Rob DiRe

Here are some updates on open NFC coaching positions:

If Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn gets a head coaching job, potential offensive coordinators he could hire include Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable or former Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
Since losing offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to the University of Georgia, the Rams have expressed interest in 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman and former Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to fill the open position, reports Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com.
The 49ers announced that it would take seven to ten days to hire a new coach, but made the announcement on December 29th, and have yet to make significant progress, reports Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. Gutierrez notes that three candidates are still coaching playoff teams, and lists the eight coaches interviewed so far.
The three candidates for the 49ers job that will be coaching this weekend are Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. If everything breaks perfectly, all three could be available by Sunday night.
Six coaching jobs have opened up this offseason and six jobs remain unfilled. Everyone may have their own theory for why it is taking so long to hire new head coaches, and Matt Miller of Bleacher Report believes it is because teams are waiting for the Seahawks‘ season to be over and for Quinn to become available (via Twitter).
As the Giants continue to search for a new defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo is among leaders in the clubhouse for the job, reports Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (via Twitter). Spagnuolo was the defensive coordinator under Tom Coughlin during the team’s 2007-08 Super Bowl run.

Eagles GM Search Notes: Fitterer, Dungy

January 10th, 2015 at 2:25pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Eagles are still searching for their next general manager since announcing new roles for head coach Chip Kelly and executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman.

Kelly will have more control over the roster and the draft, and will also have a hand in choosing the team’s next general manager.

The team is expected to interview Seahawks director of college scouting Scott Fitterer sometime next week, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter).
Kelly has reportedly reached out to a number of football people for advice as he continues to look for a general manager. One notable name that is advising Kelly is former Colts coach Tony Dungy, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter).
McLane also notes that Fitterer was the director of college scouting when the Seahawks selected current stars Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Bobby Wagner, Kam Chancellor, and Russell Wilson.
Dungy could push Kelly towards Lions general manager Martin Mayhew or someone close to him, based on his ties to him and coach Jim Caldwell, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter).

Russell Wilson Expected To Become Highest-Paid QB

January 10th, 2015 at 1:40pm CST by Rob DiRe

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has been one of the best bargains in the NFL these past three seasons, but is in line for an extension this offseason. As Wilson enters a contract year, Seattle is prepared to make him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, reports Chris Wesseling of NFL.com.

On an annual basis, Aaron Rodgers‘ five-year, $110MM contract makes him the highest paid quarterback in the league, coming in at an average of $22MM per year. Wilson’s yearly salary could surpass Rodgers’, assuming he and the team work out a contract extension this offseason.

The Seahawks are not shy about paying to keep their star players, having already made Earl Thomas the highest paid safety in the NFL, and Richard Sherman the highest paid cornerback in the league (albeit briefly).

Seattle has already been preparing for Wilson’s extension, making a number of moves to clean its cap sheet to make room for his next contract. Obviously, the team moved on from receiver Percy Harvin, and extended the contracts of other key players K.J. Wright and Cliff Avril in order to clear cap space.

Chris Johnson Arrested

January 10th, 2015 at 12:45pm CST by Ben Levine

Jets running back Chris Johnson was arrested in his hometown of Orlando, Florida on Friday on a misdemeanor weapons charge, according to a police report obtained by Erika Esola (via Twitter). Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk confirms the report, stating Johnson was arrested for open carrying of a firearm.

Smith notes that Johnson has a license to carry in his home state of Florida, but the arrest was for “open carrying,” not just carrying. This implies that Johnson likely wasn’t concealing his weapon. Meanwhile, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini tweets that the Jets are aware of the situation, but are not commenting.

Following one of the worst seasons of his career, the arrest certainly won’t help Johnson’s case of sticking in New York. The veteran joined the Jets shortly after he was released by the Titans in April, inking a two-year deal worth $8MM. Johnson rewarded the Jets by establishing career-lows in rushing yards (663), rushing attempts (155) and touchdowns (two). Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) weren’t impressed with Johnson’s performance; the website ranked the 29-year-old 46th among 57 eligible running back candidates.

Luckily for the Jets, they can easily move on from the former Pro Bowler. The team holds a second-year option worth $4MM, and they can either accept or decline it by February.

NFC Mailbags: Brees, Cutler, Suh, Giants

January 10th, 2015 at 12:22pm CST by Ben Levine

We took a look at ESPN.com’s AFC mailbags earlier this morning. Let’s now switch focus to the NFC…

With so many veterans on the offensive line, Mike Triplett writes that the Saints need to address that area in their upcoming drafts. Meanwhile, the writer hasn’t seen any real regression out of Drew Brees, leading him to believe the team doesn’t need to draft a quarterback unless there’s a player they really like.
Michael C. Wright believes if the Bears want to move on from quarterback Jay Cutler, then they need to have a plan in place. However, there doesn’t seem to be any strategy in handling the embattled veteran, and Wright believes this in an indication that Cutler will return next season.
The Lions handling of Ndamukong Suh will have an impact on practically all of the team’s free agency decisions, opines Michael Rothstein. Most notably, defensive tackle Nick Fairley would likely be playing elsewhere in 2015 if the team retains Suh.
Alabama safety Landon Collins is as “good a guess as any” to be selected by the Giants in the first round, according to Dan Graziano. Looking for an improvement at safety will be an even bigger priority if the team can solidify it’s pass-rush and offensive line depth via free agency.
It wouldn’t surprise David Newton if Panthers veteran running back DeAngelo Williams is cut by the squad in June. The team could pursue a replacement in the draft, but Newton notes that the team likes Fozzy Whittaker.

Browns Parting Ways With Kyle Shanahan

January 10th, 2015 at 11:10am CST by Luke Adams

SATURDAY, 11:10am: The Browns have officially announced the resignation of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. The organization also confirmed that they would not be retaining quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains.

Coach Mike Pettine released a statement:

“After conversations with Kyle this week we’ve determined that it would be in the best interest of the Cleveland Browns that he pursue other opportunities and we have accepted his resignation. In Dowell’s case, it was a difficult decision but one that we felt we had to make. We wish them both well. Our focus quickly turns to finding an outstanding coach to lead our offense and I am confident we will bring in highly qualified individuals to help us develop, improve, and achieve the success we are all seeking. I look forward to working with the staff as we go through this process to bring in coaches committed to helping the Cleveland Browns lay a strong foundation to take our offense to a consistently high level in the 2015 season and beyond.”

Shanahan also released a statement:

“I appreciate the opportunity Mike Pettine, Ray Farmer and Jimmy Haslam gave me to lead the Browns offense in 2014. The Browns organization is committed to improvement and winning. I regret how the inner workings of the organization were represented publicly over the last few days. Ray and Mike both have the work ethic, experience and talent to work together to turn this organization into a winner. In light of the circumstances, I have decided to resign. I’m grateful for my time with the Browns and wish them great success going forward.”

THURSDAY, 9:57am: Marvez clarifies (via Twitter) that Shanahan asked for his release from the Browns, while Loggains was fired.

9:41am: The Browns are parting ways with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan after just one season in Cleveland, a source tells Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter links). According to Marvez, an announcement of the move is “imminent,” and quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains will be let go as well. Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (via Twitter), after it became clear that Shanahan wanted out of Cleveland, he sat down with owner Jimmy Haslam and they agreed to part ways.

During his single season with the Browns, Shanahan oversaw an offense whose effectiveness declined over the course of the season, ultimately finishing 24th in DVOA, per Football Outsiders. Quarterback Brian Hoyer led the team to a 6-3 record to start the year, throwing 10 touchdowns to just four interceptions, but struggled in the second half, throwing two TDs and nine INTs in his final five appearances. First-round rookie Johnny Manziel was even worse in his lone start.

Now that he has moved on from the Browns, Shanahan is a good bet to land an offensive coordinator job elsewhere, and is even viewed as a head coaching candidate for a couple teams. Shanahan is reportedly set to interview today for the Bills’ head coaching job, and has been cited as a potential target for the 49ers, though it doesn’t appear the two sides have scheduled a meeting yet.

A few teams with head coaching openings have been eyeing Shanahan and his father Mike Shanahan as a potential package deal, with the elder Shanahan as a head coaching target and the younger Shanahan as the potential OC. However, multiple reports have indicated Kyle may prefer to chart his own course. As we heard last night, Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn figures to have interest in Kyle Shanahan as his offensive coordinator if he lands a head coaching job with the Jets or elsewhere.

As for the Browns, Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports points out (via Twitter) that the team interviewed Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter for its head coaching job a year ago, as well as talking to Raiders quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo about its offensive coordinator job. Those could be names to watch as the club looks to hire a new OC.

AFC Mailbags: Ravens, Dolphins, Jets, Jags

January 10th, 2015 at 10:56am CST by Ben Levine

It’s Saturday morning, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags to answer questions from readers. Let’s first take a look at some of the rumbling coming out of the AFC…

The Ravens can’t realistically expect rookie defensive back Rashaan Melvin to continue exceeding expectations. As a result, Jamison Hensley believes the team should still draft a defensive back, forcing Melvin to compete with Asa Jackson for the fourth cornerback spot.
If the Dolphins struggle next season, James Walker expects the organization to “clean house.” This would allow new executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum to bring in his own staff.
When asked which Jets coaches could ultimately stick around for 2015, Rich Cimini points to defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, quarterbacks coach David Lee and running backs coach Anthony Lynn.
Meanwhile, Cimini has no interest in paying Jets wideout Percy Harvin his $10.5MM salary next season, with the writer suggesting a more reasonable $6MM deal.
When it comes to some of the notable free agents, Michael DiRocco would support the Jaguars pursuit of wideout Randall Cobb or safety Devin McCourty. However, the writer isn’t as high on Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Coaching Notes: Raiders, Giants, Browns

January 10th, 2015 at 9:29am CST by Ben Levine

Let’s check out some notable coaching rumors as we start off the weekend…

Raiders owner Mark Davis “loves” Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. However, it’s uncertain whether the organization is willing to wait for Del Rio to finish up his playoff run with Denver.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the Giants have requested permission to interview Bills defensive line coach Pepper Johnson for their defensive coordinator opening. Johnson has coached since 2000, but he has yet to hold a coordinator position.
The Browns have requested permission to interview a trio of NFL coaches for their offensive coordinator opening (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport on Twitter): 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman, Raiders offensive assistant Al Saunders and current Raiders quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo. The organization is also set to interview former Bears head coach Marc Trestman,
Rapoport tweets that Roman’s interview with the Browns is on Monday, so a hiring shouldn’t be expected this weekend.
Bills running back coach Tyrone Wheatley will be joining Jim Harbaugh‘s staff at Michigan, tweets John Kryk of the Toronto Sun. Wheatley was previously a coach at Syracuse, Ohio Northern and Eastern Michigan.

Workout Notes: Saturday

January 10th, 2015 at 9:00am CST by Ben Levine

We’ll keep track of today’s workout information right here, as well as a couple of notes from the past couple of days. All of the information below is via the Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson on Twitter…

The Chiefs worked out wide receivers John Chiles and Cordell Roberson, cornerback Aaron Hester and defensive lineman Shawn Lemon.
The Chiefs also brought in defensive back Jalil Carter and wide receivers LaVon Brazill, Duron Carter and Joe Morgan. Brazill, a former sixth-round pick by the Colts, showed some flashes playing with Andrew Luck early in his career. Morgan was released by the Saints earlier this season, while Carter appears to have numerous suitors (with the Vikings seen as the favorite to sign him).
The Seahawks also brought in Lemon for a workout, and he joined quarterback Dominique Davis and cornerback Keon Lyn at the tryout. Wilson notes that defensive back Delvin Breaux was also brought in “for a visit.”
The Packers worked out CFL defensive back Jalil Carter. The former Akron standout briefly spend time with the Rams and in the AFL.
The Giants brought in five players for workouts: linebackers Terrance Bullitt and Phillip Hunt, safety Mistral Raymond, fullback Collin Mooney and tight end Michael Flacco.
The Steelers worked out a trio of offensive weapons: quarterback Aaron Smetanka, running back David Fluellen and wideout L’Damian Washington.