2015 October - Pro Football Rumors

Coaching Rumors: Dolphins, Pagano, Texans

October 27th, 2015 at 12:48pm CST by Luke Adams

A report this weekend indicated that Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley is expected to receive consideration in the offseason for the Dolphins‘ head coaching job. However, asked if there’s any truth to those Haley rumors, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (Twitter link) replied, “None.”

It isn’t the first time that Salguero has shot down a Dolphins-related report from La Canfora — during the 2014 offseason, La Canfora reported that the club was exploring trades involving players like Mike Wallace and Dion Jordan, which Salguero’s sources emphatically denied. It’s not entirely clear if the team was indeed considering deals back then, but the Dolphins ultimately traded Wallace a year later, and probably wish they had moved Jordan as well.

In this case, the performance of the Dolphins and interim coach Dan Campbell down the stretch will play a significant role in what candidates Miami considers after the season — if the club continues to look as good as it has in Campbell’s first two games, it’s hard not to imagine the team hiring him on a full-time basis.

Here are a few more coaching notes and rumors from around the NFL:

While Chuck Pagano‘s job in Indianapolis isn’t totally safe, it’s highly unlikely that the Colts will make a change this week, tweets Bob Kravitz of WTHR.com. Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star is skeptical that firing Pagano is the answer to turning things around for the Colts.
If the Colts do decide to make an in-season change, that move is most likely to happen during the club’s Week 10 bye, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Cole identifies offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, assistant head coach Rob Chudzinski, and quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen as the four in-house candidates to replace Pagano.
In the wake of Monday’s report that head coach Bill O’Brien and general manager Rick Smith disagreed on whether Ryan Mallett should be cut, Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk examines the Texans‘ organizational structure, suggesting that it will likely continue to cause problems. In Smith’s view, it may be time for either the head coach or GM – or both – to go. For what it’s worth, following Mallett’s release today, Tania Ganguil of ESPN.com tweeted that Rick Smith was always on board with the decision, but disagreed about the timing of the move, which would’ve left the team with just one active veteran quarterback.
The Lions‘ firing of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi should officially put head coach Jim Caldwell on notice, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com.
The Eagles are almost certainly giving DeMarco Murray more playing time than Ryan Mathews because of the difference between the two players’ contracts and guaranteed money, and that’s just one example of how Chip Kelly‘s moves as a GM are hampering him as a head coach, says Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Michael Reghi, Bud Shaw, Dan Labbe, and Chris Fedor of the Northeast Ohio Media Group debate whether Browns head coach Mike Pettine should be on the hot seat in Cleveland.

Texans To Sign T.J. Yates

October 27th, 2015 at 12:10pm CST by Luke Adams

After releasing Ryan Mallett, the Texans will bring back free agent quarterback T.J. Yates to back up starter Brian Hoyer, tweets Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston. ESPN’s Tania Ganguli first reported that the team was pursuing Yates, while Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle first broke word of the agreement.

Yates, 28, hasn’t started a regular season NFL game since 2011, though Texans fans will remember that 2011 stint — Yates, a rookie at the time, was the club’s starter down the stretch, and helped lead Houston to a playoff victory in the first round.

After he spent another two seasons in Houston, Yates was traded to Atlanta by the Texans in June of 2014. The former fifth-round pick spent the year playing behind Matt Ryan for the Falcons, and was re-signed by Atlanta in March. However, the team cut him prior to the 2015 season, opting for Sean Renfree as Ryan’s backup this year.

With Tom Savage on injured reserve, Yates will join Hoyer as the only quarterbacks on the Texans’ active roster, meaning there’s a reasonable chance he’ll see the field at some point in the second half. Houston is expected to open up another roster spot when Arian Foster officially lands on IR, so it’ll be interesting to see whether the club signs an emergency QB or uses the opening to add depth to another area of the roster.

Texans Release Ryan Mallett

October 27th, 2015 at 11:22am CST by Luke Adams

Just days after he missed the team’s charter plane to Miami, quarterback Ryan Mallett has been released by the Texans, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston (Twitter link). A Monday report indicated that head coach Bill O’Brien wanted to cut Mallett but was overruled by GM Rick Smith, so it appears Smith has come around on the decision.

Mallett, who also missed a training camp practice this year, claims that he missed last week’s flight because his cell phone died and his alarm didn’t go off. Whether or not that story is true, the missed flight was the last straw for the Texans, who will now have to find a backup for Brian Hoyer, since Mallett was the only other signal-caller on the roster. Tom Savage, the team’s third quarterback, would typically slide into that role, but he was placed on season-ending IR in September.

Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported earlier today (via Twitter) that the Texans had not yet reached out to veteran free agents like Jason Campbell and Rex Grossman. Still, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle tweets that the team will indeed add a veteran to be the No. 2 behind Hoyer, with ESPN’s Tania Ganguli reporting (via Twitter) that the club is working to bring back T.J. Yates, who was cut by the Falcons prior to the regular season.

Mallett, who initially joined the Texans prior to the 2014 season, started six games over the last two years for the team, totaling 1,170 passing yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions during his time in Houston. Having signed a new two-year, $7MM contract with the Texans earlier this year, Mallett still has a little guaranteed money coming his way this year. However, Houston won’t have to carry any dead money on its cap in 2016, since the 27-year-old’s deal didn’t include a signing bonus.

Because Mallett has more than four years of NFL experience, he’ll become a free agent immediately without having to pass through waivers. His stock isn’t particularly high at the moment, but Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (Twitter link) wonders if the Bills – who have lost two games with EJ Manuel as their starter – might circle back on Mallett after showing interest last offseason.

Cowboys Want To Extend Greg Hardy

October 27th, 2015 at 9:59am CST by Luke Adams

While many NFL observers have criticized Greg Hardy for his sideline outburst over the weekend – and the Cowboys for condoning it – Dallas owner Jerry Jones is doubling down on his support for the defensive end. According to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (via Twitter), Jones repeated today what his son Stephen Jones said yesterday, telling 105.3 The Fan in Dallas that the Cowboys would like to extend Hardy beyond this season.

Hardy, 27, was coming off nearly a year-long absence in 2014 this offseason, and also saw his market affected by a looming suspension. As such, the Cowboys were able to ink him to a modest one-year deal which was heavy on per-game roster bonuses and performance incentives. Now that Hardy is off to a strong start, with three sacks in his first two games, it sounds like Dallas wants to ensure he sticks around beyond 2015.

Still, while Hardy has impressed on the field, it’s fair to question why the Cowboys would talk about an extension after observing his behavior off the field — or, as was the case on Sunday, along the side of the field. It’s one thing for an established veteran to express frustration toward a teammate or coach during a game, but for a player like Hardy – who is coming off a suspension for an alleged domestic incident, is playing for a new team, and has repeatedly exhibited questionable judgment – it’s not exactly a great look.

Jerry and Stephen Jones may be publicly supporting the idea of an extension for Hardy, but I’d be pretty surprised if they actually got something done with the pass rusher in the near future. Given all the headlines Hardy has made in his first few weeks back from his suspension, it makes sense to be careful and patient, since it’s anyone’s guess how the next couple months will play out.

If the Cowboys still want to extend Hardy at season’s end, teams will surely proceed with caution in free agency. The ex-Panther, meanwhile, would likely take into consideration the support given to him by the Joneses and the Cowboys organization throughout the year

Texans Unlikely To Add Running Back

October 27th, 2015 at 8:40am CST by Luke Adams

The Ryan Mallett saga, which features a disagreement between head coach Bill O’Brien and GM Rick Smith on whether to keep the quarterback on the roster, has dominated headlines over the last couple days for the Texans. However, Mallett’s future is a secondary issue in Houston, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com, who tweets that the club’s priority is deciding how to proceed at running back following Arian Foster‘s season-ending Achilles injury.

With Foster headed to injured reserve, the Texans are left with Alfred Blue, Chris Polk, and Jonathan Grimes in their backfield. And for now, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), the plan is to stick with those running backs, rather than bringing in an outside free agent. Rapoport notes that Houston is also carrying a fourth back, Kenny Hilliard, on its practice squad as a potential insurance policy.

Assuming the Texans decide not to add another running back to the roster with Foster out, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise — when the four-time Pro Bowler missed time earlier this season, the Texans brought in some veterans for auditions, but ultimately opted to stick with their in-house options.

Not adding a fourth running back to the roster would also give the team the flexibility to use that 53rd roster spot on another position. It’s not clear yet how Houston will use that spot, but with uncertainty surrounding Mallett’s future with the team, it’s fair to wonder if adding a third quarterback is a possibility.

West Notes: Kaepernick, Raiders, LA

October 26th, 2015 at 9:42pm CST by Zachary Links

About four weeks ago, there was a heated exchange between 49ers players regarding Colin Kaepernick in a players-only meeting, sources tell Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. One teammate called out the QB and another stepped up in a show of support. That exchange became heated, but the two players ultimately hashed things out. While there is a level of divide in the locker room, Kaepernick has received clear support from some of the team’s most-respected players, Maiocco writes.

Here’s more from the West divisions:

Raiders owner Mark Davis told Vincent Bonsignore of the L.A. Daily News that there haven’t been any official talks with Oakland leaders in more than two months. “We’ve gotten to the point now, unless you have something to offer, something different, there is no reason to talk,” Davis said. Davis expressed confidence that he’ll get his team to Los Angeles and he also confirmed that he’s talking to a potential investor about coming aboard.
Chargers guard Orlando Franklin has only a slight MCL sprain and is day-to-day, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It was previously believed that Franklin might have suffered a more serious injury.
Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson, who has spent the year on the PUP list so far, officially returned to practice today, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. However, Richardson is still on the PUP list as of this writing — the club will have three weeks to move him to its 53-man roster.

Colts Have Discussed Chuck Pagano’s Future

October 26th, 2015 at 9:34pm CST by Zachary Links

The Colts have had “organizational discussions” about coach Chuck Pagano’s future, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen (via PFT). The Colts are currently 3-4 and it’s not shocking to hear that the team is pondering a coaching change given the expectation level at the start of the season.

Things could quickly get worse for Indianapolis as they head into next Monday’s contest against the Panthers and a showdown with the Broncos. The Colts could very well wind up at 3-6 during their bye week, and that would be a logical time to part ways with Pagano if they plan to do it mid-season.

One has to wonder if GM Ryan Grigson might follow Pagano out the door. On Sunday, Colts owner Jim Irsay and Grigson reportedly engaged in a “heated conversation” after the team’s loss to the Saints. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report recently noted that Grigson could be on the hot seat alongside Pagano and that he has taken criticism for his player acquisitions, including the trade for Trent Richardson and the selection of first-round pick Bjoern Werner. There have also been grumbling within the organization about Grigson’s meddling in the team’s day-to-day operations.

Texans Coach Bill O’Brien Tried To Cut Mallett

October 26th, 2015 at 8:59pm CST by Zachary Links

Texans coach Bill O’Brien wanted and tried to cut quarterback Ryan Mallett after he missed the team’s flight last week, according to sources who spoke with Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. However, he was overruled by GM Rick Smith, and Mallett remained on the roster for Sunday’s blowout loss to the Dolphins.

The Texans now find themselves with a power conflict at the top of the organization. O’Brien’s fiery approach helped Houston turn things around in 2014 and the coach is supposed to have a good deal of control over personnel moves. However, it appears that Texans owner Bob McNair is allowing him GM of ten years to have final say. While the decision to keep Mallett on the roster wasn’t responsible for the Texans’ embarrassing loss to the Dolphins, the Houston Chronicle scribe opines that it undermined everything that O’Brien has stood for since taking over as coach.

Mallett, who also missed a training camp practice this year, claims that he missed the flight because his cell phone died and his alarm didn’t go off. The QB is due $2.5MM in 2016, the second year of his two-year contract. If the Texans do part ways with Mallett this season, they’ll have to sort out who will be their backup to Brian Hoyer. Former Rutgers/Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage would be the fill-in, but he was placed on season-ending IR in September.

On Monday, O’Brien said that the Texans were “talking about [their] options” with Mallett, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle writes.

NFC East Notes: JPP, Hardy, Cowboys

October 26th, 2015 at 8:41pm CST by Zachary Links

Jason Pierre-Paul‘s visit to Giants was reported to the league as an official free agent visit, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (on Twitter). That makes the visit his second of that type and there will be no more allowed, so the JPP saga has to end soon.

Here’s more from the NFC East..

JPP won’t be able to just swoop in and fix the Giants‘ woeful pass rush, Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News writes. The best the Giants can hope for, the Daily News scribe opines, is that maybe he can squeeze out a few plays in a few games near the end of the season. Even then, team sources tell Vacchiano that they’re skeptical he’ll be able to make a mark for the Giants down the stretch.

Cowboys star defensive end Greg Hardy was not on time for practice on Thursday and didn’t call the team, leading the club to start calling around and ask about his whereabouts, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Ultimately, Hardy was listed as a DNP with an “illness.” It’s not immediately clear what the issue was but it would appear that the Cowboys are having issues with their marquee offseason addition.

Hardy will not be disciplined for his sideline blowup on Sunday, head coach Jason Garrett told reporters (via Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram on Twitter). However, the coach added that the Cowboys have talked to him.

North Notes: Lions, Lombardi, S. Smith

October 26th, 2015 at 6:42pm CST by Zachary Links

Lions coach Jim Caldwell told reporters, including Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (on Twitter), that he did not consider take over play calling duties after deciding to let go of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. While the offense won’t be revamped in a couple of days, he says that he does anticipate some schematic change taking place (link).

Caldwell also explained that he wasn’t told to make any of these coaching decisions and that team leadership council is not consulted in these types of situations, per Justin Rogers of MLive.com (on Twitter). Considering the head coach said earlier in the day on Monday that no coaching changes were coming, he either had an abrupt about-face, or wasn’t telling the whole truth either then or now.

Here’s more from the North divisions..

No one should be surprised if Steve Smith plays next season, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes. Hensley theorizes that if the Ravens believed that Smith is retiring then they would entertain trade offers for him in the midst of this lost season. By holding on to him, the Ravens may have a chance to persuade him to return. Even at the age of 36, Smith has 18 more catches than anyone else on the Ravens, and his 510 yards receiving are nearly two times as much as any teammate.
Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun also believes that the Ravens are hanging on to Smith in an effort to talk him out of retirement and he endorses that plan, particularly with the team’s dearth of quality options at wide receiver. Beyond that, Zrebiec believes that Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti is aware of Smith’s popularity and that he doesn’t want to see the team’s attendance suffer for the rest of the year for the sake of acquiring a late-round draft pick.
Bears coach John Fox says that the release of Jay Ratliff was “in the best interest of the team,” as ESPN.com’s Jeff Dickerson writes. Fox didn’t elaborate on the incident that led to Ratliff’s release, but he did indicate that it was on the precipice of becoming a major issue. “That’s why you have security,” Fox said. “That’s why things are in place. Sometimes if you think you need that, that’s what you do for the safety of your building.”