HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Dolphins Interview Frank Reich, Clyde Christensen

January 16th, 2016 at 4:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins interviewed Frank Reich and Clyde Christensen for their offensive coordinator vacancy, Alex Marvez of Fox Sports tweets.

These are the first two interviews Adam Gase has conducted for this job. Miami hired Vance Joseph this week to run its defense.

Since fired by the Chargers, Reich hasn’t been connected to any coordinator jobs. The injury-plagued Chargers ranked 15th in offensive DVOA this season after slotting in at 11th in 2014. Under Ken Whisenhunt in 2013, the team resided at second in Football Outsiders’ top metric.

Christensen has been on the Colts’ staff since 2002, serving in various offensive capacities, including as OC from 2009-11. The Peyton Manning-led offense helped the Colts glide to 14-0 in ’09, but the franchise began a brief downward spiral after its Super Bowl loss. But the team retained Christensen, who has served as Indianapolis’ quarterbacks coach since 2012.

The Dolphins fired Bill Lazor during their tumultuous 2015 slate.

Browns Negotiating With Pep Hamilton

January 16th, 2016 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

A day after we heard Hue Jackson wasn’t planning to hire an offensive coordinator to start his Browns regime, the Browns are negotiating with former Colts OC Pep Hamilton, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (on Twitter).

Hamilton is in talks to become the Browns’ assistant head coach/offense, basically becoming the top offensive assistant to Jackson in the event these negotiations progress toward Hamilton joining the Browns’ staff.

Jackson, per Cabot will be the Browns’ play-caller this season, just as he was with the Bengals the past two years and with the Raiders, when he coached in Oakland in 2011.

Hamilton, who called plays in Indianapolis before being fired after the Colts started 3-5 this season, met with Jackson on Friday to initially discuss a potential role in Cleveland.

The Browns today informed 2015 offensive coordinator John DeFilippo he would not be back next season. DeFilippo has two years remaining on his contract, which the team will be required to pay out.

Andrew Luck‘s offensive coordinator at Stanford before moving to Indianapolis, Hamilton carried a reputation as a conservative play-caller with the Colts. Hamilton reportedly wasn’t receptive to internal calls to speed up the Colts’ offense this season. An injured Luck helped the Colts regress from third in total offense in Hamilton’s final full season in Indianapolis to 28th this season.

Hamilton previously served as the quarterbacks coach for the Jets, 49ers and Bears from 2004-2009 before spending three seasons in Palo Alto.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

West Notes: Los Angeles, 49ers, Maclin

January 16th, 2016 at 3:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Carson presentation drew laughs from the owners once Disney Chairman Robert Iger mentioned how he’d paid the owners plenty of money over the years. That comment, and a Jerry Jones joke following Iger’s exit from the room, helped escalate the downward-trending Carson initiative’s demise, according to Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times.

“He said he paid us. Last time I checked, that money is coming from Disney shareholders, not him,” Jones told his fellow owners during Tuesday’s relocation summit in Houston, per Farmer.

The owners voted 19-13 on whether their votes would be secret. After two votes, the Inglewood project received 21, three shy of the majority needed to relocate the Rams.

Roger Goodell then ushered Stan Kroenke, Dean Spanos and Mark Davis into a private room for an hour-long negotiation. Upon the trio’s return, Davis announced the Raiders were pulling out of the race, Farmer reports. The agreement that gives the Chargers a one-year window to decide on relocating to Inglewood had been discussed for more than six months.

Farmer also notes Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, who had been vocal about his support for the Carson project and helped attach Iger to it, was silent most of the day.

Here is some more on Los Angeles and the latest on the Western-stationed franchises.

  • With economists estimating the Chargers can expect three to five times more revenue in Los Angeles than in San Diego, a source tells Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune “at least 10 teams” would be lining up to take the joint-tenant deal in Inglewood if the Chargers wouldn’t. Acee also reports there’s talk of a bit more than the $100MM the NFL offered to help keep the Raiders and Chargers in their respective cities available to the Chargers if they were to make things work in San Diego. Spanos could leverage San Diego with the deal the Chargers would be in line to receive alongside the Rams if in fact San Diego is serious about keeping the franchise, Acee writes. But San Diego now will entertain the notion of bringing another team to the city.
  • Patriots president Jonathan Kraft said Kroenke will be spending between $3 billion and $3.5 billion to relocate the Rams, factoring in the $550MM relocation fee and the Rams’ new stadium (via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, on Twitter).
  • Several members of the 49ers‘ staff from last season has reportedly packed up and moved their things out of the team’s facility, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com reports (on Twitter). Chip Kelly met with defensive coordinator Eric Mangini, per Maiocco, but the future of the San Francisco coaching staff is highly uncertain at this point. Kelly will meet with running backs coach Tom Rathman next week, Maiocco tweets. The former 49ers fullback’s been on the 49ers’ staff since 2009 and had to instruct one of the most injury-ravaged units in the NFL this season.
  • Former Eagles quarterbacks coach Ryan Day is under consideration for the job of 49ers offensive coordinator, ESPN reports (via Maiocco). A former New Hampshire player under Kelly, Day joined Kelly with the Eagles last season after being Boston College’s OC in 2013-14.
  • Both Eagles defensive line coaches, Jerry Azzinaro and Mike Dawson, are the most likely coaches to follow Kelly from Philadelphia, Maiocco reports. Azzinaro’s been Kelly’s D-line coach for the past seven seasons, doing so at Oregon from 2009-12 and with the Eagles since 2013.
  • Maiocco also reports (via Twitter) the 49ers could be considering Buccaneers tight ends coach Jon Embree for a spot on their staff if Dirk Koetter doesn’t retain him. The Colorado head coach in 2011-12, the 50-year-old Embree’s coached tight ends for the Chiefs, Washington, Browns and Bucs since 2006. He’s been with Tampa Bay since 2014.
  • A mutual interest in acquiring players with length and size could help Kelly and GM Trent Baalke work well together with the 49ers, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch notes.
  • The Chiefs declared Jeremy Maclin active for today’s game against the Patriots, but their top wideout reportedly had trouble walking during the week of preparation, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Maclin did not practice this week due to the high-ankle sprain he suffered last Saturday against the Texans.

Browns Rumors: Wilson, DeFilippo, Patricia

January 16th, 2016 at 2:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

2:46pm: The Vikings have denied Wilson permission to become the Browns’ running-game coordinator, ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson reports (on Twitter). Minnesota would have needed to grant Wilson approval to meet with Jackson about this position, and the Vikings halted that overture today.

Earlier updates: As eight teams prepare to extend their seasons, let’s look at one that’s firmly in offseason mode. The Browns appear to be going with Hue Jackson‘s plan to not hire an offensive coordinator and have fired John DeFilippo and several other staffers. They are considering Pep Hamilton and Vikings running backs coach Kirby Wilson to come aboard as key offensive assistants, however. Here’s the latest from Cleveland.

  • With DeFilippo’s time with the Browns deemed a one-year experiment today by new Jackson, the first-time OC has a chance to join the Rams as their passing-game coordinator, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. A 37-year-old Youngstown, Ohio, native, DeFilippo interviewed for the Rams’ position as well as the 49ers’ head-coaching vacancy recently filled by Chip Kelly. Cabot reports DeFilippo was waiting to hear Jackson’s plans for his offensive staff before making a decision on potentially heading to Los Angeles. Rob Boras ascended to the position of the Rams’ offensive coordinator Friday after serving in that capacity in an interim basis when the team fired Frank Cignetti during the season. Under DeFilippo, the Browns’ passing game, despite being saddled with Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel and missing Josh Gordon, amassed 4,155 yards — fourth-most in franchise history.
  • Jackson ended up with the Cleveland job, but the Browns were also eager to visit with Patriots DC Matt Patricia for a second interview, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (Twitter links). The team contacted Patricia to gauge interest, which didn’t seem to be mutual. Had Patricia been more interested in the fluid position, talks may have progressed to a second interview, Rapaport notes.
  • Jackson and former Colts offensive line coach Hal Hunter have engaged in talks about the veteran assistant joining the Browns’ staff, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Hunter, 56, spent the past three seasons as the Colts’ co-offensive line coach before the team announced Thursday that Hunter wouldn’t be retained. After spending more than two decades as a college assistant, Hunter served as the Chargers’ offensive line coach from 2006-11 and offensive coordinator in 2012.

Titans Leaning Toward Mike Mularkey?

January 16th, 2016 at 1:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite going 2-7 in his most recent head-coaching audition, Mike Mularkey appears to be the clear favorite to become the Titans’ next full-time head coach, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports.

The PFT reporter hears it would be a “massive upset” if the Titans don’t retain Mularkey, who replaced Ken Whisenhunt after seven games last season. This goes along with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reporting earlier today the Tennessee job is Mularkey’s “to lose.”

Owner Amy Adams Strunk developed a strong relationship with Mularkey, per Florio, last season and prefers the 54-year-old coach keep the job. Recent GM candidates Chris Ballard and Chris Polian did not share Strunk’s views on Mularkey’s potential, so they were not hired, Florio reports.

New GM Jon Robinson reportedly did agree to consider keeping Mularkey, who Florio notes will be offered a short-term deal with a salary on the low end of the head-coaching earnings scale.

Rapoport points out the Titans could make this official today. The team’s also interviewed Doug Marrone and
Teryl Austin and is set to meet with Titans DC Ray Horton today.

Mularkey carries an 18-39 coaching record and would be a rare third-try head coach without a playoff berth on his resume. His best season came with the Bills, when they went 9-7 in 2004. Mularkey’s Buffalo tenure lasted just two years, and his Jaguars stint, in 2012, produced a 2-14 mark.

Mularkey joined the Titans as their tight ends coach in 2014 before being elevated to assistant head coach prior to the 2015 season’s outset.

The Titans have gone 5-27 the past two seasons.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Front Office Notes: Jets, Giants, Titans, Lions

January 16th, 2016 at 12:29pm CST by Ben Levine

Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan filled his season-ending press conference with “generalities and overall nothingness,” writes Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Still, the executive did elaborate on several topics, including free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

“We’d like very much to get him back… We’ll see how this thing works out.”

“Bryce [Petty] has made a lot of progress. We’re kind of excited to have another offseason with him… With Geno [Smith], he’s under contract. We like the progress he’s made.”

Maccagnan also noted that “it’s not impossible” to keep all of their top defensive linemen, including Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Damon Harrison and Leonard Williams.

Let’s check out some more notes from the league’s front offices…

  • Giants general manager Jerry Reese understands that it’s his job to improve the roster, and he said he puts it on himself if the team doesn’t perform well. “At the end of the day, it’s my responsibility,” he said (via Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News). “If somebody doesn’t get it right, if somebody doesn’t pan out, it’s the GM’s responsibility.”
  • While candidates have been interviewing for the Titans head coach vacancy, ownership has made it clear that they have no desire to sell the team, tweets ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
  • The Lions have fired senior personnel executive Scott McEwen, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). The former Director of College Scouting was the longest tenured scout in the organization.
  • According to Schefter (on Twitter), the Lions have hired Kyle O’Brien as their Director of Player Personnel.

Coaching Notes: Buccaneers, Titans, Coughlin

January 16th, 2016 at 10:41am CST by Ben Levine

Alex Marvez of Fox Sports reports (via Twitter) that the Buccaneers will hire Jon Hoke as their defensive backs coach. The 58-year-old has spent much of his career in the NCAA, where he was the defensive backs coach for Missouri, Florida, and South Carolina (among many others). Hoke also had a seven-year stint as the Texans DB coach, and he also spent five seasons with the Bears.

Let’s take a look at some more coaching notes from around the league…

  • Dirk Koetter is overjoyed to be the Buccaneers new head coach, writes Rick Stroud of TampaBay.com. The 56-year-old has been coaching in the NFL since 2007, and he’s thrilled to finally get an opportunity to lead the entire operation. “First, you know, it’s emotional, a day like this. It’s one of the happiest days of my life but also one of the most humbling,” Koetter said. “It’s been a long time, a long time in the making. There’s 32 of these jobs in the world. I know I can do the job, even though I’m whimpering around a little bit up here today. I’m a little tougher than I’ve been coming across so far. I’m ready for it. Nothing that is said here today is going to affect us one bit in wins and losses. That all comes later. There’s a lot of work to be done.”
  • Defensive coordinator Ray Horton is meeting with the Titans today, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that it will the organization’s last scheduled interview for their head coaching vacancy. The reporter notes that the position could be filled today, and he believes the job is “Mike Mularkey‘s to lose.” If the interim head coach does get the full-time position, Rapoport expects it to be on a short-term contract.
  • Giants co-owner John Mara admitted that he didn’t want to see former head coach Tom Coughlin take the same gig with the Eagles. “I’m not going to lie, it would’ve bothered me a lot,” Mara said (via Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News). “It would’ve been like watching Bill Parcells walk out onto the field with a (Dallas) star on his shirt. That was tough to see at the time. That would’ve bothered me. I want him to be happy, but I certainly didn’t want to see him happy in green.”

Patriots Sign Keshawn Martin to Extension

January 16th, 2016 at 10:05am CST by Ben Levine

10:05am: Volin tweets that the contract comes in at $2.975MM over the two seasons, with cap numbers of $1.275MM and $1.625MM.

8:25am: The Patriots have signed wideout Keshawn Martin to a two-year, $3MM extension, reports ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter). The impending free agent will stay in New England through at least 2017. Ben Volin of The Boston Globe tweets that Martin will receive $850K next season and $1MM in 2017.

Keshawn MartinESPN’s Mike Reiss writes that the receiver will also get a $600K signing bonus, and he notes several other details of the extension. There are $25K workout bonuses for 2016 and 2017, and there are also $200K per-game roster bonuses. Martin will receive $100K roster bonus on the fifth days of the 2017 league year, $750K in reception incentives, and a $200K escalator that could boost his 2017 salary.

The 25-year-old was traded from the Texans to New England in September, and he ended up appearing in nine games (eight starts) for the Patriots, compiling 24 catches for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Over his four-year career, Martin has 62 receptions for 685 yards and five touchdowns.

As Reiss notes, Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell and Danny Amendola are all under contract for next season. However, LaFell’s sluggish 2015 season may put him on the chopping block, while Amendola’s $5MM salary could make him a cap casualty.

Browns To Fire OC John DeFilippo

January 16th, 2016 at 9:45am CST by Ben Levine

The Browns have informed offensive coordinator John DeFilippo that he will be released from his contract, reports ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter). The reporter adds that head coach Hue Jackson will call the offensive plays in 2016, meaning he’ll presumably go without an offensive coordinator.

John DeFilippoJackson said yesterday that the Browns would likely go into next season without an OC. Jackson called plays the past two seasons with the Bengals, and he also had similar duties as head coach of the Raiders in 2011. Still, the new head coach is eyeing some big names for his coaching staff, having interviewed ex-Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton yesterday. Earlier today, ESPN’s Josina Anderson tweeted that Hamilton was considering the position of assistant head coach with Cleveland. The team has also reportedly been eyeing Vikings running backs coach Kirby Wilson.

DeFilippo has been coaching since 2000, when he spent several years on the staff for Fordham, Notre Dame and Columbia. He got his first NFL gig as the offensive quality control coordinator with the Giants in 2005, and he’d go on to be the quarterbacks coach for the Raiders (two tenures), the Jets, and San Jose State. In early 2015, DeFilippo was hired as the Browns offensive coordinator. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com tweets that the coach still had two years left on his contract, which the Browns will be responsible for.

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