HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

No Decision Yet On Lions HC Jim Caldwell

January 11th, 2016 at 2:10pm CST by Luke Adams

The Lions introduced new general manager Bob Quinn today at an afternoon press conference, but the team has yet to make a decision on head coach Jim Caldwell, who remains in limbo. While Quinn initially said during today’s presser that he met with Caldwell today, he later acknowledged that it was more of an introduction than a meeting — it only lasted about 30 seconds (Twitter links via Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com and Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).

Quinn doesn’t expect to meet again with Caldwell today, and doesn’t have a timetable for his decision on the head coach, but he’d like to make that call sooner rather than later (Twitter links via Birkett and Twentyman). Still, the former Patriots executive won’t rush the decision, and would like to get to know Caldwell. Quinn added today that he expects to meet with Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson before announcing anything on Caldwell (Twitter link via Birkett).

As Quinn deliberates on Caldwell, we’ve got a few more items to pass along out of Detroit, so let’s dive in and round them up…

  • Although Quinn is going into his meeting with Caldwell with an open mind, he has other potential head coaching candidates at the ready, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. La Canfora (Twitter link) would be surprised if the Lions end up targeting Patriots coordinators Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia as Caldwell’s potential replacement, though Quinn did praise both Pats assistants today, suggesting they’re both ready and willing to become head coaches (Twitter link via Birkett).
  • Quinn not only got the general manager title in Detroit — he also was named executive VP and received a five-year contract, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. As Caplan observes, it’s an impressive package for a first-time GM.
  • Quinn will report directly to owner Martha Ford, tweets Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Meanwhile, the new GM said today that he’s not sure the old interim GM – Sheldon White – will be back with the club, per Twentyman (Twitter link). White has been with the franchise for nearly two decades, in several roles and under multiple regimes, so it would be a little surprising if he went anywhere.
  • Quinn will have “zero tolerance” when it comes to guns and domestic violence with his players, according to Birkett (Twitter link).

Dolphins Rumors: Miller, Cameron, Matthews

January 11th, 2016 at 1:25pm CST by Luke Adams

The Dolphins are expected to make plenty of changes on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, after the addition of blockbuster free agent Ndamukong Suh failed to make the unit a formidable one in 2015. However, there are many moves coming on offense as well, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald details.

After Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner underperformed this past season, the Dolphins realized they’ll “need to do what it takes” to upgrade at the position, perhaps on both sides of the line, according to Jackson. While the Dolphins may target a top free agent such as Ravens guard Kelechi Osemele, the team’s pursuit of a player like that will depend how high the bidding gets.

Let’s round up a few more of Jackson’s notes on how Mike Tannenbaum, along with new GM Chris Grier and head coach Adam Gase, will try to retool the Dolphins’ offense….

  • The Dolphins don’t expect to engage in serious talks with free agent running back Lamar Miller for several weeks, and the chances of Miller staying with Miami “depend on the economics,” a club official tells Jackson. In other words, the club won’t overpay, since 2015 draftee Jay Ajayi could step in and compete for more carries. The Fins don’t want to spend big at the position.
  • While the Dolphins are happy with their starting tackles, they plan on finding a new swing tackle to replace Jason Fox.
  • One Dolphins official on tight end Jordan Cameron: “There’s a lot to like about him, but we wish there was more production.” The team’s front office is fond of Cameron, but will probably want to reduce his cap hit ($9.5MM) if he stays on the roster.
  • Wide receiver Rishard Matthews acknowledges that he’s more likely to sign elsewhere than to return to the Dolphins. “I would have to be offered something I can’t refuse [to re-sign],” Matthews said.
  • Quarterback Logan Thomas indicated that Tannenbaum told him he’ll have a legitimate chance to compete for the Dolphins’ backup job behind Ryan Tannehill next season. As Jackson notes, that seems to leave the future of Matt Moore – a pending free agent – in doubt.

East Notes: RGIII, Cousins, Jets, Bills, Eagles

January 11th, 2016 at 12:41pm CST by Luke Adams

Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III made it through the 2015 season healthy, which means his 2016 salary – currently guaranteed for injury only – won’t become fully guaranteed. As such, it’s probably just a matter of time until the team releases the former second overall pick, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets and Jason Reid of ESPN.com writes.

The RGIII era in Washington is set to come to an end, having overlapped with the start of the Kirk Cousins era, and it remains to be seen what sort of long-term future Cousins has in Washington. For now though, all signs (and reports) point to the club aiming to lock up its new starting quarterback via a multiyear contract or the franchise tag this offseason.

Following Washington’s Wild Card loss to the Packers, Cousins was asked about his future and replied, “I want to be where I am wanted,” per John Keim of ESPN.com. For now, that will almost certainly mean staying in D.C.

Here’s more from across the NFL’s East divisions:

Notre Dame LB Jaylon Smith To Enter Draft

January 11th, 2016 at 11:40am CST by Zachary Links

JANUARY 11: Smith has announced (via Twitter) that he’ll enter the 2016 draft, despite his knee injury. A Friday report indicated that surgery on that torn ACL and MCL went about as well as could be expected, so perhaps the linebacker’s stock won’t slip too significantly.

JANUARY 5: Notre Dame outside linebacker Jaylon Smith will undergo reconstructive left knee surgery on Thursday, sources tell ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen (on Twitter). Smith was projected to go somewhere in the top 10 in this year’s draft by many pundits. Now, it’s unclear whether he’ll declare for the draft at all. Jaylon Smith (vertical)

[RELATED: Top 20 Teams Set For 2016 NFL Draft]

Smith was said to have suffered a “significant knee injury” during his team’s bowl game against Ohio State on New Year’s Day. Smith, a junior, was expected to be drafted near the top end of the first round — Matt Miller of Bleacher Report, for example, had Smith rated as his No. 2 overall player. Now facing a major injury and recovery time, Smith could either declare for the draft and get himself guaranteed money as he rehabs or return to school in an effort to be a top ten selection in 2017.

The most recent example of a top collegiate prospect suffering a knee injury is, of course, Todd Gurley, who was drafted with the 10th overall pick after tearing his ACL. However, these are two separate cases. Gurley, a running back, suffered his injury in mid-November, not January, and was considered a generational talent. Smith might not be regarded as a slam-dunk prospect to begin with, so it’s hard to say where his stock would be for this year’s draft.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Coach Updates: Joseph, Texans, Browns, Bucs

January 11th, 2016 at 10:12am CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, we passed along a report suggesting that former interim head coach Dan Campbell is unlikely to remain with the Dolphins. Now, Alex Marvez of FOX Sports has another update on Miami’s coaching staff, walking back his weekend report which suggested it was a “done deal” that Bengals assistant Vance Joseph would be joining the Dolphins as their defensive coordinator.

According to Marvez (Twitter links), Joseph can’t sign with another team until next Tuesday unless he’s released from his contract by the Bengals — the Dolphins could request Cincinnati release Joseph from his deal early, but the Bengals wouldn’t be required to do so.

Meanwhile, it’s not an absolute lock that Joseph will join the Dolphins when he’s free to sign with a new team. Per Marvez (Twitter link), there’s still a chance that the Bengals’ defensive backs coach could become Hue Jackson‘s defensive coordinator if Jackson gets a head coaching job, so a bidding war for Joseph’s services could be looming.

As we wait to see where Joseph lands, let’s round up a few more coaching-related updates…

  • The Texans have fired three assistant coaches, including special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky, tweets John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Wide receivers coach Stan Hixon and special teams assistant Anthony Pleasant were also let go.
  • Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo and three other Browns assistants have been asked to remain with the team if the new head coach wants them, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. That means defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil, special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, and several other Cleveland coaches will be free to explore opportunities elsewhere.
  • According to Peter King of TheMMQB.com, “word on the coaching circuit” indicates Jon Gruden would have listened very earnestly if the Colts‘ head coaching job had become available. Gruden has been linked to the Eagles’ coaching vacancy, but it doesn’t appear the ESPN analyst is going anywhere.
  • After former NFL GM Mark Dominik (Twitter link) alluded to a coach in the postseason who would be a strong candidate for the Buccaneers‘ head coaching opening, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link) identified that coach as Cardinals OC Harold Goodwin. Goodwin interviewed with the Bucs on Friday, but won’t be able to speak to the club again for at least a week, with Arizona still alive in the playoffs.

Giants Request Permission To Interview Hue Jackson

January 11th, 2016 at 9:58am CST by Sam Robinson

MONDAY, 9:58am: The Giants have submitted their request to interview Jackson, sources tell Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

SUNDAY, 6:25pm: Now that Hue Jackson‘s most recent season with the Bengals has concluded, the Cincinnati offensive coordinator continues to draw significant interest for head-coaching openings.

His latest comes from the league’s biggest market, with the Giants requesting permission to talk with Jackson on Monday, according to Michael Silver of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Jackson, however, has drawn strong interest from both the 49ers and Browns, interviewing with both organizations on Sunday in Cincinnati. Silver tweets both meetings went well, but neither team’s made an offer yet.Hue Jackson (vertical)

Silver adds, via Twitter, the 50-year-old Jackson may end up declining the Giants’ request should the Browns or 49ers’ overtures lead to an offer. San Francisco reportedly views the Bengals OC as its preferred choice to succeed Jim Tomsula.

However, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report hears (video link) Jackson regards the New York job as the No. 1 position available and will wait for this interview before deciding on whether to accept any potential Browns or 49ers offer. The Giants will attempt to set up an interview after the owners’ relocation-based meetings in Houston this week.

With the meetings set for Tuesday and Wednesday, the Browns and 49ers could be waiting a bit to fill their jobs, if they’re in fact enamored enough with Jackson to do so.

The Giants and Jackson have yet to make this connection, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee tweets. But it appears that news will emerge soon. Big Blue’s already interviewed Ben McAdoo, Steve Spagnuolo, Teryl Austin, Doug Marrone and Adam Gase. It plans to meet with Mike Smith on Monday.

The Browns confirmed they interviewed Jackson on Sunday, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com tweets.

Sandwiched around his one-year stint with the Raiders, an 8-8 season in 2011, Jackson’s been an OC for four teams — the Bengals, Raiders, Falcons and Washington — since 2003. Interestingly, Jackson’s only had one of those tenures extend beyond one season. That would be his current position in Cincinnati, where he’s served as the OC since 2014.

Jackson also drew interest from the Dolphins before Gase became their next coach.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Dan Campbell Likely To Leave Dolphins

January 11th, 2016 at 8:39am CST by Luke Adams

As we learned on Sunday, Dolphins special teams coach Darren Rizzi is the only assistant expected to remain with the team under new head coach Adam Gase. That Sunday report suggested that the fate of Dan Campbell remains up in the air, but according to Andrew Abramson of The Palm Beach Post, the former interim head coach is unlikely to be back with the club.Dan Campbell

[RELATED: Dolphins hire Adam Gase as head coach]

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross indicated over the weekend that he’d love to retain Campbell, though he left that decision up to Gase. As it turns out, there may not be a decision for the new head coach to make. Abramson suggests that Campbell “wants to move on and will almost certainly leave.”

While it appears Campbell and most of the other Dolphins assistants are on their way out, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald tweets that no decisions on the coaching staff had been finalized as of this morning. I expect we’ll get more concrete updates on the anticipated changes at some point this week.

In his first stint as an NFL head coach, Campbell had mixed results. After taking over for Joe Philbin when the Dolphins were 1-3, the interim head coach led the team to consecutive blowout wins to get back to .500. However, Miami won just three of its final 10 games, finishing with a 6-10 record for the season and a 5-7 mark under Campbell.

Campbell, a tight end himself over the course of his NFL playing career, served as the Dolphins’ tight ends coach prior to his promotion. If and when he officially departs from Miami, he’ll likely seek an offensive assistant job elsewhere.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

East Notes: Hatcher, Eagles, Edelman, Gase

January 10th, 2016 at 9:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here is the latest coming out of the Eastern divisions as the eight remaining teams begin full preparations for their divisional-round matchups.

  • After Washington‘s wild-card loss to the Packers, Jason Hatcher will consider retirement, Mike Jones of the Washington Post tweets. The 33-year-old defensive end had a postgame conversation with GM Scot McCloughan, and Rich Tandler of CSNMidAtlantic.com notes Washington may have to convince him to return next season. “I’ve been thinking lately about this being my last year, you know, retiring,” Hatcher told media. “One thing I’ve got to pray about. [McCloughan] said he wanted me around. I’m not going to hold them up on my decision. I’m going to make it pretty quick.” Hatcher just completed the second season of a four-year, $27.5MM contract. He’s set to occupy an $8.73MM cap number in 2016.
  • Now a free agent, Alfred Morris was noncommittal about a Washington return, John Keim of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). “When I first came into the league, no matter what team I went to … I just wanted to do my whole career with the same team. That’s still my goal. I would love to return, but a lot goes into that. I haven’t thought about that,” Morris told media. Coming off by far his worst season as a pro, Morris enters free agency in a class with Matt Forte, Lamar Miller, Chris Ivory and probably Marshawn Lynch. A former sixth-round draft pick, Morris averaged a career-low 3.7 yards per carry and would likely not command a high salary despite being set for his age-27 season come training camp.
  • Ryan Mathews recently underwent groin surgery, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter). First listed with the malady on the Eagles‘ injury report in Week 6, Mathews played 13 games this season. He finished with a career-best 5.0 yards per carry, although the 107 totes represented Mathews’ lowest number in a season in which he played at least 12 games.
  • The Eagles’ new coaching search resembles safer, Andy Reid-type candidates than Chip Kelly-esque innovators, Les Bowen of Philly.com writes. Adam Gase did not receive an offer from the Eagles, and Doug Pederson, someone who Bowen doesn’t think would have captured the Eagles’ attention in 2013, entered the process as Jeffery Lurie‘s favorite among non-head coaches. Pederson reportedly interviewed with the Eagles for 4 1/2 hours from Kansas City.
  • Cleared to play in the Patriots‘ sixth straight divisional playoff game, Julian Edelman will do so with a steel plate in his left shoe in an attempt to prevent re-fracturing his foot, WHDH’s Joe Amorosino reports (via WEEI.com). Edelman missed the Pats’ final seven regular-season games after breaking a bone in his foot Nov. 15.
  • Gase’s innovative offensive methods notwithstanding, sources tell SI.com’s Don Banks the 37-year-old coach’s intellectual approach may struggle from a leadership perspective, considering the kind of year the Dolphins just had and the fact that the mild-mannered Joe Philbin didn’t exactly win over the team.

Bills Hire Rob Ryan As Defensive Assistant

January 10th, 2016 at 9:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

9:34pm: The Bills announced the hiring that will put Rex and Rob Ryan on the same staff. Rob Ryan’s official title is assistant head coach/defense, per a team press release (via Joe Buscaglia of WKBW, on Twitter).

This move will give Rob Ryan a fair amount of power and not officially come as a career step backward for the veteran coordinator.

“I’m excited to have Rob join our staff, and I think he will be a great asset for our defense,” Rex Ryan said in the release. “He has a tremendous working knowledge of our schemes, and I look forward to his input. On a personal note, it’s been a number of years since we worked together, so we are both really excited about this opportunity.” 

8:11pm: Rex Ryan and Rob Ryan will reportedly be reunited on the sidelines next season, according to Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez (on Twitter).

The former Saints defensive coordinator will work under his brother with the Bills in 2016 as a defensive assistant, per Marvez, who doesn’t note in what capacity.

Dennis Thurman is currently the Bills’ DC, being hired on last January.

Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News confirms Marvez’s report (Twitter link).

The gregarious 53-year-old twin brothers haven’t worked as full-time coaches alongside one another since doing so under their father, Buddy Ryan, with the Cardinals in 1994-95. Rob Ryan coached the defensive backs on those teams, with Rex Ryan having front-seven responsibilities. Those jobs represented the Ryan twins’ first NFL positions.

Fired from the Saints this season, Rob Ryan’s served as defensive coordinator for the Browns, Raiders, Cowboys and Saints since 2004. Rob Ryan’s defense was giving up 424.7 yards per game when the Saints fired Ryan and replaced him with Dennis Allen in mid-November, and that total would rank second-worst all-time in terms of per-game yardage.

The Saints ranked 31st in DVOA in 2014 and ranked last in Football Outsiders’ top metric prior to Rob Ryan’s dismissal this season.

Under Rex Ryan and Thurman, the Bills boasted the 14th-ranked defense in 2015.

Rob Ryan hasn’t been a position coach since serving as the 2003 Patriots’ linebackers coach.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Coaching Rumors: Dolphins, Giants, McDermott

January 10th, 2016 at 8:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

After hiring Adam Gase, the Dolphins are acting quickly to form their new coaching staff.

But few holdovers are expected. According to Fox Sports’ Alex Marvez (on Twitter), only special teams coach Darren Rizzi to be retained. All of the Dolphins’ other assistants, excepting possibly Dan Campbell, will be fired.

Campbell’s status remains uncertain. The interim coach for most of 2015, Campbell reportedly finished second in the race to become the Fins’ next full-time head coach.

A Marvez report Saturday linked Bengals secondary coach Vance Joseph, whom the Fox reporter has set to head to Miami as the team’s defensive coordinator, and a number of position coaches to comprise Gase’s defensive staff.

Here are some more coaching-related items as wild-card weekend concludes.

  • Although Hue Jackson has emerged as a candidate late in the process, the frontrunners to become Tom Coughlin‘s successor with the Giants are offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo and Jaguars assistant head coach Doug Marrone, Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News reports. McAdoo’s familiarity with Eli Manning and his helping the quarterback to a career resurgence is driving his candidacy, with the 38-year-old only having two seasons of coordinator experience. With Vacchiano noting the 51-year-old Marrone may not retain McAdoo if he becomes coach, Big Blue avoiding another offensive reboot will factor into its decision.
  • Both Vacchiano and the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz report John Mara prefers a candidate with head-coaching experience. Vacchiano points McAdoo in the Eagles’ direction if they are indeed serious about hiring Tom Coughlin. Schwartz believes Mara sees similarities in Mike Smith, who will interview with the team on Monday, and Coughlin. Their ages (Smith is 56; Coughlin was 57 when hired in 2004) and histories as head coaches are similar, and Schwartz notes Smith is one of Coughlin’s top confidants among head coaches.
  • The Giants, per Vacchiano, have also discussed requesting permission to interview Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, but since they didn’t do so during the Panthers’ bye week, the Giants must wait until either Carolina’s season concludes or the Panthers’ potential Super Bowl bye week.
  • The Browns did interview the 41-year-old McDermott on Sunday, Andrew Gribble of ClevelandBrowns.com reports. A defensive coordinator since 2009, with the Eagles and Panthers, respectively, McDermott also interviewed with the Buccaneers.
  • Jackson spoke with the Browns for 3 1/2 hours and talked with the 49ers for five hours Sunday in Cincinnati, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. Cleveland’s now interviewed seven candidates. The 49ers have met with five, according to Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News.
  • The Colts offered 49ers offensive line coach Chris Foerster the same position in Indianapolis, Marvez reports (on Twitter). The Dolphins offensive coordinator in 2004, Foerster’s been an offensive line coach with the Ravens, Washington and the 49ers since 2005. He’s served multiple stints in San Francisco, presiding over the 49ers’ line from 2008-09 and returning to the Bay Area in 2015 after five seasons in Washington.
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