Colts land their GM: Jim Irsay’s initial second interview with a GM candidate turned into the only one he needed, with the owner offering the job to the Chiefs’ director of player personnel, Chris Ballard. The four-year Kansas City staffer won the six-man race that wrapped up in barely a week’s time, one that included 49ers finalist George Paton and one-time San Francisco finalist Eliot Wolf. Six of the seven candidates the Colts identified accepted the interview requests, with Ravens assistant GM Eric DeCosta turning it down. It’s unclear whether Ballard will retain previous frontrunner Jimmy Raye III, who served as interim GM. But talk of a Ballard-Dave Toub partnership emerged, although Ballard will work with Chuck Pagano this season. This comes after the Chiefs denied the 49ers permission to interview Ballard earlier this month, a tactic they could not utilize after their season ended.
49ers still deciding: Now almost a month into their search, the 49ers have narrowed it down to two known finalists — Paton and Terry McDonough — and one potential mystery candidate. The 49ers have discussed former Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik, but he did not interview for the job. San Francisco is expected to name Trent Baalke‘s replacement early this week, but the winner of this complex derby will need to have an understanding with Kyle Shanahan. The presumptive HC is not insisting on full personnel control but asked both Paton and McDonough about what kind of personnel control they wanted, hoping to come to an understanding about a partnership. Kyle’s father, Mike Shanahan, was thought to be on the radar as a front-office exec, but nothing much has surfaced on that front.
Big Ben considering retirement: It’s now been six years since Ben Roethlisberger laced up his cleats for a Super Bowl, and the soon-to-be 35-year-old quarterback is coming off an AFC championship defeat. The Steelers’ cornerstone player did not commit to a return in 2017, saying instead, “I’m going to take this offseason to evaluate, to consider all options.” Roethlisberger is signed through 2019. His talk notwithstanding, the Pittsburgh quarterback is expected to return to the Steelers for a 14th season. But after Roethlisberger again missed time with an injury this season, it might be time for the Steelers to consider a successor investment.
Browns make plans to keep their own: Armed with the most cap space in the league, the Browns kept one of the top free agents off the market by signing Jamie Collins to a four-year, $50MM deal with $26.5MM guaranteed. The deal will pay the versatile linebacker $37.5MM in the first three years before containing no guaranteed money in 2020. Cleveland also intends to use the franchise tag on wide receiver Terrelle Pryor if the sides can’t come to a deal. The Browns stand to possess a staggering $108.95MM in cap space but appear set to add veterans this offseason after jettisoning many in 2016.
Vikings quarterback’s 2017 status up for debate: The previous Vikings quarterback of the future could be in danger of missing two straight seasons. A report this week pegged Teddy Bridgewater as being out for 2017 as well, with the best-case scenario for the fourth-year passer being a 19-month recovery. His injury occurred in August, putting the 2018 season as the target. Bridgewater’s agent strongly disputes this report, however. Other Vikings sources came in on a middle ground here, saying no set timetable exists for Bridgewater. The 24-year-old passer tore his ACL and dislocated his kneecap just before the start of the 2016 season, and the Vikings are already planning to start Sam Bradford next season.