HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Ryan Tannehill Unlikely To Need ACL Surgery

January 30th, 2017 at 8:28am CST by Sam Robinson

Ryan Tannehill‘s offseason recovery timetable shouldn’t result in the Dolphins quarterback missing any regular-season time as a result of his knee injury. He won’t need a full reconstructive surgery, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports, noting Tannehill is expected to be fine well before the start of next season.

Tannehill will undergo another MRI today, per Rapoport, but his injured knee is believed to be stable enough the team feels surgery won’t be necessary. The 28-year-old passer injured his knee more than five weeks ago, but Dolphins executive VP Mike Tannenbaum didn’t rule out surgery when discussing this last week, despite the injury having occurred some time ago. Reconstructive surgery would have delayed Tannehill’s recovery process to the point missed games in 2017 were possible after the Dolphins put off this prospect this due to the prospect of a Tannehill return during the 2016 playoffs.

The signal-caller’s MCL has provided more trouble than the partially torn ACL, Rapoport notes, but MCL sprains aren’t surgery-inducing. Tannehill did undergo a Dr. James Andrews-performed healing procedure and may trek to Germany for a form of platelet rich-plasma treatment. And a knee brace will likely come into play for the quarterback moving forward. This said, after “countless” rehab exercises to this point, the Dolphins are preparing to have Tannehill return to work during the offseason.

 

West Notes: Dominik, Shanahan, Smith, Berry

January 29th, 2017 at 9:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Before the mystery candidate for the 49ers’ GM job became revealed as off-the-board hire John Lynch, fellow TV analyst Mark Dominik received consideration for the GM job, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports (on Twitter). However, the sides never scheduled an interview. But Lynch getting the job doesn’t necessarily mean a path from ESPN to the 49ers isn’t on the table for Dominik.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported Lynch plans to bring in an experienced personnel man as his top lieutenant, and CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora wonders if Dominik — the Buccaneers’ scouting director during part of Lynch’s career in Tampa before becoming the team’s GM later — will land in San Francisco because that familiarity with Lynch (Twitter link).

Here’s more from the 49ers’ surprising hire, along with the latest from some other NFL teams as the Pro Bowl continues.

  • The six-year contract that’s expected to be offered to Kyle Shanahan is two years longer than the deals for both Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly, and one year longer than Jim Harbaugh, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com notes.
  • Alex Smith took from his exit interview with Andy Reid he will return for a fifth season as the Chiefs‘ starting quarterback. “We’ve talked a lot, and for sure, the talk was just the sense of urgency — [him saying] ‘let’s go get it, you and me,’ ” Smith said, via Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star. “For both of us, I think you realize the opportunities are less and less.” Reid said as much publicly after the Chiefs’ second-round loss to the Steelers, but calls for the Chiefs to replace the middling quarterback will certainly come from pundits. Smith will turn 33 in May. He has two more years left on his deal and will take up $16.9MM of Kansas City’s cap in 2017. That number rises to $20.9MM in 2018, and by ’18, the Chiefs would save $17MM by parting ways with Smith.
  • Add Chiefs DC Bob Sutton to the list of those wanting Eric Berry to return. Joining Reid on this topic, Sutton said from the Pro Bowl, “That’s out of my wheelhouse but I mean, you’d be crazy not to [want him back],” Sutton said, via Conor Orr of NFL.com. “I thought he had an MVP-type season. He was a dynamic force. I don’t know how much more you could do. This guy had an impact on our entire team. Not just our defense, but our entire team.” Berry is a UFA for the second straight year. It would cost the Chiefs $12.967MM to retain him on the franchise tag again. Kansas City stands to possess less than $5MM in cap space before roster cuts are made.
  • Chiefs co-player personnel director Brett Veach looms as a candidate to fill new Colts GM’s Chris Ballard‘s shoes, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report tweets, pointing to his scouting acumen as a route up the ladder.

Jets Notes: QBs, Godsey, Staff, Enunwa

January 29th, 2017 at 9:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Jets finished in third place in terms of impact hires today, naming Saints wide receivers coach John Morton as their new OC, here’s the latest coming out of their headquarters.

  • Former Texans OC George Godsey is not expected to be a candidate to fill the Jets’ quarterback coach position, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports. Godsey was on Bill O’Brien‘s Penn State staff before following the coach to Houston, initially helping recruit Christian Hackenberg to Happy Valley, Pa. But the Jets will not be following the Broncos’ lead by hiring the second-place finisher in their OC derby to instruct the QBs. The Broncos hired Bill Musgrave to coach its quarterbacks just after naming Mike McCoy OC.
  • The hiring of Morton will likely be the signal the Jets’ 2017 starting quarterback isn’t on the roster yet, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv notes. The 47-year-old assistant has never called plays in his six years in the NFL, the first four coming as Jim Harbaugh‘s receivers coach in San Francisco before relocating to New Orleans. Sources told Vacchiano the Jets aren’t expected to go into the 2017 season with Bryce Petty or Hackenberg as the Week 1 starter, and the writer notes Morton having to install a new scheme while getting one of the prospects ready for immediate game action could be too much for a first-time OC.
  • Gang Green hired former Browns defensive line coach Robert Nunn to work in the same capacity, Mehta reports. Nunn comprised part of since-fired DC Ray Horton‘s staff in Cleveland. He will replace Pepper Johnson with the Jets. Nunn coached the Giants’ defensive line under Perry Fewell, being in charge of the group that deployed the NASCAR package en route to the Super Bowl XLVI title.
  • Quincy Enunwa missed out on a $1.2MM bonus due to a technicality, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com notes. The NFL released the Proven Performance Escalator figures last week, only the Jets’ slot target was not included even though he met the requirements on the surface. These bonuses are for players drafted in Rounds 3- 7 who played in at least 35 percent of a team’s snaps. Enunwa, a sixth-round pick in 2014, surpassed that threshold but didn’t collect his bonus due to the fact the Jets cut him in 2014 only to re-sign him at the end of that season. Enunwa being on his second contract negated this substantial bonus. Enunwa will enter a contract year in 2017.

49ers Hire John Lynch As General Manager

January 29th, 2017 at 7:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers’ general manager search will end in an unexpected place. The franchise is expected to hire Fox analyst and former Pro Bowl safety John Lynch as its GM, Jay Glazer of FoxSports.com tweets. The 49ers confirmed the hire.

The organization will give Lynch a rare six-year contract to try and turn this franchise around, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Lynch met with Kyle Shanahan this week over lunch, and the 49ers offered him the position, Glazer reports (TwitLonger link), adding the goal appears to be an attitude change in the organization.

Schefter reports Lynch accepted the job today after spending time with 49ers brass this week. Lynch spent Thursday and Friday with San Francisco personnel, Schefter reports, a day before the known finalists for this position — Vikings assistant GM George Paton and Cardinals VP of player personnel Terry McDonough — completed their second interviews in Atlanta.

This idea initially came from Lynch, who called Shanahan to volunteer for the job last week, per Schefter, who adds the prospect then grew on the next 49ers head coach. The former safety plans to hire a personnel man as his top lieutenant and has already identified that executive, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk tweets.

Schefter confirms (via Twitter) Shanahan will receive a six-year contract as well for the purposes of the franchise tying together its GM and HC choices. This six-year deal isn’t designed specifically for Lynch, with Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com reporting (on Twitter) the 49ers designed a six-year contract for Josh McDaniels to negate the aura of instability around the organization.

Lynch having no front-office experience could be a sign Shanahan would assume more control over personnel decisions, but the Falcons OC is not believed to have requested control over the 53-man roster. Lynch played his final four years for the Mike Shanahan-era Broncos, so the expected power duo in San Francisco has a history, to some degree. Lynch’s relationship with Mike Shanahan could point to a role in San Francisco for the former coach. A place for the elder Shanahan with the 49ers emerged as a possibility earlier this week, although Lynch’s involvement obviously wasn’t believed to be part of the equation.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (on Twitter) Lynch wouldn’t go through with making this career change unless the franchise’s pursuit of him was kept secret. As Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News points out (Twitter link), Lynch had a connection with Bill Walsh as well, playing for the iconic former 49ers coach at Stanford in 1992. Lynch’s leadership and communication skills “wowed” Jed York, Inman notes.

Lynch did not have a formal interview for the position and does not have any experience as a coach or GM. The former Buccaneers and Broncos defender became an NFL analyst after he retired before the 2008 season. Lynch is a Hall of Fame finalist and will edge out the official 49ers GM finalists, who appear to be staying with the Cardinals and Vikings, respectively.

Lynch spent his college years in the Bay Area at Stanford before playing 15 years in the NFL, becoming a two-time first-team All-Pro and a nine-time Pro Bowler. His hire will certainly send shockwaves throughout the league. It’s not completely unlike the Broncos bringing in John Elway in 2011. Elway did not have any previous NFL coaching or front-office experience but did work as an exec in the Arena Football League. Of course, this move also is somewhat similar to Matt Millen‘s Lions hire, with the former linebacker previously working as a Fox analyst.

5 Key Stories: 1/22/17 – 1/29/17

January 29th, 2017 at 7:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

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.

Colts Hire Chris Ballard As GM

January 29th, 2017 at 5:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts moved quickly to land their man, hiring Chris Ballard as their new general manager, the team announced. Previously the Chiefs’ director of football operations, Ballard was the only candidate to interview with the Colts twice out of the six-man search.

Ballard met with the Colts a second time on Sunday and will succeed Ryan Grigson, beating out Packers executive Eliot Wolf, Vikings assistant GM George Paton, Seahawks co-player personnel directors Trent Kirchner and Scott Fitterer and internal candidate Jimmy Raye III, who served as the Colts’ interim GM during this process.

The newly hired executive is planning a 2017 season with Chuck Pagano, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, so there will be no late coaching change after Jim Irsay orchestrated a belated GM switch.

Viewed as Irsay’s top choice from the start of this process, Ballard opted to go through with the interview. He did not interview for the 49ers’ GM job, which remains unfilled, since the Chiefs blocked him from doing so. Teams can utilize this tactic during the season, but with Kansas City having been eliminated in the divisional round, Ballard was free to interview with Indianapolis. However, Ballard was viewed as the “first choice, second choice and third choice” in San Francisco.

The Chiefs’ decision may be a seminal move depending on what happens with the Colts and 49ers in the next several years. Although, the Colts’ job was viewed an attraction, more so than the 49ers’ position, with Andrew Luck‘s presence playing a key role.

Prior to becoming John Dorsey‘s right-hand man in Kansas City, Ballard spent 12 seasons with the Bears, working in either a scouting or scouting directorial capacity. The Chiefs’ 43 regular-season wins since 2013 came on the heels of a 2-14 2012 season under the franchise’s previous regime and represent the fourth-most in the league during that span.

His potential top choice for head coach could be Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub, although Irsay committed to Pagano coaching the team in 2017. Pagano sat in on the candidate interviews, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reported, so a Ballard/Pagano partnership looks like the Colts’ arrangement this coming season. Ballard will be tasked with elevating the franchise back to the playoffs after it finished 2016 with the same 8-8 record 2015 brought, with ’16 featuring nearly a full season’s worth of Luck’s services.

PFR Originals: 1/22/17 – 1/29/17

January 29th, 2017 at 4:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff last week:

  • PFR’s Rory Parks asked readers who would win Super Bowl LI. The Falcons, three-point underdogs, are up slightly on the Patriots in the early stages. The Patriots are 4-4 in Super Bowls (4-2 in the Bill Belichick era), while the Falcons are 0-1, with their 1998 iteration losing to the Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII.

49ers’ GM Search Includes Three Candidates?

January 29th, 2017 at 2:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers are expected to hire a new general manager early this week, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com reports. But there appears to be a third finalist who didn’t go through the formal interview process.

San Francisco is said to be deciding between finalists George Paton and Terry McDonough, who completed second interviews with the team on Saturday in Atlanta. Maiocco adds a third candidate with whom presumptive head coach Kyle Shanahan is comfortable is being considered. The 49ers have discussed ESPN analyst — and former Buccaneers GM — Mark Dominik, per Maiocco, but he didn’t interview with the team. It’s uncertain at this point whether Dominik is the third candidate.

Shanahan doesn’t have experience working with Paton or McDonough but does have a history with Dominik. During Shanahan’s days as Bucs offensive quality control coach in 2004-05, Dominik worked as the team’s director of pro scouting — a post he held for 12 years before ascending to Tampa Bay’s GM job.

Falcons coach Dan Quinn recommended Paton, with whom he worked in Miami, to the 49ers. And Maiocco notes the Vikings assistant GM may be the favorite based on the amount of time he spent with 49ers brass this weekend. Paton had dinner with Shanahan and Jed York on Friday before the Saturday interview. Shanahan also spoke directly with Paton and McDonough about how much control the GM position would have in terms of personnel, contractually and functionally, per Maiocco. Shanahan, however, continues to not insist on full roster control.

Mike Shanahan would certainly be a coach Kyle is familiar working with, but Maiocco does not include the former HC (and 49ers OC) as a candidate despite the elder Shanahan being mentioned as a possible front-office solution in San Francisco.

Today marks four weeks since the 49ers jettisoned Trent Baalke, and we heard this weekend the team wasn’t fully committed to hiring one of the two finalists. Additionally, Paton wasn’t considered a lock to take this job if offered. Paton remains in the hunt for the Colts’ GM job, but Chiefs player personnel director Chris Ballard has emerged as the favorite after securing a second interview.

Cardinals Uncertain If Carson Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald Will Return

January 29th, 2017 at 2:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

The two players most associated with the Cardinals’ passing game this decade have not yet decided on returning for the 2017 season. Neither Carson Palmer nor Larry Fitzgerald has informed the Cardinals about his plans for ’17, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. Both are considering retirement and have been for some time, per Rapoport.

While the Cardinals do not know the duo’s plans, they have been communicating with their quarterback and No. 1 wide receiver since their season ended. And although no set deadline exists, the team would like to know each’s decision by mid-February in order to have sufficient time to plan an offseason strategy. Key Cardinals personnel expect both to return, but Rapoport notes that thinking could be based on hope, to some degree.

A factor in Palmer’s decision will be Arizona’s quarterbacks coach. Freddie Kitchens will now coach the Cardinals’ running backs, with Byron Leftwich — a 2003 draft class mate of Palmer’s — recently hired to coach the QBs. Palmer has not worked with Leftwich, which is factoring into his decision, per Rapoport. Several NFL personnel — one GM, two coaches and several talent evaluators — believe Palmer will retire after observing his 2016 season. But many people close to the quarterback insist he doesn’t know yet.

The tandem’s contract extensions signed last August are not believed to be a factor in this decision-making process, according to Rapoport. Fitzgerald and Palmer are each under contract through 2017, and Palmer intimated multiple times late in 2016 he was planning to come back for his age-37 season. Fitzgerald, though, was more hesitant.

In December, Palmer attempted to convince Fitzgerald to play at least one more season. Fitz’s status for what would be his age-34 slate depends on Palmer, Rapoport reports. A source informed Rapoport Fitzgerald would have a harder time returning if Palmer retires due to the uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position. Much of Fitzgerald’s prime encompassed the years between Kurt Warner and Palmer, limiting his capabilities.

Palmer did not fare nearly as well this season as he did when he was an MVP candidate in 2015, but Fitzgerald led the NFL with 107 receptions. Fitzgerald is signed through the 2017 season and would make $11MM in base salary. Palmer is under contract through 2018 and will earn $15MM in base if he comes back. These two represent Arizona’s top two cap holds for ’17, with Palmer set to comprise $24.09MM of the Cards’ cap and Fitz set to take up $15.85MM of it.

Extra Points: 49ers, Gruden, OBJ

January 29th, 2017 at 12:09pm CST by Rory Parks

Kyle Shanahan is widely expected to become the 49ers‘ next head coach, and now some are beginning to wonder how he will go about filling out his staff. As Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee writes, it is unlikely that Shanahan will be able to bring many of his Atlanta assistants with him given that most of those assistants are under contract with the Falcons or are loyal to Falcons head coach Dan Quinn. However, Barrows posits that Shanahan could bring current Atlanta quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur to the Bay Area and install him as the 49ers’ offensive coordinator. LaFleur — who would also be a candidate to replace Shanahan as the Falcons’ OC — has worked with Shanahan for eight seasons in Atlanta, Washington, and Houston.

Barrows’ sources also suggest that Bears’ assistant special-teams coach Richard Hightower could become the 49ers’ special teams coordinator. Hightower worked under Shanahan in 2014 as an offensive quality control coach for the Browns.

Now let’s take a look at a few more notes from around the league as we anxiously await next week’s Super Bowl:

  • Rich Tandler of CSNMidAtlantic.com does not believe that Redskins head coach Jay Gruden is on the hot seat, as some have speculated. Tandler is unsure if Gruden could survive a 6-10 or worse showing in 2017, but he does not believe it’s playoffs or bust for Gruden, who will be entering his fourth year as Washington’s head coach.
  • There is no rush for the Giants to pursue an extension for Odell Beckham, Jr., as James Kratch of NJ.com writes. Between his current rookie deal, the fifth-year option, and the franchise tag, OBJ is locked into the Giants’ roster until at least 2021, so while his future with the team is certainly not in question, New York can afford to wait while they work through their concerns with Beckham.
  • Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, one of the top three quarterback prospects in this year’s draft class, will not participate in the Senior Bowl despite the Browns‘ specifically requesting that he do so. Although the Browns were reportedly not planning to use their No. 1 overall selection on Watson, Mary Kat Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer suggests that Watson’s decision not only denied him the chance to change the team’s mind in that regard, it may make it tougher for Cleveland to select him with their No. 12 overall choice.
  • Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin sat down with Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer to discuss a number of issues, including the 2017 draft and backup quarterback A.J. McCarron. Tobin also mentioned that, although the club re-signed kicker Randy Bullock, Bullock will have an open competition with rookie kickers and/or veteran free agents.
  • David Culley, who worked as Andy Reid‘s wide receivers coach with the Eagles and Chiefs, agreed to become the Bills‘ new quarterbacks coach last week. Per Reid, the 60-year-old Culley still harbors aspirations of becoming a head coach, so he did not want to block his longtime assistant from moving up the coaching ladder (article via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star).
  • The current collective bargaining agreement runs through 2020, but commissioner Roger Goodell and team owners owners have expressed an interest in extending the CBA, as Mark Maske of the Washington Post writes. However, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith says that the union will not agree to an extension without renegotiation of certain key issues, though he did not specify what those issues are.
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