HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Raiders To Start QB Connor Cook

January 4th, 2017 at 12:46pm CST by Zachary Links

It’s official. The Raiders will be starting Connor Cook at quarterback when they face the Texans this weekend, coach Jack Del Rio announced. "<strong

The Raiders were hoping to have Matt McGloin under center, but as expected, he will not be able to go on Saturday. Already without Derek Carr, the Raiders are down to their No. 3 QB, a rookie out of Michigan State. The fourth-round pick has talent, but he is not completely polished and this could be too much, too soon for the youngster.

Some said that Cook dropped in the 2016 draft due to concerns about his attitude and leadership abilities, but Del Rio praised Cook’s character in the offseason.

“I think he’s been outstanding,” Del Rio said. “He comes in, had a tremendous career and is very humble. Obviously he is intelligent. He asks good questions. He’s got arm talent. It’s a matter of getting familiar [with] what we do and how we do it. . . I think he’s off to a great start.”

The Raiders, of course, aren’t the only playoff team with QB troubles. The Texans are starting Brock Osweiler after Tom Savage suffered a concussion. The Dolphins could also be without Ryan Tannehill this weekend.

Jaguars Expected To Interview Anthony Lynn

January 4th, 2017 at 12:08pm CST by Zachary Links

Put another one on the board for Anthony Lynn. The Bills’ interim head coach is expected to interview with the Jaguars, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). As shown on PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, Lynn is also in the mix for the Bills, Rams, and 49ers. He doesn’t have an interview scheduled with the Broncos just yet, but that is expected to go down at some point. Anthony Lynn (vertical)

Lynn was reportedly a “virtual lock” to take over as the next coach of the Bills, but there’s now buzz that Lynn might not even want the gig. Lynn, 48, appears to have several options if he doesn’t want to remain in Buffalo. After Doug Whaley‘s bizarre press conference this week, it’s hard to blame Lynn for exploring other possibilities. The Bills have talent to win right away, but Lynn could find more stability in one of the other openings out there.

The Jaguars fell apart this year, but in the offseason they were picked by some to win the AFC South. On offense, Blake Bortles is something of an unknown after a down year and, once again, the Jags will have to figure out what to do at running back. Chris Ivory was brought in to hold down the position, but health issues limited him severely this year.

Coaching Rumors: Lynn, 49ers, McDaniels

January 4th, 2017 at 10:40am CST by Zachary Links

The latest news on the league’s coaching vacancies:

  • For a complete rundown of every interview scheduled for the teams in search of a new coach, check out PFR’s 2017 NFL Head Coaching Tracker.
  • Anthony Lynn‘s interview with the 49ers will take place today (Wednesday), according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
  • Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will interview with the Rams, Jaguars, and 49ers all on the same day, Ben Volin of The Boston Globe writes. McDaniels will huddle up with all three teams on Saturday in separate rooms at a hotel near Gilette Stadium. Those three teams will be permitted to interview McDaniels again in the week after the AFC title game, if the Pats make it to the Super Bowl.
  • The Chargers won’t force assistants on a new head coach, but they value their offensive staff, Rapoport tweets. There’s a good chance offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and his fellow offensive coaches stay put.
  • The Broncos are expected to talk to Lynn at some point and will interview Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph as soon as the rules allow, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com tweets.
  • Cardinals offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin is scheduled to meet with the Rams on Thursday and the Bills on Saturday, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets.
  • Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub will interview with the Broncos on Friday and then he has the Chargers on Sunday, Rapoport tweets.

Lions To Bring Back Jim Caldwell In 2017

January 4th, 2017 at 8:34am CST by Zachary Links

There’s a lot on the line for the Lions this weekend, but the outcome won’t impact Jim Caldwell‘s immediate job security. The team announced today that Caldwell will return as head coach in 2017, win or lose. Jim Caldwell (Vertical)

The Lions were rolling this year before dropping their final three games of the season and ceding the NFC North crown to the rival Packers. That slide made some folks around Allen Park worry about Caldwell’s status, but the Lions have put those concerns to rest before the biggest game of the year, so far.

If the Lions do well in the postseason, it might not be long before the team and Caldwell start discussing a new deal. Right now, he is entering the final year of a four-year deal.

In his three years with the Lions, Caldwell is 27-21. Combined with his Colts record, Caldwell is 53-43 lifetime as a coach. Next up is a playoff showdown with the Seahawks.

Extra Points: Panthers, Ravens, Saints, Pats

January 3rd, 2017 at 10:09pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Unlike former teammate Josh Norman, Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short won’t have any problem signing the franchise tender if the team tags him, he told the Associated Press. “I wouldn’t fight it or anything,” said Short, who was unable to reach a long-term deal with the Panthers last offseason. On Norman, whom Carolina let go last April after he wouldn’t sign the tender, Short commented, “Me and Josh are not the same. … He could have stayed here if he wanted to. He could have (signed) the franchise tag.” The durable Short just wrapped up his fourth straight 16-game season, one in which the 27-year-old ranked as Pro Football Focus’ fourth-best interior defender and totaled six sacks. Placing the franchise tag on Short should cost Carolina approximately $13.468MM in 2017.

More from around the NFL:

  • It appears soon-to-be free agent wide receiver Kamar Aiken‘s third season with the Ravens will go down as his last. “Probably, it’s been the most frustrating year I’ve ever had since I’ve been in the league,” Aiken said of 2016 (via Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun). “I would say I was proud of how I handled it.” Aiken was a key piece in the Ravens’ 2015 offense with 127 targets, 75 catches, 944 yards and five touchdowns, but his numbers dropped precipitously this season. In 16 games and six starts (eight fewer than he logged the prior year), Aiken accumulated 50 targets, 29 receptions, 328 yards and only one score. He spoke to offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg during the season about an expanded role, but nothing came of it. Mornhinweg will return to the Ravens next season, which seemingly increases the likelihood of an Aiken departure. The 27-year-old revealed that he’s “looking forward to” hitting the open market.
  • Defensive tackle Nick Fairley took a cheap deal with the Saints last July and proved to be a steal in 2016, starting in all 16 of their games and amassing 43 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Fairley is now facing free agency for the third straight offseason, but he’d rather stay with the Saints than test the market. “I think I played my most consistent ball this year. I just feel like it’s the right fit for me,” Fairley told Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com. The 28-year-old Fairley, a former Lion and Ram, finished as PFF’s 33rd-ranked interior defender this season.
  • As is the case with Fairley, cornerback Sterling Moore was an effective buy-low defender with the Saints this season. Now, like Fairley, Moore wants to re-sign with the club, he informed Herbie Teope of NOLA.com. “I see myself growing with these guys and just doing something special, so I don’t look at myself necessarily as a free agent even though my contract is coming to an end. I have full intentions on coming back,” said Moore, who made $760K in 2016. The early September signing set career highs in starts (12), tackles (56) and interceptions (two), and PFF rated him 67th among 120 qualified corners.
  • The Patriots worked out a pair of free agents – tight end Rob Housler and cornerback Tharold Simon – on Tuesday, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. New England didn’t sign either, but the team could keep the veterans in mind as emergency options in the playoffs or circle back to them in the offseason, notes Reiss.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/3/17

January 3rd, 2017 at 8:53pm CST by Zachary Links

Tuesday’s minor moves:

  • The Lions have signed offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds and promoted cornerback Adairius Barnes from the practice squad, as Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com tweets. They’ll replace offensive tackle Corey Robinson (foot) and cornerback Asa Jackson (ankle), who were put on IR. To fill Barnes’ vacated spot on the practice squad, the team signed O-lineman Jason Weaver, a source told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
  • The Chiefs have signed outside linebacker Victor Ochi off the Jets’ practice squad and placed linebacker Dadi Nicolas on IR, tweets Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. Ochi will now go from a team whose season is over to one with a first-round playoff bye.
  • The Seahawks have signed long snapper Tyler Ott, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). Ott will take over for Nolan Frese, who’s done for the season because of an ankle injury. Elsewhere on the roster, Seattle will waive safety Tyvis Powell to make room for new addition Devin Hester, per ESPN’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link).

Seahawks To Sign Devin Hester

January 3rd, 2017 at 7:53pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Seahawks are signing return man Devin Hester in advance of their weekend wild-card matchup with the Lions, according to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer (Twitter link). Hester will presumably take over punt return duties for the Seahawks, who lost Tyler Lockett to a broken leg Dec. 24. Star cornerback Richard Sherman filled that role during the Seahawks’ regular-season finale last Sunday, but he’s far too important to the club’s defense to continue as a returner.

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Hester, a four-time Pro Bowler who has spent time with the Bears, Falcons and Ravens, is among the greatest return men in the history of the NFL. The 34-year-old’s heyday is in the rear-view mirror, though, and his stint with the Ravens ended last month after his failure to field a punt against the Patriots resulted in a safety. New England subsequently tried out Hester, but it opted against signing him.

In 12 regular-season games in 2016, Hester averaged 7.2 yards per punt return – up from a career-low 4.3 last year – and recorded a 24.5-yard mean on kickoff returns. The Seahawks have in-house kick return options in Paul Richardson and J.D. McKissic, but Hester is likely an upgrade over those two and could grab the reins from them.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/3/17

January 3rd, 2017 at 7:29pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Here are Tuesday’s reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2017 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters.

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Kansas City Chiefs

  • OT Isaiah Battle

Minnesota Vikings

San Diego Chargers

Tennessee Titans

  • OLB Reshard Cliett
  • TE Tim Semisch

Latest On Chargers’ Head Coaching Search

January 3rd, 2017 at 7:02pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Chargers’ list of candidates to take over for fired head coach Mike McCoy continues to grow. Former Falcons head coach and current Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith is likely to interview with the Chargers, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Meanwhile, Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub will meet with the Bolts this week, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, and FOX Sports’ Peter Schrager adds that San Diego has asked Carolina’s permission to interview defensive coordinator Sean McDermott (all Twitter links)

Mike Smith

The Chargers now have five potential successors to McCoy – and no offensive coordinators – on their radar, as PFR’s head coaching search tracker shows, though Smith is the only one with previous experience.

The 57-year-old was at the helm with the Falcons from 2008-14 in a stint that began swimmingly but ended poorly. Atlanta started Smith’s tenure with five straight above-.500 seasons, four of which resulted in double-digit-win campaigns and playoff berths, and then went a combined 10-22 during his final two years on the job. All told, the Falcons posted a 66-46 regular-season record and a disappointing 1-4 playoff mark under Smith. Of the other five teams in need of head coaches, only the Jaguars have shown interest in Smith to this point.

Toub, who’s on a bye with the AFC West champion Chiefs, will also meet with the Broncos this week, relays Biggs. McDermott has a Wednesday interview set up with the Bills.

Latest On 49ers’ GM Search

January 3rd, 2017 at 6:25pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

San Francisco’s head coaching vacancy is garnering the bulk of media attention, but the club also has an opening at general manager after dismissing Trent Baalke last Sunday. The 49ers already lined up interviews with a pair of GM candidates from the Packers, and they’ll also meet with ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, Colts vice president of football operations Jimmy Raye III and Vikings assistant GM George Paton, via reports from Adam Schefter of ESPN, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee and Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (Twitter links here).

49ers Helmet (Featured)

Riddick began his NFL career in 1991 as a safety with the Niners, but the ninth-round pick never played a game with the team. After his playing career ended in 2001 (with an XFL team, in fact), Riddick worked his way up the front offices in Washington and Philadelphia, topping out as the Eagles’ director of pro personnel from 2010-13. Speaking Monday on ESPN, Riddick raved about the appeal of the 49ers’ GM gig, notes Maiocco.

Like Riddick, Raye has a connection with the 49ers. His father, Jimmy Raye II, worked as San Francisco’s wide receivers coach in 1977 and then served as its offensive coordinator from 2009-10. The younger Raye, 48, has been in the Colts’ front office since 2013. His extensive duties in Indianapolis include overseeing the undrafted free agent process, according to the team’s website. Raye was on the Titans’ radar last year before they tabbed Jon Robinson as their GM.

Paton, who just finished his 10th season with the Vikings, previously held prominent positions with the Dolphins and Bears. Those same Bears (along with the Jets) wanted him as their GM prior to the 2015 campaign, but he refused interviews with each club. Paton also rejected proposed meetings with the Titans and Lions last winter, but it now seems he’s open to leaving Minnesota.

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