HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

AFC North Notes: Bengals, Lewis, Browns

December 17th, 2017 at 3:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

While Marvin Lewis is denying a report that a decision has been made on his future as Bengals head coach, he hasn’t necessarily said the core of the report — that he won’t return to Cincinnati in 2018 — is incorrect. If he does move on, Browns head coach Hue Jackson could potentially be in the running to replace Lewis, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com and Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (Twitter links). Of course, Cleveland has indicated Jackson will be retained for next season, but those plans are always subject to change. Jackson, formerly the Bengals’ offensive coordinator, was approached regarding a Cincinnati succession plan in 2016, but because no such deal could be arranged, he bolted for the Browns job.

Here’s more from the AFC North, with a focus on the Bengals and Browns:

  • Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther is considered a candidate to become Bengals head coach in 2018, but if he’s not promoted, Guenther could end up as the Redskins‘ DC next year, tweets Michael Lombardi of the Ringer. Washington head coach Jay Gruden (who worked with Guenther in Cincinnati) wanted to hire Guenther as his defensive coordinator a season ago, but the Bengals would not release his contract. Cincinnati has finished 14th, 10, and 17th in defensive DVOA in thee full seasons under Guenther, and ranked 19th heading into Week 15.
  • The Browns had hoped to hire Josh McCown as their quarterbacks coach for 2017 had he not continued his career, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Earlier this year, Jackson predicted McCown would be a “rising star” in the coaching ranks, and a number of clubs reportedly had interest in adding McCown to their staff. Instead, McCown inked a one-year deal with the Jets and proceeded to post one of the best seasons of his career. McCown hasn’t made any decisions about his future, but he would presumably have a number of offers if he wants become a coach.
  • New Browns general manager John Dorsey may plan to fire the club’s entire scouting staff after taking over the front office one week ago, according to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report. Of course, any new decision-maker is going to make changes to a front office, but Dorsey could plan to shift away from Cleveland’s recent reliance on analytics. Last week, Dorsey chided the Browns’ previous regime, claiming that former GM Sashi Brown & Co. didn’t acquire “real players.”

Marvin Lewis To Leave Bengals After 2017?

December 17th, 2017 at 3:21pm CST by Rory Parks

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis is expected to leave the team after this season to “pursue opportunities elsewhere,” per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Following today’s loss to the Vikings, however, Lewis denied the report and stated he’s made no decisions about his future, per Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer (Twitter link).

Marvin Lewis (Vertical)

Lewis is the second-longest-tenured head coach in the league, behind only Bill Belichick of the Patriots. He was a linebackers coach in the collegiate ranks and for the Steelers before becoming the defensive coordinator of the expansion Ravens in 1996. He rose to prominence as an architect of the record-setting 2000 Ravens defense that helped capture Super Bowl XXXV and then served as the defensive coordinator/assistant head coach for the Redskins in 2002. He was hired by Cincinnati in 2003, when the Bengals were a laughingstock, and he restored them to relevance. He has posted a 123-111-3 regular season record and has guided the Bengals to four division titles. Despite his successes, however, his head coaching resume is marred by his 0-7 career playoff record, which has hung over his head especially heavily in recent seasons.

Nonetheless, there is expected to be a plethora of head coaching jobs available this offseason (even more than usual), and Schefter reports that the 59-year-old Lewis would be on the short list for a number of those positions. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, though, tweets that Lewis plans to move to a front office role. Schefter does suggest that a front office or coaching adviser job is a possibility, but only if a head coaching job does not materialize.

As for the Bengals, Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Lewis’ decision came as a surprise to the team. And, as most, if not all, of the team’s assistant coaches are also on expiring contracts — some of whom are unhappy with the way they have been treated financially — Schefter suggests that Cincinnati is likely to undergo a major coaching overhaul.

Nonetheless, Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network suggest that the Bengals could opt to replace Lewis with an internal candidate like current DC Paul Guenther or special teams coach Darrin Simmons (Twitter links). But Michael Lombardi of The Ringer tweets that the Bengals’ head coaching job is highly desirable, so the team will not be hurting for quality candidates.

The Bengals do not have a comment on the situation at the moment.

PFR Originals: 12/10/17 – 12/17/17

December 17th, 2017 at 2:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson
  • The Vikings are dominating the NFC North and appear likely to secure a first-round playoff bye, but they don’t have a plan at quarterback for the 2018 season. If Minnesota wants to continue its reign next year, it will need to choose a signal-caller from among the available internal options — including Case Keenum, Teddy Bridgewater, and Sam Bradford — or several free agent/trade candidates. I examined the top options available to general manager Rick Spielman & Co. for 2018, noting each player’s fit with next season’s Vikings roster.
  • While the Giants figure to roll with Eli Manning under center for the rest of the 2017 campaign, there’s no guarantee the veteran quarterback will return to New York next season. With changes coming to Big Blue’s front office and coaching staff, Manning could soon become a free agent or trade candidate, leading Sam Robinson to ask PFR readers where Manning will be playing in 2018. The Jaguars, who employ former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin in their front office, are the favorite with nearly 40% of the vote.

Latest On Allegations Against Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson

December 17th, 2017 at 1:31pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Panthers announced earlier this week that they’ve opened an investigation into workplace misconduct by owner Jerry Richardson, an inquiry that has now been taken over by the league. In a detailed story posted Sunday, L. Jon Wertheim and Viv Bernstein of Sports Illustrated provide a comprehensive look at the allegations against Richardson.Jerry Richardson (Vertical)

Richardson’s misconduct seems to have entailed both inappropriate sexual comments and activity directed towards female Panthers employees, plus a racial slur aimed at an African American scout. The sexual conduct involved remarks about women’s appearances, personal grooming, clothing, as well as possible improper touching. “Looking back,” one former employee told the SI scribes, “he was gaining our trust before doing things he shouldn’t be doing.”

In addition to the alleged racial slur, “antebellum echoes” encompass the franchise, as employees refer to Richardson simply as “Mister.” “It was a power culture. You did what Mister said, when he said it,” says one former employee. “He thinks he’s really great. You’re supposed to reinforce that… Even when he does things that make you feel like half a person, that you know are wrong.”

Per Wertheim and Bernstein, Richardson has regularly reached financial settlements with accusers, but those negotiations are finalized with non-disclosure and non-disparagement language attached. As such, there is little in the way of paperwork regarding the claims against Richardson, but one former employee said she has in fact seen documentation detailing sexual harassment charges against the franchise owner.

Eagles Not Expected To Sign QB

December 17th, 2017 at 12:32pm CST by Rory Parks

The Eagles are not expected to sign a veteran quarterback to back up Nick Foles, ESPN’s Adam Caplan reports (via Twitter). Instead, the team will continue to deploy Nate Sudfeld as the No. 2 signal-caller.

Per Caplan, the Eagles have been so impressed with Sudfeld in practice that, even though he has never played in a regular season game, they believe he would do well if he were pressed into action. The Indiana product was drafted by the division-rival Redskins in the sixth round of the 2016 draft, but he failed to make Washington’s roster out of the preseason. Philadelphia has apparently liked Sudfeld for some time, as they gave him a generous practice squad salary and a two-year contract after he was cut by the Redskins.

The Eagles, of course, were forced to put Carson Wentz on IR earlier this week after he tore his ACL in last week’s win over the Rams, which put a serious damper on their championship aspirations. Nonetheless, team owner Jeffrey Lurie told Ian Rapoport of NFL.com that his team invested a lot of money in the backup quarterback position for a reason (Foles signed a two-year, $11MM deal with $7MM guaranteed this offseason, putting him among the highest-paid pure backups in the league).

Lurie said that Foles thrived in Philadelphia under then-head coach Chip Kelly, when the talent surrounding him was not nearly as strong as it is now, so he expects Foles to perform well the rest of this season. It sounds as if he also expects Sudfeld to do well should that become necessary.

La Canfora’s Latest: O’Brien, Arians, Browns

December 17th, 2017 at 12:06pm CST by Rory Parks

Earlier today, we learned that Marvin Lewis is planning to leave Cincinnati after 15 years as the Bengals’ head coach, and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that the Texans and their head coach, Bill O’Brien, could also be headed for a split after the 2017 season. O’Brien has led Houston to three nine-win seasons and two playoff berths, and if rookie sensation Deshaun Watson had not suffered an ACL tear earlier this season, the team might be in playoff contention yet again. However, La Canfora says the relationship between O’Brien and GM Rick Smith has long been complicated, and sources close to the situation foresee a change sooner rather than later. Houston’s head coaching job is an attractive one, largely because of Watson, and O’Brien would be an attractive candidate for one of the multitude of coaching vacancies this offseason. If O’Brien does leave Houston, La Canfora names current defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel as a logical internal candidate to replace him.

Now for more from La Canfora’s Sunday morning output, starting with more out of Houston:

  • La Canfora writes that Texans QB Tom Savage remains in the concussion protocol and is unlikely to play again in 2o17. Houston is under fire for the way it handled Savage’s head injury last week, and Savage will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, so it is best for all parties involved that Savage simply sit out the last three games of the year.
  • We head back in October that Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians had not made any decision as to whether his career will continue past the 2017 season, and La Canfora reports that the team is preparing in case Arians decides to call it quits. Sources close to Arians believe he will not be back in 2018, and given the number of teams that will be looking for a new head coach this offseason, the Cardinals must be prepared in case they are also in need of a head coach.
  • The NFL has confirmed the the Browns complied with the Rooney Rule in their hiring of GM John Dorsey, but the Fritz Pollard Alliance is still concerned with how the process unfolded. The Alliance spoke with commissioner Roger Goodell about the matter prior to last week’s ownership meetings, and it emphasized that all interviews with minority candidates should be reported to Alliance or to the league, which Cleveland did not do when it interviewed Doug Whaley for the GM job. Whaley, meanwhile, was reportedly “crushed” by the process, as he believed he had a legitimate shot at the job only to realize that the Browns were interviewing him simply to comply with the Rooney Rule.
  • Goodell’s new extension runs through the 2024 season, but he hopes to have his successor in place by 2020. If that successor has made sufficient progress, it is possible that Goodell steps aside prior to 2024. La Canfora adds that sweeping changes will be made to the league office in 2018, including changes to football operations at the upper-management level across several departments.
  • There is “growing support” among league owners for reverting to the pre-2009 gameday operations schedule, which means that players would not be mandated to be on the sidelines for the national anthem at primetime games. Owners are also considering making the anthem earlier, at a time when the sidelines are often vacant.

Will Andrew Luck Require More Surgery?

December 17th, 2017 at 11:08am CST by Rory Parks

Even though he has been on IR since November 2, we continue to get regular reports on Andrew Luck‘s status. We learned last week that the Colts’ star QB is “doing fine” with the medical treatments that he is receiving in Europe, and today, Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com offers more insight into Luck’s future.

Andrew Luck

Per Mortensen (Twitter links), Luck will return from Europe soon, and when he does, he will resume a throwing regimen that will ultimately determine whether he needs surgery on his biceps tendon. Mortensen explains that, if Luck feels pain when he starts throwing again, a procedure known as tenodesis will become an option. Medical experts say that tenodesis patients face a three-t0-six month recovery, so the team is hoping to make a decision in that regard by mid-January at the latest.

Luck is optimistic that he will be able to avoid such a procedure, and that his European treatments will resolve the shoulder problems that have been ailing him for some time. But despite similar optimism this year, he was never able to get back on the field, which is obviously cause for concern. After all, not only does Luck represent the team’s best chance to capture a championship in the near future, his massive contract would be pretty difficult to absorb if he cannot get back to full strength.

In addition to the uncertainty surrounding Luck, the Colts are also expected to fire head coach Chuck Pagano after the season. Although the Indianapolis gig is widely regarded as a desirable one, the Luck situation could make top-tier head coaching candidates have second thoughts.

Denzel Perryman Has Hamstring Tendon Strain

December 17th, 2017 at 10:29am CST by Rory Parks

It is believed that Chargers LB Denzel Perryman suffered a hamstring tendon strain in last night’s loss to Kansas City, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Perryman will undergo an MRI today, but the remainder of his season is very much in doubt.

Denzel Perryman (Vertical)

Perryman was carted to the locker room shortly before halftime last night, and losing him would be a significant blow to Los Angeles, whose playoff hopes already took a major hit with the defeat. Perryman was activated from injured reserve just last month after undergoing ankle surgery following the team’s first preseason game.

His return was critical to the Chargers’ recent surge, as his run-stuffing ability and leadership helped to stabilize the Bolts’ defense. The team will need Jatavis Brown to step up in a big way to help fill the void.

In his six games this season, Perryman had posted 34 total tackles and a fumble recovery. The former second-round pick out of Miami will enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2018.

Panthers Owner Under Investigation For Workplace Misconduct

December 17th, 2017 at 10:06am CST by Dallas Robinson

SUNDAY, 10:06am: The NFL is taking over the Richardson investigation at the Panthers’ request, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). As Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer tweets, Carolina made the suggestion in an effort to remove any conflict of interest that may have existed with Bowles overseeing the investigation.

Under the prior investigation parameters, Richardson would participate in the team’s daily affairs as normal. However, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports says now that the league has taken over the investigation, it is unclear whether that will remain the case (Twitter link).

FRIDAY, 5:08pm: Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is under internal investigation for alleged workplace misconduct, according to Jim Trotter of ESPN.com. Carolina has since released a statement on the matter.Jerry Richardson

“The Carolina Panthers and Mr. Richardson take these allegations very seriously and are fully committed to a full investigation and taking appropriate steps to address and remediate any misconduct,” team spokesman Steven Drummond said. “The entire organization is fully committed to ensuring a safe, comfortable and diverse work environment where all individuals, regardless of sex, race, color, religion, gender, or sexual identity or orientation, are treated fairly and equally. We have work to do to achieve this goal, but we are going to meet it.”

The investigation, per the team’s statement, will be led by an outside law firm and Panthers limited partner/former White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles. “Erskine Bowles is a trusted leader of unquestioned integrity. We look forward to this report, which we know will be honest and thorough,” Drummond said.

Richardson, 81, has been the Panthers’ owner since the franchise’s inception in 1995. He is the only former NFL player to own a club.

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