2018 January - Pro Football Rumors

Vikings’ Jerick McKinnon Seeks Bigger Role

January 22nd, 2018 at 1:30pm CST by Zachary Links

It sounds like Jerick McKinnon is ready to move on from the Vikings. On the verge of free agency, running back says he wants to be a team’s top ball carrier in 2018.

“I want bigger and better things for myself,” McKinnon said (Twitter link via Chris Hine of the Star Tribune). “We’ll see what happens.”

McKinnon was hoping to step into a more prominent role after the departure of Adrian Peterson, but he found himself third on the depth chart this year after the team signed Latavius Murray in free agency and drafted Dalvin Cook in the second round. Although Cook was knocked out of action with a torn ACL in Week 4, McKinnon still spent the bulk of the year as a change-of-pace back behind Murray.

This year, McKinnon demonstrated his value as a pass-catching back, posting a career high 51 catches and 421 receiving yards. In short spurts, he also showed what he can do between the tackles. McKinnon ran for 40 yards off of ten carries against the Eagles in Sunday’s loss, good for an average of 4.0 yards per carry against the league’s best run defense. He also managed 96 yards off of 16 carries in the team’s first game without Cook.

It’s possible that Pat Shurmur could bring McKinnon with him to the Giants. The two have a strong working relationship and the G-Men are in desperate need of a running game overhaul.

Titans Officially Hire Mike Vrabel

January 22nd, 2018 at 12:59pm CST by Zachary Links

It’s officially official now. In a Monday press conference, the Titans introduced new head coach Mike Vrabel to the local media.

Vrabel is now the 19th head coach in franchise history and the fourth since 2011. He signed a five-year deal with the team, a significantly longer commitment than the organization gave to predecessor Mike Mularkey.

Vrabel met with team general manager Jon Robinson and instantly hit it off, according to Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk.

“You could see their connection right away from the history they have with one another – seeing the game in a similar way and talking the same language. Mike has a commanding presence and a deep knowledge for how he will attack this head coaching opportunity,” Strunk said in a statement issued over the weekend.

Vrabel, 42, served one season as Houston’s defensive coordinator after beginning his NFL coaching career as a linebackers coach with the Texans for three seasons. The 14-year NFL veteran won three Super Bowls as a player, spending the majority of his career in New England. He earned one Pro Bowl and one First Team All-Pro selection (2007).

Despite being highly thought of around the league, Vrabel’s first season as defensive coordinator did not jump off the page. Houston’s defense finished last in points allowed, middle of the pack in yards, and in the bottom ten in sacks.

At the outset of the search, Robinson made it clear he wanted a “leader of men.” Some believed that Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was that guy, but Vrabel wowed Robinson in their meeting on Wednesday and the team never met with McDaniels. The team also interviewed Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, and Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.

Micah Powell contributed to this post.

Panthers To Promote Eric Washington To DC?

January 22nd, 2018 at 12:45pm CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers have now lost their defensive coordinator to a head coaching job two years in a row. The good news is that, yet again, it seems like they have someone in-house who is ready to take over.

[RELATED: 2018 NFL Draft Order]

Panthers defensive line coach Eric Washington is likely to ascend to DC, according to Peter Schrager of NFL Network (on Twitter). Earlier this month, COO Tina Becker and GM Marty Hurney inked Washington to new deal, ensuring him the position if Wilks were to leave.

On Monday morning, we learned that Wilks is primed to take over as the Cardinals’ new head coach. Last year, the Panthers were in the same boat when Sean McDermott left to become the new head coach of the Bills. Wilks spent just one year as Carolina’s DC before getting his big chance, so this could be a launching pad to an HC opportunity for Washington down the line.

Last year marked Washington’s seventh season as the Panthers’ defensive line coach. In his time at that position, the Panthers have boasted one of the league’s most fearsome front fours. The Panthers have ranked in the top 10 in sacks in five of the past six seasons, including first in 2013, second in 2016, and third in 2017.

Titans Moving On From Dick LeBeau

January 22nd, 2018 at 10:25am CST by Zachary Links

The Titans are moving on from defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, according to longtime beat reporter Paul Kuharsky. Although LeBeau is widely respected across the league, new head coach Mike Vrabel is looking to bring in his own staff.

LeBeau first joined the Titans’ staff in 2015. In his his second season, he took over play calling when Mike Mularkey became the head coach. Things were trending up for the Titans D as they were 20th in yards allowed in 2016 but improved to 13th in 2017.

LeBeau, the innovator of the zone blitz, previously indicated that he would retire if the new Tennessee head coach did not keep him on staff. After all, given all of his accomplishments, there’s little left for LeBeau to prove. The octogenarian has coached in the NFL since the early 70s and he owns two Super Bowl rings thanks to his time as the Steelers’ DC. In 2010, LeBeau was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Titans’ search for a new DC will start immediately, though it’s not immediately clear whether Vrabel will cede play-calling responsibilities.

Jets Promote Jeremy Bates To OC

January 22nd, 2018 at 9:35am CST by Zachary Links

The Jets expected to promote quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates to offensive coordinator, league sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The OC job opened up last week when the Jets relieved John Morton of his duties.

Bates has been the Jets’ top choice for the OC gig for a while, but he was reluctant to change jobs. Over the last week or so, the Jets managed to talk him into the promotion. Head coach Todd Bowles has emphasized the importance of keeping things steady from season to season and he has managed to do that, despite the change.

“It’s always good to have consistency and continuity, but in the NFL things change all the time,” Bowles said recently. “You have to be ready. If we keep the same scheme, that’s great. If we have to change for whatever reason, we’ll go from there.”

Bates is now an NFL offensive coordinator for the second time in his coaching career. His first stint came in 2010 with Pete Carroll‘s Seahawks, but lasted just one season.

Last year, the Jets offense finished 28th in total yards, 29th in first downs, 24th in passing yards, and 19th in rushing yards. If the Jets are to top their five wins from last season, they’ll have to do better across the board under Bates’ watch.

Bates got the most out of veteran Josh McCown last season and the Jets are hopeful that he can construct the right offense for their next quarterback, whoever he may be. The Jets have some holes to fill, but the good news for Bates is that they are armed with the No. 6 pick, lots of cap room, and some quality pieces, including a healthy Quincy Enunwa.

Colts Request Second Interview With Josh McDaniels

January 21st, 2018 at 9:25pm CST by Zachary Links

The Colts have requested a second head coaching interview with Josh McDaniels, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Of course, this is just a formality as McDaniels is widely reported to have already accepted the job.

The Colts cannot make the hiring of McDaniels official until after the Patriots’ season is over. That means any plans for an introductory press conference will have to wait until after the Super Bowl on Feb. 4. However, the Colts can use the time between now and the big game to plan for the future.

The staff around McDaniels is already coming together. Last week, the team formalized plans to hire Raiders quarterbacks coach Jake Peetz as their new offensive coordinator and Cowboys linebackers coach Matt Eberflus as the club’s new defensive coordinator.

McDaniels will be tasked with turning the Colts around after a disappointing 4-12 season. On the plus side, they own the No. 3 pick in the draft and they may have their choice between North Carolina State pass rusher Bradley Chubb or Penn State running back Saquon Barkley.

Updated 2018 NFL Draft Order

January 21st, 2018 at 9:16pm CST by Zachary Links

With the conference championship games in the books, we now know the draft order for 30 of the first round’s 32 picks. Here’s the rundown:

1. Cleveland Browns (0-16)

2. New York Giants (3-13)

3. Indianapolis Colts (4-12)

4. Cleveland Browns (via the 4-12 Houston Texans)

5. Denver Broncos (5-11)

6. New York Jets (5-11)

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11)

8. Chicago Bears (5-11)

T-9. Oakland Raiders (6-10)

T-9. San Francisco 49ers (6-10) (Note: The Raiders and 49ers have identical records and the same strength of schedule. The tie will be broken by a coin flip with the winner getting pick No. 9 and the other club receiving the No. 10 pick.)

11. Miami Dolphins (6-10)

12. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9)

13. Washington Redskins (7-9)

14. Green Bay Packers (7-9)

15. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)

16. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)

17. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)

18. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)

19. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)

20. Detroit Lions (9-7)

21. Buffalo Bills (9-7)

22. Buffalo Bills (via the 10-6 Kansas City Chiefs)

23. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)

24. Carolina Panthers (11-5)

25. Tennessee Titans (9-7)

26. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)

27. New Orleans Saints (11-5)

28. Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3)

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6)

30. Minnesota Vikings (13-3)

31. (New England Patriots (13-3) or Philadelphia Eagles (13-3))

32. (New England Patriots (13-3) or Philadelphia Eagles (13-3))

NFC Rumors: Redskins, Cravens, Lions

January 21st, 2018 at 8:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Will the Redskins bring Su’a Cravens back into the fold? ESPN.com’s John Keim gets the sense that coaches are still reluctant to bring him into the locker room again.

Meanwhile, the presence of safety Montae Nicholson may make it easier for the team to part ways with the versatile defender. Nicholson, last year’s fourth-round pick, has only given the team a limited sample to evaluate. However, when he was on the field, his presence allowed slot corner Kendall Fuller to focus on his man. Nicholson’s ability to cover could also allow the team to use D.J. Swearinger more in the box where he is at his best. Cravens’ talent is undeniable, but at this time, it sounds like the Redskins are on course to cut or trade him.

Here’s more from the NFC:

ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein isn’t necessarily expecting major changes to the Lions‘ offense with Matt Patricia in command, though he anticipates a renewed focus on the run game’s efficiency. On the other side of the ball, Patricia may move to change from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4. Ultimately, that may lead to a personnel shakeup in the front seven.
Fullback Marcel Reece implied to John Clayton of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that he was waiting on the Seahawks to bring him back last year and turned down other offers as he waited on Seattle. Reece, 33 in June, sat out the entire 2017 season after he missed Seattle’s final cut but he hopes to continue playing in 2018.
Before Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, it was reported that the Vikings are giving serious thought to franchise tagging quarterback Case Keenum.

Gronk In Concussion Protocol

January 21st, 2018 at 7:51pm CST by Zachary Links

Rob Gronkowski is in the concussion protocol after taking a big hit in the AFC Championship Game. However, there is optimism that Gronk will be cleared in time for the Super Bowl, a source tells Karen Guregian of The Boston Herald (on Twitter).

Gronk was knocked out of action late in the first half after he was leveled by Jaguars safety Barry Church. The tight end managed to walk to the locker room under his own power, but he was clearly out of it. The good news is that Gronk has two weeks to rest up before the big game on February 4.

Gronkowski had one catch for 21 yards in Sunday’s win over Jacksonville. He came up big against the Titans last week, however, as he hauled in six grabs for 81 yards and one touchdown. In the regular season, Gronk had 69 catches, 1,084 yards, and eight TDs, earning him a fourth career First-Team All-Pro nod. Needless to say, he’ll be sorely missed if he cannot play in the Super Bowl.

Bengals Owner Mike Brown On Marvin Lewis

January 21st, 2018 at 6:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals re-signed coach Marvin Lewis to a two-year deal, leaving many in the football world perplexed. While Lewis has led the Bengals to the playoffs five times, including five consecutive appearances from 2011-2015, he has never gotten the Bengals past the Wild Card round. There were also multiple reports indicating that Lewis was looking forward to doing something else in 2018.

On Friday, owner Mike Brown sat down with Jim Owczarski of The Enquirer to discuss what went into the team’s decision to re-sign Lewis. Here’s a look at some of the highlights:

On whether he thought the team’s relationship with Lewis was over in light of the aforementioned reports:

‘I chose not to make a decision on what we were going to do going forward until all the evidence had been submitted. And that meant playing through the full season and not making a call prematurely. I would say that while we had serious reverses and they were unsettling, to put it mildly, we bounced back at the end of the year. We beat two teams that were in playoff runs. We beat them in games that were important for them where they gave their best shot and I was impressed how we rebounded. That played into what was in my mind when I had to make a final call.”

On the impact of the team’s season-ending wins over the Lions and Ravens:

“Yes. We had a very unusual season. Obviously, we were off offensively. We lost a handful of games that were games we could’ve, should’ve won. They were very close. They were one-play games. And if we had managed to win our share of those, we would’ve been out of that middle group of teams. In my mind, there’s a middle group that runs from say 6-10 to 9-7. That’s over a dozen teams. With all of them, they have a fan base that is dissatisfied. Ours is no exception. And yet they are all close to having been in the next level. And I think that that’s where we were. We had a disappointing season because we didn’t win our share of those close games that we could’ve, should’ve won. I think it goes beyond that, though. I think we tailed off in some areas that brought us down. I think those issues are correctable. I don’t think we’re far off. I think we can make the changes that we need to make and quickly rebound to the level where we were a couple years ago.”

On why he ultimately stuck with Lewis:

“I think he knows our situation well. He brings continuity. I don’t think he lost the football team. I think that was evidenced by the last couple games. The players like Marvin. They support him. I think that’s a good thing. The area where we have some making up to do is with our public. They are unsettled because they wanted to see more. And then it didn’t come through for them in the fashion they had expected or hoped; they began to make commentary and some of that was well, it’s Marvin, some of that was well, it’s Mike, some of that was whatever it was. I have to look beyond that. I have to just do what I think puts our team in the best position to win. Even if it is a short-term issue with our fans. I will tell you that it’s all going to play out on the field here. And if we win, it will be great. If we don’t, you’ll be right back here asking why.”

“…I think he can manage. I think he has managed it in the past and I think we’ve been very close. We haven’t quite gotten where we needed to get. He knows that. I know that. I do think, repeating again, that our best chance to get there is with him having another run at it. He brings a lot to the table. You can always say the next one will be better, an improvement, but you’re talking about the unknown essentially. We do know Marvin. We know him with his strengths, we know him with his weaknesses. And we all have a few of those. He has his. I think they’re enough to get us there. And I decided to give him the opportunity.”