HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Ex-Cards/Titans DB Rashad Johnson Retires

January 4th, 2018 at 8:58pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Former Cardinals and Titans safety Rashad Johnson has announced his retirement from the NFL in an Instagram post.Rashad Johnson

Johnson, who turned 32 years old earlier this week, enjoyed an eight-year pro career after being selected out of Alabama in the third round of the 2099 draft. Seven of those seasons came with the club that originally drafted him, the Cardinals, for whom he appeared in 100 of his 114 career games. Primarily a reserve and special teams player during his first five years in the league, Johnson was a full-time starter in 2014 and 2015, and racked up nine interceptions during that period.

After reaching free agency following the 2015 campaign, Johnson inked a one-year deal with the Titans. In his lone season with Tennessee, Johnson was one of four Titans safeties to see action on at least 50% of the club’s defensive snaps. He made seven starts and 14 total appearances while managing one forced fumble and one pass defensed. Although Johnson was expected to draw interest during the 2017 offseason (and was ranked as a top-15 free agent safety by PFR), he never generated any known interest and didn’t play in a contest last year.

Coach Rumors: Raiders, Olson, Cards, Fins

January 4th, 2018 at 8:36pm CST by Dallas Robinson

If the Raiders (as expected) hire ESPN commentator Jon Gruden as their next head coach, they are expected to lure Rams quarterbacks coach Greg Olson to be their new offensive coordinator, tweets Alex Marvez of the Sporting News. Marvez reported yesterday that Olson might be a candidate to join Gruden in Oakland, but now it sounds as though an Olson addition will be a foregone conclusion. Olson, 54, has served as the Raiders’ offensive play-caller before (2013-14), and has also been an OC at several other stops, including Detroit, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, and Jacksonville, but Gruden is expected to run his own offense once he arrives in Oakland.

Here’s more on the 2018 hiring cycle:

  • The Raiders‘ apparent decision to bring in Gruden could have wide-ranging implications for the club’s coaching staff and front office, but general manager Reggie McKenzie is likely to stay in place for at least more season even if Gruden is hired, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. McKenzie, who is signed through the 2021 draft, may be in danger of losing final authority on personnel decisions, but Gruden is unlikely to take on a GM-type role in Oakland, per Florio. However, if the Raiders do hand over free agent and draft control to Gruden, McKenzie might be able to leave on his own, citing a breach of contract.
  • Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak will indeed interview for the vacant Cardinals head coaching position, and the meeting will take place this weekend, reports Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link). Arizona asked for permission to interview Munchak earlier this week, and that request has apparently been granted. Munchak has been a head coach before, as he posted a 22-26 record in three seasons with the Titans. He’s the eighth candidate to be linked to the Cardinals’ search.
  • Former Broncos assistant head coach/running backs Eric Studesville will have to wait for his interview with the Giants, as weather-related concerns have forced the summit to next week, per Dan Duggan of NJ.com (Twitter link). Studesville, who had been employed in Denver since 2010, was fired earlier this week. While he’s never been a head coach, the 50-year-old Studesville did serve as an interim HC during the 2010 campaign.
  • The Dolphins have hired a familiar face as their new offensive line coach, as they’ve agreed to terms with Jeremiah Washburn to take over the job, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Washburn served as an assistant OL coach in Miami in 2016 before accepting a promotion in Chicago. He’ll now replace staffer Dave DeGuglielmo, who was hired to replace Chris Foerster after the latter was caught using drugs on video.
  • Gruden and the Raiders are expected to target Cowboys running backs coach Gary Brown for the same role in Oakland, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Brown, 48, is now a coaching free agent, as his contract in Dallas has expired. The Cowboys made several coaching changes earlier this week, but there’s no word as to whether they’ll pursue Brown again.

NFL Workout Updates: 1/4/18

January 4th, 2018 at 8:18pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s NFL workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account:

Arizona Cardinals

  • G Greg Pyke (link)

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Indianapolis Colts

  • DE Evan Panfil (link)

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

  • LS Anthony Kukwa (link)

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Bengals To Interview Lions’ Teryl Austin

January 4th, 2018 at 7:51pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bengals will interview Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin for their open DC position on Friday, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link).Teryl Austin (vertical)

Austin is also a contender for Detroit’s vacant head coaching job, and interviewed for the role earlier this week. Speculatively, the fact that’s taking a meeting with Cincinnati could mean that Austin has already been ruled out of the Lions’ search, but there have been no reports to that effect. Austin is one of seven candidates for the Lions’ top gig, a list that also includes Detroit offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter.

The Bengals may need a new defensive coordinator given that incumbent Paul Guenther‘s contract has expired. While head coach Marvin Lewis indicated Cincinnati would like to retain Guenther, the veteran DC is expected to interview for a position on Oakland’s Jon Gruden-led staff.

Austin has garnered a whopping 12 head coaching interviews over the past three seasons, but hasn’t yet been able to garner a job. Most recently, Austin met with the Rams and Chargers regarding their vacancies in 2017, but those positions went to Sean McVay and Anthony Lynn, respectively. Detroit’s defensive play-caller since 2014, Austin led the Lions to a No. 18 ranking in defensive DVOA a season ago.

Raiders Interview Bobby Johnson For HC

January 4th, 2018 at 7:40pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Raiders have interviewed incumbent tight ends coach Bobby Johnson for their head coaching position, according to Adam Caplan of SiriusXM (Twitter link). Johnson is reportedly one of two minority candidates Oakland has met with in order to satisfy the NFL’s Rooney Rule, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link).Bobby Johnson (Vertical)

Oakland, of course, is widely expected to hire ESPN commentator Jon Gruden as its next head coach. But the Rooney Rule stipulates that each team interview at least one minority candidate when going through a coaching search. Johnson fulfills that requirement, as does at least one other unnamed minority coach.

Johnson has been a coach since 1995, when he began his career as a graduate assistant at Akron, and entered the NFL in 2010. Since that time, he’s worked with offensive lines and tight ends during stops in Buffalo, Jacksonville, and Detroit. Per Caplan, Johnson “has command, is a good teacher, and players respond to him.”

North Notes: Bears, Packers, Ravens, Browns

January 4th, 2018 at 7:04pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bears have concluded their head coaching interview with Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards, the club announced today. Chicago is able to interview Edwards given that Minnesota secured a first-round playoff bye, and he’s one of seven candidates to be linked to the Bears’ vacancy. Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, and Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks are all being considered for the job alongside Edwards.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two North divisions:

  • Incumbent cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt is considered the favorite to become the Packers‘ next defensive coordinator, reports Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Green Bay will start its DC search by interviewing three internal candidates: Whitt, safeties coach Darren Perry, and assistant head coach/linebackers Winston Moss. While all three coaches are currently under contract with the Packers, there’s no guarantee that any or all of them will return in 2018, as Demovsky writes in a separate piece. If Green Bay hires an outside candidate to replace Dom Capers, that new coach could aim to bring in his own assistants.
  • The Ravens will bring back offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinwheg in 2018, but it’s unclear if senior offensive assistant/tight ends coach Greg Roman will return given that his contract has expired, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Roman, a former play-caller for the 49ers and Bills, could potentially draw interest as an offensive coordinator once head coaching vacancies are filled around the league. Meanwhile, Baltimore may potentially hire a quarterbacks coach to work on Joe Flacco‘s mechanics, head coach John Harbaugh told reporters today, including Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Mornhinwheg currently holds the QBs coach title in addition to offensive coordinator.
  • Reports earlier this week indicated the Browns are interested in former Bengals offensive coordinator Ken Zampese, and Cleveland will in fact interview him for their open offensive coordinator position, according to Rapoport (Twitter link). Browns head coach Hue Jackson, who calls his own offensive plays, had not employed an OC during his first two years in Cleveland. Zampese, the Bengals’ quarterbacks coach from 2003-16, lasted only two touchdown-less games as the club’s offensive play-caller in 2017. The Browns are also set to interview Texans quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan for offensive coordinator in the near future.
  • Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley suffered a shattered pelvis during an incident at a bar on New Year’s Eve, but the injury is not expected to affect Haley’s ability to coach during the Divisional Round, reports Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. While there certainly could be more to the story, Haley was reportedly shoved while out to dinner with his wife in the Pittsburgh area.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/4/18

January 4th, 2018 at 6:35pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2018 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:

Baltimore Ravens

  • DB Bennett Jackson

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

  • LS Anthony Kulwa

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

Broncos Hire Ex-Giants OC Mike Sullivan

January 4th, 2018 at 5:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Broncos have hired former Giants offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan as their new quarterbacks coach, reports Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter link). The club has also hired former Bears running backs coach Curtis Modkins to the same role in Denver, per Klis.Mike Sullivan (Vertical)

Sullivan is technically still under contract in New York, but given that Big Blue is overhauling its coaching staff, Giants assistants are free to explore other roles. Now hired in Denver, Sullivan would work under Bill Musgrave, who will return as the Broncos’ offensive play-caller after taking over for Mike McCoy at midseason.

Interim Broncos quarterbacks coach Klint Kubiak is expected to shift to a new position with the team, and head coach Vance Joseph & Co. also reportedly considered former Bengals OC Ken Zampese as a staff addition. Sullivan, 50, sandwiched a stint as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator from 2012-13 between two tenures with the Giants.

Modkins, meanwhile, has served as an NFL coach since 2008 and enjoyed offensive coordinator titles with the Bills (2010-12) and 49ers (2016). He’ll replace former assistant head coach/running backs Eric Studesville, who was fired earlier this week, but he wasn’t the only candidate for the position. The Broncos also interviewed Raiders running backs coach Bernie Parmalee, per Klis (Twitter link).

One other Broncos staff housekeeping note: assistant to to the head coach Phil Rauscher is interviewing to become the Redskins’ assistant offensive line coach, tweets Klis.

Russ Ball Favorite For Packers GM?

January 4th, 2018 at 5:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Packers vice president of football administration/player finance Russ Ball is considered the favorite to become Green Bay’s next general manager, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who reports there is a “preponderance of opinion” both inside the Packers organization and within the NFL as a whole that Green Bay president Mark Murphy is simply “going through the motions” in seeking a replacement for Ted Thompson.Russ Ball (Vertical)

Following Thompson’s reassignment within the Packers’ hierarchy, the club is hoping to hire its next general manager by next week. They’ve started the search process by interviewing director of football operations Eliot Wolf today, and will also meet with two other internal options: Ball, and director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst. Although Green Bay seems likely to promote from within, the team reportedly also has interest in former Bills general manager Doug Whaley.

Unlike Wolf and Gutekunst, Ball doesn’t offer personnel experience, as he’s spent his career on the financial side of operations. However, Murphy said earlier this week that a personnel background won’t be required for the Packers’ next general manager, an indication that Ball could be a serious candidate. If Ball is promoted, though, Green Bay could risk losing Wolf and Gutekunst to other clubs, defections that would weaken a front office that has already seen executive Alonzo Highsmith take a position with the Browns.

Ball, who originally began his NFL career as a strength and conditioning coach, has completed 10 seasons in his current role with the Packers. Prior to joining Green Bay, Ball spent time with the Chiefs, Vikings, Redskins, and Saints, all the while working in administrative roles.

Packers Interview Three Assistants For DC

January 4th, 2018 at 4:20pm CST by Zachary Links

The Packers’ search for a new defensive coordinator is getting started. And the early interview list has some striking similarities to the GM queue. Winston Moss (vertical)

Assistant coaches Winston Moss, Darren Perry, and Joe Whitt will interview to become the new DC, coach Mike McCarthy announced on Thursday. McCarthy stressed the importance of the job while noting that the team will also consider external candidates.

“The defense needs to be better than the offense,” McCarthy said (via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com). “I mean, that has to happen. So you’ve got four ways to do it. You get player acquisition, player instruction, player finance — who you pay to build your roster — and player performance. I mean, there’s so many things out there that we can advance in as far as analytics, more science, we have a strong history of developing young players, maximizing their abilities. But we can always get better, and that’s really where I’m at with it. So the defense, we need to, we need to be better.”

Moss, 53, is also up for the Lions’ head coaching vacancy. Like Moss, Perry and Whitt have been with the organization for years and offer familiarity with the system put in place by former DC Dom Capers.

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