2018 December - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Bengals’ Coaching Search

December 31st, 2018 at 4:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

The first Bengals coaching search since 2003 looked to be centered around members of two organizations — the Bengals and Rams.

While Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor received an interview request, so did Los Angeles’ passing-game coordinator, Shane Waldron, Sean McVay said Monday. Waldron, 39, also serves as the Rams’ tight ends coach.

Cincinnati will also interview two of its own. OC Bill Lazor and special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons will interview for Marvin Lewis’ old job on Tuesday, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).

Mike Brown went outside the organization when he hired Lewis 15 years ago, but this is known as one of the more continuity-based franchises in the NFL. Still, it would be interesting to see a Lewis lieutenant get the job. Former Bengals DBs coach Vance Joseph, fired by the Broncos this morning, has also been mentioned as a possible candidate.

Lazor became the Bengals’ full-time OC this season. Simmons has spent the entire Lewis era on the Bengals’ staff, coaching Cincinnati’s special teams units for the past 16 seasons. Though special teams coaches rarely commandeer HC jobs, Simmons is believed to have a good shot at this job, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

Latest On Antonio Brown, Steelers

December 31st, 2018 at 4:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The player with whom Brown got into a heated disagreement at Wednesday’s Steelers practice was indeed Ben Roethlisberger, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports (on Twitter).

Brown tossed a ball at Roethlisberger’s feet and walked out of a walkthrough, per Kaboly. This was a “fairly ugly” incident, per CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (Twitter link), with Brown being viewed as the party in the wrong. The 30-year-old wideout went off over a specific (and, as of yet, unspecified) issue, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets, and has not been in the Steelers’ building in days. Roethlisberger and Brown argued, with Fowler noting Brown was the primary arguer.

It’s now believed he missed Sunday’s game against the Bengals because of this turmoil and not a knee injury.

While some of Brown’s teammates were surprised he showed up with the intention of playing Sunday, after missing meetings and a walkthrough Saturday, NFL.com’s Aditi Kinkhabwala reports (video link) others in the organization expected him to play Sunday. She confirms the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s report of Brown leaving Heinz Field at halftime.

This situation affected the Steelers’ effort in Week 17, per Kinkhabwala, who adds Brown did not show up for the Steelers’ exit meeting Monday. Mike Tomlin apparently did not address Brown’s issues today, per Kinkhabwala.

Cardinals To Fire Byron Leftwich, Al Holcomb

December 31st, 2018 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Byron Leftwich stayed on from the Bruce Arians regime but will not be sticking around with the Cardinals with a third coaching staff.

The Cardinals fired both Leftwich, their interim OC, and DC Al Holcomb, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com tweets. While Leftwich was viewed as a rising talent with Arians, and ascended to OC in merely his second season as a full-time coach this year under Steve Wilks, but was not expected to be back had Wilks kept his interim job, Albert Breer of SI.com reports (on Twitter).

Both firings could have been expected, with the Cardinals completing a 3-13 season and making a head coach a one-and-done for the first time in more than 60 years. Holcomb came over with Wilks from Carolina, having served as a position coach there. This marked his first season as an NFL DC.

Leftwich became a full-time coach last year and was named quarterbacks coach this offseason. After Mike McCoy‘s in-season ouster, Leftwich rose to Arizona’s OC job. He will now be on the market to continue his coaching career. Under both McCoy and Leftwich, the Cards featured a historically bad offense. They ranked last in both points and total yards this season.

Bengals Request Meeting With Rams’ Zac Taylor

December 31st, 2018 at 3:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor now has two interview requests. The Bengals are following the Cardinals in reaching out to Taylor about a head coach interview, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Taylor, 35, has served as Sean McVay‘s QBs coach this season. He moved up to that job after Matt LaFleur‘s defection to Tennessee. Taylor previously worked as the Rams’ assistant wide receivers coach in 2017.

He served as the University of Cincinnati’s offensive coordinator in 2016 before moving to Los Angeles but was previously a Dolphins assistant, briefly holding the title of offensive coordinator during the team’s tumultuous 2015 season that saw a few high-profile firings.

McVay’s Rams have become the envy of other organizations, with offensively oriented coaches being the ones most linked to HC jobs this offseason. Although some DCs are being contacted today, the interest in Taylor and other offensive coaches further confirms the offensively generated buzz.

Antonio Brown’s Week 17 Absence Not Injury-Related?

December 31st, 2018 at 3:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers and Antonio Brown have experienced problems in the recent past, and another appears to have cropped up.

The four-time All-Pro wide receiver was involved in an evidently significant dispute with an unnamed teammate, and that — and not an injury — caused him to miss Sunday’s season finale, Gerry Dulac and Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.

Brown and this teammate’s confrontation occurred Wednesday, and the receiver threw a football at this player, per the Pittsburgh duo. Brown skipped the Steelers’ Saturday walkthrough, and a team meeting, and left Sunday’s game at halftime, with Bouchette and Dulac reporting Brown surprised teammates by showing up at Heinz Field expecting to play. He did not practice last week, but several Steelers sources said Brown’s knee was not an issue.

Brown showing up Sunday with the intention to play surprised several teammates, and one source informed the Post-Gazette tandem it was the 30-year-old pass-catcher’s decision not to practice during the week. Brown was initially listed as absent from practice due to to a coach’s decision, before “knee” was added to subsequent injury reports.

Brown’s recent issues go back a bit. Brown also skipped a meeting prior to the Steelers’ pivotal Saints matchup, with Bouchette and Dulac reporting he was in the building where the meeting took place but skipped the actual meeting. The Steelers beat the Bengals on Sunday, but only by three points. They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Two seasons ago, Brown ran into trouble for streaming Mike Tomlin‘s divisional-round victory address on Facebook Live. This year, he responded to a former Steelers employee’s perceived social media slight by tweeting “Trade me let’s find out” regarding how valuable he is to Pittsburgh.

Brown signed a four-year, $68MM extension with the Steelers in 2017. He and JuJu Smith-Schuster have formed an elite receiving tandem, with Brown scoring 15 touchdowns in 15 games and Smith Schuster taking a big leap from his rookie year and leading the Steelers in receiving. Three seasons remain on Brown’s contract.

Dolphins, Packers Request To Interview Steelers’ Mike Munchak

December 31st, 2018 at 3:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mike Munchak was part of the 2018 coaching carousel but opted to stay on as the Steelers’ offensive line coach. A demand for meetings with the longtime assistant and former head coach has increased this year.

After the Broncos requested an interview with Munchak, two more teams — the Dolphins and Packers — have joined this pursuit, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports (on Twitter).

Denver has received permission to meet with Munchak, per 9News’ Mike Klis (on Twitter). The five-year Steelers O-line coach will consider the Broncos’ job, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (video link). Munchak, 58, backed out of the Cardinals’ HC search last year.

Munchak served as the Titans’ coach from 2011-13 and has overseen one of the NFL’s best offensive lines in recent years. Pittsburgh’s front helped turn Le’Veon Bell into a star and James Conner into a quickly capable replacement while also aiding Ben Roethlisberger to four straight Pro Bowls and a 2018 5,000-yard season.

Broncos, Dolphins Request Vic Fangio Interview

December 31st, 2018 at 2:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has long been a top-level defensive leader, but a head coaching job has eluded him in 30-plus seasons in the NFL. That may change.

The Broncos and Dolphins have submitted interview requests for the Bears’ DC, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (on Twitter). The Broncos have received such permission, per 9News’ Mike Klis (Twitter link).

Fangio, 60, cannot interview for any HC jobs this week because of the Bears’ first-round game against the Eagles. He has been an essential part of Chicago’s resurgence. Beginning his tenure with the Bears in 2015, Fangio produced a top-10 defense without a Pro Bowler in 2017 and now has the top DVOA unit with three Pro Bowlers (highlighted by trade acquisition Khalil Mack).

He received scant HC interest last year but ended up staying in the Windy City. Fangio’s career included five stops as a DC, also stopping in San Francisco under Jim Harbaugh, and featured a stay in the USFL in the mid-1980s. It will be interesting to see if a team gives the veteran coordinator an opportunity.

Duke QB Daniel Jones Declares For Draft

December 31st, 2018 at 2:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Shortly after Justin Herbert declared he was not going to be part of the 2019 NFL prospect pool, another big-name junior said he would.

Duke quarterback Daniel Jones declared for the 2019 draft on Monday, forgoing his senior season. He is expected to be a first- or, at the latest, second-round pick.

Having begun his Duke career as a walk-on, the 6-foot-5 passer now projects as a key component in the upcoming draft. With Herbert out of the mix and Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins yet to declare (though, he’s expected to), Jones will be a much-studied player by teams desperate for a long-term solution at sports’ marquee position.

Jones played under former Peyton Manning mentor David Cutcliffe with the Blue Devils, throwing a career-high 22 touchdown passes this season. He threw for between 2,650 and 2,850 yards in each of his three seasons as Duke’s starter. He was the Blue Devils’ first-stringer throughout his career.

Titans OLB Brian Orakpo To Retire

December 31st, 2018 at 2:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brian Orakpo will call it quits after 10 NFL seasons. The veteran outside linebacker announced his retirement on Monday.

He was battling an elbow injury and did not play in the final three Titans games this season. Prior to missing time, Orakpo had never missed a game in his four-year Tennessee tenure.

The former Titans and Redskins defender was a four-time Pro Bowl honoree and was slated for free agency after this season. He signed a four-year, $31MM contract with the Titans during the 2015 offseason and played it out. He only registered 1.5 sacks this season but finished his career with 66. The Texas product recorded three double-digit sack seasons, with his 2009 rookie slate producing a career-high 11.

Washington kept Orakpo for six seasons as an old-CBA first-round pick but prioritized an extension for Ryan Kerrigan in 2015. That duo teamed up for four seasons, from 2011-14. Orakpo, 32, paired with Derrick Morgan in Tennessee to form a long-term edge partnership. The Titans brought in second-round pick Harold Landry this year.

Orakpo ranks in the top six on the Redskins’ and Titans’ (Nashville era) all-time sack lists.

Coaching Rumors: Gase, Broncos, Dolphins, Arians, Buccaneers, Jets, Cardinals

December 31st, 2018 at 1:54pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Adam Gase might’ve been the most surprising firing of Black Monday, and he likely won’t be out of a job too long. Gase has “heard from the majority of teams with an HC opening” within hours of being let go by the Dolphins, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link), who notes that Gase will begin taking head coaching interviews this week. While Gase has been linked to numerous jobs, including the Browns’ opening, don’t expect a reunion in Denver. Although he was the Broncos’ offensive coordinator during their peak with Peyton Manning, GM John Elway said at his press conference today Gase isn’t a candidate “at this time”, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Gase got the Dolphins job because of his work with the Broncos, but there have long been rumors of bad blood between him and Elway. Elway reportedly told interested teams he didn’t think Gase was ready to be a head coach years ago, and Gase ran up the score on the Bronocs as revenge last year, kicking an onside kick while up 24 points late in the game. While it won’t be in Denver, at this point it would be a surprise if Gase isn’t a head coach somewhere next season.

Here’s more on the coaching carousel:

Speaking of Gase, the Dolphins will be undergoing a complete rebuild as they look for his replacement. They shook up their front office earlier today and are likely to move on from Ryan Tannehill this offseason. As for their next coach, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald “would be shocked” if Dan Campbell doesn’t get an interview (Twitter link). Campbell, the Saints’ assistant head coach, has already been requested by the Browns and is expected to be a hot candidate. He was the Dolphins’ interim coach in 2015 after they fired Joe Philbin four games into the season. Miami has also put in a request to interview Patriots defensive coordinator Brian Flores, according to Schefter (Twitter link), adding to a long list of teams looking to talk to Flores.
While former Cardinals coach Bruce Arians has repeatedly said the only job he would come out of retirement for would be the Browns’, he might be having a change of heart. The legendary offensive coach told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link), that he knows Buccaneers GM Jason Licht, and “would listen” if the Bucs came calling. Tampa is almost certainly looking for an offensive coach to revitalize Jameis Winston‘s career, and Arians would be a very intriguing option.
The Jets have made their first two interview requests as they look to replace Todd Bowles. The team is looking to talk to Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link), and also wants an interview with Buccaneers offensive coordinator Todd Monken, according to Rapoport (Twitter link). Rapsheet also tweets the team requested an interview with Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, but Campbell denied the request. Finally, Rapoport notes in a fourth tweet that the Jets are one of two new teams interested in former Lions coach Jim Caldwell, along with the Browns. All of these requests are in line with the thinking that the Jets are interested in bringing in an offensive coach to work with Sam Darnold.
The Jets aren’t the only team interested in Bieniemy, as Terez Paylor of Yahoo Sports tweets that the Buccaneers and Dolphins have reached out as well. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network added in a tweet that the Cardinals have also requested an interview, bringing the number of teams interested in Bieniemy to four. Given the success that members of the Andy Reid coaching tree has had in recent years, it’s not surprising he’s a sought after name.
Speaking of the Cardinals, the team has requested Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor, Rapoport tweets. The Cardinals are in desperate need of an offensive coach who can help Josh Rosen after Rosen’s woeful rookie campaign, and Taylor is very highly thought of in some circles. Rapoport notes the team has “been doing work on him”, so this seems like more than just a courtesy interview.