2019 January - Pro Football Rumors

No Trade Request Made By Antonio Brown?

January 1st, 2019 at 1:28pm CST by Zachary Links

Despite a report indicating otherwise on Tuesday afternoon, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears that Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has not requested a trade from the Steelers. Rapoport hears that Brown is frustrated, but has not made an actual request to get out of Pittsburgh.

After Brown’s practice blowup on Wednesday, he yelled, “I’m done,” according to Rapoport. Then, he posited aloud that the Steelers should trade him. Rapoport’s understanding is that Brown was venting in frustration and any talks of him actually looking for a trade are premature, at best.

Brown signed a four-year, $68MM extension with the Steelers in 2017 and has been playing at a Hall of Fame level for several years. This year, JuJu Smith-Schuster took a giant leap forward and the two players formed a top-tier tandem. With three seasons to go on Brown’s deal, the Steelers are probably not inclined to trade him, and the wide receiver could very well cool off in the coming weeks.

Browns To Interview Kevin Stefanski

January 1st, 2019 at 12:33pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns are going to interview Vikings interim offensive coordinator for their head coaching position Kevin Stefanski on Monday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Stefanski is also a candidate for the Vikes’ full-time OC job, but his contract is up so he is free to field outside offers.

The Vikings have been largely happy with Stefanski and are expected to try and keep him as their offensive manager. However, early indications are that they’ll have a fight on their hands to keep him in the headset.

The Vikings were an early favorite for Super Bowl contention but they finished out with a disappointing 8-7-1 record and missed the playoffs. In December, Minnesota canned offensive coordinator John DeFilippo and found Stefanski to be more suited for the role.

Guided by GM John Dorsey, the Browns may be one of the most attractive landing spots for coaching candidates this offseason. The presence of Baker Mayfield should have offensively-minded coaching like Stefanski drooling, there are young pieces in place thanks to years of losing and future-minded moves, and turning the Browns around would be a legacy-maker.

Packers, Browns, Cardinals To Interview Dan Campbell

January 1st, 2019 at 12:24pm CST by Zachary Links

Dan Campbell is a popular man these days. After interviewing Josh McDaniels, the Packers are set to fly to New Orleans on Saturday to meet with the Saints’ assistant head coach/tight ends coach, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. He’s also scheduled to meet with the Browns on Friday and the Cardinals at some point over the weekend.

Of course, in the midst of all of this, Campbell is preparing for the Saints’ Divisional Round game on Jan. 13. Should the Saints win against their TBD opponent, interested clubs will have to get in where they fit in if they want to go down the road with Campbell.

Also carrying the title of assistant head coach in New Orleans, Campbell was connected to the Colts’ post-McDaniels job search last year and interviewed for the Vikings’ OC job that eventually went to John DeFilippo. Prior to being promoted to the Dolphins’ HC in the wake of Joe Philbin‘s early-season firing three years ago, Campbell had been Miami’s tight ends coach for more than four years.

Steelers’ Antonio Brown Requests Trade

January 1st, 2019 at 12:10pm CST by Zachary Links

[UPDATE: Brown Has Not Made Actual Trade Request, According To NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport]

Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has requested a trade, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Brown did not demand a trade, per day, but he has asked to be dealt, JLC hears.

Brown’s request does not automatically mean that he will be traded, of course. La Canfora believes it’s very unlikely that owner Art Rooney II will give in, so the Steelers could be in for a long standoff with a star offensive player for yet another year.

The Steelers, for the most part, have operated as a well-oiled machine. However, things have fallen apart as of late. The team’s relationship with running back Le’Veon Bell took a strange turn in 2017 and, ultimately, led to a year-long holdout in 2018. Meanwhile, Brown has been at odds with several key figures in the organization, including head coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Recently, Brown tossed a ball at the QB’s feet during a walkthrough and stormed out of the building. Brown did not play in Week 17, and we now know that his absence was not injury-related.

Tomlin and Big Ben are well-aligned and Brown feels that the two are a bit too well-aligned, JLC hears. Obviously, there are issues for all three men to figure out, but the good news is that they have plenty of time to mend fences between now and the start of the 2019 season.

Brown, 31 in July, had 104 catches for 1,297 yards plus a career-high 15 touchdowns. Those numbers put him in the Pro Bowl, but they’re actually a step back from his finest work, which includes 1,500+ yards in 2017 and 1,800+ yards in 2015. Brown was an All-Pro every year from 2014-2017, but was unable to make the cut this year.

Dolphins To Interview Darren Rizzi

January 1st, 2019 at 12:02pm CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers won’t consider in-house candidates to fill their head coaching vacancy, but another Florida team will. The Dolphins are working to schedule an interview with special teams coach/assistant head coach Darren Rizzi, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB (on Twitter).

Rizzi has been with the Dolphins since 2010 and boasts previous head coaching experience at the collegiate level, though New Haven and Rhode Island aren’t exactly powerhouse programs. Regardless, the Dolphins think highly of him and at least want to give him a shot at replacing Adam Gase. Rizzi has said that Gase has been grooming him for an advancement in the coaching ranks, so this could be his opportunity to break through.

No matter who the head coach is, the Dolphins will be in for some serious roster upheaval in the offseason. The Fins are expected to cut defensive end Robert Quinn, defensive end Andre Branch, wide receiver DeVante Parker, and several other costly vets in an effort to get back over the .500 mark.

In addition to Rizzi, the Dolphins are said to be considering candidates such as Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak, Cowboys defensive backs coach Kris Richard.

Jets To Interview Mike McCarthy

January 1st, 2019 at 11:31am CST by Zachary Links

Mike McCarthy is looking for a new job and it sounds like the Jets will have the first crack at him. McCarthy is expected to interview with Gang Green for their head coaching vacancy, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

McCarthy has been connected to the Jets for the last few months, even while Todd Bowles manned the sidelines in New York and McCarthy was at the helm in Green Bay. The Jets, despite their lack of recent success, offer an attractive situation for someone of McCarthy’s ilk thanks to the presence of Sam Darnold and their expected $100MM+ in cap room. The Jets, meanwhile, probably see McCarthy as the right coach to guide Darnold since he is entering Year Two, which is precisely when McCarthy entered Aaron Rodgers‘ development.

On the flipside, the Jets say they will not grant total control over the 53-man roster to any coach, which may be a barrier for the 55-year-old. The Jets will also have to contend with a number of other teams for his services, a group that will probably include the Broncos and Browns as well.

Raiders Satisfied Rooney Rule Before Mike Mayock Hire

January 1st, 2019 at 11:21am CST by Zachary Links

Last offseason, the Raiders caught flack for hiring a head coach off of the TV screen and potentially not living up to the spirit of the Rooney Rule. This week, they went back to the well to hire former NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock as their GM. They may or may not have given real consideration to minority candidates, but they did technically check that box.

Before the Mayock hire, the Raiders interviewed former Giants college scouting director Marc Ross and former Eagles personnel man Trey Brown, according to Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter) and Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Raiders also reached out to former Giants GM Jerry Reese, but he declined the opportunity.

With the Ross and Brown interviews, the Raiders ensured that they will not face a penalty for violating the Rooney Rule. However, their course of action is reminiscent of last year when they interviewed Tee Martin and Bobby Johnson for a head coaching job that was already promised to Jon Gruden.

Cards, Broncos To Interview Zac Taylor

January 1st, 2019 at 11:08am CST by Zachary Links

Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor will interview for the Cardinals and Broncos head coaching positions on Saturday, Albert Breer of The MMQB hears (on Twitter). Taylor, 35, will also interview with the Bengals on Friday, so he may wind up as the latest 30-something assistant to ascend the ranks.

Taylor moved up to QB coach under Sean McVay in 2018 after Matt LaFleur left for the Titans. The results, for the most part, have been outstanding. The Rams finished out 13-3 and will have an opportunity to rest before their first playoff game on Jan. 12 thanks to their bye.

Outside of the past year with the Rams, Taylor’s resume is not especially flashy. He was the Rams’ assistant wide receivers coach in 2017 and served as the University of Cincinnati’s offensive coordinator in 2016 before moving to sunny Los Angeles. However, young offensively-minded coaches are the in-thing, and Taylor is garnering serious interest.

Dolphins Likely To Cut Quinn, Parker

January 1st, 2019 at 10:53am CST by Zachary Links

Major changes are coming in Miami. This offseason, the Dolphins are expected to cut defensive end Robert Quinn (saving $12.9MM against the cap), defensive end Andre Branch (saving $7MM, $2MM in dead money) and wide receiver DeVante Parker ($9.4MM savings), according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Naturally, the upheaval won’t stop there, but the Dolphins have some big decisions to make on significant contracts in the coming weeks and months. Ryan Tannehill is likely done in South Beach and players like defensive tackle Akeem Spence ($2.5MM cap savings) and guard Ted Larsen ($1.9MM) could also be dropped from the roster, Jackson hears.

And, if the Dolphins really want to turn over a new leaf, they may decide against retaining unrestricted free agents like Frank Gore and Cameron Wake and move on from receiver Danny Amendola, whose entire $6MM cap hit can be washed out. Jackson adds that the future of veterans like guard Josh Sitton and safety T.J. McDonald is also in question.

Quinn, 29 in May, came to Miami via a spring trade with the Rams. The former first-round pick notched 6.5 sacks and 38 tackles, but graded out as just the No. 42 ranked edge defender in the NFL per Pro Football Focus. Branch, meanwhile, was one of the lowest-ranked DEs out of 108 qualified players.

Parker was once viewed as the team’s future at wide receiver, but injuries have hampered his progress over the last four years. This year, he managed just 24 catches for 309 yards and a touchdown in eleven games.

Bills Plan To Keep RB LeSean McCoy

January 1st, 2019 at 10:40am CST by Zachary Links

Changes are coming in Buffalo, but LeSean McCoy is still a part of the team’s plans in 2019. This week, Bills GM Brandon Beane told reporters that Shady is staying put.

“LeSean will come back in 2019 and we’ll go from there,” the GM said.

Beane also indicated in November that McCoy would be retained. The team’s belief in him, in some respects, is surprising. McCoy will turn 31 in July and he’s coming off of a season in which he averaged a career low 3.2 yards per carry and was hit with ugly accusations. The Bills, in theory, could dump McCoy to save $6.425MM against the cap with just $2.625MM left in dead money, but that move is apparently not in consideration.

For what it’s worth, McCoy also says that he’s happy in Western New York. Recently, McCoy said that while “a lot of teams” wanted to trade for him at this year’s deadline, he wants to stay put and be a part of the team’s future.

McCoy still offers serious burst and cutting ability, even at his advanced age, so there’s reason to believe that he can get back to his old form in 2019. The veteran would also benefit from a beefing up of the offensive line.