2019 December - Pro Football Rumors

Giants To Interview Kris Richard

December 30th, 2019 at 4:27pm CST by Zachary Links

Cowboys passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Kris Richard is scheduled to interview with the Giants for their head coach vacancy on Thursday, as Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. Richard, who was a finalist for the Dolphins’ job last year, could get a chance to run his own show.

Richard served as the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator for three seasons before his dismissal after the 2017 campaign. Since then, he’s been in Dallas, where he’s been rumored to be the heir apparent to DC Rod Marinelli.

Of course, everything is in flux for the Cowboys after they finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. If Jason Garrett is fired, that could mean a move or two up the ladder for Richard. Or, it could mean that Richard will be out of a job altogether.

In addition to the aforementioned Dolphins interview, Richard also interviewed with the Jets and Bucs in the last cycle. This year, the Cowboys finished No. 9 in total defense and No. 11 in points allowed.

Dolphins Fire OC Chad O’Shea

December 30th, 2019 at 3:55pm CST by Rory Parks

The Dolphins have fired offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea, per Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network (Twitter link). The longtime assistant spent 10 years with the Patriots as the club’s WRs coach and joined former New England DC Brian Flores in South Beach when Flores became the ‘Fins head coach this year.

However, Miami’s offense was ranked 27th in the league in 2019, and while an overall lack of talent is mostly to blame for that, Flores has elected to move in a different direction.

The Dolphins finished the 2019 season with the worst rushing offense in the NFL and just 25th in overall points scored. The front office is expected to overhaul the personnel in the coming months and, when those new players are in the mix, they’ll be led by a new OC.

The Dolphins’ new-look offense will likely include a first-round quarterback and then some. This offseason, the Dolphins will be armed with tons of cap space, plus the No. 5 overall pick, as they look to turn things around.

It was a challenging year for the Dolphins, but there were bright spots. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick kept the club’s spirits up during a five-win season and they closed out the year with three wins in the last five games, including Ws over the Eagles and Patriots.

In addition to firing O’Shea, the Dolphins have also parted ways with offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo.

Eric Weddle Does Not Expect To Return To Rams

December 30th, 2019 at 3:20pm CST by Rory Parks

Veteran safety Eric Weddle signed a two-year pact with the Rams in March, but he does not expect to see the second year of that deal. After the team’s season finale on Sunday, Weddle told reporters, including Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com, that he expects Los Angeles to release him and move forward with younger players John Johnson and Taylor Rapp.

Weddle did start all 16 games for Los Angeles this year and recorded 108 tackles, but his intelligence and instincts have increasingly been overtaken by declining speed in recent years, and he knows he is nearing the end of his career.

He has not determined whether he will retire just yet, but one way or another, he will soon undergo shoulder and knee surgery after enduring nagging pains throughout the season. A team with a need for stability in the back end of its defense could see him as a valuable rotational player and leader, but it doesn’t sound as if he’s interested in that role. “I’m not going to come back to be a backup, and that’s totally fine,” Weddle said when asked about his future with the Rams. And if he feels that way about LA, he likely feels the same about other clubs.

The Rams could cut Weddle and save about $4.75MM against the cap while incurring just $500K of dead money. The six-time Pro Bowler and two-time First Team All-Pro has had an excellent career that has included stints with the Chargers, Ravens, and Rams, and if he does choose to hang them up, he said he will have no regrets.

Robby Anderson Likely To Test Free Agency

December 30th, 2019 at 2:20pm CST by Rory Parks

Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson seems likely to test free agency. Anderson told reporters, including Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, that it “wouldn’t really be logical” to re-sign with New York prior to hitting the open market (Twitter link).

Anderson, who will turn 27 in May, hasn’t foreclosed the possibility of returning to the Jets, but he seems perfectly content to move on. When asked after Sunday’s season finale if he would like to be back with the Jets, Anderson said, “I’m hoping for the best. If that’s what’s best, I would hope so.” He also believes he is a No. 1 wideout, saying “I think if I was given the opportunities consistently throughout the year and my quarterback wasn’t out, I think I definitely would’ve been up there.”

Anderson may not be one of the game’s elite — his own opinions on the matter notwithstanding — but he has undeniable talent and will surely attract plenty of interest in free agency. A bonafide deep threat who has averaged just shy of 15 yards-per-catch in his four-year career, Anderson posted 52 catches for 779 yards and five TDs in 2019, and his size and speed would be a boost to almost any receiving corps.

The potential parting of the ways between Anderson and the Jets doesn’t come as much of a surprise, considering that Anderson was on the trade block in October. Anderson was also hopeful for a long-term deal this offseason, but he was instead forced to accept his RFA tender, and the Jets haven’t shown much interest in keeping him around long-term.

Regardless of where he signs, Anderson will get a nice raise over the $3.095MM he made under the tender this year.

Eagles G Brandon Brooks Out For Playoffs

December 30th, 2019 at 1:08pm CST by Rory Parks

The Eagles just can’t catch a break this year. Philadelphia clinched the NFC East title and a playoff berth with its win over the Giants on Sunday, but guard Brandon Brooks suffered a shoulder injury in the game. Head coach Doug Pederson announced today that Brooks will miss the Eagles’ playoff run as a result.

The Eagles, who have been ravaged by injuries this season, may be without tight end Zach Ertz as well. Brooks, like Ertz, is one of the best at his position, and he was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl this year.

Despite suffering an Achilles tear in January, Brooks played in all 16 games for the Eagles in 2019, providing much-needed consistency for an offense that desperately needed it. Brooks’ running mate on the right side of the line, RT Lane Johnson, is dealing with an ankle injury but is expected to work his way back into practice this week and hopes to play in the team’s wildcard bout with the Seahawks.

Brooks, 30, signed a four-year, $54.2MM extension with the Eagles in November, which will keep him under club control through the 2024 campaign.

Colts LT Anthony Castonzo Considering Retirement

December 30th, 2019 at 12:38pm CST by Rory Parks

The Colts had to deal with one shocking retirement before the 2019 season got underway, and they may soon be dealing with another one. Today, left tackle Anthony Castonzo told reporters, including Stephen Holder of The Athletic, that he is taking stock of his career and that he may elect to retire (Twitter link).

Castonzo is eligible for unrestricted free agency in March, having just finished the final year of a four-year, $43.8MM contract. However, if he does choose to continue playing, he does not appear to be interested in testing the open market. Per Holder (via Twitter), Castonzo said he will either retire or re-sign with the Colts. The 2011 first-rounder also told reporters that he was on his way to meet with GM Chris Ballard to discuss his future (Twitter link).

Castonzo has never made a Pro Bowl, but his departure would leave a massive hole on the Colts’ O-line. He has started all 132 games in which he has appeared in his pro career, and he has consistently performed at a high level.

Holder says that Castonzo will take some time to consider his options, but of course, the Colts need to know as soon as possible what he plans to do (Twitter link). Indianapolis will have a great deal of cap space to work with and a full slate of draft picks, so the team wouldn’t necessarily be sunk if Castonzo decides to hand up the cleats, but it would certainly be an unwelcome development.

Raiders, Richie Incongito Agree To Extension

December 30th, 2019 at 12:02pm CST by Rory Parks

The Raiders and veteran guard Richie Incognito have agreed to an extension, as Jay Glazer of FOX Sports first reported (via Twitter). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that it will be a two-year, $14MM pact, including $6.35MM guaranteed.

It has been quite the turnaround for the 36-year-old, who, in 2018, agreed to a pay cut with the Bills only to “retire” for a short time and force his release from Buffalo. Days after his release, Florida police placed Incognito in a mental hospital after he hurled weights at a gym and told officers that the government is spying on him. Incognito pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct stemming from his August 2018 arrest for an incident at an Arizona funeral home, and that’s not to mention the bullying scandal that led to his exit from the Dolphins and a season (2014) out of football.

The Raiders took a chance on Incognito by signing him to a veteran minimum pact in May, and they got a strong return on their investment. After missing the first two games of the 2019 campaign due to a suspension for his off-field behavior, Incognito turned in an excellent season, paving the way for rookie RB Josh Jacobs while keeping QB Derek Carr clean. Advanced metrics were especially fond of his work, rating him as one of the best guards in the league.

As they move to Las Vegas, the Raiders will hope that the four-time Pro Bowler can stay on the straight and narrow and continue to be a force on their O-line.

Black Monday Rumors: McDaniels, Bieniemy, Browns

December 30th, 2019 at 11:41am CST by Rory Parks

The Giants have fired head coach Pat Shumur, the Browns have fired head coach Freddie Kitchens, Cleveland GM John Dorsey‘s fate is up in the air, Bruce Allen is out with the Redskins, Ron Rivera looks like he’s in, and we have a lot more to pass along:

The Giants are rumored to be targeting Baylor head coach Matt Rhule, but they have requested an interview with Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds (via Twitter) that the Panthers have also requested a summit with Bieniemy, a branch of the fruitful Andy Reid coaching tree whom Reid feels is ready for an HC job.
We heard this morning that the Browns have requested an interview with Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, and they also want to interview Ravens OC Greg Roman, per Schefter (via Twitter). Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal tweets that Cleveland is expected to interview Vikings OC Kevin Stefanski again. Stefanski was a finalist for the Browns’ HC job last year before they elected to hire Kitchens.
Schefter says the Browns have asked permission to interview 49ers DC Robert Saleh (Twitter link), and Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says the team plans to interview Mike McCarthy as well (Twitter link). Cleveland had an interview scheduled with McCarthy last year, but by that time, the club had already zeroed in on Kitchens, so the interview never happened. McCarthy and Dorsey worked together in Green Bay, so Dorsey may be rooting for a McCarthy hire.
In addition to the Browns, the Giants and Panthers have also requested interviews with McDaniels, as Schefter tweets.
Despite recent reports indicating that he wants to stay in Baltimore, Ravens DC Don “Wink” Martindale is generating a great deal of HC buzz, as Rapoport tweets. If he is hired, Martindale would want to pluck LSU passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Joe Brady from the collegiate ranks to be his OC. If you’ve watched college football this year, you can’t blame Martindale for that choice.
Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone will meet with owner Shad Khan tomorrow to discuss his fate, as NFL insider Adam Caplan tweets.

Browns Request Interview With Josh McDaniels

December 30th, 2019 at 9:55am CST by Rory Parks

The Browns, who fired head coach Freddie Kitchens yesterday, have requested an interview with Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says McDaniels is the Browns’ top choice (Twitter link).

Of course, McDaniels’ brief and disastrous tenure as the Broncos’ head coach from 2009-10 and his jilting of the Colts after he agreed to become their head coach in February 2018 are well-known. But he remains one of the most respected offensive minds in the game, and he has once again become a popular head coaching candidate.

Cabot writes in a full-length piece that the Browns’ job is attractive to McDaniels, an Ohio native. The question is whether McDaniels would want to work within the Cleveland front office as it’s currently structured. We heard yesterday that GM John Dorsey may be on the hot seat, and while the report of Kitchens’ firing indicated that Dorsey was safe, that may not be the case.

Indeed, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports believes owner Jimmy Haslam will, in fact, alter the executive layer of his team, and he thinks the dynamic between chief strategist Paul DePodesta and Dorsey will change (Twitter link). Cabot confirms that there is a disconnect between DePodesta and the analytics side of the operation and Dorsey and the football side, and that disconnect would obviously need to be resolved prior to McDaniels — or anyone else — agreeing to come on board.

Because of his desirability, McDaniels can afford to be particular and can largely dictate the makeup of a team’s front office. He is likely to want a lot of authority over personnel matters, and he may want to bring current Pats exec and popular GM candidate Nick Caserio along with him.

Meanwhile, Browns assistant coaches met with team brass this morning, per Cabot. They were not fired but were given permission to seek other jobs.

Baylor head coach Matt Rhule, another top candidate for NFL head coaching jobs, is not interested in the Cleveland gig, per Michael Lomabrdi of The Athletic (via Twitter).

Dolphins CB Xavien Howard Arrested For Domestic Violence

December 30th, 2019 at 9:03am CST by Rory Parks

Dolphins star corner Xavien Howard was arrested last night on charges of domestic battery, as Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter). The alleged incident involved Howard’s fiance.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald obtained a copy of the police report, which states that Howard and his fiance had an argument about the fiance’s recent purchase of a purse, which she did not tell Howard about. The argument became physical, and Howard allegedly grabbed his fiance’s arm and shoved her against a mirrored glass wall in their bedroom. Howard then let her go, and she fell to the floor on her right arm (Twitter links).

Needless to say, Howard could be facing a significant suspension and fine from the league in addition to whatever criminal penalties he may be facing. Domestic violence is an especially sensitive subject in the NFL these days, and if the allegations are true, the Dolphins can expect to be without their top CB for a few games next season.

Howard signed a five-year, $76.5MM extension with Miami back in May, following a 2018 campaign that saw him notch a league-leading seven interceptions en route to his first Pro Bowl nod. He was one of the few high-level pieces that the rebuilding Dolphins chose to keep for the long haul, though he played just five games in 2019 before being placed on IR with a knee injury.

In a statement, the Dolphins said they are aware of the situation and are gathering information but have no comment at this time.