Josh McDaniels left his Browns visit without a deal, and the latest word is that Cleveland will take the weekend to mull things over. While they’ve been careful not to tip their hand too much, Michael Lombardi of The Athletic tweets that it’s not a good sign McDaniels went back home without a contract. Lombardi was the first to suggest that now former Browns GM John Dorsey might be in danger, so he’s certainly plugged into the situation. A report from earlier this morning indicated that McDaniels, Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, and Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz were the three finalists, but Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets that “multiple people around the league” believe it’s down to McDaniels and Stefanski. If Lombardi and Fowler are both correct, then that would seem to indicate Stefanski is the favorite as of right now.
Here’s more from the coaching ranks:
- The Giants gave Joe Judge a five-year contract to be their head coach, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). It’s not the massive seven-year deal that Matt Rhule got from the Panthers, but it’s a significant commitment nonetheless. It’s especially noteworthy since, as Schefter points out, each of New York’s last two coaches have been given two years or less on the job. Simply to avoid the reputation of being coach-killers, the Giants’ ownership will likely give Judge a somewhat lengthy leash.
- Cleveland is the only team with a head-coaching vacancy, but the dust has yet to settle for plenty of assistant coaches. There are still a lot of openings around the league, and it looks like a bidding war is brewing between the Rams and Cowboys. Both Los Angeles and Dallas are fighting to make Stan Drayton their next running backs coach, according to Gil Brandt of NFL.com (Twitter link). Drayton is currently the run-game coordinator at Texas. Brandt notes that Drayton coached Ezekiel Elliott at Ohio State, which explains the Cowboys’ interest. It’ll be interesting to see whether he picks Sean McVay or Mike McCarthy.
- In case you missed it, Rhule is looking to bring his defensive coordinator from Baylor with him to fill the same position in Carolina.
Judge and McDaniels are reportedly very close. If McDaniels does not get the Cleveland Browns job I would say judge should contact McDaniels about becoming his OC.
He has given a 5yr contract from the pats last year when he backed out from Indy. Can’t see them letting him out of that nor can I see him wanting to leave the pats. He will wait for a different opportunity
goldenmisfit If McDaniels remains in the OC role it’s likely with NE, I don’t see him leaving yet unless it’s a step up to HC. Why leave the better team and place he’s familiar with for the same job elsewhere over 1 guy? No reason to leave the Pats unless it’s for a HC job.
The New England ship is sinking. Not sure he would even want to be the HC in New England.
After Kitchens can you afford to gamble on another dumpster fire one year head coach
Stefanski would be another mistake
What makes you think that? His experience?
Eating Lucky Charms was a mistake.
Believing there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is a mistake.
Those movies are a mistake, except maybe the first one.
Browns should just dissolve.
Whoever the coach ends up being, they may want to rent and not buy a house. They could win the Super Bowl and Haslem the idiot would still fire them after a couple of years.
Agreed. The problem in Cleveland starts with ownership. Vince Lombardi would’ve been an alsoran, if he would’ve had to work for Haslam. There’s no plan there. They just throw mismatched pieces together, and expect it to work.
McDaniels actually accepted the job but a couple of seconds later he decided not to become the head coach of the Browns.