HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Vikings’ Mackensie Alexander To Have Surgery

January 7th, 2020 at 11:34am CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings won’t have Mackensie Alexander on the field for Saturday’s game against the 49ers. The cornerback will undergo arthroscopic surgery for the small tear in his lateral meniscus, a source tells NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). 

On the plus side – Alexander’s season isn’t necessarily over. If the Vikings advance, Alexander could conceivably return for the NFC title game or the Super Bowl.

The Vikings managed to upset the Saints in the opening round of the playoffs, despite not having Alexander or Mike Hughes on the field. Their other cornerbacks – Trae Waynes, Xavier Rhodes, and Holton Hill – will be tasked with holding down the fort yet again as they face the Niners’ potent offense.

If the Vikings fall to the Niners, that could mark the end of Alexander’s career in purple. The cornerback is scheduled to reach free agency in March.

Latest On Browns’ Coaching Search

January 7th, 2020 at 10:44am CST by Zachary Links

The game of head coaching musical chairs has left the Browns without a seat (er, head coach). After the Redskins, Cowboys, Panthers, and Giants got their men, the Browns are forging ahead with their own search. 

The Browns plan to interview Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. After that, they’ll chat with Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski on Thursday and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on Friday, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link).

Schwartz, who once served as the Lions’ head coach, has been the Eagles’ DC since 2016. His first NFL job came with the (original) Browns, where he served as a scout from 1993-95.

The Browns don’t necessarily have to rush to make a hire now that the league’s four other openings have been addressed. Still, Schefter hears that they want to make their choice by Saturday.

Ron Rivera, Mike McCarthy, Matt Rhule, and Joe Judge are all off the table, but the Browns still have plenty of candidates in consideration. Here’s the rundown, courtesy of PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker:

Giants Request To Interview Jason Garrett

January 7th, 2020 at 9:58am CST by Zachary Links

The Giants have requested permission to speak with former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, sources tell Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Garrett, of course, will not return to the Cowboys, but permission is required since he is technically under contract until January 14. 

[RELATED: Giants Lose Matt Rhule To Panthers]

On Tuesday morning, the Giants lost out on top target Matt Rhule. The former Baylor head coach agreed to terms with the Panthers moments before his scheduled flight to New York, forcing the Giants to shift to backup options, including Garrett.

Although Garrett’s Cowboys disappointed in 2019, he had his fair share of accomplishments in Dallas, including a 6-0 record against the G-Men over the last three seasons. All in all, Garrett coached the Cowboys to an 85-67 record since taking over as HC midway through the 2010 season.

The Giants have cast a wide net in their search, as shown in PFR’s tracker. Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Patriots wide receivers coach Joe Judge, Ravens defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale, Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, and Cowboys assistant Kris Richard are also on the radar.

Panthers To Hire Matt Rhule

January 7th, 2020 at 9:00am CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers have agreed to hire Matt Rhule as their next head coach, according to Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). The Panthers came to terms with the Baylor head coach shortly after meeting with him. Clearly, they did not want him to get on a plane to New York and risk losing him to the Giants, who reportedly had him at the top of their list. 

Rhule will receive a seven-year deal worth $60MM, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The pact also includes $10MM in incentives that could boost the overall value to $70MM. It’s an eye-popping contract, given Rhule’s lack of pro experience, and positions him as one of the highest-paid coaches in the league. The Panthers will also have to take care of Rhule’s buyout with Baylor, which is believed to be upwards of $15MM.

The two sides are currently hashing out terms of a deal. Once finalized, the deal will likely place him in the top half of NFL head coaching salaries, even though Rhule has limited pro experience.

Rhule’s sole season in the NFL came with the Giants, where he served as an assistant offensive line coach in 2012. As a college coach, Rhule went 47-43 in seven seasons at Temple and Baylor. That record doesn’t necessarily jump off of the page, but NFL teams have taken notice of Baylor’s quick turnaround from the Art Briles era under Rhule’s watch.

Baylor went 1-11 in Rhule’s first season at the helm in 2017, but, this year, the Bears reached the Sugar Bowl. Baylor lost to Georgia, but that had no bearing on Rhule’s red-hot candidacy. The Panthers and Giants were both gung-ho on him and he also rejected an opportunity to interview for the Browns’ post.

Rhule takes the place of Ron Rivera, who was fired after eight-plus seasons as the Panthers’ head coach. The Panthers are coming off of a challenging season, but there’s plenty of talent for Rhule to work with. In Carolina, the focus now shifts to the future of Cam Newton, who could be let go as a part of the team’s rebuilding efforts.

Rhule, 44, is now the fifth coach in franchise history, following Rivera, John Fox, George Seifert, and Dom Capers.

Jets Plan To Keep Le’Veon Bell

January 7th, 2020 at 8:57am CST by Zachary Links

The Jets might not have much choice in the matter, but GM Joe Douglas sounds like he expects Le’Veon Bell to return in 2020. In an interview with ESPN Radio, Douglas was complimentary of the temperamental star. 

“[Bell is a] very good player…We value Le’Veon,” Douglas said (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini). “We value the competitor, we value the teammate. We’re excited (for him) being in our program another year, going through our offseason again.”

Drama aside, Bell remains one of the most talented running backs in the NFL. He also has the Jets on the hook for oodles of money. Thanks to the four-year, $52.5MM contract handed to him by former GM Mike Maccagnan, Bell is slated to count for a $15.5MM cap figure in 2020 with similar numbers in 2021 and 2022. Shedding Bell this offseason would leave the Jets with $19MM in dead money and zero cap savings.

In theory, the Jets’ first real opportunity to dump Bell would come before the 2021 season, when they could save $9.5MM against $4MM in dead money. The Jets hope that won’t be necessary. Bell, who turns 28 in February, averaged just 3.2 yards per carry last year, though he still managed 66 catches for 461 yards out of the backfield.

Douglas was also asked about a potential extension for safety Jamal Adams, but he sidestepped the question. The GM only said that he’s “so happy” Adams is on the team and that the trade deadline tension “is in the rear-view mirror.”

Cowboys’ Kellen Moore Considering UW Job

January 7th, 2020 at 8:37am CST by Zachary Links

New Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy would like to keep offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on his staff, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. However, he’s also mulling an opportunity to return home and become the new offensive coordinator at the University of Washington. 

[RELATED: Giants To Consider Jason Garrett]

Moore ran a Air Coryell offense in 2019, though former head coach Jason Garrett might have been the one pulling the strings on the scheme. McCarthy leans more towards the West Coast offense and he apparently believes that Moore can adjust to his preferred style.

Moore is a native of Prosser, Washington, so the UW job would presumably hold lots of appeal. At the same time, the Cowboys job would probably be more lucrative for him.

The Cowboys’ offense got off to a roaring start in 2019, though their three consecutive wins to open the season came against the lowly Giants, Redskins, and Dolphins. With hiccups on both sides of the ball, Dallas finished the year 8-8 and ceded the divisional crown to the Eagles.

Giants To Consider Jason Garrett

January 7th, 2020 at 8:19am CST by Zachary Links

The Giants will consider former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett for their head coaching vacancy, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. However, their longtime rival is viewed as a Plan B – he’ll only be in the picture if things go sour with Baylor’s Matt Rhule, their apparent top choice.

Garrett spent nearly ten years as the Cowboys’ head coach and, hands down, has Rhule beat in the NFL experience department. Rhule has just one year of pro experience – his 2012 season as an assistant offensive line coach with Baylor.

Still, teams have been swooning over Rhule in recent years. Last year, Rhule shot down the other tenant of the Meadowlands, but the Giants job could hold greater appeal for him, especially if they’re willing to let him hire his own staff.

It’s not a given that Rhule will get the Giants job, even though he’s the leader of the pack. Barriers include Rhule’s pricey buyout from Baylor, which is believed to be more than $15MM. On the flip side – it’s possible that he could be had on a lower salary than someone like Garrett.

Between 2010 and 2019, Garrett coached the Cowboys to an 85-67 record and three NFC East titles. But, during that span, the Cowboys did not advance beyond the divisional round.

Coaching Notes: McDaniels, Cowboys, Rhule

January 6th, 2020 at 9:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two years ago, Josh McDaniels had assistants ready to follow him to the Colts. Multiple staffers did so, even though the Patriots assistant backed out of the agreement. This time around, McDaniels looks to have a staff lined up again. McDaniels is now “very much ready” to leave New England, Albert Breer of SI.com notes, adding that the longtime Patriots play-caller has Redskins OC Kevin O’Connell and Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon set to be key players on his staff (should McDaniels accept a job if offered). The Redskins are interested in retaining O’Connell, their offensive coordinator this season, but his NFL years began as a quarterback under McDaniels during the latter’s first stint as Patriots OC. Gannon joined the Colts’ staff in 2018. Like McDaniels, Gannon is a Cleveland-area native. He was a scout with the Rams during McDaniels’ one season in St. Louis.

McDaniels is the frontrunner for the Browns job. He will interview with the Panthers on Tuesday, the Giants on Wednesday and the Browns on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Here is the latest from the coaching carousel:

  • Matt Rhule had issues with the Jets attempting to overrule him on staff decisions, but Ralph Vacchiano of SNY notes the Giants would not do the same. The Giants would let Rhule select his assistants, and the Baylor HC is believed to have candidates in place to follow him to New York if hired. Former Giants assistant and current Lions QBs coach Sean Ryan and Baylor defensive coordinator Phil Snow are believed to be Rhule’s coordinator choices should he land either the Giants’ or Panthers’ HC jobs, Vacchiano reports. Ryan, 47, held a key role with the Texans from 2017-18 but was with the Giants for nine years, including in 2012, when Rhule was on staff. Snow, 64, has been Rhule’s DC at Temple and Baylor. He coached with the Lions from 2005-08.
  • Had the Jets hired Rhule last year, Jets management would have insisted Gregg Williams be attached as defensive coordinator, per Vacchiano. Previous GM Mike Maccagnan also had an issue with Ryan bringing brought aboard as OC. Ryan ended up in Detroit instead.
  • As for Giants incumbent defensive coordinator James Bettcher, the front office was not exactly pleased with his game management nor were Giants brass happy with the entire defensive staff, Vacchiano adds. Lacking in talent and depth at linebacker and cornerback, the Giants ranked 31st in pass-defense DVOA. Bettcher’s better-stocked defensive front, however, produced the No. 7 run-defense DVOA figure.
  • Not only is Mike McCarthy a fan of 30-year-old Cowboys OC Kellen Moore, Jerry Jones spoke of his desire to keep the young coordinator on staff in each of the Cowboys’ interviews, Breer notes. The Cowboys promoted Moore to OC last year, and Dak Prescott had by far his best season as a passer under the former Dallas quarterback’s guidance.
  • The Falcons will not retain passing-game coordinator/defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson, according to The Athletic’s Jason Butt (on Twitter). Henderson has been with the Falcons since 2016. Additionally, the Falcons interviewed Joe Whitt for their secondary coach position, Butt notes. Whitt spent the 2007 season as Atlanta’s assistant DBs coach before being on Green Bay’s staff for the next 10 seasons. He coached the Browns’ DBs under Freddie Kitchens.

Browns To Interview Jim Schwartz

January 6th, 2020 at 8:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Add another name to the Browns’ interview-request list. The team is seeking permission to meet with Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. An interview is expected to occur this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

The former Lions head coach has been the Eagles’ DC since 2016. Schwartz’s first NFL job, however, came with the Browns. Prior to the original Browns morphing into the Ravens, Schwartz worked as a scout from 1993-95.

Schwartz, 53, was involved in the 2018 interview cycle but not much in last year’s. The Giants interviewed Schwartz in 2018. In 2016, the Browns were interested in bringing Schwartz to Cleveland as their defensive coordinator under Hue Jackson. Schwartz ultimately wound up in Philadelphia, where he oversaw the Eagles’ 2017 Super Bowl champion defense.

Under Schwartz, the Eagles finished 12th in defensive DVOA. They ranked fourth, fifth and 15th from 2016-18, with the championship group ranking in the top 10 in both run- and pass-defense DVOA. This year’s Eagles were fourth in run-defense DVOA, a staple of their recent defenses under Schwartz.

Following Schwartz’s five-year tenure in Detroit, he spent the 2014 season as Buffalo’s DC under Doug Marrone. Schwartz inherited one of the worst situations in modern coaching history, taking over a Lions team that had gone 0-16 in 2008, and elevated the team to the playoffs in 2011. Overall, Schwartz went just 29-51 as Lions HC. He joins a lengthy list of candidates connected to the Browns. Josh McDaniels is believed to be the favorite and will interview this week.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/6/20

January 6th, 2020 at 8:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s reserve/futures deals:

Green Bay Packers

  • WR Reggie Begelton, RB Elijah Wellman

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

Oakland Raiders

  • CB Dylan Mabin

Philadelphia Eagles

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