HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Giants To Keep Dave Gettleman

January 5th, 2021 at 11:31am CST by Zachary Links

The Giants will be making plenty of changes this offseason, but they’re standing pat with their GM. Dave Gettleman will return in 2021, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. 

Gettleman, 70 in February, is heading into his fourth year as the Giants’ GM. The team’s 6-10 record might have fallen short of summertime hopes, but they nearly qualified for the playoffs thanks to the state of the NFC East. Their record also showed at least some progress from 2019, when they finished 4-12.

The Giants were more encouraged by Gettleman’s wins in the spring. Cornerback James Bradberry, linebacker Blake Martinez, and defensive back Logan Ryan all proved to be savvy pickups. Meanwhile, the veteran GM was vindicated for his expensive gamble on defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who finished 2020 with a career-best 11.5 sacks.

Gettleman and head coach Joe Judge will now be tasked with evaluating the rest of the locker room and coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett‘s status remains murky after Daniel Jones‘ disappointing season, though things probably would have been better with Saquon Barkley in the lineup. Meanwhile, they’ll have some in-house accounting to do — this year’s free agent class features Williams and Barkley is eligible for an extension.

Jaguars Request Raheem Morris Interview

January 5th, 2021 at 11:13am CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars have requested an interview with Raheem Morris, as Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. The Falcons’ interim head coach is also up for the job in Atlanta, but he may have better odds elsewhere.

[RELATED: Latest On Urban Meyer]

Morris began the year as the Falcons’ defensive coordinator before taking over for Dan Quinn midway through the year. After he took over, the Falcons posted a 4-7 record and showed some signs of improvement. Between that and his time with the Bucs, he has a lifetime 21-38 record as a head coach.

Much of the chatter surrounding the Jaguars’ vacancy has been centered around Urban Meyer. But, depending on who you ask, the big-name college coach may be seeking upwards of $12MM per year to jump to the pros. Also, there’s still a chance that he could pass on the chance to jump to the NFL, or that someone like Morris could shine brighter throughout the process.

The Jaguars are also looking at 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as well as Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. And, at the same time, they’re in the midst of their GM search. On Tuesday morning, former Browns GM Ray Farmer became the latest name in that group.

Browns Joel Bitonio, Kevin Stefanski Test Positive For COVID-19

January 5th, 2021 at 11:03am CST by Zachary Links

The Browns are going to the playoffs, but they’ll be without some of their key cast members. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and left guard Joel Bitonio have both tested positive for COVID-19 (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). Wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge has also tested positive with five cases in total from the latest round. 

The Browns-Steelers game is still scheduled to go ahead, with the belief that the Browns’ newest cases are the result of community spread, rather than a full-on facility outbreak. With Stefanski keeping his distance, special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as the acting head coach. Meanwhile, Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt is expected to call the plays.

Bitonio, of course, is a big loss for the Browns. The three-time Pro Bowler has been a rock throughout his seven-year career, despite constant instability in Cleveland. This year, he’s continued his excellent work while mentoring promising rookie Jedrick Wills. In his place, the Browns will be forced to turn to Michael Dunn or rookie Nick Harris — neither backup can block like Bitonio.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/5/21

January 5th, 2021 at 9:44am CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of the latest reserve/futures deals here:

Carolina Panthers 

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Jets’ Frank Gore May Continue Playing

January 5th, 2021 at 9:37am CST by Zachary Links

Frank Gore isn’t quite ready to call it quits. The 37-year-old Jets running back says he hasn’t made a decision on whether or not to retire, as Dennis Waszak Jr. of the Associated Press tweets.

“I still have fun playing football,” Gore said.

Gore capped his 16th year in the league with 16,000 career rushing yards. He finished the season on injured reserve, but he saw time in all 15 of the Jets’ previous games. It wasn’t a banner year for Gang Green, but Gore proved that he can still play. All in all, Gore notched 653 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He also managed six grabs for 89 receiving yards.

Gore has been an NFL ironman, in every sense of the word. The Week 17 absence marked Gore’s third missed game in the past ten years. He’s not as spry as he used to be — he averaged just 3.5 yards per tote in 2020 — but coaches around the league admire his toughness. The Jets and Raiders didn’t balk at his age last year, so it’s possible that they’ll reconnect with him this year.

Chargers Request Eric Bieniemy Interview

January 5th, 2021 at 9:26am CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers have requested permission to interview Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for their head coaching job, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. The Lions, Falcons, and Jets are also expected to chat with Bieniemy, who profiles as one of the hottest candidates in this cycle.

The former running back spent four years with the Chargers back in the day and was even with the club for their early 90s Super Bowl trip. These days, he’s known as the mastermind behind one of the game’s most electric offenses. The Chargers are looking for someone to develop Justin Herbert into an elite quarterback, and Bieniemy has been widely credited for Patrick Mahomes‘ success.

In 2020, Bieniemy met with the Browns, Giants, and Panthers about their head coaching vacancies. Last year, he chatted with the Bucs and Dolphins. He didn’t land a HC job either time, but it would be a shock to see him passed over in 2021.

After a losing year full of near-victories, the Chargers are set to pick No. 13 overall in the spring.

Urban Meyer Not Seeking $12MM/Year?

January 5th, 2021 at 9:17am CST by Zachary Links

On Monday, it was reported that Urban Meyer is seeking $12MM a year to coach in the NFL. However, that figure is not accurate, according to a source who spoke with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 

The former University of Florida and Ohio State coach has been heavily connected to the Jaguars and is said to have drawn interest from at least one other team. He’s figures to have lots of leverage in talks, so the $12MM/year mark doesn’t seem that outlandish. For reference, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and Saints HC Sean Payton are believed to make roughly $15MM per year. Bill Belichick, meanwhile, is the clubhouse leader with $20MM per annum.

Meyer may not have the NFL experience of other candidates, but he does come with a stellar resume, including three national championships. Two of those titles came in Florida, giving him even greater name recognition and drawing power in the Jacksonville area. In the past, Meyer has flirted with the pros only to stay in the college ranks. This time around, teams believe that he’s serious about coming to the NFL. And, of course, the opportunity to develop Clemson superstar Trevor Lawrence is a major plus.

In addition to the 56-year-old Meyer, the Jaguars have also been connected to 38-year-old Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. They’re not alone — all six teams with vacancies are set to talk to him.

Jaguars To Interview Ray Farmer

January 5th, 2021 at 8:35am CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars are set to interview Ray Farmer for their GM vacancy, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The former Browns GM has been out of the limelight since his 2015 ouster, but he’s had momentum as a potential candidate in this cycle. 

[RELATED: Jaguars Fire Doug Marrone]

This marks the second interview Farmer has received since the Browns let him go. In the summer of 2019, the Texans met with him just 24 hours after firing Brian Gaine. Farmer’s two-year Cleveland tenure did not go well, but he has been featured as a Fritz Pollard Alliance candidate in previous offseasons. He’s also done some consulting work for the Rams.

It’s worth noting that Farmer’s win-loss record wasn’t the only blemish on his Browns resume. In 2015, the NFL suspended Farmer four games for texting coaches during games in 2014.

Meanwhile, the Jaguars are also in the midst of their head coaching search. After firing Doug Marrone on Monday, the Jaguars are believed to be targeting former Florida and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer.

Chargers Request Jason Garrett Interview

January 4th, 2021 at 10:27pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers have requested an interview with Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The former Cowboys head coach would be one of several candidates to interview after the firing of Anthony Lynn. 

[RELATED: Chargers To Meet With Arthur Smith] 

Garrett posted a regular season record of 85-67 for the Cowboys across nine seasons. Although they came up short in the playoffs, Garrett remains a highly-respected offensive mind. He also played quarterback in the league for nearly 15 years, making him a solid choice to develop youngster Justin Herbert. Of course, this past year wasn’t a banner season for the Giants, but there’s plenty of blame to go around in Northern New Jersey.

The Chargers will also look to interview Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). Daboll is also being targeted by the Jets, who got an up-close look at Josh Allen‘s transformation in 2020.

So far, the Chargers have put at least three candidates on their HC list in Garrett, Daboll, and Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. It’s worth noting that the competition for Smith will be fierce — all six teams with openings have asked to meet with the 38-year-old.

Jets Request Interviews With Rams DC Brandon Staley, Giants DC Patrick Graham

January 4th, 2021 at 5:57pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Jets will have a young quarterback under center one way or another come Week 1 of 2021, but they apparently aren’t limiting their coaching search to offensive minds. New York has requested an interview with Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, Adam Schefter tweets, and with Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link).

Both Staley and Graham oversaw units that made major leaps in 2020. We’ve heard a little bit of buzz about Staley but there hasn’t been as much head coach talk about Graham, so that one is pretty notable. Staley is only 38, and is looking to become the next man to land a head coaching job after serving as an assistant to Sean McVay. He was plucked out of relative anonymity by McVay this past offseason, as he was previously outside linebackers coach for the Broncos.

Staley has been widely praised for his innovative schemes, and the Rams finished first in total defense by a relatively wide margin, allowing only 281.9 yards per game. The Giants finished 12th in that same metric, a pretty impressive feat considering they were 25th last year.

At 41, Graham is pretty young himself. He broke into the league as an assistant with the Patriots in 2009, and spent the next seven years on Bill Belichick’s staff. Connections to Belichick and McVay are an annual tradition for seemingly nearly every head coaching candidate. Graham was the Dolphins’ DC in 2019, his first year as a coordinator, but was allowed to leave for New York since Brian Flores was the one still in charge of the defense in Miami. The Jets are clearly conducting an exhaustive search.

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